Tag: offense

Vols’ projected 2020 offensive depth chart 1.0

2020 Tennessee football.

KNOXVILLE — Tennessee will begin spring practices March 9.

The annual Orange and White game will take place April 18 at Neyland Stadium.

With winter workouts underway and early enrollees on UT’s campus, Vols Wire takes a look at Tennessee’s 2020 offensive depth chart projection.

Projections are based on current player personnel on roster, including 2020 signees, for Tennessee’s offense following the Early Signing Period and ahead of National Signing Day on Feb. 5.

NEXT: Tennessee’s 2020 offensive depth chart projection

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6

Seahawks thin at tight end and could look for reinforcement in 2020

The Seattle Seahawks are relatively thin at the tight end position and could look to reinforce the unit through free agency and the draft.

The tight end position may be a crucial need for the Seattle Seahawks this offseason with concerns about Will Dissly’s durability and the depth of the roster.

Dissly has been productive when he has been healthy and could still serve as a key target for Russell Wilson in the future, but he has suffered two season-ending injuries in as many years in the NFL. Seattle has few viable options outside of him.

Jacob Hollister became a key contributor on offense after the Seahawks acquired him in a trade with the Patriots, but has also had his share of rough moments and is a restricted free agent as well. Ed Dickson has spent most of his time in the Emerald City on injured reserve. This looks like a tight end unit in need of reinforcement.

There will likely be players available in free agency – such as Austin Hooper and Eric Ebron – for the team to consider as well as this year’s draft prospects. The Seahawks should be looking into all possible options moving forward.

The Seahawks’ most glaring positional needs may be along both the offensive and defensive lines, but tight end is a position of need that should not be overlooked in free agency and the 2020 NFL Draft.

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Broncos hire Pat Shurmur as new offensive coordinator

The Broncos have officially hired Pat Shurmur, who will replace former offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello.

It’s official, the Broncos have a new offensive coordinator.

After the team fired Rich Scangarello on Sunday, reports quickly emerged that the team planned to hire former Giants coach Pat Shurmur to replace Scangarello. Denver officially announced the hire on Tuesday.

Shurmur hasn’t found much success as a head coach — he has a 19-46 record — but he is a respected offensive mind. Shurmur won AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year honors in 2017 as a coordinator after helping the Vikings reach the NFC Championship game.

Broncos coach Vic Fangio and general manager John Elway feel that Shurmur is an upgrade over Scangarello. The stats from last season reflect that belief, but not by much.

Denver’s offense averaged 298.6 yards per game (28th) and 17.6 points per game (28th). New York’s offense averaged 298.6 yards per game (23rd) and 21.3 points per game (18th). Shurmur’s 2019 numbers are better, of course, but they still ranked in the bottom half of the league.

The Broncos now have two assistant coaches with head coach experience — Shurmur and offensive line coach Mike Munchak, who served as the Titans’ head coach from 2011-2013.

To read more about Shurmur’s career leading up to Denver, click here.

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Slow starts have hampered Seahawks in the Pete Carroll era

Slow starts have hampered the Seattle Seahawks’ potential throughout the Pete Carroll era, as they often find themselves playing catch-up.

The Seattle Seahawks lost to the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round of the 2019 NFL postseason by a score of 28-23. There were many reasons for the loss, but one of them stands out – something that has contributed to several postseason losses in the Pete Carroll era – slow starts.

The Seahawks have a tendency to start slowly, rarely scoring voluminously in the first half only to come roaring back after halftime. This makes it seem like Seattle can only compete when the opponent is worn down and weakened, largely so in the second half. That is when Carroll and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer choose to unleash quarterback Russell Wilson and the passing offense. This has happened in Seattle’s postseason losses following the 2012, 2015, 2018 and 2019 seasons.

This has also been a common theme throughout the regular season. Carroll has long emphasized a philosophy of “establishing the run” and this can occasionally hamper the team’s performance when it is utilized too much as we saw last year against the Cowboys. When the Seahawks chose to pass against Green Bay, they initially played it safe for the most part, not utilizing the hurry-up offense or increasing the pace until the game was on the line.

These methods may help keep games competitive, but one wonders if the outcome of many games would have been different if the Seahawks had started hot and fast, or at least were more aggressive with their offensive play calling. As it stands, slow starts are a significant reason for Seattle having to play catch-up, never initially staying with the competition and ultimately losing important games.

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2020 Outlook: Breaking down Michigan’s 2020 offense by position

An early look at the Wolverines offense heading into the offseason.

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Now that the 2019 season is in the books, it’s time to start looking ahead to 2020.

Michigan’s offense will have some returning players, but there’s a lot of churn due to graduation, transfer and players choosing to go pro.

Here’s what we see out of the offense, who is in contention for either starting roles or major playing time, and what we expect to happen once Michigan takes on Washington in Week One.

Quarterback

Michigan will have four scholarship quarterbacks on the roster, but it’s seen by many as a two way battle between redshirt junior Dylan McCaffrey and redshirt sophomore Joe Milton.

No offense to redshirt freshman Cade McNamara or incoming true freshman Dan Villari, but the elder statesmen are the ones who will be in prime position to take over the starting job given their tenures, and they possess certain qualities that differentiate one from the other.

McCaffrey — as we’ve seen — is more of a typical dual-threat, as he looks to run just as much as pass, despite coming to Ann Arbor as a pro-style QB. It’s gotten him into trouble twice, as he broke his collarbone running for a touchdown in 2018 against Penn State and was concussed this past year at Wisconsin. We haven’t seen him throw the ball much, and he’s just over a career 50% passer, completing 10-of-20 in 2019 and 8-of-15 in 2018.

Milton is an incredibly strong-armed passer who’s spent much of his time in Ann Arbor working on his touch and accuracy. He can run — as he’s shown — but he came out of high school as a prototypical pocket passer.

In our opinion, the more accurate quarterback in spring ball and fall camp will be the one who wins the job. Part of that will be the rapport with the receivers as well as mastery of the playbook. Both should be even in that case.

Prediction:

Dylan McCaffrey wins the job by a hair, but should the loser of the starting competition remain and not transfer, both will play often, like the plan was going into 2019 before McCaffrey’s concussion in Week Four.

running back

Hassan Haskins

This will be Michigan’s most loaded position group going into 2020.

The only questions about returning players as of now centers around redshirt senior Tru Wilson — who hasn’t announced whether or not he’ll come back for a fifth-year — and redshirt junior Christian Turner, who’s been plagued by injuries and didn’t travel with the team to Orlando for the VRBO Citrus Bowl. A team spokesman said the latter would have traveled but for the injury, and that he would come to town later, but that never matriculated.

Michigan doesn’t just return its one-two punch in Zach Charbonnet and Hassan Haskins, but also adds senior Chris Evans back into the mix, and true freshman early-enrollee Blake Corum — a potential game breaker — has three practices under his belt and is now on campus in official capacity.

We expect Charbonnet and Haskins to continue to lead the charge, but what is there to do with Evans? He certainly could become something of an H-back — in the way Curtis Samuel was for Ohio State — in that he can be utilized as a versatile skill-position player who also is a wideout as much as a running back.

Prediction:

Pretty much the status quo with the caveat that Evans will be put all over the field. Corum will burn his redshirt and get significant playing time. Evans will take a minute to get going since he took a year off of football.

Offensive line

Jalen Mayfield

Michigan now has the unenviable position of replacing four-out-of-five starters on the OL, with center Cesar Ruiz declaring for the NFL Draft and the other three graduating.

The Wolverines have incredible depth at the position, however, with some excellent recruiting classes waiting their turn to come in and get their shot. That includes former four-star guard Chuck Filiaga, who has been the subject of transfer rumors, but hasn’t yet indicated a departure, and the highly-touted 2019 class. Given that Jalen Mayfield returns as a starter and Ryan Hayes has two starts under his belt — both at the tackle positions — the questions are more about who will take over the interior positions.

Any number of candidates could step up in that regard. Stephen Spanellis announced his transfer, and we’ll see if Andrew Vastardis comes back for a fifth-year (he replaced Ruiz in the Ohio State game after he went down with injury). Vastardis and redshirt freshman Zach Carpenter are the candidates for center, Filiaga for one guard position, while others — Nolan Rumler, Joel Honigford, Karsen Barnhart, Jack Stewart, and Andrew Stueber (who’s returning from an ACL tear) — all could compete for the other guard position, or even at tackle.

There’s a lot of options, and a ton of time for it to be figured out.

Prediction:

Again, a ton of time, but if we were to guess, the line would be Hayes – Filiaga – Carpenter – Stueber – Mayfield if it were cemented today.

Tight end

Nick Eubanks

It’s huge news that redshirt senior Nick Eubanks chose to return for his final year, especially with Sean McKeon graduating. But Michigan likes to run deep at tight end, with two considered starters, so someone has to come in and fill the other role.

With Mustapha Muhammad transferring to Houston midseason, there essentially are two options here: redshirt sophomore Luke Schoonmaker and true sophomore Erick All.

The depth isn’t quite what it was going into 2019, but given that Schoonmaker played the more integral role during the season, we expect him to still have the leg up in that regard. However, All will play early and often, regardless.

Prediction:

Eubanks and Schoonmaker start, All gets significant time all the same.

Wide receiver

Michigan loses a lot, but also gains a lot at this position.

Tarik Black transferred, Donovan Peoples-Jones declared for the draft, but Nico Collins announced his return for his senior year on Sunday. Leading receiver Ronnie Bell will be a true junior, and Giles Jackson, Mike Sainristil and Cornelius Johnson all return. Nate Schoenle was out with injury all season, but put on 10-pounds of solid muscle in the interim, and should see playing time. Michigan adds A.J. Henning, speedster Roman Wilson and Sainristil clone Eamonn Dennis to the fold.

Like the running back position, it’s an embarrassment of riches.

Prediction:

Starters are Collins on one side, Bell at slot, and going with Johnson on the other side. Jackson and Sainristil will have packages. Henning will backup wherever, and Wilson will also get significant playing time. The freshmen will burn their redshirts.

Sean Payton discusses why Josh Hill is so essential to well-oiled Saints offense

Saints coach Sean Payton values nominal backup tight end Josh Hill highly, due as much to his ability to make any block as his versatility.

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Veteran tight end Jared Cook arrived to the New Orleans Saints with much fanfare, but he’s taken a backseat to Josh Hill for much of his first season. And that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Cook’s production has not suffered for it — his 9 touchdown grabs tie All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas for the team lead. Hill has only gained 226 receiving yards this season, which trails even converted quarterback Taysom Hill (234 receiving yards).

But as Saints coach Sean Payton tells it, Hill’s ability to execute nearly any block in the playbook and experience in a variety of personnel packages explains the discrepancy between Hill’s 649 snaps played (6th-most on the team) on offense against Cook’s 502 (11th-most).

“He’s a guy we use in the run game and pass protection. He does a lot of things well,” Payton said. “He plays on special teams, he plays a lot of snaps each week and he’s done so for quite a while.” In addition to Hill’s extended time when the Saints have the ball, he’s chipped in 182 snaps on special teams (8th-most for the Saints, just ahead of kicker Wil Lutz at 180).

Payton continued, “He’s someone that has real good athleticism and it’s difficult because a lot of different personnel groups might run through him. He might be in the base, he might be in 11 (personnel). Certainly, Jared (Cook) is playing a lot of snaps. The two of them together will play a lot of snaps. He’s one of those guys that does a lot of things well.”

This isn’t the first time Payton has talked up what Hill brings to the team; earlier in the season, he likened Hill’s loss during a game to losing the front door of your home, in that you can get by, but it’s going to be significantly more difficult. Here’s hoping Hill and Cook can each remain healthy and continue to help the team as they push towards Super Bowl LIV.

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Green Bay Packers 2010s All-Decade team: Offense

Presenting the offense of the 2010s All-Decade team for the Green Bay Packers.

A dominant decade of offensive football is coming to an end for the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers finished in the top 10 of scoring offenses during six of the 10 seasons during the 2010s. Led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, coach Mike McCarthy and a talented supporting cast, the Packers scored 4,156 points during the decade, trailing only the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints over the last 10 years.

Now, to introduce the offense of the Packers’ All-Decade team for the 2010s:

Quarterback

First team: Aaron Rodgers

The easiest choice of them all. Rodgers, the NFL MVP in 2011 and 2014 and the MVP of Super Bowl XLV, threw 305 touchdown passes and just 63 interceptions over 142 starts during the decade. The Packers went 96-45-1 in those 142 starts. Rodgers made eight Pro Bowls, three All-Pro teams and led the Packers to the playoffs during eight of the 10 seasons this decade.

Second team: Matt Flynn

Despite only starting six games, Flynn threw 16 touchdown passes – or seven more than Brett Hundley tossed in his nine starts. He nearly upset the Patriots in New England in 2010, threw a franchise-record six touchdown passes in a game to end 2011 and led a crazy comeback in Dallas to help keep the Packers alive in 2013.

Running back

First team: Aaron Jones, Eddie Lacy

Jones played in just 40 games but still scored a team-high 28 touchdowns, averaged over five yards per carry and produced almost 3,000 total yards from scrimmage. He’s the most dynamic running back to ever play with Aaron Rodgers. Lacy, the NFL Rookie of the Year in 2013, led the team in rushing yards during the 2010s with 3,435 and was second in rushing touchdowns with 23. He had back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons to start his career but was done in Green Bay after only four seasons.

Second team: James Starks, Jamaal Williams

Starks came on as a rookie contributor for the Super Bowl team and then established himself as a valuable role player over seven total seasons. He was second among Packers running backs in yards from scrimmage with 3,548. Williams hasn’t been flashy, but he’s produced over 2,000 total yards and scored 15 total touchdowns since 2017.

Fullback

First team: John Kuhn

Kuhn, a folk hero, scored 17 total touchdowns and played in 93 total games between 2010 and 2015. He was a three-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro and arguably one of the NFL’s best fullbacks of the decade.

Second team: Aaron Ripkowski

Ripkowski took over Kuhn as the lead fullback in 2016. He scored three total touchdowns over 47 games played between 2015 and 2017.

Wide receiver

First team: Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb

Nelson led all Packers receivers in targets (751), receptions (495), receiving yards (7,162) and receiving touchdowns (65) during the decade. A gifted player who had a mind-meld with Rodgers, Nelson finished 11th in receiving yards and fifth in touchdowns among all NFL players between 2010 and 2019. Cobb, a skilled slot receiver and a favorite of Rodgers, finished second in catches (470) and receiving yards (5,524) to Nelson. Only 20 NFL players caught more total passes than him during the decade. Arguably no Packers receiver was a part of more big moments than Cobb, but nagging injuries staggered his late-career production in Green Bay.

Second team: Davante Adams, James Jones

Adams, a two-time Pro Bowler, was third among Packers receivers in receptions (431) and receiving yards (5,194) and second in touchdowns (44). He’s as talented as any player who has ever caught passes from Rodgers. Jones spent two stints in Green Bay and was fourth in receptions (261), receiving yards (3,805) and touchdowns (37).

Tight end

First team: Jermichael Finley

A freak neck injury in 2013 ended what could have been a terrific career for the athletically gifted tight end. He caught 162 passes for 2,035 yards and 14 touchdowns between 2010 and 2013. When healthy, he was a matchup nightmare for defenses.

Second team: Richard Rodgers

He caught 13 touchdown passes, giving him the seventh-most scores among Packers players during the decade. He’ll forever be remembered for his Hail Mary catch to beat the Lions in 2015.

Offensive tackle

First team: David Bakhtiari, Bryan Bulaga

Bakhtiari, a three-time All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler, is charting a potential Hall of Fame path. He’s been one of the best left tackles of the decade. Bulaga, a first-round pick in 2010, played in 115 games during the decade despite battling consistent injuries. A true warrior, he’s been one of the most underrated offensive tackles of the decade.

Second team: Chad Clifton, Marshall Newhouse

Clifton was the starting left tackle for the Packers’ Super Bowl-winning team in 2010. A Pro Bowler that year, he earns a spot despite making only 22 starts during the decade. Newhouse made 31 starts at left tackle over three seasons, including 13 starts in 2011 and 16 in 2012. His stint doesn’t look so bad when compared to the work of Don Barclay and Jason Spriggs.

Offensive guard

First team: Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang

Sitton and Lang gave the Packers one of the NFL’s best guard combinations of the decade. Sitton played in 94 games between 2010 and 2015 and made three Pro Bowls, while Lang played in 103 games between 2010 and 2016 and made one Pro Bowl. Both retired in 2019. Individually and together, they were dominant.

Second team: Lane Taylor, Elgton Jenkins

Taylor took over for Sitton to start the 2016 and started 45 games between 2016 and 2018. An effective starter, he played two games in 2019 before ending up on injured reserve. Jenkins was a rookie starter in 2019, but the second-rounder didn’t allow a sack all season and looks primed to be the next Pro Bowl guard in Green Bay.

Center

First team: Corey Linsley

Linsley, a fifth-round pick in 2014, has started 86 games over the last six seasons. He’s been a model of consistency, playing all 16 games at center during four of his six seasons.

Second team: Scott Wells

Wells started at center in both 2010 and 2011, starting all 16 games both seasons. He made the Pro Bowl in 2011 before moving on and finishing his career with the Rams.

Josh Gordon wants to remain in Seattle for the foreseeable future

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Josh Gordon told reporters about his desire to remain in the Emerald City for the foreseeable future.

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Josh Gordon has only spent a little over a month in the Emerald City, but it sounds like he is already satisfied with his current living environment.

“Oh yeah, absolutely,” Gordon told reporters via NBC Sports Northwest. “Seattle is amazing. Football aside, I’d definitely love to live in a place like this.”

However, Gordon also praised the Seahawks’ culture and chemistry on the field, as well as the competitive nature of the team.

“I think I’m just fortunate in general to have landed in a place like this with a coach like this,” Gordon said. “It’s real family-like. It’s real close, real tight-knit – a real lively, energetic group. And competitive more than anything. They love the game of football. You can see it. It’s a great feeling to come back to football and enjoy what you do.”

With six receptions for 81 yards through four games and most of them being crucial catches, Gordon is taking things from game to game and from play to play in the Seahawks offense.

“Anywhere I can be of use to the team, to the offense, to try and get us a catch, move the chains, five yards, it doesn’t matter,” Gordon said. “Any way to try and make a positive influence on the game plan, I’m there for it.”

In addition to making contributions to the Seahawks’ ambitions this season, Gordon wishes to stay in Seattle for the long-term future.

“That’s my hope,” Gordon said. “Thinking optimistically, I think that’s every player’s goal: to try and find a place you can call home. In all aspects I think that’s a bonus.”

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2019 Indiana Hoosiers’ offense by the numbers

2020 Gator Bowl.

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KNOXVILLE — Tennessee (7-5, 5-3 SEC) will play Indiana (8-4, 5-4 Big Ten) in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl to conclude the 2019 season.

The contest will be played Jan. 2 and kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET.

Below is a look at Indiana’s offense by the numbers during the 2019 season.

  • Total offense: 443.6 (31st nationally)
  • Passing yards per game: 308.7 (13th nationally)
  • Rushing yards per game: 134.9 (100th nationally)
  • 3rd conversions: .482 (11th nationally; 79 conversions/164 attempts)
  • 4th down conversions: .438 (97th nationally; 7 conversions/16 attempts)
  • Red zone offense: .847 (57th nationally; 50 scores/59 attempts — 23 rushing TDs, 15 passing TDs, 12 field goals)
  • Interceptions thrown: 8 (40th nationally; 439 passing attempts)
  • First downs: 287 (24th nationally; 162 passing, 99 rushing, 26 penalty)
  • Sacks allowed: 23 (58th nationally)
  • Time of possession: 34 (5th nationally)
  • Turnovers lost: 14 (29th nationally; 8 INTs, 6 fumbles lost)

2019 Indiana schedule

vs. Ball State (W, 34-24)
vs. Eastern Illinois (W, 52-0)
vs. Ohio St. (L, 51-10)
vs. UConn (W, 38-3)
at Michigan State (L, 40-31)
vs. Rutgers (W, 35-0)
at Maryland (W, 34-28)
at Nebraska (W, 38-31)
vs. Northwestern (W, 34-3)
at Penn St. (L, 34-27)
vs. Michigan (L, 39-14)
at Purdue (W, 44-41 2OT)

5 takeaways from Seattle’s 28-12 blowout road loss in Los Angeles

Five takeaways from the Seattle Seahawks 28-12 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on the road during Week 14’s “Sunday Night Football” matchup.

The Seattle Seahawks (10-3) suffered one of their worst losses in recent memory to the Los Angeles Rams (8-5) Sunday night and fell back to second place in the NFC West after the San Francisco 49ers’ (11-2) victory over the New Orleans Saints (10-3).

The Seahawks also dropped their first road game of the year, fell back to the No. 5 seed in the NFC and were denied from clinching a playoff spot. Running back Rashaad Penny sprained his ACL and the team as a whole looked terribly unprepared and outmatched. Here are a few additional takeaways from the game.

Wheels fell off offensively after the opening drive

The Seahawks managed a field goal on their opening drive and did not score offensively again until the fourth quarter when they kicked another field goal. They were held without an offensive touchdown for the first time all season. Russell Wilson and his cohorts never established a rhythm and often found themselves punting away. Wilson was under duress from the Rams’ ferocious pass rush and his receivers could not consistently get open and had a few drops as well. Penny’s injury may have played a factor in the results, but the Seahawks offense could not capitalize on the opportunities given to them. They will have to return to form to compete in the postseason and fast.

Almost no pass rush whatsoever

The Seahawks’ pass rush reverted to their inept form that was on display for most of the season before Week 10. The defense landed no sacks on Jared Goff, and this contributed significantly to the hefty production of the Rams’ offense. There were a few moments of pressure, but not nearly enough to even keep Seattle in the game, let alone win it. The Rams offensive line kept their signal-caller clean and he made plays when he needed to. The same cannot be said for Seattle’s pass rush. Speaking of the defense…

Defense gave up three touchdowns in the first half

This is not a recipe for success. The secondary was routinely gashed for big gains by the Rams’ receivers and looked thoroughly outmatched for the majority of the game, but this was especially evident in the first half. All three of the Rams’ first-half TDs came from sustained, high-yardage drives and the third one came right before halftime. The Rams received the second-half kickoff and largely controlled the game from there thanks to the sizable lead they built up.

Quandre Diggs was the lone bright spot on defense

Diggs had two interceptions of Goff, the first being a pick-six when Seattle was down 21-3. Jason Myers missed the extra point, but this play had the potential to be a massive shift in momentum for the Seahawks. Unfortunately, the offense could not take advantage of the big picks from Diggs and the rest of the defense certainly did not help matters. This was a solid game from the veteran safety and it could provide something for him to build on even more.

This was one of the ugliest Seahawks losses of the Pete Carroll era

Seattle could not establish a run game, sack the quarterback or consistently cover the Rams’ offensive weapons. Pete Carroll prides his reputation on his teams being able to execute in these situations and Seattle was poor in all categories tonight. Not even Wilson could provide many heroics, and this team just looked wholly unprepared for one of the most important games of the season. It is not uncommon for Carroll’s teams to lose, but they rarely get blown out. It is even rarer to see them get blown out on primetime in December. They did Sunday night against a division rival, and they must recover from it and defeat the Panthers (5-8) on the road next week.

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