I focused on the younger guys. Enjoy!
1. 5 thoughts after first running through [Bills unofficial depth for PS Week #1, showing Ford #1 at RT and Phillips #1 (ahead of Ed Oliver) at DT)] each position:
Cody Ford at right tackle No. 1 is interesting
McDermott said Monday that Ford’s move inside to guard was based on necessity with all the injuries on the offensive line and a desire to get a look at the rookie at the position he played his junior season at Oklahoma. This depth chart may not reflect the past few days of practice but it’s notable that the Bills view Ford as their top right tackle after two weeks of camp over free agent addition Ty Nsekhe.
When Buffalo drafted Ford general manager Brandon Beane said the team viewed him as a right tackle at the next level despite many pundits preferring he play on the interior at the NFL level. Ford’ versatility is obviously one of the factors that led to the Bills drafting him because of Beane and McDermott’s preference to have position flex.
Ford said that moving inside isn’t a shock to the system he just has to account for the angle changes and how much quicker defenders make contact at that attack point on the line. Ford will likely get reps at both guard and tackle throughout the preseason so the coaching staff can effectively break down his film.
Ed Oliver sees more first team reps
It’s far from official, but top draft choice Ed Oliver is no longer getting sprinkled in for first team reps. The defensive tackle is getting the majority of them.
At Monday’s practice, 10 days into camp, Oliver was getting the first two reps of each series early in the team periods. Then Jordan Phillips would come on for the third rep of the series. But there were series where Oliver was lined up next to Star Lotulelei on the defensive interior.
Oliver has been a playmaker in the team setting and it’s been difficult to ignore his consistent penetration into the offensive backfield.
It appears the defensive staff is moving in the direction of moving him to the starting lineup on a more regular basis, but nothing is set in stone just yet.
“Every position on our team has to earned and that’s the way we want it,” said head coach Sean McDermott. “The guys buy into that, so that’ll be a good competition to continue to watch.”
Jordan Phillips could be force at one-technique in rotation
Rookie defensive tackle Ed Oliver got some more first team work on Sunday and it even came alongside Jordan Phillips, who’s been getting the lion’s share of first team reps at the three technique in front of Oliver.
In the past few practices there has been more reps with Phillips and Oliver on the field together. Phillips shifts to the one technique in this alignment and his size and power make for an interesting combination with Oliver at the three technique. Defensive tackle Star Lotulelei is used primarily as a space eater where Phillips may be able to take on multiple blocks and still impact the play in the backfield.
2. Bengals' Rodney Anderson: Cleared to work
by RotoWire Staff
Anderson (knee) has been cleared to practice after passing his physical.
Per Jay Morrison of The Athletic, with Anderson having been activated, he's no longer eligible to go on the the team's in-season PUP list. As is stands then, Anderson and fellow rookie Trayveon Williams are slated to back up Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard (hamstring). Anderson fell to the Bengals in the sixth round of April's draft because he tore his ACL last September, but once he's fully up to speed, the 6-foot, 224-pounder -- once touted as an early-round pick -- has some upside, especially in the event that Mixon suffers an injury down the road.
3. The kicking battle rages on: What we learned during Orange and Brown Scrimmage
Updated Aug 3, 2019; Posted Aug 3, 2019
By Dan Labbe, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns kicking battle moved to a new front on Saturday night. Kickers Austin Seibert and Greg Joseph kicked in front of the 37,686 fans at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Both kicked in a separate kicking portion of the practice, with Seibert making from 33, 38 and 48 yards and missing from 43 and 46 yards. Joseph made from 33, 38, 48, 43 and 46 yards.
During team periods near the end of practice, Joseph made a 51-yard kick and an extra point and Seibert made an extra point.
So, if you’re scoring at home, that’s four of six kicks made by Seibert on Saturday and all seven made by Joseph.
4. Besides tight end Mark Andrews, the Ravens don’t have another consistent, dangerous receiver, even though rookie Marquise Brown appears even faster in person than on film.
5. Ravens rookie Marquise Brown is fast even at half speed
Brian McNally
NBC Sports Washington•Jul 31, 2019 12:55 PM
OWINGS MILLS -- The anticipation had been building for Ravens first-round draft pick Marquise Brown, whose speed and flashy nickname have fans and teammates buzzing.
"Hollywood" Brown finally passed his physical on Tuesday and on Wednesday he was on the field for individual drills with his teammates. It's a step toward a full return as Baltimore eases him into camp. But even when not fully healthy, Brown's speed leaves his teammates shaking their heads.
Just ask cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who can run a little bit himself. Chatting about Brown with the Ravens staffer who pulls GPS data off the players' uniforms after practice, Humphrey learned exactly why Brown's speed became the stuff of legend at Oklahoma.
"I said ‘They say that Hollywood kid's pretty fast,'" Humphrey said. "Our GPS guy, Sam, goes ‘Yeah he was doing a rehab run and hit 21 miles-per-hour.' I go "I just ran 20 the other day and I was running full speed. I was a little hurt when he told me that. But it'll be good for other teams when the season comes."
For now, Baltimore is just happy to have its top draft pick on the field. Brown was taken 25thoverall in the 2019 NFL Draft. A foot injury has limited him this summer and the team was cautious. Brown worked with team trainers on side fields during the first week of camp.
"I really haven't got to flat out run yet," Brown said. "But as far as just moving around I feel like I'm moving pretty good."
Brown will get his chance soon against Baltimore's dominant secondary, that includes Humphrey and veteran safety Earl Thomas, who made the play of the day at practice Wednesday. He stepped in front of a Lamar Jackson throw and took it back about 50 yards for a touchdown.
Brown's teammates have had him go through the usual litany of rookie duties, including driving Jackson home after practice "whenever he tells me" and bringing food into the facility. He tried to stay mentally sharp while waiting for clearance, but it was a challenge.
The Ravens will still take their time getting him into team drills and its unclear if Brown will be ready to play in the preseason opener next Thursday against Jacksonville. But for one day at least he was just happy to take the next step.
"I'm probably my hardest critic," Brown said. "It don't bother me what other people think. It's just for myself it's the anticipation."
6. Rookie wide receiver Marquise Brown practiced for the second straight day, but once again was limited to individual drills. Brown looked fast and decisive running routes, but the Ravens have taken a cautious approach as he returns from Lisfranc foot surgery.
7. [Ravens] Safety Earl Thomas III was around the ball frequently, putting himself in position to make several big hits had it been live game action. The hard-hitting Thomas-Tony Jefferson safety combination could make receivers wary about running crossing routes in their territory.
8. Thursday, Aug 01, 2019 02:15 PM
Practice Report 8/1: Rookie Ben Powers Works With Starters As Left Guard Remains Undecided
Clifton Brown
BaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer
Rookie left guard Ben Powers lined up with the starters at Thursday’s practice, but the competition for the starting job remains wide open, according to Head Coach John Harbaugh.
Powers, James Hurst, Jermaine Eluemunor and Alex Lewis are all in the mix, though Lewis has been unable to join training camp as he recovers from shoulder surgery.[OUB: Lewis was traded to the Jets this week.]
“We don’t have a starter there, and who would you want me to put in there? He’s the guy right now,” Harbaugh said of Powers. “Jermaine has to get in shape still more, and those guys are competing, along with James Hurst, although James Hurst knows how to play the position. So we’re giving those younger guys the reps. We’ll see what happens.”
Powers wants to make the most of every practice rep he gets as he goes through his first training camp with the Ravens.
“Camp’s going good, it’s a daily grind, it’s waking up with the mentality every day that you’ve got to get better,” Powers said. “It’s a lot more fun playing with the ones. But at the same time, I’ve got to keep working on my craft. I’ve definitely gotten more comfortable with the offense, but I still don’t have everything perfect.”
Ravens right tackle Orlando Brown Jr. went through a similar process as a rookie last season. He practiced with the first-team offense for most of the summer before taking over as the starter in Week 7 after Hurst suffered an injury. It remains to be seen if Powers becomes a starter, but he has sought advice from Brown, who he played with at Oklahoma.
“I talk to him a lot, ask him questions,” Powers said. “He told me to focus on me and my game. My main priority is to help the team win. If that’s playing, if it’s being the No. 6 or No. 7 offensive lineman, my job is to help us win. That’s my mentality.”
Powers has impressed veteran Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda. Yanda (6-foot-3, 305 pound) and Powers (6-4, 310) don’t have the raw size advantage that Brown does, so Powers can learn a lot of technique pointers from Yanda.
“It’s early, but I like the kid’s attitude. I like his approach,” Yanda said. “He seems like a smart kid. His head’s in the playbook, and he has the plays down. Now he’s just adjusting to the physicality of the game at this level. I like what I see so far, but it’s early yet.”
Powers held his own during Thursday’s non-padded practice and looked forward to next week’s joint practices with the Jacksonville Jaguars. That’s another challenge the coaching staff will use to evaluate Powers’ progress.
“Those practices will be a lot of fun,” Powers said smiling.
9. [Chargers HC Antonn] Lynn also gave an update on wide receivers Travis Benjamin and Andre Patton, saying that they will both be game-time decisions. If they were to miss Thursday's preseason opener, we can expect to see extended playing time from Jason Moore, Justice Liggins, Malachi Dupre and Jordan Smallwood.
10. The Backup Tight End Position Is Up For Grabs On The Chiefs’ Roster
Jeff Fedotin
The competition for the Kansas City Chiefs’ backup tight end is among the most heated in camp. But there’s no doubt which tight end has the best nickname.
Some of Blake Bell’s Chiefs teammates and coaches are calling him “The Belldozer.” It’s a nickname he originally earned at Oklahoma while pummeling through defenders during short-yardage and goal-line packages.
“I might have six plays but three touchdowns,” Bell joked. “It was just kind of my job.”
The No. 1 job clearly belong to Travis Kelce. A first-team All-Pro last year, the Chiefs tight end had his third consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season, catching 103 passes for 1,336 yards and 10 touchdowns.
In the midst of a five-year, $46.8 million contract, Kelce will make $8.75 million this year (including bonuses) and does not become a free agent until 2022.
However, Kelce’s primary backup last year, Demetrius Harris, signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Cleveland Browns during the offseason.
That leaves the No. 2 spot unclaimed under head coach Andy Reid, who really values that position. His first job as an NFL position coach was as the Green Bay Packers’ tight ends coach.
Reid has seven tight ends in training camp: Kelce, Bell, Jody Fortson, Nick Keizer, David Wells, Deon Yelder and John Lovett, who’s listed at quarterback on the official roster but would play more of an H-back role.
The Chiefs could keep anywhere from two to four tight ends on their 53-man roster, and Bell, Yelder and Lovett are considered the favorites to back up Kelce.
Bell, who is the nephew of Mike Bell, a defensive end who played 12 years for the Chiefs after Kansas City drafted him No. 2 overall in 1979, said the experience playing quarterback can serve as an advantage in terms of understanding the offensive concepts.
“Just being back there and seeing the coverage and knowing what the defense does,” Bell said, “knowing when they have to get the ball out, knowing and seeing what they see and how they do it.”
A Wichita, Kans. native, Bell has a one-year, $895,000 contract with Chiefs.
He also has NFL experience, having played 10 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars, including four starts, last season. That could help the player who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers as he battles for a roster spot among a position group that might be the most wide open on the team.
“All of these guys are willing to work and willing to learn,” Kelce said. “(General manager Brett) Veach and Coach Reid have done an unbelievable job of bringing guys in that are ready to play and fill that void. I think we will be just fine in the tight end area.”
11. Replacing Demetrius Harris on special teams is important
This was something I hadn't really given much thought to before today, but former Chiefs TE Demetrius Harris was a really valuable player for the Chiefs on special teams. Now that they don't have him, replacing him is going to become paramount for the special teams units. There were two replacements that came to mind for Dave Toub when he spoke to the media today. Those players were TE Blake Bell and TE/H-back John Lovett.
"Right now, Blake Bell is playing all of (Demtrius Harris') positions," Toub said. "The plan is to have him be that guy. We got a lot out of Demetrius last year. He played three phases for us and I think he had the most special teams plays for a tight end in the whole league. He was setting the bar really high, so we're not going to necessarily ask (Blake Bell) to be that guy, but he's going to be playing a lot of those same positions."
Toub added that Bell might only be playing two phases for the Chiefs as opposed to Harris' three phases. This is pretty significant coming from Toub and if Bell can replace that production lost in Harris' departure, it could solidify a roster spot. That might mean trouble for a player like Deon Yelder, who has been vying for the No. 2 job behind Travis Kelce. The more you can do, the better chances you have to stick.
12. Jay Gruden can’t stop raving about Cole Holcomb and Samaje Perine
Zachary Neel
USA TODAY
Arguably no two players have done that more so than rookie linebacker Cole Holcomb and third-year running back Samaje Perine. The two have continually been a topic of conversation for head coach Jay Gruden, who has said that both are putting in the extra work and showing what exactly they can bring to the offense.
Holcomb, a linebacker out of North Carolina who the Redskins drafted in the fifth round this year, was a highlight coming in spring camp, showing that he possesses the speed and agility to make a difference in both stopping the run-game and staying with receivers in coverage.
Beyond his physical intangibles, it is his drive to get better that has impressed Gruden the most.
On the other side of the ball, it is apparent that Perine is making one last-ditch effort to carve out a role on the Redskins, and it seems to be working. Entering his third year in the NFL, Perine is yet to establish himself, and a loaded backfield in Washington isn't making it any easier.
Nonetheless, Gruden has consistently raved about Perine and how impressive he's been this offseason.
Perine has often struggled in his first two seasons, failing to be a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield and routinely missing on blitz pickups. If Gruden believes that the young back is improving and can stake his claim as part of the offensive scheme, great. But like Craig Hoffman, we will believe it when we see it.
13. Q: Who are the [Packers] UDFAs that you'll be paying special attention to in the first preseason game?
A: Speaking strictly about undrafted rookies, receiver Darrius Shepherd has made an impression in practice, so he intrigues me. Outside linebacker Randy Ramsey has flashed on occasion. I thought inside linebacker Curtis Bolton was off to a good start, but he’s been out this week with a groin injury.
14. [Vikes Head] Coach Mike Zimmer never strays from the defensive backs for too long. He paid special attention to the young corners during the fourth period’s one-on-one segment. “Don’t look at the quarterback!” he barked at undrafted rookie Nate Meadows, who lost coverage on Jeff Badet, who used the separation to cut quickly to the sideline for an easy catch.
15. Wide receiver Jeff Badet made perhaps the catch of the night, then took an interesting route to the end zone.
Badet made an acrobatic, juggling catch on a tipped pass from Kyle Sloter, and tumbled down to the 5-yard line, where he got up and celebrated his feat.
However, the whistle never blew. Linebacker Cam Smith and cornerback Bene Benwickere converged and knocked the ball out of Badet’s hand, where it rolled into the end zone.
Badet jumped on the ball for the unlikely score, but realized he probably shouldn’t have celebrated so soon.
“Man, all I can say, No. 13 must think he’s still in college or something, and I gotta get up and score after I fall down to the ground,” Badet said about himself. “It’s just all about concentration.
“All the receivers were making plays, and I was just like, ‘If I get a chance, I gotta come down and make the play.’ ”
16. Brett Jones would be a logical choice as the [Vikes] backup center, although Elflein played that position the past two seasons. Fourth-round pick Dru Samia has shown some promise as a potential backup interior player, but also remember that Dakota Dozier came to the Vikings from the New York Jets, along with Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Rick Dennison.
17. Samia has turned some heads early in camp and is competing for the backup guard job behind [Josh] Kline.
18. The team also nearly had their first scuffle after the play. Offensive lineman Dru Samia and defensive lineman Karter Schult got tangled up on the play and exchanged words, but teammates quickly stepped into diffuse the scuffle. [OUB: Ha! Same old Dru! I love it!]
19. On another running play in which [Bucs RB] Peyton Barber was the ball carrier, inside linebacker Devante Bond was able to get ahold of Barber as Bond himself was being taken to the ground. He got through the line of scrimmage and tripped up Barber as he was trying to fight through the middle.
20. [Bucs HC Bruce Arians on 2nd and 3rd teamers who are turning heads:] “Yeah, especially on the defensive side. That’s what you’re looking for. Devante Bond, some of those guys, De’Vante Harris – there’s two or three or four guys making plays over there every day.”
21. Stock Down [Rams]
EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Ogbo has yet to recover from his nagging injuries that caused him to miss the entirety of his rookie campaign. Not only that, but now he’s missing the start of his second training camp. If Ogbo can’t get healthy and show some flashes of play in the preseason, his time could very well be dwindling. The preseason is going to be of the utmost importance for Okoronkwo.
22. 'Banged up' Ogbonnia Okoronkwo can't afford to fall further behind
By: Cameron DaSilva | August 5, 2019 8:21 am ET
There was a lot of hype surrounding Ogbonnia Okoronkwo last year after the Rams got him in the fifth round – a steal, according to most analysts and fans. Then he broke his foot in OTAs and was sidelined until November.
He never appeared on the game day roster last season, so he didn’t take a single snap, essentially making his rookie year a redshirt season.
The excitement for Okoronkwo returned this year as he came into the offseason fully healthy, but he’s once again dealing with an injury. He hasn’t been on the practice field lately and on Sunday, Sean McVay gave some insight as to why.
“He’s been banged up. We’re hopeful to get him back sooner than later. He has been banged up,” the coach said.
McVay didn’t elaborate on what exactly the injury is, but it sounds like he’ll be back out there in the near future. It doesn’t seem like anything overly serious or an issue that will sideline him for a lengthy period of time like the broken foot did last year, but if there’s one player who needs practice time, it’s him.
The Rams have seen very little of Okoronkwo since he was drafted a year ago, making it difficult to evaluate exactly what he adds to the team. That’s not to say he’s on the roster bubble, but at some point he has to show he can stay healthy and produce at the NFL level.
The Rams stuck by Okoronkwo last year because he was a rookie who suffered an unfortunate injury, but if durability becomes a regular concern, the team may not remain patient.
Okoronkwo is competing with the likes of Justin Lawler, Trevon Young and Josh Carraway at outside linebacker, so if any of those players stand out in practice or the preseason, they could get the nod over him.
It can’t be said enough how important the preseason will be for Okoronkwo.
1. 5 thoughts after first running through [Bills unofficial depth for PS Week #1, showing Ford #1 at RT and Phillips #1 (ahead of Ed Oliver) at DT)] each position:
Cody Ford at right tackle No. 1 is interesting
McDermott said Monday that Ford’s move inside to guard was based on necessity with all the injuries on the offensive line and a desire to get a look at the rookie at the position he played his junior season at Oklahoma. This depth chart may not reflect the past few days of practice but it’s notable that the Bills view Ford as their top right tackle after two weeks of camp over free agent addition Ty Nsekhe.
When Buffalo drafted Ford general manager Brandon Beane said the team viewed him as a right tackle at the next level despite many pundits preferring he play on the interior at the NFL level. Ford’ versatility is obviously one of the factors that led to the Bills drafting him because of Beane and McDermott’s preference to have position flex.
Ford said that moving inside isn’t a shock to the system he just has to account for the angle changes and how much quicker defenders make contact at that attack point on the line. Ford will likely get reps at both guard and tackle throughout the preseason so the coaching staff can effectively break down his film.
Ed Oliver sees more first team reps
It’s far from official, but top draft choice Ed Oliver is no longer getting sprinkled in for first team reps. The defensive tackle is getting the majority of them.
At Monday’s practice, 10 days into camp, Oliver was getting the first two reps of each series early in the team periods. Then Jordan Phillips would come on for the third rep of the series. But there were series where Oliver was lined up next to Star Lotulelei on the defensive interior.
Oliver has been a playmaker in the team setting and it’s been difficult to ignore his consistent penetration into the offensive backfield.
It appears the defensive staff is moving in the direction of moving him to the starting lineup on a more regular basis, but nothing is set in stone just yet.
“Every position on our team has to earned and that’s the way we want it,” said head coach Sean McDermott. “The guys buy into that, so that’ll be a good competition to continue to watch.”
Jordan Phillips could be force at one-technique in rotation
Rookie defensive tackle Ed Oliver got some more first team work on Sunday and it even came alongside Jordan Phillips, who’s been getting the lion’s share of first team reps at the three technique in front of Oliver.
In the past few practices there has been more reps with Phillips and Oliver on the field together. Phillips shifts to the one technique in this alignment and his size and power make for an interesting combination with Oliver at the three technique. Defensive tackle Star Lotulelei is used primarily as a space eater where Phillips may be able to take on multiple blocks and still impact the play in the backfield.
2. Bengals' Rodney Anderson: Cleared to work
by RotoWire Staff
Anderson (knee) has been cleared to practice after passing his physical.
Per Jay Morrison of The Athletic, with Anderson having been activated, he's no longer eligible to go on the the team's in-season PUP list. As is stands then, Anderson and fellow rookie Trayveon Williams are slated to back up Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard (hamstring). Anderson fell to the Bengals in the sixth round of April's draft because he tore his ACL last September, but once he's fully up to speed, the 6-foot, 224-pounder -- once touted as an early-round pick -- has some upside, especially in the event that Mixon suffers an injury down the road.
3. The kicking battle rages on: What we learned during Orange and Brown Scrimmage
Updated Aug 3, 2019; Posted Aug 3, 2019
By Dan Labbe, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns kicking battle moved to a new front on Saturday night. Kickers Austin Seibert and Greg Joseph kicked in front of the 37,686 fans at FirstEnergy Stadium.
Both kicked in a separate kicking portion of the practice, with Seibert making from 33, 38 and 48 yards and missing from 43 and 46 yards. Joseph made from 33, 38, 48, 43 and 46 yards.
During team periods near the end of practice, Joseph made a 51-yard kick and an extra point and Seibert made an extra point.
So, if you’re scoring at home, that’s four of six kicks made by Seibert on Saturday and all seven made by Joseph.
4. Besides tight end Mark Andrews, the Ravens don’t have another consistent, dangerous receiver, even though rookie Marquise Brown appears even faster in person than on film.
5. Ravens rookie Marquise Brown is fast even at half speed
Brian McNally
NBC Sports Washington•Jul 31, 2019 12:55 PM
OWINGS MILLS -- The anticipation had been building for Ravens first-round draft pick Marquise Brown, whose speed and flashy nickname have fans and teammates buzzing.
"Hollywood" Brown finally passed his physical on Tuesday and on Wednesday he was on the field for individual drills with his teammates. It's a step toward a full return as Baltimore eases him into camp. But even when not fully healthy, Brown's speed leaves his teammates shaking their heads.
Just ask cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who can run a little bit himself. Chatting about Brown with the Ravens staffer who pulls GPS data off the players' uniforms after practice, Humphrey learned exactly why Brown's speed became the stuff of legend at Oklahoma.
"I said ‘They say that Hollywood kid's pretty fast,'" Humphrey said. "Our GPS guy, Sam, goes ‘Yeah he was doing a rehab run and hit 21 miles-per-hour.' I go "I just ran 20 the other day and I was running full speed. I was a little hurt when he told me that. But it'll be good for other teams when the season comes."
For now, Baltimore is just happy to have its top draft pick on the field. Brown was taken 25thoverall in the 2019 NFL Draft. A foot injury has limited him this summer and the team was cautious. Brown worked with team trainers on side fields during the first week of camp.
"I really haven't got to flat out run yet," Brown said. "But as far as just moving around I feel like I'm moving pretty good."
Brown will get his chance soon against Baltimore's dominant secondary, that includes Humphrey and veteran safety Earl Thomas, who made the play of the day at practice Wednesday. He stepped in front of a Lamar Jackson throw and took it back about 50 yards for a touchdown.
Brown's teammates have had him go through the usual litany of rookie duties, including driving Jackson home after practice "whenever he tells me" and bringing food into the facility. He tried to stay mentally sharp while waiting for clearance, but it was a challenge.
The Ravens will still take their time getting him into team drills and its unclear if Brown will be ready to play in the preseason opener next Thursday against Jacksonville. But for one day at least he was just happy to take the next step.
"I'm probably my hardest critic," Brown said. "It don't bother me what other people think. It's just for myself it's the anticipation."
6. Rookie wide receiver Marquise Brown practiced for the second straight day, but once again was limited to individual drills. Brown looked fast and decisive running routes, but the Ravens have taken a cautious approach as he returns from Lisfranc foot surgery.
7. [Ravens] Safety Earl Thomas III was around the ball frequently, putting himself in position to make several big hits had it been live game action. The hard-hitting Thomas-Tony Jefferson safety combination could make receivers wary about running crossing routes in their territory.
8. Thursday, Aug 01, 2019 02:15 PM
Practice Report 8/1: Rookie Ben Powers Works With Starters As Left Guard Remains Undecided
Clifton Brown
BaltimoreRavens.com Staff Writer
Rookie left guard Ben Powers lined up with the starters at Thursday’s practice, but the competition for the starting job remains wide open, according to Head Coach John Harbaugh.
Powers, James Hurst, Jermaine Eluemunor and Alex Lewis are all in the mix, though Lewis has been unable to join training camp as he recovers from shoulder surgery.[OUB: Lewis was traded to the Jets this week.]
“We don’t have a starter there, and who would you want me to put in there? He’s the guy right now,” Harbaugh said of Powers. “Jermaine has to get in shape still more, and those guys are competing, along with James Hurst, although James Hurst knows how to play the position. So we’re giving those younger guys the reps. We’ll see what happens.”
Powers wants to make the most of every practice rep he gets as he goes through his first training camp with the Ravens.
“Camp’s going good, it’s a daily grind, it’s waking up with the mentality every day that you’ve got to get better,” Powers said. “It’s a lot more fun playing with the ones. But at the same time, I’ve got to keep working on my craft. I’ve definitely gotten more comfortable with the offense, but I still don’t have everything perfect.”
Ravens right tackle Orlando Brown Jr. went through a similar process as a rookie last season. He practiced with the first-team offense for most of the summer before taking over as the starter in Week 7 after Hurst suffered an injury. It remains to be seen if Powers becomes a starter, but he has sought advice from Brown, who he played with at Oklahoma.
“I talk to him a lot, ask him questions,” Powers said. “He told me to focus on me and my game. My main priority is to help the team win. If that’s playing, if it’s being the No. 6 or No. 7 offensive lineman, my job is to help us win. That’s my mentality.”
Powers has impressed veteran Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda. Yanda (6-foot-3, 305 pound) and Powers (6-4, 310) don’t have the raw size advantage that Brown does, so Powers can learn a lot of technique pointers from Yanda.
“It’s early, but I like the kid’s attitude. I like his approach,” Yanda said. “He seems like a smart kid. His head’s in the playbook, and he has the plays down. Now he’s just adjusting to the physicality of the game at this level. I like what I see so far, but it’s early yet.”
Powers held his own during Thursday’s non-padded practice and looked forward to next week’s joint practices with the Jacksonville Jaguars. That’s another challenge the coaching staff will use to evaluate Powers’ progress.
“Those practices will be a lot of fun,” Powers said smiling.
9. [Chargers HC Antonn] Lynn also gave an update on wide receivers Travis Benjamin and Andre Patton, saying that they will both be game-time decisions. If they were to miss Thursday's preseason opener, we can expect to see extended playing time from Jason Moore, Justice Liggins, Malachi Dupre and Jordan Smallwood.
10. The Backup Tight End Position Is Up For Grabs On The Chiefs’ Roster
Jeff Fedotin
The competition for the Kansas City Chiefs’ backup tight end is among the most heated in camp. But there’s no doubt which tight end has the best nickname.
Some of Blake Bell’s Chiefs teammates and coaches are calling him “The Belldozer.” It’s a nickname he originally earned at Oklahoma while pummeling through defenders during short-yardage and goal-line packages.
“I might have six plays but three touchdowns,” Bell joked. “It was just kind of my job.”
The No. 1 job clearly belong to Travis Kelce. A first-team All-Pro last year, the Chiefs tight end had his third consecutive 1,000-yard receiving season, catching 103 passes for 1,336 yards and 10 touchdowns.
In the midst of a five-year, $46.8 million contract, Kelce will make $8.75 million this year (including bonuses) and does not become a free agent until 2022.
However, Kelce’s primary backup last year, Demetrius Harris, signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Cleveland Browns during the offseason.
That leaves the No. 2 spot unclaimed under head coach Andy Reid, who really values that position. His first job as an NFL position coach was as the Green Bay Packers’ tight ends coach.
Reid has seven tight ends in training camp: Kelce, Bell, Jody Fortson, Nick Keizer, David Wells, Deon Yelder and John Lovett, who’s listed at quarterback on the official roster but would play more of an H-back role.
The Chiefs could keep anywhere from two to four tight ends on their 53-man roster, and Bell, Yelder and Lovett are considered the favorites to back up Kelce.
Bell, who is the nephew of Mike Bell, a defensive end who played 12 years for the Chiefs after Kansas City drafted him No. 2 overall in 1979, said the experience playing quarterback can serve as an advantage in terms of understanding the offensive concepts.
“Just being back there and seeing the coverage and knowing what the defense does,” Bell said, “knowing when they have to get the ball out, knowing and seeing what they see and how they do it.”
A Wichita, Kans. native, Bell has a one-year, $895,000 contract with Chiefs.
He also has NFL experience, having played 10 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars, including four starts, last season. That could help the player who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers as he battles for a roster spot among a position group that might be the most wide open on the team.
“All of these guys are willing to work and willing to learn,” Kelce said. “(General manager Brett) Veach and Coach Reid have done an unbelievable job of bringing guys in that are ready to play and fill that void. I think we will be just fine in the tight end area.”
11. Replacing Demetrius Harris on special teams is important
This was something I hadn't really given much thought to before today, but former Chiefs TE Demetrius Harris was a really valuable player for the Chiefs on special teams. Now that they don't have him, replacing him is going to become paramount for the special teams units. There were two replacements that came to mind for Dave Toub when he spoke to the media today. Those players were TE Blake Bell and TE/H-back John Lovett.
"Right now, Blake Bell is playing all of (Demtrius Harris') positions," Toub said. "The plan is to have him be that guy. We got a lot out of Demetrius last year. He played three phases for us and I think he had the most special teams plays for a tight end in the whole league. He was setting the bar really high, so we're not going to necessarily ask (Blake Bell) to be that guy, but he's going to be playing a lot of those same positions."
Toub added that Bell might only be playing two phases for the Chiefs as opposed to Harris' three phases. This is pretty significant coming from Toub and if Bell can replace that production lost in Harris' departure, it could solidify a roster spot. That might mean trouble for a player like Deon Yelder, who has been vying for the No. 2 job behind Travis Kelce. The more you can do, the better chances you have to stick.
12. Jay Gruden can’t stop raving about Cole Holcomb and Samaje Perine
Zachary Neel
USA TODAY
Arguably no two players have done that more so than rookie linebacker Cole Holcomb and third-year running back Samaje Perine. The two have continually been a topic of conversation for head coach Jay Gruden, who has said that both are putting in the extra work and showing what exactly they can bring to the offense.
Holcomb, a linebacker out of North Carolina who the Redskins drafted in the fifth round this year, was a highlight coming in spring camp, showing that he possesses the speed and agility to make a difference in both stopping the run-game and staying with receivers in coverage.
Beyond his physical intangibles, it is his drive to get better that has impressed Gruden the most.
On the other side of the ball, it is apparent that Perine is making one last-ditch effort to carve out a role on the Redskins, and it seems to be working. Entering his third year in the NFL, Perine is yet to establish himself, and a loaded backfield in Washington isn't making it any easier.
Nonetheless, Gruden has consistently raved about Perine and how impressive he's been this offseason.
Perine has often struggled in his first two seasons, failing to be a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield and routinely missing on blitz pickups. If Gruden believes that the young back is improving and can stake his claim as part of the offensive scheme, great. But like Craig Hoffman, we will believe it when we see it.
13. Q: Who are the [Packers] UDFAs that you'll be paying special attention to in the first preseason game?
A: Speaking strictly about undrafted rookies, receiver Darrius Shepherd has made an impression in practice, so he intrigues me. Outside linebacker Randy Ramsey has flashed on occasion. I thought inside linebacker Curtis Bolton was off to a good start, but he’s been out this week with a groin injury.
14. [Vikes Head] Coach Mike Zimmer never strays from the defensive backs for too long. He paid special attention to the young corners during the fourth period’s one-on-one segment. “Don’t look at the quarterback!” he barked at undrafted rookie Nate Meadows, who lost coverage on Jeff Badet, who used the separation to cut quickly to the sideline for an easy catch.
15. Wide receiver Jeff Badet made perhaps the catch of the night, then took an interesting route to the end zone.
Badet made an acrobatic, juggling catch on a tipped pass from Kyle Sloter, and tumbled down to the 5-yard line, where he got up and celebrated his feat.
However, the whistle never blew. Linebacker Cam Smith and cornerback Bene Benwickere converged and knocked the ball out of Badet’s hand, where it rolled into the end zone.
Badet jumped on the ball for the unlikely score, but realized he probably shouldn’t have celebrated so soon.
“Man, all I can say, No. 13 must think he’s still in college or something, and I gotta get up and score after I fall down to the ground,” Badet said about himself. “It’s just all about concentration.
“All the receivers were making plays, and I was just like, ‘If I get a chance, I gotta come down and make the play.’ ”
16. Brett Jones would be a logical choice as the [Vikes] backup center, although Elflein played that position the past two seasons. Fourth-round pick Dru Samia has shown some promise as a potential backup interior player, but also remember that Dakota Dozier came to the Vikings from the New York Jets, along with Offensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Rick Dennison.
17. Samia has turned some heads early in camp and is competing for the backup guard job behind [Josh] Kline.
18. The team also nearly had their first scuffle after the play. Offensive lineman Dru Samia and defensive lineman Karter Schult got tangled up on the play and exchanged words, but teammates quickly stepped into diffuse the scuffle. [OUB: Ha! Same old Dru! I love it!]
19. On another running play in which [Bucs RB] Peyton Barber was the ball carrier, inside linebacker Devante Bond was able to get ahold of Barber as Bond himself was being taken to the ground. He got through the line of scrimmage and tripped up Barber as he was trying to fight through the middle.
20. [Bucs HC Bruce Arians on 2nd and 3rd teamers who are turning heads:] “Yeah, especially on the defensive side. That’s what you’re looking for. Devante Bond, some of those guys, De’Vante Harris – there’s two or three or four guys making plays over there every day.”
21. Stock Down [Rams]
EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Ogbo has yet to recover from his nagging injuries that caused him to miss the entirety of his rookie campaign. Not only that, but now he’s missing the start of his second training camp. If Ogbo can’t get healthy and show some flashes of play in the preseason, his time could very well be dwindling. The preseason is going to be of the utmost importance for Okoronkwo.
22. 'Banged up' Ogbonnia Okoronkwo can't afford to fall further behind
By: Cameron DaSilva | August 5, 2019 8:21 am ET
There was a lot of hype surrounding Ogbonnia Okoronkwo last year after the Rams got him in the fifth round – a steal, according to most analysts and fans. Then he broke his foot in OTAs and was sidelined until November.
He never appeared on the game day roster last season, so he didn’t take a single snap, essentially making his rookie year a redshirt season.
The excitement for Okoronkwo returned this year as he came into the offseason fully healthy, but he’s once again dealing with an injury. He hasn’t been on the practice field lately and on Sunday, Sean McVay gave some insight as to why.
“He’s been banged up. We’re hopeful to get him back sooner than later. He has been banged up,” the coach said.
McVay didn’t elaborate on what exactly the injury is, but it sounds like he’ll be back out there in the near future. It doesn’t seem like anything overly serious or an issue that will sideline him for a lengthy period of time like the broken foot did last year, but if there’s one player who needs practice time, it’s him.
The Rams have seen very little of Okoronkwo since he was drafted a year ago, making it difficult to evaluate exactly what he adds to the team. That’s not to say he’s on the roster bubble, but at some point he has to show he can stay healthy and produce at the NFL level.
The Rams stuck by Okoronkwo last year because he was a rookie who suffered an unfortunate injury, but if durability becomes a regular concern, the team may not remain patient.
Okoronkwo is competing with the likes of Justin Lawler, Trevon Young and Josh Carraway at outside linebacker, so if any of those players stand out in practice or the preseason, they could get the nod over him.
It can’t be said enough how important the preseason will be for Okoronkwo.
