Tag: Takk McKinley

Browns three pass rushers have excelled at getting pressure

Through seven weeks, the Browns are getting their money’s worth from their top three pass rushers and there is a chart to prove it:

The Cleveland Browns have Myles Garrett to cause havoc for opposing offenses and he has done his job well. The former #1 overall pick leads the league with 9.5 sacks, two ahead of Harold Landry and two and a half ahead of TJ Watt.

This offseason, the Browns added Takk McKinley and then Jadeveon Clowney in an attempt to improve the rushers partnering with Garrett. McKinley has 1.5 sacks while Clowney has 3.5 with no other Cleveland defender have more than one sack.

Sacks are not the only way that pass rushers should be judged. The ability to get pressure on a quarterback is important as is their ability in run defense.

According to Seth Walder of ESPN, the Browns triumvirate stands out among the league with only Watt having a better pass rush win rate. Garrett and McKinley are below league average in run stop win rate while Clowney is right at that average (the vertical line that splits Clowney’s name):

While Cleveland may prefer all three of their edge guys to be further right on the chart, being better as pass rushers is their primary goal.

Having three defenders with such high pass rush win rates is one reason that Joe Woods has been comfortable only bringing four rushers. It also explains why a fifth rusher often gets home when sent.

It will be interesting to see how these rates track over the rest of the season but, early on, the Browns are getting their money’s worth from their three pass rushers.

Watch Browns Takk McKinley plow over a blocker, hit QB

Despite the Browns loss, and poor defensive performance overall, there were still some fun plays. Here Takk McKinley destroys a blocker and rocks Justin Herbert:

While the Cleveland Browns lost in Week 5, and the defense struggled mightily during the game, there were some positive plays to look at. Earlier today, we showed you the speed and closing ability of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. The rookie’s elevation into the starting lineup and, this week, a full workload of snaps has been exciting to watch.

Somewhat lost in the bevy of injury concerns that impacted the Browns against the Los Angeles Chargers was Jadeveon Clowney’s injury. Initially on the injury report with an elbow problem, Clowney also may be dealing with a knee issue.

Clowney has been the perfect partner across from (and sometimes next to) Myles Garrett. Takk McKinley has supplied adequate pressure and good depth backing both of them up. In Week 5, McKinley stepped into Clowney’s starting role and played well.

On this play, McKinley plows over the right tackle and, even after a slight stumble, gets a strong hit on QB Justin Herbert:

McKinley’s pressure forced an incompletion and shows the explosive ability that garnered Andrew Berry’s attention. Berry attempted to claim McKinley multiple times last year before signing him to a one-year deal in free agency.

Despite the defense’s struggle and the team’s loss, it is exciting for Browns fans to see another disruptive defender step up with Clowney’s absence.

Takk McKinley returns to team, no practicing yet

After almost a month’s absence, the Browns free-agent addition has returned to Berea.

The Cleveland Browns have a lot to work out before starting the season in Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs. While the starters and key contributors seem locked in, the team still has some concerns related to depth and deciding who makes the initial 53-man roster.

Many of those concerns are related to injuries across the roster especially at linebacker and defensive back. Cleveland has struggled to keep enough healthy defenders playing their normal position that cornerbacks have lined up at safety and Montrel Meander had to be re-signed shortly after being cut.

Another lingering concern is with defensive end Takk McKinley. One of the first players added to the roster this offseason, McKinley was seen as a bookend to compliment Myles Garrett. The Browns later signed Jadeveon Clowney to also help with the role.

Mysteriously, McKinley was all of a sudden absent from the team in late July. No word on when he would return specifically led to speculation.

Today, reporters noted McKinley on the field in Berea before he went inside. According to a report, McKinley has been back for a few days:

 

It is uncertain if we will get an official report of what kept McKinley out for so long but the team’s priority will be to try to get him ready for opening week. Making sure he is in game shape and not likely to get hurt, after missing almost a month, is vital to Cleveland’s long-term goals.

Takk McKinley’s mysterious absence continues

An absence that started with an illness has become an absence for personal reasons with an unknown time that it will come to an end.

Last year, Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry attempted to acquire defensive end Takk McKinley numerous times but was unable to do so. Instead, the Browns signed McKinley quickly this offseason.

At the time, McKinley was seen as the team’s edge rusher passer across from Myles Garrett. The team added Jadeveon Clowney later in the offseason to create a solid rotation.

McKinley left practice on July 30th with an illness and has not returned to practice since. Little has been known about the nature of his illness but updates pointed toward his return shortly.

Until Saturday when head coach Kevin Stefanski’s timeline changed:

 

That the coach is “hopeful” the defensive end will return in time for the start of the season does not mean he would be ready to return to the field by Week 1. Instead, Cleveland will plan for starting the season with Garrett, Clowney, Porter Gustin, Curtis Weaver and, perhaps, Joe Jackson at the position.

It is unknown if McKinley’s continued absence for personal reasons is related to his illness or if the two issues just overlapped. McKinley is no longer found on social media at this time.

We will continue to update that the absence as more information becomes available.

Takk McKinley, Ronnie Harrison leave practice early with trainers

Little information initially but two Browns defenders left practice early with trainers today.

As the Cleveland Browns get their first training camp practice in front of fans, injuries will always be the primary news. Early in camp, some players can stand out before settling back into their expected roles while the opposite can be true for some of the first-teamers.

Injuries, on the other hand, have a chance to wreck a player’s season. Last year we saw Grant Delpit go down for the season and the early signs of problems for Greedy Williams.

Opening up camp, Williams went inside due to concern from the trainers related to heat. Today we get early word that both Takk McKinley and Ronnie Harrison went inside with the trainers early:

 

 

Like the Williams issue to start camp, not a lot of information available for either of the players. It does seem like Harrison was having some kind of tightness as he was being stretched out on the sideline with one reporter noting concern related to his knee:

 

That the trainers were attempting to stretch Harrison before taking him in is a good sign. That both players walked inside on their own is another. We will update you as soon as we have more information.

Ex-Falcons first-round EDGE named team’s worst pick since 2006

Of the 24 players taken in the first round after Atlanta chose Jamaal Anderson, 13 of them made at least one Pro Bowl.

Every team has misses when it comes to the NFL draft. Scouting is an inexact science and there are no guarantees of a player’s success or failure, regardless of how high they may be selected.

When we label someone a “bust,” we’re weighing their performance against their draft position. Nothing influences the perception around a player more than the success of the players selected immediately after them. For example, there have been a ton of former No. 1 overall picks that didn’t pan out, but the reason JaMarcus Russell is always named among the worst ever is because of who the team passed on to pick him.

Back in 2007, the Raiders selected Russell, a big-armed quarterback out of LSU, one spot ahead of recently-inducted Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson. 

The writers over at Pro Football Focus put out a feature naming every franchise’s worst draft pick since the year 2006. For the Falcons, PFF awarded this honor to one of the team’s many failed first-round edge rushers. But no, it’s not Takk McKinley or Vic Beasley.

Atlanta’s worst pick came in that same 2007 draft of which the team selected defensive end Jamaal Anderson out of Arkansas with the No. 8 pick.

“Few edge rushers in PFF history have been as ineffective as Andreson during his time in the league, as he managed only five sacks on nearly 1,400 pass-rushing snaps in his four years with the Falcons,” writes Michael Renner. “And yes, we know sacks aren’t everything, but that ineffectiveness is backed up by the fact that he never earned a pass-rushing grade higher than 61.5 for his career.”

Anderson’s failures were compounded by the fact that the Falcons passed on linebacker Patrick Willis (pick No. 11), RB Marshawn Lynch (No. 12) and CB Darrelle Revis (No. 14).

Adding insult to injury, 13 of the 24 players taken in the first round after Atlanta selected Jamaal Anderson eighth overall have made at least one Pro Bowl.

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Falcons WR Julio Jones held out of Thursday’s practice

Jones sat out of practice on Wednesday due to a nagging hamstring injury. According to team reporter William McFadden, Jones did not practice on Thursday either.

The Atlanta Falcons weren’t sure if wide receiver Julio Jones was going to play in last weekend’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints. After being listed as questionable on the team’s Friday injury report, Jones suited up and finished the game with six catches for 94 yards.

Jones nearly caught a Hail Mary attempt that would have won the game but the Falcons couldn’t convert and lost, 21-16, to the Saints in Week 13. As Atlanta prepares to take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, it appears the team could be without the All-Pro receiver.

Jones sat out of practice on Wednesday due to a nagging hamstring injury. According to team reporter William McFadden, Jones did not practice on Thursday either.

Despite a breakout season from WR Calvin Ridley, the Falcons’ offense doesn’t seem to execute anywhere near as well with Jones out of the lineup. For the season, Jones has 51 catches, 774 receiving yards and three touchdowns.

If Jones doesn’t suit up on Friday, he’s got a minimal chance of playing on Sunday. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s injury report for another update.

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Takk McKinley returns to waivers after failing physical with 49ers

When the Falcons waived defensive end Takk McKinley, the interest was strong throughout the league as multiple teams put a claim in for the former first-round pick. 

When the Falcons waived defensive end Takk McKinley, the interest was strong throughout the league as multiple teams put a claim in for the former first-round pick.

Two weeks later, McKinley has been claimed twice and waived two more times. After initially being awarded to the Cincinnati Bengals, the team placed him back on waivers after McKinley failed a physical.

Next up, it was the San Francisco 49ers to put a claim on Takk, saying they weren’t worried about his physical. Then, just like that, the 49ers seemed to change course. According to Matt Barrows of The Athletic, San Francisco has placed McKinley back on waivers after failing another physical.

McKinley had been dinged up all season with a groin injury, but the extent of it wasn’t believed to be that serious. According to Barrows, the 49ers still have interest once McKinley gets healthy.

The Falcons originally selected McKinley with pick No. 26 in the 2017 draft. In three and a half NFL seasons, the former UCLA standout has recorded 53 solo tackles, 45 QB hits, and 17.5 sacks.

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49ers waive DE Takk McKinley after failed physical

McKinley was waived with a failed physical designation, the third time he’s been cut this month.

The San Francisco 49ers need pass-rush help, but they didn’t find it in Takk McKinley. Just two days after claiming him off waivers from the Bengals, the 49ers are also waiving him.

The move was announced on Friday as the team parted ways with the young pass rusher. He was waived with a failed physical designation, which is the same reason Cincinnati cut him this week.

McKinley was originally waived by the Falcons on Nov. 9 after the team refused to trade him. McKinley took to Twitter and ripped the franchise, questioning why they wouldn’t trade him after receiving offers in the last two seasons.

McKinley has been battling a groin injury, which must be a major red flag if both the 49ers and Bengals decided to waive him. He’ll now go through waivers again, and the 49ers haven’t ruled out signing him back when he’s healthy.

McKinley was a first-round pick of the Falcons back in 2017. He’s played just four games this season and has 17.5 career sacks in the NFL.

Former Falcons DE Takk McKinley claimed by 49ers

The Falcons waived defensive end Takk McKinley last week, and the former first-round pick was initially claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Falcons waived defensive end Takk McKinley last week, and the former first-round pick was initially claimed by the Cincinnati Bengals. After failing a physical, though, McKinley landed back on waivers yesterday.

On Wednesday, the San Francisco 49ers claimed the former UCLA standout, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The 49ers have been devastated by injuries this season and aren’t currently in the playoff mix with a 4-6 record. Former Falcons offensive coordinator and current San Francisco head coach, Kyle Shanahan, was willing to give McKinley a shot.

Shanahan left after the team’s 2016 Super Bowl run, and McKinley arrived in Atlanta the following year, so there actually isn’t any overlap between the two.

The Falcons declined McKinley’s fifth-year option in the offseason. He will at least get the chance to audition for a new contract in 2021 with the 49ers or another team.

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