NFL - NEWS & NOTES

1. Dimes' and Daboll's first collaboration. Delivered with the usual preamble that only so much can be predicted and judged by preseason play, quarterback Daniel Jones' first live action in Brian Daboll's offense was decent, if not promising. Facing a first-team Patriots defense that was getting after him, Jones and the Giants' opening drive went 10 plays and added up to three points. Jones was 3 of 6 for 42 yards and converted two of three third downs -- getting one with his legs and another through the air -- on the drive. It was hardly earth-shattering, but it was favorable. Unfortunately for Jones, backup Tyrod Taylor looked better, as he went 13-for-21 passing for 129 yards and a score -- though it wasn't against the same first-team opposition. Jones ended the evening 6 of 10 for 69 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions, and he most importantly survived. The most problematic aspect for Big Blue proved to be its offensive line play, as Jones was sacked once and hit hard at least three times.
2. Pats rookie WR offers reason for optimism. When the Patriots traded up to select speedster Tyquan Thornton in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, the pick was met with raised eyebrows. Thornton's preseason debut Thursday offered optimism that he'll raise some eyebrows in a more positive sense going forward. Showing his big-play potential, Thornton got separation on a second-drive play, but QB Brian Hoyer's throw was short and led to a pass breakup (the play was nullified on an illegal contact call). Eight plays later, Thornton (two catches for nine yards on two targets) worked through traffic against Giants starting cornerback Aaron Robinson for a 2-yard touchdown catch. The rookie out of Baylor could offer some long-absent excitement to the Pats WRs corps.

NFL.com

 

1. Plenty of good and bad in Willis' initial showing. The first glimpse of Malik Willis was hardly a good one, but the rookie quarterback out of Liberty rebounded from an 0-for-3 start to turn in a showing that offered plenty of promise balanced with room for improvement. His first play saw him roll right and hurriedly sling a bad ball through the grasp of fullback Tory Carter. As evidenced, his timing, pocket awareness and touch will need to develop. But his athleticism, arm strength and overall potential were also there for the viewing, highlighted by a 7-yard touchdown run in which he ran through a tackle by Ravens first-rounder Kyle Hamilton en route to six. Willis' first NFL action extended briefly into the third quarter and he finished the night 6 of 11 for 107 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. His ability to make plays with his legs offered the most delight, as he racked up 38 yards on five carries. There's a long road ahead for Willis, but there was ample reason for hopefulness on display Thursday.
2. Ravens have a special rookie. With all the pomp and circumstance that accompanied Matt Araiza into the draft process, it was surprising to some when the Ravens used a fourth-round pick to make Jordan Stout the first punter taken in the 2022 NFL Draft. Stout's showing Thursday was an example of just why a club known for its special teams prowess pounced on Stout. He was booming punts and kickoffs throughout the Ravens' NFL-record 21st straight preseason win. Stout's final punting line saw an average of 47.8 yards on four punts with one coming to rest inside the 20. The long-locked, scruffy-bearded Penn State product is going to tilt the field in the Ravens' favor plenty of times to come.

NFL.com

 

Tonights NFL Action...

 

Seahawks' Carroll praises growth of rookie RB Kenneth Walker III: 'I'm surprised he's so well-rounded'

Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll is known for his overflowing optimism in nearly every circumstance. So it's rarely noteworthy when the coach gushes about a player.

But Thursday's assessment of rookie running back Kenneth Walker III's growth -- particularly as a blocker -- hit a new octave.

"You talk about surprises, I'm surprised. I'm surprised he's so well-rounded," Carroll said of Walker, via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. "A runner, he's blocking. Again I think I mentioned it the other day, but his pass-protection stuff, he just turned the page (from college). I mean, he was not very good in college as a pass protector, and we didn't know. But Chad's (Morton) done a great job with him and Amanda (Ruller), they've worked really hard with him, so it's important. But I think for this kid, everything is important. He wants to be great, and he's not going to let any stone be unturned. So, I'm really excited to see how he goes. He's going to get some good playing time in this game and get him comfortable with the speed of the game and all of that. I expect him to do well."

Carroll's glowing comments on Walker came the same day Rashaad Penny was sidelined with groin tightness. Walker is likely to start Saturday's preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Entering the draft, Walker was viewed as a bulldozer who could break tackles and turn a 2-yard gain into an 8-yard push. He rushed for 1,636 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2021 at Michigan State. But there were questions about his pass-catching abilities, having caught only 19 balls during three seasons in college.

Carroll specifically noting Walker's improved blocking is huge for the rookie's playing time. It's the aspect most first-year backs struggle with. If Walker continues to impress Carroll in that area, his reps will only increase.

"He could play all three downs, and we'd feel comfortable with it," the coach said.


Penny's injury history suggested Walker would see a sizable role as a rookie. Carroll's comments only work to cement that belief.

NFL.com

 

Good for him in that he's already getting another shot after getting dropped by Arizona. But I'd guess he's at best auditioning for a practice squad berth in Pittsburgh.

 

The Steelers already have their WR room full for the regular season. So yea this guy is strictly fighting for a practice squad spot, which is going to be hard to get also. We have some serious talent at WR if all the raving about the two drafted rookies is for real. The media thinks Pickens is going to be better than AJ Green and Austin has been burning our DBs like they are nothing with his speed. If we can get decent QB play our offense is going to be hard to stop.

 

They should trade for Garoppolo and dump the Ohio State project.

 

I’m going to assume you’re talking about talking about Teague.

 

I'm a bit surprised they signed him at all. I could see a team like Chicago giving him a shot. But a team with a solid WR group? Last year he was mostly relegated to special teams even on a team that didn't have wide receivers.

He's an adequate gunner and jammer for special teams, and he's also an adequate run blocker. But he's not all that hot when it comes to those pesky little details like running routes, getting open and catching the ball.

 

Falcons rookie first-round receiver Drake London exited the team’s preseason opener against the Lions with a knee injury. Early indications are that London won’t miss significant time.

Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports, citing an unnamed source, that London did not suffer a “serious injury.”


Atlanta coach Arthur Smith told reporters that the team would know more about the situation on Saturday, after further testing.

London was the eighth overall selection in the 2022 draft. He caught one pass for 24 yards in his exhibition debut.

Listed as a fifth-string wideout on the team’s first depth chart of the preseason, the Falcons surely have higher hopes for the former USC receiver. Apparently, he’ll be able to attempt to fulfill that potential, sooner than later.

PFT

 

Detroit safety Tracy Walker had a massive dumbfuck moment in the preseason game against the Falcons.

Actually, the entire Lions defense did, but Walker went above and beyond the call of duty and wins the title of Alpha Dumbfuck. I say the refs should have flagged him for a dead ball unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but it's preseason for the zebras too.

Here's the play: 6:56 to go in the second quarter. Falcons have the ball, third down and five. Lions blitz heavy, sending six pass rushers. Running back Qadree Ollison gets blown up trying to block, rookie quarterback Desmond Ridder throws off target, the pass is intercepted by Bobby Price, and he's tackled on the sideline right at the 50 yard line. But there's a flag down behind the quarterback - roughing the passer, so the whole play won't count.

But of course the celebration is far more important than the game, so Price gets up and runs all the way to the end zone, slides at the back of the end zone and strikes a pose for a photographer. And the entire defense runs to the end zone to join him, posing for the TV camera and group photos and continuing the celebration even after the penalty is announced.

If you happen to catch a replay on NFL-N, pause the video at the end of the celebration as they're getting up and you'll be able to count 13 guys participating in the festivities. I'm not sure who else was there that didn't belong, but Tracy Walker made it utterly obvious since he wasn't even wearing a helmet.

Think about that... his night was already over. The backups were on the field for the play. But he ran from the sideline onto the field without a helmet and all the way to the end zone just to get in on celebrating a play that didn't involve him in a game that doesn't count.

I'm hoping something about that moment of sheer stupidity ends up on Hard Knocks since the Lions are this year's team. The dumbfucks ended up giving up a touchdown on that drive, I'm guessing in part because half of them were gassed from doing that extra 50-yard sprint to the end zone. And they ended up losing the game by four points, so a better defensive stand after that penalty would have made a huge difference in the final outcome.

 

Well, they are the Lions... dumbfucks supreme.

 

1. Hutchinson makes his presence felt. It didn't take long for spectators to get a glimpse of exactly why Detroit was so happy to draft edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson with the No. 2 overall pick in this year's draft. The hometown kid made his presence known on the second snap he took as a Lion. Hutchinson made one Falcons lineman whiff on a block, broke through into the backfield and stopped Falcons running back Qadree Ollison in his tracks, taking him to the ground for a 2-yard loss. Though Hutchinson only participated in the first series, he finished with two tackles, one of them for loss, and got after the quarterback multiple times. If this is any indication of what we can expect from the rookie this season, that's great news for the Lions as they look to improve on their 31st-ranked defense from 2021.
2. Falcons QBs both look good: With Matt Ryan moving on with the Colts, the Falcons need a new starting quarterback for the first time since 2008, and while Marcus Mariota is the established starter as of now, rookie Desmond Ridder showed off his dual-threat skills in Friday's contest. Mariota started the game but played only one series, and made his limited reps count. Mariota was 2 for 2 for 36 yards, highlighted by a 24-yard pass to wide receiver Drake London. The veteran also contributed 23 yards on the ground, finishing the drive by leaping for the pylon for a 6-yard touchdown run. After that, Ridder took over, and made his case for why he shouldn't stay on the bench long. Ridder had a solid 10-for-22 night, passing for 77 yards and two touchdowns, including a 21-yard throw to Jared Bernhardt which gave the Falcons the lead for good. He also recorded six carries for 59 yards. The Falcons seem to be ready to go with Mariota under center Week 1, but based on Friday, they'll have two good options at QB should they wish to change things up.

NFL.com

 

1. Jalen Hurts has perfect showing. Jalen Hurts really could not have had a better start in his 2022 preseason debut. The quarterback impressed in his limited reps, opening the game with a 28-yard pass to Quez Watkins that immediately set the tone for his performance. Hurts only played in the first series, but went a perfect 6-for-6 passing for 80 yards and a touchdown -- a 22-yarder to tight end Dallas Goedert. Hurts spent the rest of the game on the sidelines, but in his one series of work he was impressive, and though it was a small sample size, he gave an indication of what can be expected from the third-year QB in 2022.
2. Jets defense shows promise. Rome wasn't built in a day, and the same could be said for the Jets' rebuild. Though the offense struggled for a good portion of the game, with quarterback Zach Wilson going down early with a knee injury, the defense was a bright spot, and could be an indication of good things to come for Gang Green. Head coach Robert Saleh is known as a defensive mind, and that translated on Friday as the Jets defense racked up five sacks -- a big positive for a team which had 33 sacks in 2021 and finished dead-last in defense. In addition, after giving up two touchdowns in the first quarter, the defense settled down and gave up only one more score for the rest of the game. If Wilson's injury proves to be serious, the Jets may need to rely on the defense more than anticipated in 2022, and while there's definitely more work to be done, so far the baby steps appear promising.

NFL.com

 

1. Dimukeje, Dortch make their arguments. Depth in the receiving corps and the pass rush are areas of need for the Cardinals heading into the season. With starters on the sidelines Friday, Arizona had a couple of youngsters who commanded some notice that they could be contributors. Second-year pass rusher Victor Dimukeje, 22, racked up three tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble. The 23-year-old Greg Dortch was making plays all night as a receiver and kick returner, tallying four catches (on eight targets) for 53 yards and averaging 17.8 yards per his five punt returns, highlighted by a 55-yard return. The Cardinals could desperately use some young players to step up and Dimukeje and Dortch did so in Arizona's first dress rehearsal.
2. Shooter shines in all seasons. Many of the Bengals starters didn't see the playing field on Friday, but second-year kicking phenom Evan McPherson surely made his presence known. As a rookie booter, McPherson played a crucial role in Cincinnati's run to an AFC championship. It doesn't appear he's let any of the fanfare and esteem go to his leg. McPherson, who was perfect on all 20 of his kicks in the postseason, was 3 for 3 in the first half on field goals of 23, 58 and 56 yards. The kicking game is crucial in the AFC North (aka Justin Tucker Country) and, if there was any doubt, the Bengals hit big time on their 2021 fifth-round pick.

NFL.com

 

1. Trey Lance calm under pressure. The Trey Lance era in San Francisco has begun. Lance only played in two series Friday, but used his time to help back up the 49ers' assertion that he's the best man for the starting job. He started slow in the opening drive, scrambling for seven yards and completing 2-of-3 passes on the way to a field goal, but found his footing on the next series. Lance was sacked to open the 49ers' second drive but didn't let it rattle him, unleashing a huge 76-yard pass to rookie Danny Gray for a touchdown two plays later. It was a throw that gave San Francisco an early lead and quieted the doubts about his ability to throw from the pocket. While I'm sure we'll see more of Lance in the preseason as he continues to adjust to being the everyday starter, the touchdown throw under pressure is a big indication of his growth as a passer.
2. Rookie WRs make big plays. Even without some of the top names in the wide receiver room playing on Friday, the Packers still excelled in the pass game with the help of some rookies. Fourth-round pick Romeo Doubs has been making a name for himself in training camp and continued to shine, catching a long pass over his shoulder for a 33-yard touchdown. Seventh-round pick Samori Toure also made a splash play, grabbing a 23-yard pass from quarterback Jordan Love in the second quarter. The Packers also saw contributions from some rookies they picked up as UDFAs this spring, as Danny Davis collected two receptions for 45 yards and a TD, and B.J. Baylor recorded two catches for 75 yards. All together, Green Bay finished the game with 299 yards receiving, not bad considering the top receivers in the locker room were sitting out. With the overarching storyline of this offseason concerning how the Packers would replace the production of Davante Adams, contributions from new players on the roster is a great sign for the passing game.

NFL.com

 

Bucs WR Julio Jones picking up offense 'fairly quickly'

Julio Jones joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers just over two weeks ago and is getting up to speed on the new offense.

"Everything's coming to me," Jones said Thursday, via the Tampa Bay Times. "The game of football, you just don't want to have to go out there and think. You want it to become second nature to you. But I'm picking it up fairly quickly, and it's been good."

Jones took a veteran's day off Thursday, observing joint practice with Miami in a bucket hat.

The seven-time Pro Bowl receiver joins a Bucs receiver corps that includes Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Russell Gage. While it's an embarrassment of riches, Tampa is already dealing with injuries. Gage came up with a leg injury this week, and Godwin continues to rehab from a torn ACL.

Tom Brady's mid-camp sabbatical makes developing chemistry with Jones more difficult, but given their pedigrees, it's nothing that can't be overcome.

Even in limited time in Tampa, Jones has already shown off his playmaking ability during practices.

"He's been more than I expected, to be honest," general manager Jason Licht told WDAE on Thursday.


After six straight Pro Bowls, Jones' past two seasons have been derailed by injury. He played just nine games in 2020, his final year in Atlanta. Last year in Tennessee, the wideout played 10 games and earned career-lows in catches (31), receiving yards (434) and touchdowns (1).

The 33-year-old said the injuries have taught him patience.

"As far as patience-wise, just going out there like, 60-70 percent and just feeling like you can go out there and compete, I was doing that in the past," Jones said. "But now I'm just staying ahead of it. Just getting the treatment, the proper treatment, the proper rest, things like that."

If Jones finds the fountain of youth in Tampa, the Bucs' passing game will be the most dangerous in the NFL. Health will be the main factor, but so far, so good.

NFL.com

 

Fun fact: Michael Brockers is the only player on the Detroit roster who was alive the last time the Lions won a playoff game.

 

Isaiah Likely impresses in NFL debut, and this shouldn’t have been a surprise

Ravens rookie tight end Isaiah Likely caught four of four targets for 44 yards in Baltimore’s 23-10 preseason win over the Tennessee Titans.

The rookie fourth-round pick was a starter in last night’s debut, and after the game, he said that he felt “like a little kid on Christmas”. Likely was on the field for most of the first half with quarterback Tyler Huntley and the second team offense.

Likely was called for two holding penalties, but he also made some tough catches and made impressive moves after the run. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as he was showing his potential when at Coastal Carolina last year.

Let’s dive into his performance in Thursday night’s game and how he has the potential to help the Ravens offense in his rookie year!

Catching ability

Likely is a matchup nightmare for most defenders in a nickel package as he stands at 6-foot-4 and he’s a natural jump ball receiver.

On Thursday night, he exploded out of his three-point stance and then climbed up to make an impress catch over a defender.

With Likely’s catching ability paired with the competitive run-blocker Charlie Kolar, it looks like the Ravens have a solid rookie tight end room.

After the catch

One area of Likely’s skillset that we witnessed last night was his ability to move after the catch. In the clip below it was third down and eight, Likely was asked to block the edge, release and then break out to the flat.

Looking ahead

When looking ahead, the Ravens may have locked in their tight-end room for the future. With Mark Andrews, who was ranked as one of the best at his position by PFF, per Ravens Wire; and also, Nick Boyle, who is one of the best blocking tight ends in the game, it’s looking like Likely will be their receiving tight end of the future.

Wide receiver James Proche II had this to say about Likely when asked how he’s preformed so far in camp.

“He has great hands. Great hands, great route running for his size. He can stick and move at 6’3″, 200-whatever [pounds] he is. He just has great movements for his size, and I think that’s the most impressive thing.”

Blocking seems to be his only weakness but if he continues to improve, it won’t be his downfall. As preseason continues on, Likely can make a few adjustments that will help with the holding penalties, giving him an opportunity to help his team as the Ravens are known to run two tight end and two running back personnel. According to Sharp Football Analysis, they ran 22 personnel the most in the NFL (14%).

Likely will be a great depth piece moving forward and we’ll continue to monitor his development, but there are high hopes that he was one of the top steals in last year’s NFL draft.

YAHOO/ TOUCHDOWN WIRE