Tag: Secondary

Justin Reid bullish on Chiefs’ defensive potential in 2023

Veteran safety Justin Reid posted a tweet on Tuesday that could portend good things for the #Chiefs’ defense in 2023.

Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reid posted an interesting tweet on Tuesday while the team took a short break from practice entering their second week of training camp.

“Defense has a real chance to be really special this year.” He wrote on the popular social media site. “Gotta keep earning it every day.”

While a single tweet is hardly a cause for the outlook of the Chiefs’ defense to change drastically, Reid’s bullish note is a good sign that Kansas City’s roster is starting to gel during their practices in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Reid, for his part, is one of the most senior members of the Chiefs’ secondary and has seen his share of camps over the course of his NFL career, which is entering its sixth year. This tweet, humble as it is, could portend big things to come as Kansas City looks to defend its Super Bowl LVII title in 2023.

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Safety Justin Reid breaks down strengths of Chiefs’ young secondary

Justin Reid shared his thoughts on the youngest members of the #Chiefs’ secondary after practice on Sunday.

Veteran safety Justin Reid is one of the most senior players on the Kansas City Chiefs defense and seems primed for a huge 2023 campaign as the team looks to defend its newly won Super Bowl title. He will be tasked with leading a secondary that is chock-full of youthful talent that has the potential to blossom into a valuable asset for defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo.

Asked for his assessment of the younger defensive backs on Kansas City’s roster after practice on Sunday, Reid went in-depth on each of the team’s first and second-year players.

“I’m going to start with the second-year players, start with my partner in crime Bryan Cook. I mean [the] guy is a baller, very cerebral player, probably the loudest communicator on the defense out of the DBs,” Reid explained. “You love to have that – a vocal guy that’s confident in the back end. All the young guys – Trent McDuffie, Jaylen (Watson), J-Will (Joshua Williams), Nazeeh Johnson all (are) doing an amazing job.

“The [first-year] young guys coming in Isaiah [Norman], Ekow [Boye-Doe]. These guys, they have their ears wide open. They’re humble, they’re willing to learn. Spags’ [Steve Spagnuolo] system is not easy but they’re willing to put in the work and we have good veterans in the room willing to lead them along and teach them.”

Watch for Reid to continue mentoring these players as training camp moves along, especially Bryan Cook, who the veteran seems to have taken under his wing in the early phase of the new season. With his help, the Chiefs’ up-and-coming secondary could prove to be among the NFL’s best by the end of their 2023 campaign.

Chargers’ Derwin James earns top spot in ‘Madden NFL 24’ safety ratings

Notorious Madden fan Derwin James earned the game’s top rating at the safety position ahead of the 2023 season

The Chargers secondary is chock-full of young talent, and the rating experts at EA Sports seem particularly bullish on safety Derwin James’ potential for the 2023 season, giving him the top overall grade at his position for the upcoming release of the “Madden” franchise.

“Madden” rates each player in the NFL on a 1-99 scale, with 99 representing the absolute best grade a player can earn for their in-game avatar. James graded out at a 95-overall, landing just shy of the coveted “99 Club” reserved for the league’s most preeminent stars.

Though the grades that go into his overall rating have yet to be released, Chargers fans can rest assured that James will be a force to be reckoned with when the game releases in August.

As the top-rated safety in the game, James can be expected to have cheat code-esque abilities when “Madden” fanatics utilize him as part of their secondary.

Chargers 2023 roster review: CB Kemon Hall

Kemon Hall will have to justify his inclusion on the Chargers roster with strong showings in training camp and the preseason.

Training camp is approaching and with a few more weeks of dead time in the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is documenting each of Los Angeles’ players before it kicks off.

Cornerback Kemon Hall was undrafted out of North Texas in 2019. He signed with the Chargers and played with the team through the preseason before going on the practice squad early in the regular season.

After being released by Los Angeles, Hall bounced around the league and spent time with the Vikings, Saints and Cowboys.

Hall was brought back in 2021. In the past two seasons, Hall appeared in 18 games, combining for eight tackles and a fumble recovery. He has primarily been used as a special teamer.

With such an influx of talent at the cornerback position, it isn’t a stretch to think that Hall could be on the fringe during roster cutdowns in August.

He will need to produce strong showings in training camp and the preseason to warrant his continued inclusion in the Chargers organization.

Contract (2023): $940,000 base salary, no prorated bonus, $940,000 cap hit.

Acquired: Hall was claimed off waivers by the Chargers in 2021.

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Chargers 2023 roster review: CB A.J. Uzodinma

A.J. Uzodinma left Ball State as the school’s record-holder in pass deflections.

Training camp is approaching and with a few more weeks of dead time in the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is documenting each of Los Angeles’ players before it kicks off.

Following the 2023 NFL draft, the Chargers signed former Ball State cornerback A.J. Uzodinma as an undrafted free agent.

Uzodinman, the 5-foot-11 and 189 pound corner, appeared in every game from 2018 to 2022.

Uzodinma left as the school’s record-holder in career pass deflections with 44. He finished with ten interceptions. Additionally, Uzodinma led the team with 24.2 yards per kickoff return last season.

Uzodinma is looking to beat the odds to push for snaps during training camp and the preseason, but he faces an uphill battle as an undrafted free agent addition.

If Uzodinma raises some eyebrows, he could very well be a candidate to be signed to the practice squad.

Contract (2023): $750,000 base salary, $666 prorated bonus, $750,666 cap hit.

Acquired: Uzodinma was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent following the 2023 NFL draft.

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Chargers 2023 roster review: CB J.C. Jackson

J.C. Jackson could prove to be a critical piece of the Chargers’ defense in 2023 when he returns.

Training camp is nearing, and with a few more weeks of dead time during the quietest part of the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is endeavoring to document each of Los Angeles’ players before it kicks off.

Cornerback J.C. Jackson was the most prized free agent of the 2022 class and signed with the Chargers to shore up the team’s already-established secondary, inking a five-year contract worth $82.5 million.

Unfortunately, a torn patellar tendon in his right knee in Week 7 ended his first campaign with the team.

Before the injury, it still wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Jackson as he struggled to find his footing in Brandon Staley’s defense, leading to him getting benched.

Jackson has been working hard to get back to full health and he is optimistic that he will be back by training camp.

If he can return to form after recovering from the brutal injury, Los Angeles’ defense could be among the best in the NFL.

Contract (2023): $12,000,000 base salary, $5,000,000 prorated bonus, $17,000,000 cap hit.

Acquired: Jackson signed a contract with the Chargers as a free agent in 2022 in a move that came to define Los Angeles’ offseason.

Quote: Brandon Staley on Jackson’s comfort within his defensive scheme:

“It’s an important point because when you transition these players from other teams, it’s a big aspect. He’s doing the job that he’s done his whole career, in terms of covering the number one receivers. That’s what we brought him here to do. Fundamentally, we’re asking him to do the things that he’s done his whole career, just it’s with us. I think it’s just getting that comfort zone of being around the guys that you play with. It’s not an individual sport. I think that people underestimate the transition for players because it’s much more challenging in football to transition to a new team. I think you’ve seen it with quarterbacks that have transitioned to new teams. He is the player that we signed, we know that. I’m confident that in training camp, once he gets to working with his teammates, that he’ll be able to showcase the real player that he is.”

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Watch: Chargers’ defensive highlight reel to hype 2023 season

The Chargers posted their defensive highlight reel from 2022, solidifying the sky-high expectations for the unit in 2023.

The Chargers’ defense features a cast of the NFL’s top performers at several key positions, and expectations for the unit are at an all-time high heading into the 2023 season.

Led by veteran safety Derwin James Jr., edge defenders Joey Bosa and Khalil and cornerbacks J.C. Jackson, Michael Davis and Asante Samuel Jr., the potential of this unit is boundless.

Los Angeles posted their defensive highlight reel to Twitter, with clips that should make opposing offenses shudder.

It became evident after the Bolts’ heartbreaking playoff loss to the Jaguars in January that both sides of the ball will have to produce consistently for the Chargers to win crucial games at the end of the season.

Justin Herbert won’t be able to go out and deliver Los Angeles to a Super Bowl berth alone. With the hype behind the Chargers’ 2023 defense reaching its apex, it is now incumbent on the talented unit to make good on the promise they showed last season.

Chargers 2023 roster review: Safety Derwin James Jr.

Derwin James is one of the NFL’s most decorated defenders.

The 2023 season is just a month away, and with weeks of dead time during the quietest part of the NFL offseason, Chargers Wire is endeavoring to document each of Los Angeles’ players before the start of the team’s training camp.

The Chargers host a formidable secondary heading into the 2023 season led by superstar safety Derwin James Jr., who has become a mainstay of the team’s defense in recent years.

James has proven to be the cream of the crop at his position since 2018 when he was a Pro Bowler during his rookie season.

A chess piece on the field, James has executed a variety of tasks on the field at a high level, whether it’s covering the opposing team’s top skill players, stopping the run, or pressuring quarterbacks.

Contract (2023): $2,000,000 base salary, $7,106,494 prorated bonus, $9,106,494 cap hit.

Acquired: James has been in Los Angeles for his entire pro career after being selected by the Chargers with the 17th overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.

Quote: On the Chargers’ mindset on defense:

“Our mindset is to definitely get after the quarterback, but you have to be aware of what type of quarterback you’re playing, whether they’re mobile or if it’s a guy that can’t move as much. Knowing the quarterback is key, knowing who is in the game at all times. It kind of changes how you want to rush up front sometimes; you can’t just run up the field if you’re playing a guy that can run. You have to always be aware of that.”

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Arkansas Football Offseason Depth Chart- Cornerbacks

Arkansas’ secondary should no longer be the obvious weak link in 2023.

The Razorback secondary will look a lot different from a season ago and possibly better. 

Last season, Arkansas had one of the worst secondaries in the SEC despite getting pressure on the quarterback.

There were a few things that contributed to that. First, losing All-American safety and defensive captain, Jalen Catalon, in the opening game. The coaching staff could never find any consistency in the group either, and most of the blame fell on them for not having them ready.

The expectations haven’t set in for the group yet with a new defensive back coach, Marcus Woodson, on the sidelines. Woodson is also the co-defensive coordinator. Only one starter returns from last year’s group, but let’s see where everyone else will settle in.

Chargers’ Derrick Ansley on J.C. Jackson’s recovery: ‘He’s been grinding’

Derrick Ansley said that J.C. Jackson has been “grinding” during his recovery process.

The Chargers will need to step up their game defensively in 2023 to avoid another disappointing playoff exit next season, and the return of J.C. Jackson from injury should help them to that end.

In his comments to the media after practice on Monday, defensive coordinator Derrick Ansley updated reporters on Jackson’s status and outlined his plan for the talented defensive back.

“He’s here every day. He’s been grinding for three, four months straight here, so it’s been good having him in the building and getting him around his teammates,” Ansley explained. “He’s been doing a phenomenal job with his rehab. He’s chomping at the bit. There’s really no timetable or timeline for his return, but he’s in here every day trying to get himself ready to go for the fall.

“With the combination, we’ll see how that all works out. We’re always trying to train defensive backs, not specialize guys or pigeon-hole them. We have four or five guys that are working at Star, four or five guys working at Money, which we value as starters. We’ll see how that combination works out as we get to camp.”

Whether Jackson will be able to step in and seamlessly gel with the Chargers’ secondary after missing so much time last season is unknown, but judging from Ansley’s comments it seems that he is on track to make a triumphant return ahead of the regular season.

Time will tell if his star will continue to rise after the devastating injury he sustained in 2022, but if it does, Los Angeles won’t need to fret about their group of highly-skilled cornerbacks when the 2023 campaign kicks off in September.