Tag: Ryan Clark

Ryan Clark with some hard truth about the Steelers roster: ‘Zero people care about the Steeler way’

Is The Steelers Way lost with this current team?

On Monday, former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark was on the Pat McAfee Show to talk about the Steelers and their struggles. Clark is one of the most outspoken former Steelers in media and he never holds back.

Clark is also uniquely qualified to critique this team as he was part of a Steelers defense that was easily one of the most feared in NFL history. It was a unit that was all in on the “Steelers Way” as it were. In fact, the entire team on both sides of the football was the standard we all talk about when we say “the standard is the standard.”

According to Clark, when discussing the locker room he made it blunt when he said “Zero people care about the Steeler way.”

While we don’t disagree, it’s a bitter pill to swallow when you consider guys like Cam Heyward, T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick are on the team. These are the players you hope are still in that mold and can pull this team back. But the truth is even if those three are still all in, there are just too many guys on the roster right now who are playing for themselves.

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Joe Flacco tried out for TV before making NFL comeback with Browns

Joe Flacco reportedly had something else in mind before returning to the NFL.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco could’ve had a different career entirely before his mini-comeback in the AFC North.

While talking on ESPN’s morning show Get Up, NFL veteran Ryan Clark revealed that Flacco actually auditioned for Inside the NFL, which Clark hosts, before making his leap back into the league to play for Cleveland.

“I’m glad we didn’t take him,” Clark quipped about Flacco, who could very well be a playoff-starting quarterback next month as the Browns attempt to secure an AFC Wild Card spot.

This is a fascinating twist of fate, as Flacco has gone from potentially being out of the league and on television to playing for a likely postseason-bound Cleveland.

We’ll see how long Flacco can keep playing at this level, although history does suggest that he’ll be at his best in January if Cleveland can indeed get there.

At the least, Clark insinuates that Flacco has a good plan of what he wants to do when his playing days are over.

Kevin Stefanski’s Browns QB news about Joe Flacco means we’ll never escape his ‘elite’ meme

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Former Steeler Ryan Clark calls loss to Browns ‘disgraceful’

The Steelers gave one away on Sunday and Ryan Clark isn’t happy about it.

The frustration with the Pittsburgh Steelers continues to bubble to the surface as this offense stays stuck in neutral with no end in sight. Former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark took to X on Sunday afternoon after the Steelers collapsed and lost to the Cleveland Browns to rail about how poorly the team played.

Clark called the performance disgraceful and called out the team for allowing it to happen. Clark spent 8 of this 13-year NFL career with the Steelers and was part of some of the best defensive units in the NFL at that time.

It’s hard to lay too much blame at the feet of the Steelers defense given how poorly the offense played. However, Clark is right about that final drive. The Browns seemed to be able to just flip a switch and march the ball down the field for that game-winning drive with a rookie quarterback. After the game, head coach Mike Tomlin seemed to be in complete denial about the problems this team is having, even in wins which does make you wonder if he has any interest in making substantial changes going forward.

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Ryan Clark breaks down Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo’s successful gameplan vs. Dolphins

Ryan Clark breaks down Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo’s successful gameplan vs. Dolphins

Last Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense slowed down the best statistical offensive team in the league so far this season, the Miami Dolphins. The unit led by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo created a masterful game plan that held Miami to only 14 points, catching the eye of many critics around the league.

Former NFL defensive back and current television analyst Ryan Clark took an interest in the defense’s Week 9 performance. On the latest episode of Inside The NFL, Clark broke down two defensive plays that he felt changed the game in Kansas City’s favor.

“Let’s look at how they were able to attack Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins with “two safety high defenses. Here, you’re going to get a corner cat, which is a corner blitz from Jaylen Watson. He’s going to roll the safety over to number one, but they play this from a too-high look, which gives Tua Tagovailoa the feeling that he can’t push the football down the field.” Said Clark, “George Karlaftis drops right into the zone where you want to hit Tyreek Hill. It’s a hitch in the backfield, a sack. Now that’s how they bring the pressure.”

“The way they played man-to-man. It wasn’t single high, two safety high, press. You’re going to see here they’re going to attempt to attack Trent McDuffie in the slot who, because he’s pressing, is able to get right up on Tyreek Hill,” said Clark. “you get the strip and the fumble. Now you get a pitch from (Mike) Edwards to Brian Cook.

“It’s a huge play that puts points on the board. What I love about this last play is now it’s just a straight zone. You’re not affected by the exit motion from Raheem Mostert in the backfield. It’s the hands of Willie Gay Jr. It gets Tua Tagovailoa off of his first read, and we see when he has to come off of his first read, that’s when teams have success.”

The Chiefs’ scoring on defense was the difference at the end of the game and further proved that Spagnuolo’s unit is a respected group this season. On Monday Night Football, they will have another challenge in Week 11 against the Philadelphia Eagles under the lights.

ESPN’s Ryan Clark breaks down Bills new defensive look vs. Bucs (video)

ESPN’s Ryan Clark breaks down #Bills new defensive look vs. #Bucs (video):

The Buffalo Bills defense have lost some key pieces in the last couple of weeks, with injuries to Tre’Davious White, Da’Quan Jones, and Matt Milano resulting in various second- and third-string players seeing their snap counts vary at their expected and alternate positions.

The tinkering on the defensive front happens throughout an NFL season, as injuries are always possible. To lose multiple key pieces across all levels of the defense is unlikely, but sometimes it happens.

Sean McDermott, who took over defensive coordinator duties this offseason, had looked at different ways to line up and include his extremely talented defenders on the field and players that can make big plays to disrupt the offensive timing for throws and tackle running backs behind the line of scrimmage.

In Week 8, the Buffalo defense lined up in a unique formation with three safeties on occasion. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky pointed out how the Bills lined up in this formation against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and how the formation allows for Buffalo’s talented safeties Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde to both be on the field while having a third safety, Taylor Rapp, drop into the linebacker role during passing downs.

And the former NFL quarterback asked guest Ryan Clark for this thoughts on the new personnel during ESPN’s NFL Live program. Clark played 12 years as a safety in the NFL across various defensive schemes and formations, and definitely knows a thing or two about winning. The NFL veteran started as safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers for five years, including during the 2008 season when he won Super Bowl XLIII.

Clark also highlighted to Orlovsky that the defensive scheme seemed to be a game plan for the Buccaneers specifically, given their inability to run the football and reliance on quarterback Baker Mayfield to beat opponents through the air.

You can watch the full clip of Clark and Orlovsky analyzing the Bills’ defense here following a segment on the Bills’ offense by Orlovsky:

ESPN’s Ryan Clark praises Kirk Cousins after Achilles injury

Ryan Clark sings the praises of Kirk Cousins’ response after he tore his Achilles tendon

After Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles Sunday against the Packers, he stayed on the sidelines to cheer on his team. A feat that did not go unnoticed, particularly by ESPN’s Ryan Clark. Appearing on Monday Night Countdown, Clark drew comparisons to former Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant, after his own Achilles tear.

Clark mentions that Cousins finished out the play on which he tore his Achilles, hopped to the sidelines and then cheered on the team, comparing it to Bryant stepping up to the free throw line to sink two free throws after his own injury back in 2013.

Clark goes on to heap praise on Cousins for bringing the Vikings back from an 0-3 start, stating “you don’t replace that”. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what the Vikings are going to have to do, as Jaren Hall now steps up to fill those shoes and the Vikings potentially to a trade or free agency for a more permanent solution.

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Ryan Clark breaks down Jonathan Allen’s NSFW postgame rant from Week 7

Ryan Clark on Jonathan Allen: “The Commanders made this man lose all his professionalism.”

Ryan Clark spent 13 seasons in the NFL, including two stints with the then-Washington Redskins. Clark’s final NFL season (2014) was spent in Washington.

Since retirement, Clark has become one of TV’s best NFL analysts and is a part of ESPN’s weekday morning show, “Get Up.”

On Monday morning, the “Get Up” crew was breaking down Week 7 NFL action, including the Washington Commanders’ ugly 14-7 loss to the New York Giants.

It wasn’t the game that caught Clark’s attention; it was defensive tackle — and team captain — Jonathan Allen’s postgame rant.

We’ll let Clark take it from here:

“This man chose violence,” Clark said. “The sheer audacity of the outfit says, ‘I don’t give no F’s. Zero of ’em.’”

There is much more from Clark included in the above clip.

One more from Clark: “The Commanders made this man lose all his professionalism.”

It’s hard to dispute that. Allen, a two-time Pro Bowler and one of the best in the NFL at his position, finally had enough.

How will Washington respond in Week 8 against the Eagles?

 

Ryan Clark hilariously said that even Jonathan Allen’s bold postgame outfit matched his fiery rant

Ryan Clark is a national treasure.

Former NFL player turned studio analyst Ryan Clark’s ability to read a scene and make it relatable needs to be studied. This is exquisite, top-tier activity.

The Washington Commanders are underachieving in nearly every aspect. Coach Ron Rivera’s “Riverboat Ron” mystique has long faded. Eric Bieniemy, the new offensive coordinator, is struggling. Also, the team has lost four of the last five games, including a Week 7 back-breaker to the New York Giants. Commanders fans are down bad.

The loss was too much for defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. When asked about his feelings after the game on Sunday, Allen said everything but sunshine in a wild, expletive-filled rant. With the cameras rolling, he let several variations of certain four-letter words fly without restraint.

On Monday, during a segment on ESPN’s Get Up, Clark perfectly described what Allen’s outfit should have told media in the room ahead of his rant.

Clark walked his fellow co-hosts through what reporters encountered and explained that they should have known the jig was up purely by Allen’s outfit choice: a durag, sunglasses, a chain and an open shirt showing his chest.

“This man chose violence!” Clark emphatically said. “The sheer audacity of the outfit says, ‘I don’t give no F’s. Zero of ’em.'”

Clark ends his hilarious explanation by saying that the Commanders’ terrible season has caused Allen to lose some professionalism. Not to be dramatic, but points were made.

I am sending thoughts and condolences to Commanders fans everywhere.

Featured image from ESPN.

LSU set to wear helmet stickers to honor Greg Brooks Jr. vs. Arkansas

LSU will wear helmet stickers in support of Greg Brooks Jr. on Saturday night.

LSU’s helmets will look a little different on Saturday night as the team will don No. 3 stickers in support of [autotag]Greg Brooks Jr.[/autotag]

Brooks missed the Mississippi State game in what [autotag]Brian Kelly[/autotag] later described as a “medical emergency.”

Later in the week, the Brooks family put out a statement.

“Greg Jr. was diagnosed last week with a large brain tumor that required emergency surgery. Doctors successfully performed the procedure Friday to remove the mass,” the statement read.

Kelly made the announcement about the helmet stickers on his radio show Thursday night.

LSU will face Brooks’ former team, the Arkansas Razorbacks.

[autotag]Ryan Clark[/autotag], a former LSU safety himself, shared this on social media after visiting Brooks in the hospital.

“Know that this man has zero quit in him,” Clark wrote.

Kelly added that Brooks was able to stand up on Thursday and that he planned to visit Brooks after the conclusion of his radio show.

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Ryan Clark makes bold prediction on future of ex-Steelers WR Antonio Brown

ESPN analyst and former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark believes, unequivocally, that Antonio Brown is a Hall of Famer.

Ryan Clark is at it again. And while this isn’t his boldest prediction by far, it certainly has sparked conversation.

The ESPN analyst and Pivot Podcast host believes that former Pittsburgh Steelers legend Antonio Brown is a Hall of Famer. “I don’t think he gets in on the First Ballot because we know how that goes, but for a period he was one of the ‘greatest’ to ever do it,” Clark recently posted on X.

How bold it is, really, though? We all know Brown has a Hall of Fame resume and could’ve kept adding to it if he hadn’t gone off the deep end. Like many players who leave, his career took a significant dip after he left Pittsburgh.

It’s not a question of whether his career is worthy of enshrinement, only that he’ll have to clear some hurdles to clear to get in. Voters take into consideration off-the-field issues almost as deeply as on-field performance.

There’s a backlog of HOF-caliber receivers who have yet to get their gold jacket, including Steelers’ own Hines Ward.

Whether Brown will get in is anybody’s guess. He never officially retired, so the countdown has yet to begin. Players must be retired for five years to be eligible for induction.

What do you think: Does Antonio Brown get into the Hall of Fame? Cast your vote below.

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