Tag: run game

Ravens lose TE Josh Oliver to Vikings on first day of 2023 free agency

Ravens tight end Josh Oliver is headed to the Vikings after making the move on the first day of 2023 free agency

The Baltimore Ravens need to clear a significant amount of cap space to sign quarterback Lamar Jackson to a long-term deal. There have already been multiple moves that the team has made to get under the threshold for the salary cap, including moving on from star defensive lineman Calais Campbell.

Outside of clearing cap space, Baltimore also was never going to be able to retain all of their own free agents. That was the case with tight end Josh Oliver, who is headed to the Minnesota Vikings following two years with the Ravens.

Oliver was traded to Baltimore by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 for a conditional seventh-round pick. He’s tallied 26 catches for 230 yards and two touchdowns over the course of his four-year career, and has blossomed into one of the best blocking tight ends in the league.

The Ravens can now turn the keys fully over to their two second-year tight ends in Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar, playing alongside Mark Andrews. Oliver’s presence won’t be easily replaced, but Baltimore has plenty of tight end depth to get the job done.

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WATCH: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes at work in practice on Thursday

Reporters got a chance to see #Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes doing some run-game and RPO drills during practice on Thursday.

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes is practicing for the second consecutive day on Thursday following his high ankle sprain suffered in the AFC divisional round.

Mahomes spoke to media members on Thursday afternoon, explaining that he felt the first practice went better than he expected. Now, he’s out on the practice field getting some more work in ahead of the AFC Championship Game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

In the brief portion of practice open to media members, NFL Network’s James Palmer caught a glimpse of Mahomes doing some run drills and RPO drills.

Check it out:

By the looks of it, Mahomes is looking pretty spry despite the high ankle sprain. Mahomes cautioned, however, that there’s not much that the social media doctors can glean from a video.

“Yeah, I mean no one knows unless they actually get to put their hands on it and see it,” Mahomes said of his ankle injury on Thursday. “All I can do is prepare my body the best way possible. I mean, I’ve seen the videos and everything like that of me walking. I don’t know what you can really get from me walking. But I think people will see on Sunday where I’m at and I think I’ll see on Sunday where I am at. I’m just going to prepare my body the best way during the week to be in the best position possible.”

Take it as an encouraging sign or with a grain of salt, but know that Mahomes is doing everything possible to get himself prepared for Sunday.

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Seahawks rookie RB Kenneth Walker’s success due to ‘style-wise’ shift

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III has recently seen even more success on the ground due to a bit of a shift in his style.

Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III has had a stellar rookie season since his promotion to starter this year. His performance on Sunday was a major factor in Seattle’s win over the Rams. Walker finished the outing with 29 carries for 114 yards, his third contest in a row with over 100 yards logged the ground.

Coach Pete Carroll thinks he knows the secret to Walker’s recent success.

“I think in the last three weeks you’ve seen style-wise a shift a little bit,” Carroll said during his Monday radio show on Seattle Sports. “He made the adjustment we asked him to about hitting stuff and it’s just helping him, and that consistency brings out the best in our offensive line, too.”

Walker has now surpassed 1000 rushing yards on the year in just 15 games played. His Week-18 campaign was evidence the little tweak in his style is paying off in dividends.

“I thought he was really, really aggressive, man,” Carroll said. “I thought he was attacking everything. He looks so explosive. I was thrilled to see when I was looking at the film to see how explosive he looked this late in the season after run like this where he has had the ball a lot.

“He’s just getting warmed up.”

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Kyle Allen praises Dameon Pierce’s effort in the running game vs. Browns

Allen seemed impressed by what Dameon Pierce was able to do against the #Browns in the #Texans’ Week 13 loss

The Houston Texans may have taken a loss in Week 13, but at least they showed some fight. Their 1-10-1 record is the league’s worst heading into the season’s final stretch of games, but indications are that their emphasis on incremental improvement are starting to pay off.

Quarterback Kyle Allen noted the team’s resurgent run game as a positive from the Texans’ loss on Sunday, and praised rookie running back Dameon Pierce for the work he put in on the ground. While it may not have been enough to help Houston secure their second victory of the season, the quarterback seemed to be satisfied by the way the Texans ran the ball.

“It was great,” Allen explained of Pierce’s effort. “The first guy is never going to take him down. It’s good first down run game. He’s getting better on the check-downs and finding those spots and catching the ball and running. He is reliable. He is going to bring it every week.”

Pierce was Houston’s top producer until he hit a rough patch a few weeks ago and saw his production stymied by opposing defenses’ emphasis on containing him when the Texans ran the ball. His bounce-back performance against the Cleveland Browns was a good sign for his status as the team’s lead back moving forward and could be the start of another prolific run to close out the season.

If the Texans can find a way to get both the running and passing games clicking at the same time, it wouldn’t be out of the question for them to surprise one of their upcoming opponents. Given the way their defense played against Cleveland, Houston is in a far better position to succeed than they were in the middle part of their schedule when they saw their record drop to an unrecoverable position.

Pete Carroll: Seahawks ‘had our chances,’ but Raiders outplayed them

The Seattle Seahawks were clearly outplayed in Week 12 when they fell to the Las Vegas Raiders in overtime Sunday at Lumen Field.

The Seattle Seahawks are still recovering from their overtime loss to the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, including coach Pete Carroll.

“For us, we had our chances to win the football game,” Carroll said after the game. “They were obvious, so clear. You all know them. To give them the opportunity to stay in there and hang in there, they’ve been hanging, they’ve been in close games all year long. Nothing different for them. They get the big play to win the thing, which isn’t really the statement of the game.”

Taking a look at the big picture, the Seahawks didn’t deserve to win in the end.

“We gave up way too much in the running game,” Carroll said. “We did not play the run worth a darn in getting that done. We didn’t rush the passer as well as we needed to either. That’s just what happened in this game. I give them credit. They outplayed us and got their win.

“But it’s really frustrating because the game was there to be won.”

If you missed the final play of the day, here’s another look if you can stomach it  . . .

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Success for Packers begins with run game but won’t be easy vs. Titans

Can the Packers run the ball effectively against one of the best run defenses in football on Thursday night?

Following the Green Bay Packers’ win over Dallas, Matt LaFleur told reporters that all week the team knew their path to victory was going to be through the run game.

Dallas boasts one of the best pass rush units in the NFL, and becoming too reliant on the passing game would put the Green Bay offensive line in some difficult situations and, in all likelihood, result in a lot of pressure on Aaron Rodgers.

The Cowboys have, however, been susceptible against the run, allowing 4.7 yards per rush prior to Sunday’s contest. As good as they are at getting after the quarterback, that aggressiveness can lead to a break down in run defense through rushing lanes being created from a lack of gap integrity and poor edges being set on the outside.

Behind a healthy offensive line, the Packers were able to take advantage of this, rushing for over 200 yards at over five yards per carry. This success also resulted in Green Bay using a heavy dose of play-action and generating some elusive big plays. To put it simply, the offense looked the best it has all season, and it wasn’t particularly close.

That same formula is going to be important against Tennessee, who also has a dominant defensive front. Overall, the Titans rank fifth in pressure rate and fifth in total sacks. Individually, Jeffrey Simmons ranks second among all interior defensive linemen in pressures, according to PFF, and Denico Autry ranks ninth among edge rushers. Rashad Weaver and Mario Edwards also each have over 20 pressures this season.

So again, becoming one-dimensional, where this group of defenders can pin their ears back, is not going to be a recipe for success for the Packers’ offense. The run game has to be prevalent, but unlike last week where run defense was a weaker point for Dallas, the Titans have been one of the best defenses against the run.

“It’s going to be a big challenge for us this week,” said Adam Stenavich on Monday. “Up front, they’re very stout; they’re big across the board, and they all move well too. They can really play the zone schemes, and they’re stout versus the gap schemes as well. So it’s going to be a big challenge. Their linebackers are very aggressive, fill hard, and are very instinctual. Their safeties play in the box really hard as well. They do a good job at stopping the run, and you can tell that’s a big priority for them.”

Overall, the Titans are allowing just 3.9 yards per carry, the third-fewest in the NFL, and they rank first in ESPN’s run-stop win rate metric.

While it will likely be tough sledding at times, the Packers have to establish and stick to the run game – striking at least some sort of balance between the run and pass. Green Bay showed against Dallas that they can still find success on the ground, even against a packed box.

Of course, averaging 5.0 yards per rush is ideal, but the residual effects of the run game can still be felt, even if not as effective. Consistency will be key. Even without gaudy rushing stats, if the opponent believes that the Packers could run the ball in any given situation, it can still alter how a defense defends the play, thus potentially helping to open up the passing game.

The Titans’ pass defense has been susceptible this season, ranking last in big play defense by DVOA as well as in the bottom half of the league by yards per attempt allowed. The issue is that most teams haven’t been able to fully exploit this because of the pass rush, which is why the run game will again be so important for the Packers’ offense. That way, they can then hopefully generate a few of these big play opportunities – especially with the emergence of Christian Watson.

The run game may be the catalyst to offensive success, but the rushing and passing offenses play off each other. The run game opens up the passing game, and the downfield passing game will create better spacing across the field, thus creating more explosive running opportunities, and the cycle continues.

On paper, the Packers’ path to success this week seems somewhat similar to just a few days ago. Lean on the run game, let that open up opportunities in the passing game, and really utilize some of the core Matt LaFleur concepts such as play-action, being under center, and bunch sets. This, however, is much easier said than done against this Tennessee front seven. If things go sideways on the ground, will the Packers stick with it? If not, things could get ugly for the offense quite quickly with that pass rush.

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Packers run game will have to play key role vs. Bills

The Packers are expecting to be shorthanded in the passing game and will absolutely need the run game to win in Buffalo on Sunday night.

If this Buffalo Bills team were taking on a typical Aaron Rodgers-led Packers unit, we would all be anticipating a high-scoring shootout on Sunday night.

However, that isn’t the case this season with the Green Bay offense. Instead, if the Packers are going to pull off the upset, it begins with a consistent – and  successful, ideally – rushing attack.

To put it simply, the Packers just don’t have the personnel to keep up with Josh Allen and a Bills offense that is second in points per game and first in passing yards – especially with Allen Lazard not expected to play. So time of possession and controlling the clock is going to be crucial.

Last week against Washington, the Packers failed to convert a third down and ran the ball just 12 times, despite the game being relatively close for four quarters. This resulted in the Commanders holding the ball for 15 more minutes and running 25 more plays, and if it happens again, it is a recipe for a blowout loss.

Now, this isn’t to say that more carries are going to guarantee that this doesn’t happen, as this is a Bills defense that is allowing only 3.5 yards per rush, the fewest in the NFL, but even a pair of rushes that average three-yards – which is what Green Bay averaged against Washington – puts them in a manageable third and four situation. This isn’t exactly a pretty approach, but neither is the Packers’ passing game right now.

A consistent ground game can also benefit the rest of the offense. It provides the offensive line the opportunity to be the aggressor rather than being passive and retreating in pass protection. It can set up play-action, where Aaron Rodgers has completed 65% of his passes at 7.2 yards per attempt with three touchdowns, and it can provide Matt LaFleur flexibility as a play-caller by hopefully opening up the passing game.

Washington ran a ton of Cover-2 against the Packers and played with light boxes, which made moving the ball through the air challenging. The run game could have been a great way to get Washington out of this look that they sat in for essentially the entire game.

And let’s not forget, the Packers also have Aaron Jones, who doesn’t exactly need perfect blocking in order to be effective with the ball in his hands. Despite up-and-down offensive line play this season, Jones is averaging 5.5 yards per carry and is fourth in missed tackles forced and tied for seventh in runs of 10-plus yards, according to PFF. Green Bay will hopefully have Christian Watson back on the field as well, who has helped create running lanes for the backs when utilized as the motion man with the attention that he draws.

On the flip side, we’ve seen how quickly things can turn when Green Bay abandons the run and relies too heavily on the passing game. The defensive front – which for Buffalo ranks sixth in pressures this season – is able to pin its ears back, get after Rodgers, and disrupt the entire offense. And that’s not just this season; there are examples of this when Davante Adams was in Green Bay, the offensive line play was better, and the Packers’ offense was one of the best in the NFL. The offense just hasn’t been able to execute at a high enough level this season with their personnel to win this way.

With all of that said, leaning on the run game doesn’t mean the Packers should try to bully their way through the A-gap on every play, either. They have an athletic offensive line and a terrific playmaker in Jones; get this group on the move and in space.

Of course, the hope is that when running the ball, Green Bay averages five yards per rush. However, the effects of the run game can still be felt even when things aren’t going that smoothly, but it requires consistency and the defense believing that the Packers are willing to run the ball in a given situation. It’s difficult to see Green Bay having a path to victory without consistency on the ground.

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Seahawks rookie RB Kenneth Walker III shines in 1st NFL start

In for the injured Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks rookie running back Kenneth Walker III impressed in his first NFL start Week 6.

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The Seattle Seahawks’ rookies balled out Week 6 against the Arizona Cardinals, including running back Kenneth Walker III, who made his career-first NFL start.

With Rashaad Penny on the injured reserve, Walker made the most of his opportunity on Sunday.

“Johnny (Schneider) thought that from the start, that this guy could be the lead back,” coach Pete Carroll said of Walker after the game. “Thinking that it would be great to have two of those guys, you know. Same team, and to help share the load and all that. So I’m not surprised at all.”

On the day, Walker logged 21 carries for 97 yards and a rushing touchdown. He also hauled in two receptions for 13 yards.

“It’s like, you give him a chance, and he’s going to show you the stuff,” Carroll continued. “So, he’s just getting started. This is the first chance he’s had – he carried the ball 20, 21 times today, something like that, and that’s a beautiful number to get out there.

“He’s the real deal.”

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Sean McVay bullish on Bobby Wagner’s ability to contain 49ers’ run game

Wagner is a proven veteran on the #Rams’ defense and should have his fingerprints all over the team’s Week 4 matchup against the #49ers

The Los Angeles Rams have had their share of struggles against the San Francisco 49ers on the road and will look to undo recent history on Monday night. In a matchup of NFC West titans, this game has all the makings of an instant classic, and the Rams’ chances of success hinge on one factor in particular; their ability to contain the 49ers’ running game.

San Francisco brings an extra fold into this aspect of their offense with wide receiver Deebo Samuel playing a huge part in keeping defenses honest when he steps on the field. Samuel’s dual role as a rushing and receiving threat will be hard for Los Angeles to contain, but head coach Sean McVay told reporters on Thursday that he hopes linebacker Bobby Wagner will be able to make a big difference in their attempt to limit yardage on the ground.

“I think just in general, having respect for Bobby as a whole, what he can bring from player, from a production, from a leadership, all of the above,” McVay explained of his prized veteran linebacker. “That is certainly one of the things that I think has been a great trait of his. The physicality at the point of attack to knock back tackles, the concept trigger, the awareness.

“Certainly, anytime that you’re talking about division opponents, especially a great division opponent like this one that is definitely a part of it. It’s not exclusively that, but he’s a guy that when you look at those matchups, just with the amount of crossover, I thought he’s always played well in any game, but he’s done a good job when they played the Niners when he’s been in Seattle.”

The importance of Wagner’s experience against San Francisco can’t be understated. His knowledge of the 49ers’ offense should prove to be invaluable to the Rams as they look to bottle up their potent ground-game, and maintain their spot at the top of the NFC West.

Seahawks running back rotation will be dictated by ‘flow of game’

Seahawks OC Shane Waldron isn’t going to stick to a script with his running backs but will let the flow of the game determine the carries.

The Seattle Seahawks have a new offensive look this season, not only with Geno Smith at quarterback but also with some changes in the backfield – namely, the addition of rookie Ken Walker III.

Seattle selected the running back in the second round of this year’s draft out of Michigan State. Now that he’s nearly recovered from the hernia surgery he underwent this summer, more opportunities will be opened up for Walker on gamedays.

Offensive coordinator was asked about how the rotation might look going forward between Walker and veteran Rashaad Penny, who has finally earned himself the starting nod.

“The balance is going to come throughout the course of the games and throughout the flow of the games,” Waldron told reporters on Thursday. “Ken did a good job of battling back from his deal early on two weeks or three weeks ago. He has worked himself right back into there. Again, it comes back to the point of getting some more plays run, getting more runs off, and we would like to get both of those guys involved.”

Waldron was the first to admit that Seattle’s run game hasn’t exactly been stellar so far and getting things moving on the ground, in general, is key. The Seahawks OC isn’t going to stick to an exact assignment, however.

“There will always be the element of one guy is playing well or feeling out how the course of the game is going,” Waldron continued. “I don’t think it is an exact scripted amount of this guy is going to get exactly this or it is exactly that.

“It’s just within the flow of the game, how are those guys doing knowing that we want to get both of those guys involved?”

Waldron and his running backs’ next chance to get the ground game going comes this Sunday afternoon when the Seahawks host the Falcons at home.

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