Tag: offense

Drew Lock has added confidence — and pressure — after Broncos built around him

Broncos quarterback Drew Lock has more confidence after Denver’s front office built a roster around him.

Over the last three offseasons, Broncos general manager John Elway has built a young offense that is headlined by Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, Noah Fant, Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay.

Denver opted not to bring in a veteran quarterback this offseason, choosing instead to build the team around Drew Lock. That gave the second-year quarterback a boost in confidence.

“I think the [offseason] just ended up saying that they saw something positive in the way I played in those last games [in 2019], potentially being a guy here that could stay for a long time and help the Broncos win as many games as possible,” Lock said during a Zoom conference call on May 5. “It means a lot to me to see that happen. It puts a little extra confidence on my back.”

Being surrounded by weapons also puts more pressure on Lock — the young QB won’t have any excuses now if he doesn’t play well. Lock has embraced that pressure, noting that he already holds himself to a high standard.

“Those expectations do rise when you have so many weapons around you, but I like to say that I hold myself to high expectations,” Lock said. “I like to put pressure on myself in general. I think the pressure that I put on myself always outweighs the pressure that comes from media or even friends and family. I feel like the pressure that I hang on my head always means the most in the end to me.”

Fans and media members aren’t the only ones who expect big things from Lock this season — his teammates have high expectations, too.

“I know I’m looking for him to do some great things this year especially [after] going 4-1 in his first starts,” safety Kareem Jackson said Tuesday. “I’m eager to see him step in and be the guy Day 1 and see the way he’ll progress throughout practice and the way he’ll get better and just progressing throughout the year and just leading this team.

“I think he has that type of capability that he can go out and be a big-time leader for us and he can go out and make some things happen on Sunday for us and put some points up.”

Lock completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 1,020 yards with seven touchdowns against three interceptions in five games last season.

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Seattle Seahawks announce 2010s All-Decade Team

The Seattle Seahawks have announced their 2010s All-Decade Team with the most impactful players at each of the key positions.

Right on the heels of the NFL’s All-Decade Team, the Seattle Seahawks have announced a squad of their own. Seahawks.com reporter John Bowl put together a list of the most impactful players over the last 10 years by position. So without further ado, here is a look at the Seahawks’ 2010s All-Decade Team.

Quarterback: Russell Wilson

Running back/Fullback: Marshawn Lynch, Chris Carson and Michael Robinson

Wide receiver: Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, Golden Tate and Jermaine Kearse

Tight End: Zach Miller and Jimmy Graham

Offensive Line: Tackle Duane Brown, tackle Russell Okung, center Max Unger, guard J.R. Sweezy and guard D.J. Fluker

Defensive Line: Defensive end Michael Bennett, defensive end Cliff Avril, defensive end Frank Clark, defensive end Red Bryant, defensive end Chris Clemons, defensive tackle Jarran Reed, defensive tackle Brandon Mebane and defensive tackle Tony McDaniel

Linebacker: Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright and Bruce Irvin

Cornerback: Richard Sherman, Shaquill Griffin and Brandon Browner

Safety: Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor

Specialists: Punter Jon Ryan, kicker Stephen Hauschka, long snapper Clint Gresham kick returner/punt returner Leon Washington

Special Teams: Linebacker Heath Farwell, wide receiver Ricardo Lockette, defensive back DeShawn Shead, cornerback Neiko Thorpe, linebacker Mike Morgan and safety Chris Maragos.

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Nick Vannett to embrace blocking role in Broncos’ offense

“I think they’re just looking for guys to kind of come in and do an effective job at blocking and really helping out in the run game.”

The Broncos already have a receiving tight end in Noah Fant. This offseason, Denver brought in Nick Vannett to serve primarily as a blocking tight end.

Vannett has embraced his not-so-glamorous role.

“I’m not really considered the deep threat or the burner to take the top off the defense,” Vannett said during a conference call with reporters on April 3. “That’s not really my game. I consider myself to be a good two-way player. Someone who can be effective in the run game, to handle blocks and to create holes and gaps in the running game. Even in the short intermediate pass game we can run precise routes, get open and create mismatches.”

Vannett can catch — he owns 61 career receptions for 591 yards and four touchdowns — but that won’t be his primary job.

“I think they’re just looking for me to come in and just be effective in the run game,” Vannett said. “I don’t know exactly what they’re planning this year, but by seeing them signing Melvin Gordon and kind of adding some more depth in the running back room, I think they’re going to really make the run game a big part of the offense this year. I think they’re just looking for guys to kind of come in and do an effective job at blocking and really helping out in the run game.”

By adding players like Gordon and Vannett to the offense, Denver has made it clear that offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur plans to run early and often in 2020. That will take some pressure off second-year quarterback Drew Lock, which should bode well for the offense.

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Broncos left a good impression on Graham Glasgow last December

When the Broncos faced the Lions in December, the team’s offense left Graham Glasgow impressed.

When the Broncos played the Lions on Dec. 22, offensive lineman Graham Glasgow came away impressed with Denver’s offense.

“I thought that the way that they — first thing’s first — I thought that they ran the ball really well in the game,” Glasgow said during a conference call with reporters on March 24. “I remember seeing quite a few big runs in big games by I think it was Phillip Lindsay. I thought that their offensive line played really well that game. I thought that he had some big throws particularly on third down I think … that was pretty impressive for me.”

Lindsay finished the game with 109 rushing yards and a touchdown and Royce Freeman added 28 yards on the ground and another score.

Three months later, Glasgow signed a four-year deal with the Broncos.

“I thought that they were putting up a lot of points and they were putting a lot of pressure on us,” Glasgow recalled, “which is telling me that they were doing something right.”

Glasgow will now aim to help the offense continue “doing something right,” particularly in the run game. After signing Melvin Gordon, the Broncos have made it clear that they plan to run the ball early and often in 2020.

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Learning a new offense is nothing new for Broncos QB Jeff Driskel

“I’m no rookie when it comes to learning a new system,” Broncos backup quarterback Jeff Driskel said.

After spending the first four years of his career with two different teams and multiple coaching staffs, 26-year-old quarterback Jeff Driskel signed a two-year deal with the Broncos in March.

Denver’s new backup quarterback will now be tasked with learning offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur’s offense.

“I wasn’t able to get it [the playbook] until I was officially signed,” Driskel said during a conference call with reporters on March 26. “It just came in in FedEx. There’s going to be a big learning curve. I’ve got a lot to learn. I’ll have a lot of time to study. I’ve had to learn a bunch of offenses over the course of my football career.”

Due to COVID-19, the NFL has closed team facilities and offseason programs have been postponed indefinitely. So Driskel won’t be able to work with his teammates anytime soon but the veteran quarterback will be able to study and workout on his own.

When the Broncos get together again, Driskel will be ready to go.

“I’m no rookie when it comes to learning a new system,” Driskel said. “It will just be in a different environment this year. Hopefully, we can get out to Denver all together and go through some type of offseason program, but we’re just not really sure how that’s going to work this year.”

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Broncos building exciting offense around Drew Lock

Broncos general manager John Elway has put together a young, exciting offense around quarterback Drew Lock.

Denver Broncos general manager John Elway has made it clear that Drew Lock is the team’s quarterback of the future. Elway is building the team’s offense around Lock, just as he said he would.

Lock already has a Pro Bowl receiver to throw to in Courtland Sutton and a promising tight end in Noah Fant. Now he has two Pro Bowl running backs to work with: Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay.

To shore up the offensive line, Elway agreed to terms with former Detroit Lions guard/center on a four-year, $44 million contract last week. He will team up with Dalton Risner to give Denver two high-quality guards for at least the next three years (Risner will likely be re-signed).

Last year, the Broncos gave offensive tackle Ja’Wuan James a four-year, $51 million contract. He wasn’t able to stay healthy last season but if James can stay on the field this year, he should be Denver’s best offensive tackle.

Next month, Elway will get a chance to make the offense even better.

The Broncos have 10 draft picks to use in April, including the 15th overall pick in the first round. With that pick, Denver might be able to land one of the top receivers in this year’s class: CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy or Henry Ruggs. Broncos fans have to love the thought of an offense featuring Lock, Sutton, Fant, Gordon, Lindsay and Lamb, Jeudy or Ruggs.

Denver’s offense could still use some help on the offensive line and more depth at several positions, but Elway’s certainly off to a good start.

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Report: Sanjay Lal to join Seahawks as senior assistant to Schottenheimer

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal will be joining the Seattle Seahawks as a senior assistant to Brian Schottenheimer.

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal will be joining the Seattle Seahawks coaching staff for the 2020 season, according to an NFL source and first reported by Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic on Thursday.

Lal had been with the Cowboys the previous two seasons and had worked with current Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer in 2017 when they were both employed by the Colts. He has reportedly been assigned to a senior assistant role to work closely with Schottenheimer on the offensive side of the ball.

Lal is also notable for being a former player for the Washington Huskies from 1990 to 1992, winning a national championship with the team in the latter year.

The exact role given to Lal is still unclear, but he will be very closely involved with the offense as an assistant to Schottenheimer, signifying that he will be an integral component of the coaching staff next season.

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Russell Wilson’s and Bobby Wagner’s 2020 salaries fully guaranteed

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner will have their salaries for the 2020 season fully guaranteed.

Seattle Seahawks franchise cornerstones Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner saw their base salaries for the 2020 season become fully guaranteed on Friday.

According to OverTheCap.com, Wilson and Wagner will receive $18 million and $10.75 million for next season, respectively. The two are considered the most important players on the team and the leaders of their sides of the ball, so it is only fitting that they receive the blessing of guaranteed money.

Both players are in the prime of their careers, and there will be large expectations placed on them in 2020 and beyond. Wilson will be expected to lift the offense as the centerpiece of the team with his weapons in Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, Will Dissly and Chris Carson, among others. Similarly, Wagner will look to anchor the defense as one of the best linebackers in the NFL.

Wilson and Wagner cannot take the Seahawks back to the Super Bowl alone, but they will have the largest expectations of anyone on the roster. It is up to them to step up to the challenge in the 2020 season.

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Seahawks face important free agency decision with Jacob Hollister

The Seattle Seahawks face one of their most important free agency decisions with tight end Jacob Hollister, who has proven himself valuable.

Seattle Seahawks tight end Jacob Hollister could be an integral part of the team’s future, but he is a restricted free agent. He is a player who many will keep an eye on as free agency gradually approaches.

After being acquired by Seattle via trade with the Patriots, Hollister found responsibility thrust upon him swiftly in the 2019 season. Star TE Will Dissly suffered a season-ending Achilles tear, Nick Vannett was traded to the Steelers and Ed Dickson found himself on injured reserve.

Hollister did not produce on the level of Dissly but proved himself to be a valuable contributor for the Seahawks. His breakout game came in Week 9 against the Buccaneers when he caught four passes and 37 yards for two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime to make the final score 40-34.

Hollister followed this up against the eventual NFC champion 49ers in Week 10, recording eight catches for 62 yards. He did an admirable job of filling Dissly’s role in his absence, and both of them could form a lethal one-two punch at tight end next season. Hollister has not proven himself to be the most capable blocker, but there are certainly more positives to his game than negatives.

The Seahawks could offer Hollister a second-round tender in free agency to keep him around for next season, and it is difficult not to think of the potential of an offense featuring him, Dissly, Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf and Chris Carson with Russell Wilson under center.

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Russell Wilson wants the Seahawks offense to be more aggressive

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson wants the team’s offense to be more aggressive and increase its tempo in the near future.

Super Bowl LIV concluded with the Kansas City Chiefs emerging victorious over the San Francisco 49ers by a score of 31-20, winning their first championship in 50 years and second overall.

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was present for an NBC Sports interview in Miami before the game started. Wilson said he wanted to see the Seahawks offense increase its tempo and aggression in the future and utilize the team’s two-minute drill more often.

The slow starts throughout the Pete Carroll era have been a common criticism, especially considering the Seahawks regularly storm back in the second half with a chance to win – which usually involves unleashing Wilson and allowing him to take over games – but come up short in crucial matchups like their divisional-round loss to the Green Bay Packers this postseason.

Hopefully, Carroll and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer listen to the criticism and increase the tempo in the Seahawks offense more often.

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