Tag: Su’a Cravens

Ex-Justin Simmons teammate says safety is finalizing deal with Falcons

Su’a Cravens, who played for the Broncos in 2018, claims safety Justin Simmons is finalizing a deal with the Falcons.

Story update: Justin Simmons agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday. See our original post below.

If a report from a former teammate can be trusted, free agent safety Justin Simmons has found a new home in the NFL.

Su’a Cravens, a former safety who played for the Denver Broncos in 2018, tweeted on Thursday that Simmons is “finalizing a deal” with the Atlanta Falcons. Another former teammate, cornerback Chris Harris, quote-tweeted the Cravens post. It’s unclear if Harris was confirming the report or merely reacting to the news.

Simmons, 30, was released by the Broncos earlier this year in a move that saved the team $14.5 million in salary cap space. Denver has since replaced Simmons with free agent addition Brandon Jones.

Simmons visited the New Orleans Saints last week and the Falcons this week. He is arguably the most notable free agent still available. If the Cravens report is accurate, the veteran finally has a new team after five months on the open market. Denver will host Atlanta in Week 11.

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Former USC linebacker Su’a Cravens discusses Trojans’ improved defense

Su’a Cravens loves what D’Anton Lynn brings to USC.

Su’a Cravens was an All-American and two-time first-team All-Pac-12 linebacker at USC playing from 2013 through 2015.  Currently he is a sports analyst for CBS 2 Sports Central with Jim Hill. He is a current member of the USC radio broadcast team. In a recent ESPN radio interview Cravens explained the differences he sees on defense that USC’s new defensive coordinator, D’Anton Lynn, has brought to the Trojans.

“At the spring game I saw upgrades on the defensive side. (Defensive backs) actually playing the hands of a wide receiver and not looking lost,” he said. “Guys lining up pre-snap showing coverage shells and not necessarily giving away the defensive call. Those are things we didn’t see a lot last year. Coach Lynn brings confusion; he has a special way of lining up in three, to four, five different formations a game.  He runs a multiple defense, but you never know what coverage he’s in or what zone blitz he’s bringing.”

Lynn joined Chip Kelly’s staff as the defensive coordinator for the Bruins last year and turned around a defense that was near the bottom of the Pac-12. Lynn turned UCLA into one of the top defenses in the country.  He did so even after getting a late start and joining the team in the spring.  He explained after one practice during the Trojans’ spring camp that he was able to get the defense ready by following a very slow and methodical install of the core concepts of the scheme before adding wrinkles in fall camp and throughout the season.

Too often over the past two seasons, poor coaching and the defensive scheme left players not knowing coverages or assignments, making elite players look lost and producing some of the worst defenses in Trojan history.

Lynn’s keys:

-Keep offenses honest and off balance

-play fast

-let players make plays

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Washington’s recent history of 2nd-round picks is not very encouraging

Washington has struggled with 2nd-round selections in the last decade. Hopefully, Sam Cosmi was the start of a more successful trend.

We are all certainly hoping tonight that with the 47th overall selection in the 2022 NFL draft, Washington will get it right by finding a productive contributor.

It can’t be ignored, that Washington has experienced many a nightmare when it comes to second-round selections in the last decade. Hopefully last year’s pick, Sam Cosmi, was the start of a more successful trend.

Who are the last 10 players Washington has selected in the second round?

Samuel Cosmi (2021), Derrius Guice (2018), Ryan Anderson (2017), Su’a Cravens (2016), Preston Smith (2015), Trent Murphy (2014), David Amerson (2013), Jarvis Jenkins (2011), Devin Thomas, Fred Davis, Malcom Kelly (2008).

Ok, that was 11, not 10. But how can I talk about Washington’s second-round picks while excluding the horrible memory of the 2008 draft? All three players were receivers (Davis a USC tight end), and endured very disappointing careers. Thomas never flashed, was just a guy. Davis started well, but character issues resulted in a crash and burn sadly for him.

Kelly? Why was he ever drafted in Round 2 when at the time, there were injury concerns? Even worse was when it leaked out some of the football staff actually voiced they wanted to draft Jamaal Charles but were overruled. For younger readers, Charles (Texas) was a four-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, rushed for 7,563 yards, 44 rushing touchdowns and averaged an impressive 5.4 yards per carry.

Jenkins (Clemson DE) was largely ineffective his entire three years in Washington, even getting suspended for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Amerson (NC State CB) played on three teams in his six NFL seasons, even later admitting that while with Washington, he had spent many nights playing video games instead of studying opponents and getting enough sleep.

Murphy (Stanford DE) was drafted when Washington traded back with Dallas, who drafted DeMarcus Lawrence. Murphy had some moments but faded, and he too was suspended for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Cravens (USC LB) very early revealed himself to have emotional issues and was traded after only one season, only lasting one season in Denver as well.

Anderson (Alabama LB) didn’t start a game his first two seasons, forced five fumbles in season three, but struggled in his fourth and final season.

Guice (LSU RB) was such a train wreck, he was arrested on domestic violence charges, tore an ACL, only played in five games and even LSU erased his stats from their record books because of inappropriate behavior.

Only Preston Smith and Samuel Cosmi look to have been good second-round selections for Washington. Smith in four seasons accumulated 59 QB hits and 24.5 sacks, but he was not resigned and Green Bay wasted no time signing him. Cosmi (Texas OT) only played in nine games in 2021 (started all nine), but performed quite well, and looks to have a promising future as a Commander in the NFL.