Tag: pass rush

Zack Baun agrees to a prove-it deal with the Philadelphia Eagles

Zack Baun is leaving New Orleans for the Eagles. Baun should be given a larger sample size in Philadelphia to show he can be a pass rusher

Zack Baun has found a new home with the Philadelphia Eagles, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who reports that Baun has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with Philly. He’ll have an opportunity to show what he can do from a position of strength and possibly earn a bigger contract.

It’s hard to blame Baun’s lack of production with the New Orleans Saints on the player. He was slotted into the strongside linebacker role that New Orleans doesn’t utilize often while running so much nickel and dime personnel. Baun carved out a greater role late last year after resuming the pass-rush specialist role he played in college at Wisconsin, which the Saints never really embraced.

That is where Baun found his most success. His slighter frame may have created hesitancy for New Orleans to use him that way, but he never picked up the coverage skills that they tried to coach him. Baun showed his pass rush ability from college could translate to the NFL despite his size (6-foot-3, 225 pounds). The Eagles will likely use him in that capacity as they retool their defensive line in the wake of Fletcher Cox’s retirement and trade talks centering on both Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick, with Bryce Huff expected to sign a lucrative free agent contract of his own at the start of the new league year. Baun’s one-year deal allows him to show what he can do with a larger sample size of what he does best, rush the passer.

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Chiefs DL Chris Jones earned fifth-best PFF grade among interior defenders in 2023

#Chiefs DL Chris Jones earned a PFF grade in the top-five of all interior defenders in the NFL for the 2023 season.

The Kansas City Chiefs are entering the 2024 offseason in an enviable position. As back-to-back champions, the team secured dynasty status with their win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII and will seek to keep as much talent on its payroll as possible heading into their next title defense campaign.

One key player that the Chiefs can’t afford to lose is veteran defensive lineman Chris Jones, who earned the fifth-best Pro Football Focus grade among all interior defenders for his efforts in 2023.

Jones has been a key cog in Kansas City’s defense since joining the Chiefs as a second-round draft pick in 2016. His ability to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines is unparalleled, and without his presence on Kansas City’s front-four, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will have his hands full trying to generate a pass rush next season.

The Chiefs used their franchise tag on Jones last year, and may have to resort to using it again if general manager Brett Veach can’t work out a long-term deal for the star lineman in the coming months.

Broncos need more from their pass rush in 2024

The Broncos did not have any players with double-digit sacks in 2024 and the defense ranked 22nd out of 32 teams with 42 total sacks.

The Denver Broncos totaled 42 sacks in 2023, tied for the 11th-lowest total in the NFL, and the worst total in the AFC West. Elsewhere in the division, the Las Vegas Raiders (46 sacks), Los Angeles Chargers (48 sacks) and Kansas City Chiefs (57 sacks) got more production from their pass rushers.

The Broncos will need more from their edge defenders in 2024. Part of the problem in 2023 was leaning on Randy Gregory and Frank Clark early in the year. Both players were off the team by mid-season.

Another hindrance was Baron Browning’s meniscus tear that sidelined him for the first six games of the campaign. After he returned from that injury, Browning had modest production, totaling 4.5 sacks in 10 games.

Jonathon Cooper (8.5 sacks) and Nik Bonitto (8.0 sacks) were the team’s most productive pass rushers in 2023, but both of them might be better suited for a rotational rusher role instead of a regular starting gig.

If Browning is able to reach his potential in 2024, Denver could pair him with a high-profile pass rusher. Cooper and Bonitto would be excellent rotation options in such a scenario. If Browning never turns into the kind of pass rusher the Broncos hope he can be, Denver will eventually need two starting-caliber edge defenders.

The Broncos are set to select 12th overall in the 2024 NFL draft and that might be an ideal place to land a top pass rusher. Recent mock drafts have Denver landing Laiatu Latu, Jared Verse and Chop Robinson at that spot. Whether it’s one of those options or another prospect, the Broncos would be wise to bring in a high-profile pass rusher in 2024.

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Trent McDuffie led all cornerbacks in QB pressures during 2023 regular season

#Chiefs CB Trent McDuffie tallied the most QB pressures of anyone at his position during the 2023 regular season.

The Kansas City Chiefs’ defense turned a corner in 2023, and cornerback Trent McDuffie played a huge part in the unit’s resurgence. The second-year defender was a nightmare for opposing receivers in coverage, but another aspect of his game helped lead Kansas City’s identity change in a more subtle way.

According to the Chiefs’ official Twitter account, McDuffie led all cornerbacks in the NFL in quarterback pressures during the regular season.

While most defensive backs don’t make their money as blitzes, McDuffie broke the mold in Kansas City’s 11-win campaign, tallying three sacks in addition to his many pressures.

Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo made an effort to get creative this season, and McDuffie’s involvement in the pass rush paid dividends for a unit that desperately needed to be revitalized.

Fans should expect McDuffie’s prowess as a blitzer to be leveraged in the Chiefs’ game plan for the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

Chiefs DL George Karlaftis brings impressive streak into matchup vs. Eagles

#Chiefs DL George Karlaftis enters Kansas City’s Week 11 matchup against the #Eagles with an impressive streak.

The Kansas City Chiefs pass rush wouldn’t be nearly as effective as it has been through nine games without the efforts of second-year defensive lineman George Karlaftis up front.

According to Pro Football Focus, Karlaftis has tallied at least four pressures in every game that Kansas City has played this season. His 47 total pressures are tied for 10th place among all players in the NFL, and his position on the list could improve with a standout showing against the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football in Week 11.

Few players have dominated opposing offensive lines like Karlaftis, and in just his sophomore season with the Chiefs, the promising young pass rusher seems destined for greatness.

Expect Karlaftis to pair with Chris Jones, Charles Omenihu, and Mike Danna to wreak havoc on the Eagles’ offensive line on Monday as Kansas City looks to win its Super Bowl LVII rematch against Philadelphia in primetime.

Studs and Duds for the Lions win over the Chargers

Here are this week’s Studs and Duds for the Detroit Lions victory over the Los Angeles Chargers

Following the bye week, the Detroit Lions aimed for a triumphant return against the Los Angeles Chargers. The competition remained intense throughout the day, but the Lions clinched their seventh win of the season, securing a 41-38 victory with Riley Patterson delivering the decisive field goal.

The Lions initiated a strong start in the early phases of the game, but it evolved into a seesaw battle as the Chargers found their offensive rhythm. The matchup featured numerous daring fourth-down calls, totaling eight, yet none surpassed the boldness of the decision that ultimately sealed the game. Opting to go for it on fourth down at the game’s conclusion, Coach Dan Campbell displayed confidence, and Jared Goff’s poised throw to Sam LaPorta positioned them perfectly for the game-sealing field goal.

The Lions earned a hard-fought, gritty triumph, embodying their team mantra. In the aftermath of this victory, let’s take a look at the Studs and Duds in the Lions victory over the Chargers.

Browns DE Myles Garrett still dominating despite difficult assignments

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett leads the NFL in several advanced pass rusher stats.

Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett proved once again to be in a class above the rest of the NFL. The veteran pass rusher pushed his sack total to 8.5 on the year after the Browns’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8, which is tied for third in the league. Garrett also ranks second in quarterback hits with 17 and seventh in quarterback pressures with 21.

But more than that, Garrett is playing well and winning at the line of scrimmage in the face of more difficult assignments relative to the rest of the league.

Garrett’s Pro Football Focus pass rush grade over expectation relative to his blocking assignment outpaces the rest of the position by a sizable margin:

And his pass rush efficiency rate is also atop the league and ahead of other stars like Trey Hendrickson of the Cincinnati Bengals and Micah Parsons of the Dallas Cowboys:

Garrett has done this all, again, in spite of some of the toughest assignments in the league. He’s been doubled teamed 28 percent of the time, per ESPN, which ranks second behind only Parsons. And yet, Garrett’s still managed to win at a league-high rate of 32 percent.

This isn’t new him, though. Garrett’s been one of the best at his positions since the Browns took him No. 1 overall in 2017. And he’s only gotten better with age. Garrett tallied at least 10 sacks in each of his past five seasons and recorded 16 sacks in each of the past two seasons. He finished the past three seasons with at least a 26 percent pass rush win rate, per ESPN, and Garrett’s 83 career sacks also rank second among all defensive players since 2017.

Garrett is clearly one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, and the hiring of Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator appears to have only ratcheted up Garrett’s ability on the defensive line.

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George Karlaftis leading the way for Chiefs’ pass rush through Week 6

DL George Karlaftis is the #Chiefs’ leader in quarterback pressures through six weeks of the 2023 season.

The Kansas City Chiefs are headed into their Week 7 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers with a five-game win streak on the line, and their elite defense will need to show out to extend their run of dominance.

While Patrick Mahomes has been the focal point of the Chiefs’ strategy in years past, it is Kansas City’s defenders who have stolen the show to this point in the team’s 2023 campaign.

Heading into their divisional tilt against the Chargers, Kansas City’s leader in quarterback pressures is second-year lineman George Karlaftis, who has been a constant pest for passers to start the season.

 

The list, which was expected to be led by veteran Chris Jones, tells the tale of an up-and-coming unit that is in the midst of a change of the guard at one of its most crucial positions.

Karlaftis may need a bit more time to take Jones’ title as Kansas City’s preeminent sack-master, but if his yearly season performance is any indication, the Chiefs have their next great pass rusher under contract for the foreseeable future.

PFF: Seahawks now lead NFL in total pressures this season

Rapid improvement from the pass rush

Well, this is certainly a welcome bit of positive news! The Seattle Seahawks’ primary goal this offseason was to improve their defensive front. Not just in the run defense, but also finding a way to make opposing quarterbacks more uncomfortable.

While the run defense is certainly improved, the Seahawks are definitely enjoying the fruits of their efforts when it comes to the pass rush. Right now, Seattle’s defense leads the league with most pressures generated. A stark improvement from where they were at this same point last year.

This may come as a surprise to some, especially considering the Seahawks pass rush was literally non-existent against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1, and only made marginal impact in Week 2 against the Lions. But so far, like the rest of the defense, they are improving rapidly.

Also, sacking quarterback Daniel Jones eleven times on Monday Night Football surely helps to boost the numbers a bit,

More Seahawks Wire stories

Ranking all 32 starting QBs by CPOE

Power Rankings going into Week 5

Broncos need more from their pass rush in Week 2

The Broncos had no sacks and no quarterback hits in Week 1. Denver’s pass rushers have generate more pressure in Week 2.

The Denver Broncos will need more production from their pass against the Washington Commanders this week than they got against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1.

That shouldn’t be hard to accomplish given that the team’s pass rush was just about non-existent last week. Broncos outside linebackers Randy Gregory, Jonathon Cooper, Frank Clark and Nik Bonitto combined to total just two “pressures” and zero quarterback hits against the Raiders.

After a 17-16 loss, Denver players attributed the lack of pressure in part to the quick release of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. 

“I know we did not have any sacks today, but I think going into the game if you look at ‘Jimmy G,’ I mean it is very well known to get the ball out quick,” defensive end Zach Allen said.

“He’s very smart, like I said earlier in the week, he knows where the ball is going before the ball is even snapped. So obviously you just can’t get frustrated. I think there was some good wins out there but obviously we can improve in every aspect.”

Broncos edge defender Randy Gregory noted that Denver was focused on stopping the run, which they did relatively well. Las Vegas running back Josh Jacobs was limited to 48 yards on 19 carries, averaging just 2.5 yards per rush.

“I do not feel like [Garoppolo] dropped back much early on,” Gregory said. “[They] did a good job of running the ball, taking shots when they needed to and getting the play action when they needed to. I know for me that probably messed me up a little bit.

“As a pass rusher, you would like to get a little bit more opportunities for one-on-one rushes and to see him drop back more. I think we had a good game plan to stop the run. We just need to cut down on some of the explosive plays and make plays when we need to.”

The Broncos will likely be helped by the eventual return of outside linebacker Baron Browning, who is eligible to be activated from the reserve/physically unable to perform list in Week 5. In the meantime, Gregory, Cooper, Clark and Bonitto have to create more pressure, even when the game flow makes it difficult.

Denver should have an easier time generating pressure when the team faces the Washington Commanders and second-year QB Sam Howell in Week 2. Howell was sacked six times in Washington’s season opener.

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