Tag: Secondary

Kareem Jackson looking forward to reuniting with A.J. Bouye

“I’m just looking forward to seeing how much he has progressed,” Kareem Jackson said of reuniting with A.J. Bouye.

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson and cornerback A.J. Bouye were teammates with the Texans from 2013-2016. During that time, the two defensive backs combined to total 12 interceptions. Now, they’re reuniting in Denver.

Jackson signed with the Broncos during free agency last year and Denver acquired Bouye in a trade with the Jaguars in March.

“Like you said, I played with A.J. for four years,” Jackson said during a Zoom conference call on May 5. “I know what he’s capable of. I’ve seen him since Day 1 when he got in this league as a young kid out of UCF. He was always talented. Then once he kind of put the mental aspect to it his game kind of took off. He was rewarded for that. He’s capable. He’s very capable. He can go it all. He can press. He can play off. He’s a good tackler. He’s one of those guys that if he needed to, he could follow.

“I’m just looking forward to reuniting with him on the field. I haven’t played with him in a while. I haven’t been able to prepare with him. I’m just looking forward to seeing how much he has progressed in those two categories and seeing him on a day-to-day basis and see how much we can help each other and learn from each other and help the younger guys.”

Jackson and Justin Simmons will be the Broncos’ two starting safeties this year and Bouye will be one of the team’s starting cornerbacks. Unless he ends up playing in the slot, Bryce Callahan will likely be the team’s No. 2 cornerback. Denver will have at least two new starters in the secondary in 2020 so Simmons and Bouye having familiarity should be helpful.

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Kareem Jackson praises Justin Simmons, hopes he gets a contract extension

Broncos safety Kareem Jackson wants Justin Simmons to get a long-term deal.

After placing a one-year franchise tag on Justin Simmons, the Broncos have until July 15 to reach a long-term extension with the safety. If the team doesn’t sign Simmons to an extension before then, he will have to play the 2020 season on the franchise tag before becoming a free agent in 2021.

Speaking to media members during a Zoom conference call on Thursday, fellow Denver safety Kareem Jackson emphasized how important it is for Simmons to stay with the team beyond this season.

“Justin is one of the guys that I talk to pretty much every day,” Jackson said. “We have a great relationship outside of football. I think everyone on this call right now thinks he should get paid. With the franchise tag, hopefully they get a deal done before the deadline. I think his work — what he does on the field — is self-explanatory. He’s in great spirit. Obviously just knowing that we’ll get him back whether he’ll have a long-term deal — I’m sure he’ll want one. It just has stability with having that long-term deal as opposed to playing on a one-year under the tag.”

Last season, Simmons totaled 93 tackles and four interceptions. It wasn’t a one-year fluke.

“I have no doubt that he can go out and have the same year, an even better year, than he had this year,” Jackson said. “He’s definitely one of those guys that’s the heart and soul of our defense. He’s a leader. He’s great in the locker room. He’s in great spirits.

“I just hope they get a deal done for him.”

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Seahawks did not address the secondary in 2020 NFL Draft

The Seattle Seahawks chose to address the pass rush in the 2020 NFL Draft, but not the secondary. Why this could be a point of concern.

The 2020 NFL Draft has concluded, and the Seattle Seahawks now turn their attention toward the rest of the offseason. However, fans and analysts were befuddled that general manager John Schneider did not select any players to reinforce the secondary.

Schneider stated that the team must put an emphasis on improving the secondary following their divisional-round loss to the Green Bay Packers last season.

It is true that the Seahawks have made a few moves on that front, such as acquiring Quinton Dunbar and trading for Quandre Diggs last year, but improving the pass rush was evidently their biggest priority in the draft. That is understandable given the uncertainty of Jadeveon Clowney’s return and the pass rush could help the secondary if they get to the quarterback consistently.

However, Seattle’s secondary did not perform too admirably last year overall and with few changes, could be a point of concern for 2020, especially with defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. returning along with his defensive scheme.

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Broncos have exchanged offers with Justin Simmons’ agent

The Broncos are working with Justin Simmons’ agent on a contract extension.

After slapping a one-year franchise tag on free safety Justin Simmons in March, the Denver Broncos hope to reach a long-term contract agreement with the 26-year-old defensive back this offseason.

Broncos general manager John Elway confirmed during a pre-draft Zoom conference call with reporters Monday that the team has already begun negotiating a multi-year extension with Simmons.

“We’re in negotiations right now,” Elway said. “We’ve given them [him and his agent] an offer they gave us an offer back so we’re now in active negotiations with Justin.”

Denver currently has 79 players under contract with approximately $16.8 million in salary cap space, according to a projection from Spotrac.com. That projection includes the $11.441 million salary cap hit that Simmons is scheduled to have if he plays on the franchise tag in 2020.

Simmons’ market value is estimated to be about $14.4 million, according to Spotrac. That’s just $3 million more than his current cap hit for this season.

Simmons, 26, totaled 93 tackles and four interceptions last season.

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Bill O’Brien is ‘really excited’ about the Texans’ secondary

Houston Texans coach and general manager Bill O’Brien has great enthusiasm about the team’s secondary heading into 2020.

Bill O’Brien’s overall thoughts on the Houston Texans’ secondary couldn’t be any clearer.

“I would say that I am really excited about the secondary,” O’Brien told Houston media on a conference call Thursday. “I think we have a very diverse secondary.”

The coach and general manager’s retooling of the secondary goes as far back as the end of the preseason in 2019 when the club was trimming down to a 53-man roster. With the philosophy of “versatility” in mind, the Texans added cornerback Keion Crossen in a trade with the New England Patriots on Aug. 31.

However, the additions didn’t stop there. Prior to the Texans’ Week 8 tilt with the Oakland Raiders, Houston traded with Oakland for former 2017 first-round cornerback Gareon Conley. The Texans picked up former 2016 first-rounder Vernon Hargreaves off waivers in November.

Hargreaves was released early in the 2020 offseason, but the Texans brought him back, as they did with Phillip Gaines and Bradley Roby.

Roby, a former 2014 first-round pick for the Denver Broncos, is another versatile cornerback that helps the Texans’ scheme.

“One of the things about Bradley Roby is the versatility that he brings, the ability to play outside, the ability to play inside, the ability to play a lot of different positions, play man-to-man, play zone,” said O’Brien.

One of the overlooked cornerbacks is Lonnie Johnson, who enters his second season after Houston took him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. The former Kentucky Wildcat has been keeping in touch with strength and conditioning coach Mike Eubanks as he seeks to take a developmental leap in 2020.

“He’s another guy when you ask about off-field workouts and things, he’s doing a great job working out and staying in touch with Mike Eubanks,” said O’Brien. “Expecting big things out of him.”

The versatility isn’t limited to the cornerbacks. O’Brien likes the versatile roles that the safeties may be able to play in first-year defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s scheme.

Said O’Brien: “If you look at the safety position, Justin Reid, Eric Murray, Jaylen Watkins, A.J. Moore, just a real diverse group of guys. You know, Eric Murray played corner. Jaylen Watkins has played nickel. They’re not just safeties.”

Coverage and pass rush are intertwined aspects of a defense that feed off of one another. If the Texans’ coverage can improve, then the Texans ought to be able to improve upon their 31 sacks from 2019, tied with the Cincinnati Bengals for the sixth-fewest in the NFL.

Projecting Broncos’ secondary depth chart before the NFL draft

Here’s a look at the Broncos’ depth in the secondary going into the NFL draft.

With the 2020 NFL draft now just one week away, here’s a look at the Broncos’ projected secondary depth chart as it stands right now:

Cornerback Safety Safety Dime Cornerback
Bryce Callahan Kareem Jackson Justin Simmons Duke Dawson A.J. Bouye
Davontae Harris Trey Marshall Alijah Holder Shakial Taylor De’Vante Bausby
Isaac Yiadom P.J. Locke Kahani Smith Tyvis Powell

Denver has a pretty good group of starters but the team is lacking depth across the board. If any of the team’s starters are injured (like Callahan was last year), the secondary will suffer greatly.

After losing Chris Harris to the Chargers during free agency, the Broncos have a big hole at cornerback. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the team use one of their first picks in the draft on a cornerback.

Denver also needs more depth at safety. Simmons should be a reliable defensive back for years to come (assuming he agrees to a contract extension) but Jackson is 32 years old and will need to be replaced in the coming years.

The Broncos should target a cornerback early and add a safety in the mid-rounds of the draft next week. Denver will have 10 picks to use.

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REPORT: Former Alabama DB Saivion Smith signs with Cowboys

He’s not likely to serve in a starting role to begin with the Cowboys, but it’s a possibility that he works his way to a lead role in th…

Former Alabama cornerback Saivion Smith has signed with the Dallas Cowboys, as reported by Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News.

Details of the contract are not yet available.

Smith will be joining other former Tide products in Dallas, such as star wide receiver Amari Cooper and newly-signed safety HaHa Clinton-Dix.

Smith only played one season in Tuscaloosa as a junior, but chose to forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the 2019 NFL Draft.

In that one year with Alabama, the cornerback accumulated 60 total tackles, five pass deflections, three interceptions and a defensive touchdown.

There was plenty of criticism thrown at Smith after he decide to forgo his senior season. He later went undrafted and spent his rookie season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Smith will likely serve in a rotational role with the Cowboys, but it’s not outside of the realm of possibility that he could eventually work his way up to a lead role in the secondary.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on Alabama alum in the NFL!

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A.J. Bouye plans to be a play-making cornerback for Broncos

“I know I can make plays in the right situations,” new Broncos cornerback A.J. Bouye said.

Broncos coach Vic Fangio demands that his defenders are good tacklers so it’s no surprise that new cornerback A.J. Bouye excels in that area.

During his time with the Texans and Jaguars, Bouye totaled 315 tackles and 14 interceptions. He is projected to be one of Denver’s starting outside cornerbacks this season and plans to make a big impact.

“I’m a physical corner,” Boyue said during a conference call with reporters on March 18. “You know I’ll come up and tackle. I’m always good in the run game. I feel like what makes me my best is just my instincts.

“I study the game. I study all the time. It’s just a lot of concepts that fascinate me. I know I can make plays in the right situations. That’s one thing I feel like, especially on the outside, I can do.”

Bouye flys around the secondary and has broken up 66 passes in his career. He should be an excellent fit in the Broncos’ defense.

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Chiefs secondary shaping up following Bashaud Breeland’s return

The secondary group looks very good for the Kansas City Chiefs as they head into the 2020 NFL Draft.

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The Kansas City Chiefs secondary is starting to take shape for the 2020 NFL season.

On Thursday, reports broke that starting right cornerback Bashaud Breeland would re-sign with the team. He was the only remaining starter from Super Bowl LIV that was a free agent. Breeland’s return means that all of the starters in the secondary from 2019 will return for the 2020 NFL season. Bashaud Breeland and Charvarius Ward occupy the right and left cornerback spots, While Tyrann Mathieu and Juan Thornhill occupy the strong safety and free safety spots.

The Chiefs lost versatile defensive back, Kendall Fuller, in free agency to Washington. He’d previously been their starting nickel corner and late in the season played some deep safety for Kansas City, including in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs also don’t be too keen on re-signing Morris Claiborne, who remains a free agent.

Kansas City will return nickel linebacker and safety Daniel Sorensen, who figures to continue to fill those roles, as well as his role on special teams. Draft picks Armani Watts and Rashad Fenton will also return to the Chiefs. Fenton could be due for a larger role in sub-packages that require an extra cornerback on the field with his inside-out versatility.

Three players figure to compete for backup roles, those are Alex Brown, Chris Lammons and new free-agent acquisition Antonio Hamilton. Brown was elevated from the Chiefs’ practice squad ahead of Week 15 and appeared in six games for Kansas City, including Super Bowl LIV. He’s primarily been used as a special teams player. Lammons has starting experience from his time with the Dolphins and can play both safety and cornerback spots. Finally, Hamilton is a promising special teams player and could be first in line for a backup job behind either Breeland and Ward.

In any event, the Chiefs group is looking much more complete than it did just a day ago. Brett Veach doesn’t need to feel pressured into adding any defensive backs in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Breeland fills a big need and allows the luxury of selecting the best player available at pick No. 32. Cornerback still could be on the table for Kansas City at that pick or throughout the draft, especially when you consider that both Breeland and Ward are scheduled to become free agents in 2021.

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4 Chargers mentioned for Pro Football Focus’ ‘ideal secondary’

The Los Angeles Chargers have one of the best secondaries in the NFL.

How do you build an elite secondary in the NFL?

Pro Football Focus believes that it requires four Chargers defensive backs in order to do so.

Those four were cornerbacks Casey Hayward, Desmond King, Chris Harris Jr. (honorable mention) and safety Derwin James (honorable mention).

PFF named six players to their first-team list. Those were the Hayward, King, Patriots’ Stephon Gilmore, Vikings’ Harrison Smith, Titans’ Kevin Byard and Jets’ Jamal Adams.

Honorable mentions were James’, Harris, Rams’ Jalen Ramsey, Bills’ Tre’Davious White, Vikings’ Anthony Harris and Bills’ Micah Hyde

Hayward, King, James and newly acquired Harris have solidified themselves as some of the best players at their perspective positions, so to see them on this list should come as no surprise. Nonetheless, it’s very deserving.

Combined, the four have earned six All-Pro honors and have been to seven Pro Bowls in their professional careers.

Even with injuries affecting all levels of the defense last season, the Chargers managed to hold opponents to 21.6 points per game. With the key additions and if the unit stays healthy, that number will likely be lower next season.