First, the bad news (besides about Lamb):
Thu, September 2, 2021, 10:34 PM
The New England Patriots spent a first-round pick on Sony Michel just three years ago, but they traded him away for next to nothing after watching this year’s first-round pick run wild in his first NFL preseason. Rhamdondre Stevenson led the entire league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in the preseason, which likely had an impact on the Pats’ decision to deal Michel to the Los Angeles Rams. After his impressive exhibition performance, Stevenson will now challenge Damien Harris for early down carries in New England, while veteran James White handles the third-down duties.
-- Stevenson’s preseason rampage probably caught even the Patriots by surprise, especially after he slogged through OTAs and minicamp. He became so good so quickly that he made Sony Michel expendable, and that’s not a small feat given how improved Michel looked this camp.
-- [Bills] Guard play in general is unsettled. Jon Feliciano is an aggressive tone-setter on the left side, but Cody Ford and Ike Boettger remain unproven. Pass protection at that position hasn’t looked ideal.
“Those guys are still working,” Beane said of his guards. “I think Ike started a little slow coming back from COVID. Cody’s had to work his way back, but I think these guys are both trending up.
“Long story short, yes, I’m very pleased. I’m very confident. All those guys have NFL experience, and I have no doubt Cody, Ike, Jon, whoever is in there playing, whoever starts the game or somebody has an injury, that we’re going to be really good there.”
-- Cody Ford took all the snaps with the starting unit at right guard. Ford split time with Ike Boettger in the Green Bay game.
-- PFF's All-Underrated Team
Along with Brown, rookie wide receiver Rashod Bateman has been out for most of training camp. Bateman underwent core muscle surgery earlier in August and will likely miss at least the beginning of the regular season.
Brown's return comes at an opportune time for the Ravens, being that they just saw projected No. 1 running back J.K. Dobbins go down for the season with a torn ACL suffered during the team's final preseason game.
The team's most explosive perimeter weapon, Brown struggled to get on the same page with Jackson for much of last season before scoring six touchdowns across the final six regular season games and totaling 11 grabs for 196 yards in the team's two playoff contests. Baltimore's offense is likely to still be extremely run heavy and count on Gus Edwards and Lamar Jackson, but being able to stretch the field with Brown, Mark Andrews, and free-agent acquisition Sammy Watkins will be important as they attempt to open those rushing lanes up the middle.
--
The Pittsburgh Steelers have wrapped up their 2021 NFL Preseason, but there are certain areas of the team which are very much a mystery as the team prepares for the regular season. One of those areas would be within the team’s secondary. To be more specific, the slot/nickel cornerback role.
Everyone knows Joe Haden has his side of the field locked down, but who plays opposite Haden is anyone’s guess.
Is it Cam Sutton?
Will James Pierre play outside, allowing Sutton to move inside?
Will Pierre and Sutton only swap positions in the dime defensive sub package?
What about the nickel? Who is destined to play the slot?
That last question is one no one, not even defensive coordinator Keith Butler knows at this point. In case you missed it, here were his comments on the position prior to the team’s final preseason game against the Carolina Panthers last Friday night in Charlotte, NC.
“You’ve got a bunch of DBs in there, we’ll see how they do.” Butler said of his current personnel. “If we’ve got anybody that’s a good blitzer, we’ll stick them in there in nickel and stuff like that. We want to pressure. We just don’t want to dadgum play blasé football. We want to get out there and get a good eye for people. We find a guy to do that, the better off he’s going to be.”
Friday night it was Tre Norwood’s turn to try his hand at the slot position. To Norwood’s credit, he played all defensive secondary positions at Oklahoma, but this was his first shot at playing inside at the professional level.
Overall, he thought it went well.
“It went well, my first time this entire preseason.” Norwood said of his first reps at the nickel cornerback position. “It felt good to be on the inside getting some action, getting to do it in a live game. We did it in practice this week but being able to get out there, doing it in a live game, I felt comfortable with it. It’s something that I like to do.”
Norwood’s overall stat line wasn’t mind blowing. He registered 4 total tackles, with 2 solo tackles, but his Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades were abysmal.
Run Defense: 66.0
Tackling: 22.4
Pass Rush: 54.1
Coverage: 31.7
Overall: 36.2
Say what you want about PFF grades, but it is clear there is room for improvement from the rookie defensive back. Nonetheless, Keith Butler’s comments on Norwood, and his football IQ, show the team isn’t going to let his first, and only, play in the slot dictate any future repetitions at the position.
“Oh, he’s a very smart young man. A very smart young man. He’s smart enough. He’s like Cam Sutton.” Butler said. “They’re smart enough to play more than one position. My thing with all of them is they’ve got to make themselves valuable. How are you going to make yourself valuable? You make yourself valuable by playing special teams, by playing nickel, by playing safety, by playing corner. You play a lot of different positions. If you can do that, you make yourself valuable to the team. And the more valuable you make yourself to the team, the best chance you’ve got to make the team.”
Maybe the slot isn’t the best spot for Norwood, but he certainly follows the motto of “the more you can do”, and it is paying off. Norwood is an essential lock to make the Steelers’ 53-man roster, and this as a 7th-round draft pick. Overall, Norwood has been pleased with how his first professional preseason went.
“I felt it went really well.” Norwood commented about his first preseason. “I was just excited to be out there playing ball and taking strides each and every game. Learning, that’s the biggest thing with the preseason and camp, learning and taking those steps and getting better each and every day and each and every rep. I felt like I did that.”
While Norwood didn’t light the world on fire in his debut in the slot, he is the latest player the Steelers have thrown at the position to see if they will stick. If/when Arthur Maulet’s ankle heals, you would expect him to have the first shot at the nickel position, but Norwood’s experience now gives them another player to utilize there if need be.
-- Chiefs C Creed Humphrey named to PFF preseason All-Rookie team
Charles Goldman
September 3, 2021 10:34 am CT
The Kansas City Chiefs’ biggest challenge of the offseason was to go out and improve the depth on their offensive line after the loss in Super Bowl LV.
The team managed to make improvements by all means available to them, signing free agents, making trades and adding talent in the 2021 NFL draft. It’s likely that the Chiefs plan to start two draft picks on the offensive line this season. Typically, that might leave people a little concerned, but these two players have earned this opportunity over their veteran counterparts every step of the way.
One of the Chiefs’ rookie starters on the offensive line was even recognized by Pro Football Focus for his performance during the preseason, earning preseason All-Rookie honors. That player was none other than second-round draft pick, Creed Humphrey.
Here is what PFF’s Michael Renner had to say about him:
The best part about Humphrey’s selection to the preseason All-Rookie team is that he wasn’t even the highest-graded Chiefs rookie on the offensive line. That honor belongs to sixth-round draft pick Trey Smith, who notched a 74.4 overall grade compared to Humphrey’s 73.7.
Don’t underestimate the group of rookies starting along the offensive line for Kansas City. They’re not your average first-year players.
-- Gerald McCoy: An Important Key to Raiders Success
JAIRO ALVARADOUPDATED:AUG 31, 2021ORIGINAL:AUG 31, 2021
After patiently waiting for his opportunity to get back on the field, McCoy finally had a chance to get out there.
"Today was my first real reps. I took a few of my first practice reps this week. Been getting reps here and there, but today it was just like, throw him in the fire, and I feel great. My legs are great; no pain in the knee; knocking the rust off felt really good. I was just back in my element, and after a while, I was just like, instead of thinking about it after a while, I was just like, 'Alright, let'slet's go'", McCoy said.
Gerald McCoy Returns to Play After 2 Years of Inactivity
After 609 days of inactivity, Sunday's preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers were Gerald McCoy's first action back on the field.
The six-time Pro Bowler last saw action in 2019, where he played for the Carolina Panthers.
Following his productive season in Carolina, McCoy would sign a multi-year contract with Dallas but would be released from the team due to an injury.
"I haven't practiced really; I haven't really done anything, so I was like if I'm going to be ready for the season, I got to play today. I don't care how many snaps it is, who's out there, I gotta go," McCoy said.
Aside from rehab and practice, McCoy questioned if his body was in shape to be on the field; working out and doing drills is nothing like playing football, so getting back on the field was essential for him to see if he was ready to do so return.
"God just had me covered today, and I definitely prepared for it. You know our strength staff and our training room, they've done a great job of getting me prepared to play in this game, and they just threw me in the fire and said, let's see, and you know I believe I weathered the storm and did pretty decent," McCoy said.
After seeing action for the first time, McCoy feels and looks great.
Only time will tell if McCoy can return to his Pro Bowl-caliber and help this team defensively, and with a team filled with players who are ready to take the next step forward, the sky's the limit.
NFC Blurbs to come later.
- The Dallas Cowboys activated wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, safety Damontae Kazee and defensive end Carlos Watkins off the reserve/COVID-19 list. Coach Mike McCarthy told reporters offensive tackle La'el Collins (stinger) will not practice Thursday and likely be out until Sunday. Cornerback Kelvin Joseph, offensive tackle Josh Ball, wide receiver Malik Turner, defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, tight end Sean McKeon and linebacker Francis Bernard were placed on IR.
- The Los Angeles Rams activated punter Johnny Hekker from the reserve/COVID-19 list, placed linebacker Chris Garrett on the reserve/COVID-19 list and placed offensive tackle Tremayne Anchrum and linebacker Obo Okoronkwo on injured reserve.
- The Arizona Cardinals activated offensive line Justin Pugh from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and placed defensive lineman Jordan Phillips on IR.
Rhamondre Stevenson runs wild for Patriots in 1st NFL preseason
Luke EasterlingThu, September 2, 2021, 10:34 PM
The New England Patriots spent a first-round pick on Sony Michel just three years ago, but they traded him away for next to nothing after watching this year’s first-round pick run wild in his first NFL preseason. Rhamdondre Stevenson led the entire league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in the preseason, which likely had an impact on the Pats’ decision to deal Michel to the Los Angeles Rams. After his impressive exhibition performance, Stevenson will now challenge Damien Harris for early down carries in New England, while veteran James White handles the third-down duties.
-- Stevenson’s preseason rampage probably caught even the Patriots by surprise, especially after he slogged through OTAs and minicamp. He became so good so quickly that he made Sony Michel expendable, and that’s not a small feat given how improved Michel looked this camp.
-- [Bills] Guard play in general is unsettled. Jon Feliciano is an aggressive tone-setter on the left side, but Cody Ford and Ike Boettger remain unproven. Pass protection at that position hasn’t looked ideal.
“Those guys are still working,” Beane said of his guards. “I think Ike started a little slow coming back from COVID. Cody’s had to work his way back, but I think these guys are both trending up.
“Long story short, yes, I’m very pleased. I’m very confident. All those guys have NFL experience, and I have no doubt Cody, Ike, Jon, whoever is in there playing, whoever starts the game or somebody has an injury, that we’re going to be really good there.”
-- Cody Ford took all the snaps with the starting unit at right guard. Ford split time with Ike Boettger in the Green Bay game.
-- PFF's All-Underrated Team
QB: BAKER MAYFIELD, CLEVELAND BROWNS
From Week 7 through the postseason of last year, Mayfield ranked second among quarterbacks in passing grade (91.8), fifth in big-time throw rate (6.6%) and first in turnover-worthy play rate (1.6%). The Browns quarterback and head coach Kevin Stefanski were clicking on all cylinders in 2020, and Year 2 of the partnership could cement Mayfield's standing as a top-10 quarterback.RT: DARYL WILLIAMS, BUFFALO BILLS
After an injury-plagued, up-and-down five-year stint with Carolina to begin his NFL career, Williams joined the Bills to be their starting right tackle before the 2020 season. Not only did he play in all 19 games, but he also played at an extremely high level. His 80.0 pass-blocking grade ranked fourth among right tackles.-- The Baltimore Ravens are getting one of their most important offensive weapons back on the field. Ravens coach John Harbaugh told local media on Monday that wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown will return to practice, per the Baltimore Sun.
Brown's return will mark the first time he has participated in a session since the second day of training camp. Brown suffered a hamstring injury back on July 28, and a few days later, Harbaugh indicated that it was "worse than what they told me it was going to be," and that Brown would be "out until he's back."Along with Brown, rookie wide receiver Rashod Bateman has been out for most of training camp. Bateman underwent core muscle surgery earlier in August and will likely miss at least the beginning of the regular season.
Brown's return comes at an opportune time for the Ravens, being that they just saw projected No. 1 running back J.K. Dobbins go down for the season with a torn ACL suffered during the team's final preseason game.
The team's most explosive perimeter weapon, Brown struggled to get on the same page with Jackson for much of last season before scoring six touchdowns across the final six regular season games and totaling 11 grabs for 196 yards in the team's two playoff contests. Baltimore's offense is likely to still be extremely run heavy and count on Gus Edwards and Lamar Jackson, but being able to stretch the field with Brown, Mark Andrews, and free-agent acquisition Sammy Watkins will be important as they attempt to open those rushing lanes up the middle.
--
Tre Norwood hoping to improve upon his first playing time at the slot cornerback position
By Jeff.Hartman@BnGBlitz Aug 31, 2021, 12:30pm EDTThe Pittsburgh Steelers have wrapped up their 2021 NFL Preseason, but there are certain areas of the team which are very much a mystery as the team prepares for the regular season. One of those areas would be within the team’s secondary. To be more specific, the slot/nickel cornerback role.
Everyone knows Joe Haden has his side of the field locked down, but who plays opposite Haden is anyone’s guess.
Is it Cam Sutton?
Will James Pierre play outside, allowing Sutton to move inside?
Will Pierre and Sutton only swap positions in the dime defensive sub package?
What about the nickel? Who is destined to play the slot?
That last question is one no one, not even defensive coordinator Keith Butler knows at this point. In case you missed it, here were his comments on the position prior to the team’s final preseason game against the Carolina Panthers last Friday night in Charlotte, NC.
“You’ve got a bunch of DBs in there, we’ll see how they do.” Butler said of his current personnel. “If we’ve got anybody that’s a good blitzer, we’ll stick them in there in nickel and stuff like that. We want to pressure. We just don’t want to dadgum play blasé football. We want to get out there and get a good eye for people. We find a guy to do that, the better off he’s going to be.”
Friday night it was Tre Norwood’s turn to try his hand at the slot position. To Norwood’s credit, he played all defensive secondary positions at Oklahoma, but this was his first shot at playing inside at the professional level.
Overall, he thought it went well.
“It went well, my first time this entire preseason.” Norwood said of his first reps at the nickel cornerback position. “It felt good to be on the inside getting some action, getting to do it in a live game. We did it in practice this week but being able to get out there, doing it in a live game, I felt comfortable with it. It’s something that I like to do.”
Norwood’s overall stat line wasn’t mind blowing. He registered 4 total tackles, with 2 solo tackles, but his Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades were abysmal.
Run Defense: 66.0
Tackling: 22.4
Pass Rush: 54.1
Coverage: 31.7
Overall: 36.2
Say what you want about PFF grades, but it is clear there is room for improvement from the rookie defensive back. Nonetheless, Keith Butler’s comments on Norwood, and his football IQ, show the team isn’t going to let his first, and only, play in the slot dictate any future repetitions at the position.
“Oh, he’s a very smart young man. A very smart young man. He’s smart enough. He’s like Cam Sutton.” Butler said. “They’re smart enough to play more than one position. My thing with all of them is they’ve got to make themselves valuable. How are you going to make yourself valuable? You make yourself valuable by playing special teams, by playing nickel, by playing safety, by playing corner. You play a lot of different positions. If you can do that, you make yourself valuable to the team. And the more valuable you make yourself to the team, the best chance you’ve got to make the team.”
Maybe the slot isn’t the best spot for Norwood, but he certainly follows the motto of “the more you can do”, and it is paying off. Norwood is an essential lock to make the Steelers’ 53-man roster, and this as a 7th-round draft pick. Overall, Norwood has been pleased with how his first professional preseason went.
“I felt it went really well.” Norwood commented about his first preseason. “I was just excited to be out there playing ball and taking strides each and every game. Learning, that’s the biggest thing with the preseason and camp, learning and taking those steps and getting better each and every day and each and every rep. I felt like I did that.”
While Norwood didn’t light the world on fire in his debut in the slot, he is the latest player the Steelers have thrown at the position to see if they will stick. If/when Arthur Maulet’s ankle heals, you would expect him to have the first shot at the nickel position, but Norwood’s experience now gives them another player to utilize there if need be.
-- Chiefs C Creed Humphrey named to PFF preseason All-Rookie team
Charles Goldman
September 3, 2021 10:34 am CT
The Kansas City Chiefs’ biggest challenge of the offseason was to go out and improve the depth on their offensive line after the loss in Super Bowl LV.
The team managed to make improvements by all means available to them, signing free agents, making trades and adding talent in the 2021 NFL draft. It’s likely that the Chiefs plan to start two draft picks on the offensive line this season. Typically, that might leave people a little concerned, but these two players have earned this opportunity over their veteran counterparts every step of the way.
One of the Chiefs’ rookie starters on the offensive line was even recognized by Pro Football Focus for his performance during the preseason, earning preseason All-Rookie honors. That player was none other than second-round draft pick, Creed Humphrey.
Here is what PFF’s Michael Renner had to say about him:
Even without the numbers from PFF, it’s hard not to come away impressed with Humphrey’s preseason performance. He didn’t allow a single sack during the preseason, let alone a single pressure. There were no snapping problems between him and Patrick Mahomes, despite being one of the only left-handed snappers in NFL history. Also, Humphrey’s athleticism was on display numerous times, getting out in space and making key blocks.
The best part about Humphrey’s selection to the preseason All-Rookie team is that he wasn’t even the highest-graded Chiefs rookie on the offensive line. That honor belongs to sixth-round draft pick Trey Smith, who notched a 74.4 overall grade compared to Humphrey’s 73.7.
Don’t underestimate the group of rookies starting along the offensive line for Kansas City. They’re not your average first-year players.
-- Gerald McCoy: An Important Key to Raiders Success
JAIRO ALVARADOUPDATED:AUG 31, 2021ORIGINAL:AUG 31, 2021
After patiently waiting for his opportunity to get back on the field, McCoy finally had a chance to get out there.
"Today was my first real reps. I took a few of my first practice reps this week. Been getting reps here and there, but today it was just like, throw him in the fire, and I feel great. My legs are great; no pain in the knee; knocking the rust off felt really good. I was just back in my element, and after a while, I was just like, instead of thinking about it after a while, I was just like, 'Alright, let'slet's go'", McCoy said.
Gerald McCoy Returns to Play After 2 Years of Inactivity
After 609 days of inactivity, Sunday's preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers were Gerald McCoy's first action back on the field.
The six-time Pro Bowler last saw action in 2019, where he played for the Carolina Panthers.
Following his productive season in Carolina, McCoy would sign a multi-year contract with Dallas but would be released from the team due to an injury.
"I haven't practiced really; I haven't really done anything, so I was like if I'm going to be ready for the season, I got to play today. I don't care how many snaps it is, who's out there, I gotta go," McCoy said.
Aside from rehab and practice, McCoy questioned if his body was in shape to be on the field; working out and doing drills is nothing like playing football, so getting back on the field was essential for him to see if he was ready to do so return.
"God just had me covered today, and I definitely prepared for it. You know our strength staff and our training room, they've done a great job of getting me prepared to play in this game, and they just threw me in the fire and said, let's see, and you know I believe I weathered the storm and did pretty decent," McCoy said.
After seeing action for the first time, McCoy feels and looks great.
Only time will tell if McCoy can return to his Pro Bowl-caliber and help this team defensively, and with a team filled with players who are ready to take the next step forward, the sky's the limit.
NFC Blurbs to come later.
