Tag: Zach Baun

Saquon Barkley runs the Rams out of SoFi Stadium, carrying the Eagles to their 7th straight win

A sea of Eagles fans took over SoFi Stadium, carrying Philadelphia to its 7th straight win on Sunday night as Saquon Barkley rushed for 255 yards on the night

The Eagles are 9-2 and have won seven straight games after Saquon Barkley exploded in the running game, and A.J. Brown was dominant in the passing game. Philadelphia put the league on notice with a 37-20 win at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

If not for a late Matthew Stafford touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp, Philadelphia would have exited Los Angeles with a 37-14 road win just seven days before a monster matchup with the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13.

Barkley rushed for 255 yards on the night and had 302 total yards of offense in a game that saw A.J. Brown log 109 yards receiving and a touchdown on seven targets.

Eagles limp into bye week after a 33-16 loss to the Buccaneers in Week 4

The Philadelphia Eagles suffered a disastrous 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

With A.J. Brown (hamstring), DeVonta Smith (concussion), and Lane Johnson (concussion) out with injuries, the Eagles didn’t have enough depth in key positions. They suffered a disastrous 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Jalen Hurts was sacked six times on the afternoon, and the star quarterback committed another turnover (fumble), as Philadelphia could not sustain any offensive consistency without the big three in the lineup.

Saquon Barkley had ten carries for 84 yards (8.4 avg). Still, with the Eagles playing from behind all afternoon, the running back was unable to get the Philadelphia offense over the hump against a motivated Tampa defense.

An Eagles defense that shut New Orleans down in Week 3 was gashed to 445 total yards for the Buccaneers offense, including 111 rushing yards and a twelve-minute advantage in time of possession.

Baker Mayfield was on fire early, and even after an inefficient second half, he still was 30-40 passing for 347 yards, two touchdowns, and a 100.2 rating.

Philadelphia (2-2) will now have a week off, during which questions about Sirianni’s job security and the Eagles’ playoff hopes will dominate the airwaves.

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Sights and sounds from first half of Eagles matchup vs. Buccaneers

Jalen Hurts was 7-15 passing for 49 yards and one touchdown, and the Eagles offense was non-existent in the first half as Tampa jumped out to a 21-0 lead before finishing the first half with a 24-7 lead. The Buccaneers dominated time of possession, …

Jalen Hurts was 7-15 passing for 49 yards and one touchdown, and the Eagles offense was non-existent in the first half as Tampa jumped out to a 21-0 lead before finishing the first half with a 24-7 lead. The Buccaneers dominated time of possession, holding for 20:14 seconds, compared to Philadelphia’s 9+ minutes with the football.

With the second half set to begin, here are sights and sounds from the first half.

10 players the Lions should consider on Day 2 of the draft

Identifying 10 players the Detroit Lions should consider selecting on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Detroit Lions filled a very important role on Day 1 of the 2020 NFL Draft, selecting corner Jeff Okudah in the first round, but Day 2 brings a whole new crop of players and the Lions hold three picks in the next two rounds.

The Lions will begin the day with picks No. 35, 67, and 85, and while there could be some trade movement, they should still be able to land a few key players.

Here are 10 options — five who were with the Lions at the Senior Bowl — who should be considered on Day 2.

A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa

The Lions have a need at EDGE rusher and Epenesa is the perfect fit for the Lions scheme. In my final 7-round mock draft, Epenesa was my choice at pick No. 35 and a player I still believe to be a Top-10 player on the Lions draft board.

Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor

Senior Bowl

If it’s not Epenesa, Mims’ ability to drastically improve the Lions offense would make him incredibly tempting in the second round. At 6-3, 207, with 4.38 speed, Mims is an ideal vertical threat with starter upside as a rookie.

Zach Baun, LB, Wisconsin

Senior Bowl

A hybrid linebacker who fits the mold of what the Lions have recently targeted in their second-level defenders. He would play primarily off-the-ball but has the ability to situationally pass-rush from the JACK linebacker spot.

Josh Uche, JACK/LB, Michigan

Senior Bowl

Uche is also a hybrid linebacker but his insane speed off the edge would keep him pass-rushing often, while also offering the ability to drop into coverage. Both Uche and Baun would fit in like perfect puzzle pieces with the Lions linebackers and would allow them to disguise the defense’s intentions.

Josh Jones, OT, Houston

Senior Bowl

Jones is an athletic tackle who could line up on the right side as a rookie and his ability to be a left tackle would give the Lions insurance if they move on from Taylor Decker in 2021.

RBs J.K. Dobbins (OSU) and Jonathan Taylor (Wisc)

Pick your flavor here as both backs would fit in nicely in the Lions scheme. I have Dobbins slightly ahead of Taylor on my tiered Lions draft board, but if the Lions decide to upgrade their backfield, it’s hard to argue with either player.

Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado

A first-round talent who likely dropped to Day 2 because of injuries. He has a versatile skill set and plays physical, creating yards after catch (YAC) with power and athleticism.

K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn State

Hamler is a YAC machine who fits the mold of a pure slot receiver, similar to what the Lions have in Danny Amendola. The Lions met with Hamler at the Combine and if they are looking for an explosive playmaker, he would be high on their list.

Terrell Lewis, EDGE, Alabama

Lewis is another first-round talent who has a lengthy injury history that is surely going to impact where he gets selected. At 6-5, 262 pounds and 33.88″ arms, Lewis is a prototype player in coach Matt Patricia’s defensive scheme.

Bradlee Anae, EDGE, Utah

Senior Bowl

Anae is likely more in play in the third round, but there is no doubt that Lions’ coaches loved what they saw from him at the Senior Bowl. Anae is a high effort pass rusher who lives off his first step as we saw in Mobile when he registered three sacks:

Bonus names to keep in mind for Round 3

In my final 7-round mock draft, my Lions picks in the third round were Robert Hunt (RT/G, Louisiana) and McTelvin Agim (DT, Arkansas), and are names Lions fans should keep in the back of their minds.

2020 NFL Draft: Tristan Wirfs gaining traction as Giants’ choice in first round

As the 2020 NFL Draft approaches, it’s becoming more obvious that experts anticipate Tristan Wirfs going to the New York Giants.

The New York Giants hold the No. 4 overall selection in this month’s NFL Draft and one player is being linked to them more and more as the mock drafts keep rolling in.

Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs is not only our internal favorite, but that of our sister site Draft Wire. They have the Giants taking the 6-foot-5, 320-pound athletic left tackle prospect at No. 4 and not looking back.

In his weekly Monday column, veteran football reporter Peter King also agreed that offensive tackle will the Giants’ top choice in this draft.

Hard to see Dave Gettleman go anywhere but tackle in this urgent draft for the G-men. Gettleman shocked the world with Daniel Jones at six last year, but the meat-and-potatoes GM is likely to go meat-and-potatoes this year with a tackle. Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs or Alabama’s Jedrick Wills are 1-2 or 2-1 on many draft boards.

The latest Draft Wire mock, compiled by Luke Easterling, goes the full seven rounds. After the Giants take Wirfs in Round 1, here’s how he sees the rest of the draft playing out:

Day 2

  • Round 2, Pick 36: Zach Baun | EDGE | Wisconsin
  • Round 3, Pick 99: John Hightower | WR | Boise State

Some have Baun as a late first-rounder, but it’s possible he slides the Giants here in the second. If he’s on the board, they’ll almost have to take him. He’s a very productive, full-service linebacker that can get to the passer. By passing on Isaiah Simmons, they can make up for it here by taking Baun.

Hightower is a bit of reach here for me. He’s more of late rounder, not only in my eyes but many others. He’s got 4.43 speed, but that’s not enough to warrant taking him on Day 2. He can, however, return kicks so if the Giants are thinking multi-prong usage with him then it makes the selection more palatable.

Day 3

  • Round 4, Pick 110: Matt Hennessy | OL | Temple
  • Round 5, Pick 150: Markus Bailey | LB | Purdue
  • Round 6, Pick 183: Jordan Fuller | S | Ohio State
  • Round 7, Pick 218: Kindle Vildor | CB | Georgia Southern
  • Round 7, Pick 238: Dalton Keene | TE | Virginia Tech
  • Round 7, Pick 247: Javon Leake | RB | Maryland
  • Round 7, Pick 255: Bravvion Roy | DL | Baylor

Hennessy is a nice fourth round pick up. Chances are, though, he’ll be gone by then. The rest of these picks address the Giants’ needs across the board. I’m not sure if these particular players would have been my choices, but at least they will be bringing in new blood at some positions that sorely need it.

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2020 NFL Draft: The 6 best edge rushers the Jets should target

Jets Wire takes a look at six edge rushers the Jets could potentially target in the 2020 NFL draft.

It’s safe to assume the Jets won’t be in the market for an edge rusher with the No. 11 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, but that does not mean Joe Douglas and company will not look to address the position later on in the draft.

New York has lacked an elite pass rusher since the days of John Abraham. This year’s draft class is not exactly stacked with pass rushers as it has been in the past, but there are still plenty of solid players available for the taking.

So, who could the Jets target once day two of the draft rolls around? Let’s take a look.

Zach Baun, Wisconsin

Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

Since the Jets are all but a guarantee to not use their first-round pick on an EDGE, that excludes LSU’s L’Kavon Chaisson from this list. Don’t slip on what Wisconsin’s Zach Baun brings to the table, though.

Baun is trending more towards the end of the first round, but there is still a chance he slips into day two of the draft. If he does and he is still on the board when it’s New York’s turn to pick, it would be foolish to pass on easily the second-best EDGE in this year’s class.

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Touchdown Wire’s mock draft 4.0: Anticipating trades and surprises

In Touchdown Wire’s mock draft 4.0, trades alter the strategy of several teams, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the heart of the action.

 

Touchdown Wire’s mock draft 4.0: Anticipating trades and surprises

In Touchdown Wire’s mock draft 4.0, trades alter the strategy of several teams, with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at the heart of the action.

NFL mock drafts can take on a variety of forms. You can see a predictive mock draft, where the author assembles selections based on what he or she expects to see happen. You can see a what I would do mock, where the author makes selections based on what they would do with each pick.

Touchdown Wire’s 2020 Mock Draft 4.0 for blends the predictive with the suggestive. While the majority of positions for each team are predictive, there are some suggestive elements based on scheme fit and potential usages for each player upon arrival in the league.

So sit back, pour your #QuarantineLife drink of choice, and enjoy.

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Giants select Tristan Wirfs, Zach Baun in latest Draft Wire mock

In the latest three-round Draft Wire mock, the New York Giants select OT Tristan Wirfs, EDGE Zach Baun and a young safety.

The New York Giants have not satisfied their need at offensive tackle despite the free agent addition of Cam Fleming, which is why many believe it’s the position they’ll address in the 2020 NFL Draft.

That was Luke Easterling’s line of thinking when he compiled the latest mock over at Draft Wire, where he has the Giants selecting Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs at No. 4 overall.

Any of this year’s top four offensive tackle prospects could make a strong case to go here, which is good news for the Giants, who need a franchise player at the position. Wirfs is a rare athlete for his size, and has as much upside as any other tackle in the class. He’s ready to protect Daniel Jones from Day 1.

The selection of Wirfs comes with both cornerback Jeff Okudah and linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons still on the board, which will undoubtedly lead to some intense debate. It also came with every other offensive tackle still available, which will lead to even further debate.

In Round 2 and Round 3, the Giants addressed their needs along the edge and at safety, selecting Wisconsin linebacker Zach Baun and Clemson safety K’Von Wallace, respectively.

Prior to taking their scouts and personnel off the road, the Giants had expressed a significant interest in Baun and were working directly with him. Meanwhile, Wallace would add another young talent to an already very young secondary.

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How adding Jamie Collins impacts the Lions roster

Examining how agreeing to terms with hybrid linebacker Jamie Collins impacts the Detroit Lions roster.

The 2020 tampering period is just over a day old and the Detroit Lions have already agreed to terms with several players, including hybrid linebacker Jamie Collins.

Early predictions for where Collins will play in the Lions scheme are all over the map. And for good reason. Of the game film I studied when trying to ascertain where Collins would play, I arrived at one answer — everywhere.

Collins played for the New England Patriots last season, and because their scheme is as close to the Lions as there is in the NFL, it was easy to do an apples-to-apples comparison of how he would be used in Detroit.

In 2019, Collins lined up at all four of the Patriots linebacker spots, even shifting over the slot on occasion. In the games that I watched, he rarely lined up at the same position on back-to-back plays, illustrating his true versatility.

Collins is able to play at all these spots for three major reasons. He has a freaky level of athleticism, can effectively rush the passer, and is one of the better coverage linebackers in the NFL. This combination of skills makes him a unique player and one that fits the Lions like a glove.

Like in New England last season, I don’t expect Collins to stay put at any one position, and honestly, that will complement the way the other Lions linebackers are trending as well.

Lions LBs trending towards positional fluidity

After the conclusion of the 2019 season, I did a film study, examining how the Lions linebacker roles were changing. The results showed that while Jarrad Davis and Devon Kennard — who was released yesterday — held static roles, Jahlani Tavai and Christian Jones’ roles were more fluid.

Now the Lions have three fluid linebackers all signed to multi-year contracts. Collins just signed a three-year deal, Tavai’s rookie contract expires in 2022 and Jones got a mid-year extension that expires in 2021.

Meanwhile, the static off-the-ball linebackers that remain, Davis and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, are in the final year of their contracts. Reeves-Maybin has consistently made the final roster based on his special teams ability, while Davis began to expand his duties to the WILL position in the latter parts of the season, something he may need to do more moving forward.

Will the Lions add more LBs?

If they do, it will surely be a player who is positionally fluid so that they can mesh with the other linebackers currently on the roster.

The most obvious name remaining in free agency is Kamalei Correa, formerly of the Tennessee Titans, who was directly coached by new Lions’ linebacker coach Tyrone McKenzie over the last two seasons. Correa has experience playing the JACK linebacker role, can rush the passer and drop into coverage. He has been a career rotational player, but on the Lions roster, that’s what they likely need right now.

If the Lions look to the draft, there are four top-100 players they are surely watching. Zach Baun (Wisconsin) is an off-the-ball linebacker who has shown a knack for rushing the passer. Josh Uche (Michigan) is lightning quick off the edge and can drop into coverage better than most JACK linebackers. Bradlee Anae (Utah) is primarily a pass rusher but has shown the ability to win from his feet. While Curtis Weaver (Boise State), who at 6-63, 265-pounds, is physically as close to a Dont’a Hightower clone as you will find. Weaver is a junior, but Baun, Uche, Anae were all on the North roster at the Senior Bowl and were coached by the Lions staff.

Adding any one of these players would give the Lions front a significant boost in 2020, even if they are in a limited role to begin the season.