Tag: Trent Williams

8 ex-Washington players and coaches in Super Bowl LVIII

Trent Williams, Kyle Shanahan among those looking for their first Super Bowl ring.

The Kansas City Chiefs look to repeat as Super Bowl champions for the first time since the Patriots repeated back in 2004. Standing in their way are the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

Can Patrick Mahomes win his third Super Bowl? Or can Brock Purdy lead the 49ers to their first championship since 1995?

Sunday’s game features several former Washington coaches and players. The 49ers feature two former Washington players, both of whom were once top-five picks, and their coaching staff has several who either played or coached in Washington.

We look at the eight ex-Redskins/Commanders appearing in Super Bowl LVIII for the Chiefs and 49ers.

 

How different will the Ravens’ defense look under new DC Zach Orr?

We’re looking at five ways the Baltimore Ravens defense will look different under new defensive coordinator Zach Orr

The Ravens quickly replaced Mike Macdonald as defensive coordinator, promoting inside linebackers coach Zachary Orr.

Orr, who played for the Ravens from 2014-2016, is a fast-rising star in the coaching ranks.

The 31-year-old Orr has been on the Ravens staff since 2017, save for one season with the Jaguars and Urban Meyer in 2021.

An undrafted player from North Texas, Orr was forced to retire because of a neck/spine condition. During his final season in 2016, Orr had his best year, finishing with 133 tackles, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.

The Ravens introduced Orr to the media on Tuesday, and with the former NFL linebacker firmly entrenched, we’re looking at the multiple ways this defense will look different.

Chiefs’ DL Chris Jones is ready for Super Bowl LVIII

On Sep. 24, Kansas City Chiefs DL Chris Jones signed a 1-year deal worth up to $25 million. Could Jones be the x-factor in Super Bowl LVIII?

On Sep. 24, Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones signed a one-year deal worth up to $25 million. Jones could very well be the x-factor on defense in Super Bowl LVIII.

 Jones had zero tackles in the AFC championship but his presence opened lanes for his teammates to rattle Lamar Jackson.  The San Francisco 49ers however are unlikely to abandon the running game the way the Baltimore Ravens did in the Super Bowl so Jones will need to be on his A-game.

Jones did record 10.5 sacks and seven stuffs through 16 games played this season and his leadership has given way for defensive end George Kalaftis to get lose. Identically, Kalaftis also recorded 10.5 sacks this season and was terrific in the AFC Championship.

With all this,  I seriously doubt that Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan will omit running back Christian McCaffrey from the game-plan. The 49ers led the NFL with 4.8 rush yards per carry so Spagnuolo and the Chiefs better have an answer in SBLVIII. Jones needs to be the enforcer on gameday.

The Xs and Os with Greg Cosell: Previewing Super Bowl LVIII

It’s time for Super Bowl LVIII, which means that it’s time for Greg Cosell and Doug Farrar to dive into the Chiefs-49ers matchups with tape and advanced metrics.

It’s nearly time for the biggest game of the NFL season, which means it’s time for our guys Greg Cosell of NFL Films and ESPN’s NFL Matchup, and Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire and the USA Today Sports Media Group, to do a very deep dive on Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers, using all kinds of tape study and advanced metrics.

Here, the guys cover these topics, as well as many others:

  • Why run defense for each team could be the key to the entire game, and why Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco might unlock it all for Kansas City.
  • How Christian McCaffrey became the NFL’s best and most prolific zone runner.
  • How Steve Spagnuolo might blitz Brock Purdy, who has been amazing against the blitz all season.
  • Why Patrick Mahomes, who in the past has been similarly “unblitzable” in recent seasons, hasn’t been that in 2023.
  • Steve Wilks’ 49ers defense is far more multiple than some people think — especially in coverage — and why that could be a problem for Mr. Mahomes.
  • The Chiefs’ four-strong formations and use of 13 personnel, and how those two things have come to define Andy Reid’s offense to a great degree.
  • Why linebackers for both teams will be so important.
  • The Secret Superstars of Super Bowl LVIII.

You can watch this week’s “Xs and Os” right here:

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You can also listen and subscribe to the “Xs and Os” podcast on Spotify…

…and on Apple Podcasts.

 

Studs and duds from the Ravens 2023 season

We’re looking at studs and duds from the Baltimore Ravens 2023 NFL regular season

The Baltimore Ravens have concluded their 2023 season, and the focus now shifts to what’s shaping up to be a franchise-altering offseason for general manager Eric DeCosta.

Where things currently stand, Baltimore expected to have roughly $7,328,828 in cap space, via OverTheCap, which is the 20th most in the NFL.

That number could grow if the team opts to part ways with some expensive contracts (perhaps Ronnie Stanley and/or Marlon Humphrey.

With the offseason underway, we’re looking at studs and duds from the 2023 regular season.

2024 NFL Free Agency: 7 Ravens that will flourish on other teams

We’re looking at seven Baltimore Ravens 2024 NFL Free agents that’ll flourish on another team

General manager Eric DeCosta, Ozzie Newsome’s successor, has grown increasingly aggressive in handing out contracts, and he’s now built a Super Bowl hopeful for 2023 and beyond.

The Ravens are 20th in the NFL in cap space, with $7.3 million available, and there will be critical decisions regarding several vital contributors and two All-Pros. And they’re spending about $120+ million plus on the offensive side of the football.

PFF recently did an early ranking of the top 50 free agents for 2024, and John Harbaugh’s squad had four players make the list.

The overall positional spending will change in the coming years after Lamar Jackson signed a massive five-year, $260 million contract extension, making him among the three highest-paid players on average in NFL history.

With the NFL offseason fast approaching, we’re looking at seven players that’ll flourish on another roster.

Trent Williams Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded offensive tackle; Ever

Trent Williams continues to add to his Hall of Fame career this time getting a distinct honor from Pro Football Focus.

Since being drafted No. 4 overall in the 2010 NFL Draft, [autotag]Trent Williams[/autotag] has been one of the best offensive linemen in all of football. Williams had a stellar career at Oklahoma from 2006-2009.

He was named to two All-Big 12 teams and was a consensus All-American in 2009. Since getting into the NFL, he’s been selected to 11 Pro Bowls, earned three first-team All-Pro selection and was also named to the second-team once. All three of his first-team selections have come in the last three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers..

He’s had a stellar career and has earned the designation of highest-graded offensive tackle in Pro Football Focus history.

PFF was founded back in 2006 and really took off around 2014. So, it’s not every offensive tackle in NFL history, but it is still quite an accomplishment for the former Sooner.

Now, he has his sights set on winning a Super Bowl. He’s competed in one before, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs. He and his 9ers teammates get a chance to redeem themselves against the Chiefs this Sunday.

I’m sure his quarterback is happy to have him blocking his blind side. Williams decade-plus run of success at the NFL level is just another reason why Oklahoma is Offensive Line University.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

These 48 Ravens are under contract for 2024

With the 2024 NFL offseason and free agency quickly approaching, we’re looking at the 48 players the Baltimore Ravens currently have under contract

The Baltimore Ravens have concluded their 2023 season, and the focus now shifts to what’s shaping up to be a franchise-altering offseason for general manager Eric DeCosta.

Where things currently stand, Baltimore expected to have roughly $7,328,828 in cap space, via OverTheCap, which is the 20th most in the NFL.

That number could grow if the team opts to part ways with some expensive contracts (perhaps Ronnie Stanley and/or Marlon Humphrey.

Right now, the Ravens have 48 players currently under contact for the 2024 season. Here’s a look at them, ranked by cap hit:

Highlights from the 2024 Pro Bowl Games, Flag Football competition

We’re looking at highlights from the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl games, and the Flag Football competition

We can now look towards Super Bowl 58 as the NFC won the Pro Bowl Games with an overall score of 64-59.

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson broke up a pass from Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud to Los Angeles Chargers receiver Keenan Allen, creating a turnover on downs with four seconds remaining.

Stroud led all quarterbacks with 173 yards on 18-of-22 passing, while Seattle Seahawks’ Geno Smith led the NFC in passing with 154 yards on 15-of-21 passing.

Allen was among the standouts, with 90 receiving yards on nine catches, including three touchdowns receiving and one passing.

Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb had three touchdown catches including one from Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Detroit Lions receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had 10 catches for 117 yards and a TD for the NFC.

Ravens: 11 takeaways from Eric DeCosta, John Harbaugh’s end-of-season press conference

We’re looking at 11 takeaways from the Baltimore Ravens end of season press conference held by Eric DeCosta and John Harbaugh

The Ravens season ended shockingly, after last Sunday’s 17-10 loss to Kansas City in the AFC Championship.

With the defeat, Baltimore faces an offseason of change after Mike Macdonald bolted for the Seahawks job and 20+ free agents, headlined by Patrick Queen and Justin Madubuike.

With questions about Lamar Jackson, the receiving corps, and a lack of rushing attack in the title game loss, GM Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh faced the media on Friday, taking questions for about an hour.

With the offseason now underway, here are takeaways from the presser.