NFC blurbs to follow when I have time.
Bills on the Roster Bubble
Cody Ford
Ahhh yes, Cody Ford. The man we all thought would step in and solidify the guard position. Well, going on four seasons later, Ford has some competition, with Ike Boettger and David Quessenberry on the line now. With both starting positions filled, Ford will need to have the preseason of his life if he wants to see the end of his rookie contract. In particular, Ford will have to compete with David Quessenberry, who possesses the type of versatility that HC Sean McDermott likes (OT and OG).
--At least three of the five offensive linemen who opened last season as starters for the Buffalo Bills won't be out there for them to start this coming season.
Two of them, right tackle Daryl Williams and left guard Jon Feliciano, aren't even on the team anymore. The other, right guard Cody Ford, has long since lost his starting job and may be looking at losing his roster spot altogether after general manager Brandon Beane added veterans Rodger Saffold, Greg Mancz and David Quessenberry and drafted Luke Tenuta in the offseason.
Ronnie Perkins says Rhamondre Stevenson's pro transformation is amazing
Henry McKenna
June 15, 2022 11:23 am ET
Ronnie Perkins and Rhamondre Stevenson had vastly different experiences during their rookie seasons with the New England Patriots.
The Patriots drafted the Oklahoma Sooners prospects with back-to-back picks in the 2021 draft. Perkins went in the third round and Stevenson went in Round 4. But Perkins ended spending the season as a depth option and barely saw the field while Stevenson quickly cracked the running back rotation and put up 133 carries, 606 rushing yards and five touchdowns with 14 catches for 123 yards.
“I was kind of amazed at him, for real. I’m not even going to lie,” Perkins said during minicamp on June 7. “I feel like he played a kind of different style of football (in 2021) than he did in college. In college, he could guys miss but he was more downhill in college. And now, just being in the NFL, I can really see how good his feet is. To be that size, he’s got some good feet.
“He wowed me last year. I’m sure he’s going to wow me this year.”
Stevenson’s ability to evolve with the Patriots system was key to the running back seeing the field. When James White went down with an injury, New England needed a player who brought a change of pace and a splash in the passing game. Stevenson, even with an oversized body type, looked explosive in the open field and on screen passes.
Perkins, meanwhile, had a much bigger transformation to undergo. He moved from defensive end to outside linebacker, a substantial leap that entails coverage and an increased focus on run defense. Perkins couldn’t simply spend all his snaps rushing the passer. The newly-minted linebacker is excited about that transition and appears poised to break into the rotation on defense in 2022. As for Stevenson, Perkins expects big things.
“(Stevenson) worked his butt off,” Perkins said. “And I’m ready to go against him in training camp.”
Patriots LB Ronnie Perkins: 'Time to step up' into new role after veteran departures
Henry McKenna
June 8, 2022 7:00 am ET
New England Patriots linebacker Ronnie Perkins flew under the radar in 2021 as a rookie. The former third-round pick had to undergo a transformation — with so much to learn in a new position with the Patriots. So he sat on the sideline (barely seeing the field) to watch and learn. But this season, it has to be different. He has to contribute. He indicated he knows that.
The Patriots parted ways with linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins — though Hightower’s return isn’t outside the realm of possibility. In the meantime, the Patriots are looking to youngsters like Josh Uche, Cameron McGrone and Perkins.
Perkins said he spent 2021 working on technique, building muscle and improving his understanding of the X’s and O’s. He said that he almost never dropped into coverage at Oklahoma, which allowed him to work solely as a pass-rusher. Perkins learned how to do that last season, and will start applying his new knowledge this offseason.
“I’ve been focused on coming in this year ready, coming in stronger, coming in in shape, ready to help the team however I can,” Perkins said Tuesday. “It’s definitely sad to see those guys go, Jamie, KVN, High but it also tells us it’s time to step up. We can’t lean on those older guys anymore, it’s time to step into their shoes.”
Ja’Whaun Bentley is the only returning starter at linebacker. It feels like a new generation of linebackers need to rise in New England.
“I put the work in and did a lot of things to help myself to be a linebacker,” Perkins said. “I like doing it. First time doing it, I was a little off, like anything. But now I’m comfortable and I like it.”
With the team spending this week in minicamp, Perkins is sure to get looks with the first-team defense. When training camp rolls around, they’ll need him to look like a competent contributor, particularly on third downs.
--Whose stock is up and down after Ravens OTAs?
Stock up
Tony Jefferson, S: Jefferson’s career seemed close to over last year when he returned to Baltimore and injected some energy into a defense decimated by injuries. Jefferson re-signed early in the offseason and the Ravens added a number of other quality defensive backs. Jefferson is perceived as a “bubble guy” entering camp, but he was in good form at last week’s minicamp with two interceptions. On a defense with a bunch of newcomers and young players, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a spot for Jefferson, who brings leadership and personality.
Stock down
Ben Cleveland, G: It was expected that Cleveland would get a legitimate shot to win the starting left guard job this summer, and that’s still how it may play out. If last week’s minicamp was any indication, Cleveland has ground to make up. The Ravens moved around their offensive linemen throughout the offseason workouts, but Cleveland wasn’t getting the same opportunities at left guard as Tyre Phillips and Ben Powers were. This is a big training camp for the 2021 third-round pick, who needs to practice better and avoid issues that take him off the field.
--The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec recently listed Cleveland as one of the players whose stock is down following the Ravens’ offseason program, and that was largely due to his lack of reps with the starters.
Instead, it was the likes of Ben Powers and Tyre Phillips who received the vast majority of the work with the first-team offense while Cleveland was relegated to backup duty.
--[Steelers] The more cornerbacks who can play both outside and in the slot, the better. It allows for positional flexibility and better disguises for Austin to and Brown to craft coverages that confuse quarterbacks. Witherspoon and Wallace have typically been outside cornerbacks, but if they can mix with Sutton, Maulet and Norwood more, it makes it harder to predict their assignments pre-snap.
That’s especially the case for Norwood.
“It’s not one specific role,” Norwood said about his assignments. “We’re early in the process and I’m doing safety right now, but the plan is to get slot reps. For me, I have to pinpoint and hone in on my versatility in different roles.”
Norwood was known for getting his hands on the football in college and did a solid job as a rookie selected in the seventh round last year. In just 305 coverage snaps he recorded four pass breakups and an interception while allowing 32 receptions on 44 targets.
That’s a lot of responsibility for a rookie who played all over the defense and on special teams. But Norwood earned that with a strong training camp showing his rookie year. And now he’s earned the respect of his coaches to further increase his roles and responsibilities.
“That’s what makes Tre great,” Brown said of Norwood. “He can do a number of things. We’re not going to handcuff him. We’re not going to lock him into a certain position. I think he needs to continue to be a young Cam Sutton. He does so many things. You can never have enough of those players in your room.”
That’s high praise for Norwood, as Sutton was a rookie third round draft pick in 2017 who filled in for an injured Joe Haden at outside cornerback on a 13-3 Steelers team. After playing almost exclusively in the slot role in 2019, Sutton has been open to playing all over the Steelers’ defense.
If Norwood can bring that kind of versatility, it will give Austin a lot to play with when drawing up matchup opportunities week-to-week against NFL opponents. Meanwhile, Norwood knows nothing will be handed to him while Maulet pushes to be the team’s top slot option.
--Broncos defenders see 'a lot of potential' in Nik Bonitto
Jon Heath
June 22, 2022 6:00 am MT
Nik Bonitto isn’t a finished product.
In Year 1, he won’t have to be because the Denver Broncos are loaded with depth at outside linebacker, led by Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory.
Bonitto will make an impact this season, but he’s unlikely to start initially, and that will give him time to grow and improve.
“He’s very fast,” Broncos defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones said of Bonitto on June 7. “He kind of reminds me of how Baron [Browning] plays. They both are very speedy guys off the edge. I see a lot of potential in him. There’s a lot more to go with just understanding the plays and understanding the system, but he’s going to be good.”
Chubb agreed with Jones’ assessment, and he’s willing to coach up the rookie pass rusher, as much as he’d like to be.
“His get off is crazy,” Chubb said. “He’s such a finesse guy. He moves around tackles and goes past them. It’s been fun to watch him grow.
“I’m just trying to teach him all the little things that helped me out. He can take it or leave it, but he’s already a good player. When the guys in that room keep working around each other, it’s going to be better for all of us.”
With so much depth at the position, the Broncos will aim to have a healthy, fresh OLB room this fall with waves of pass rushers rotating on game days.
--Chargers Players under the Most Pressure Heading into Minicamp
LB Kenneth Murray
Murray’s sophomore season was not all sunshine and rainbows. Murray dealt with ankle issues since training camp last year, and that stunted his development. He spent six weeks on the injured reserve, and some time on the COVID-19/Reserve list. When on the field, Murray struggled with missed tackles, over-pursuing ball carriers, and struggling to shed blocks and work off contact. Murray ended up experiencing a new position as an edge defender late in the season when the team was limited with players at the spot, which was a challenge. Murray had ankle surgery in early April, and Staley said the hope is the former first-round pick will be ready for training camp. With the team likely to run more five-man fronts in nickel packages with only one linebacker on the field, Murray must prove that he’s capable of resorting back to starter status. Drue Tranquill, second-year players Nick Niemann and Ogbongbemiga and newest addition Troy Reeder will also be vying for that playing time.
Bills on the Roster Bubble
Cody Ford
Ahhh yes, Cody Ford. The man we all thought would step in and solidify the guard position. Well, going on four seasons later, Ford has some competition, with Ike Boettger and David Quessenberry on the line now. With both starting positions filled, Ford will need to have the preseason of his life if he wants to see the end of his rookie contract. In particular, Ford will have to compete with David Quessenberry, who possesses the type of versatility that HC Sean McDermott likes (OT and OG).
--At least three of the five offensive linemen who opened last season as starters for the Buffalo Bills won't be out there for them to start this coming season.
Two of them, right tackle Daryl Williams and left guard Jon Feliciano, aren't even on the team anymore. The other, right guard Cody Ford, has long since lost his starting job and may be looking at losing his roster spot altogether after general manager Brandon Beane added veterans Rodger Saffold, Greg Mancz and David Quessenberry and drafted Luke Tenuta in the offseason.
Ronnie Perkins says Rhamondre Stevenson's pro transformation is amazing
Henry McKenna
June 15, 2022 11:23 am ET
Ronnie Perkins and Rhamondre Stevenson had vastly different experiences during their rookie seasons with the New England Patriots.
The Patriots drafted the Oklahoma Sooners prospects with back-to-back picks in the 2021 draft. Perkins went in the third round and Stevenson went in Round 4. But Perkins ended spending the season as a depth option and barely saw the field while Stevenson quickly cracked the running back rotation and put up 133 carries, 606 rushing yards and five touchdowns with 14 catches for 123 yards.
“I was kind of amazed at him, for real. I’m not even going to lie,” Perkins said during minicamp on June 7. “I feel like he played a kind of different style of football (in 2021) than he did in college. In college, he could guys miss but he was more downhill in college. And now, just being in the NFL, I can really see how good his feet is. To be that size, he’s got some good feet.
“He wowed me last year. I’m sure he’s going to wow me this year.”
Stevenson’s ability to evolve with the Patriots system was key to the running back seeing the field. When James White went down with an injury, New England needed a player who brought a change of pace and a splash in the passing game. Stevenson, even with an oversized body type, looked explosive in the open field and on screen passes.
Perkins, meanwhile, had a much bigger transformation to undergo. He moved from defensive end to outside linebacker, a substantial leap that entails coverage and an increased focus on run defense. Perkins couldn’t simply spend all his snaps rushing the passer. The newly-minted linebacker is excited about that transition and appears poised to break into the rotation on defense in 2022. As for Stevenson, Perkins expects big things.
“(Stevenson) worked his butt off,” Perkins said. “And I’m ready to go against him in training camp.”
Patriots LB Ronnie Perkins: 'Time to step up' into new role after veteran departures
Henry McKenna
June 8, 2022 7:00 am ET
New England Patriots linebacker Ronnie Perkins flew under the radar in 2021 as a rookie. The former third-round pick had to undergo a transformation — with so much to learn in a new position with the Patriots. So he sat on the sideline (barely seeing the field) to watch and learn. But this season, it has to be different. He has to contribute. He indicated he knows that.
The Patriots parted ways with linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Dont’a Hightower and Jamie Collins — though Hightower’s return isn’t outside the realm of possibility. In the meantime, the Patriots are looking to youngsters like Josh Uche, Cameron McGrone and Perkins.
Perkins said he spent 2021 working on technique, building muscle and improving his understanding of the X’s and O’s. He said that he almost never dropped into coverage at Oklahoma, which allowed him to work solely as a pass-rusher. Perkins learned how to do that last season, and will start applying his new knowledge this offseason.
“I’ve been focused on coming in this year ready, coming in stronger, coming in in shape, ready to help the team however I can,” Perkins said Tuesday. “It’s definitely sad to see those guys go, Jamie, KVN, High but it also tells us it’s time to step up. We can’t lean on those older guys anymore, it’s time to step into their shoes.”
Ja’Whaun Bentley is the only returning starter at linebacker. It feels like a new generation of linebackers need to rise in New England.
“I put the work in and did a lot of things to help myself to be a linebacker,” Perkins said. “I like doing it. First time doing it, I was a little off, like anything. But now I’m comfortable and I like it.”
With the team spending this week in minicamp, Perkins is sure to get looks with the first-team defense. When training camp rolls around, they’ll need him to look like a competent contributor, particularly on third downs.
--Whose stock is up and down after Ravens OTAs?
Stock up
Tony Jefferson, S: Jefferson’s career seemed close to over last year when he returned to Baltimore and injected some energy into a defense decimated by injuries. Jefferson re-signed early in the offseason and the Ravens added a number of other quality defensive backs. Jefferson is perceived as a “bubble guy” entering camp, but he was in good form at last week’s minicamp with two interceptions. On a defense with a bunch of newcomers and young players, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a spot for Jefferson, who brings leadership and personality.
Stock down
Ben Cleveland, G: It was expected that Cleveland would get a legitimate shot to win the starting left guard job this summer, and that’s still how it may play out. If last week’s minicamp was any indication, Cleveland has ground to make up. The Ravens moved around their offensive linemen throughout the offseason workouts, but Cleveland wasn’t getting the same opportunities at left guard as Tyre Phillips and Ben Powers were. This is a big training camp for the 2021 third-round pick, who needs to practice better and avoid issues that take him off the field.
--The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec recently listed Cleveland as one of the players whose stock is down following the Ravens’ offseason program, and that was largely due to his lack of reps with the starters.
Instead, it was the likes of Ben Powers and Tyre Phillips who received the vast majority of the work with the first-team offense while Cleveland was relegated to backup duty.
--[Steelers] The more cornerbacks who can play both outside and in the slot, the better. It allows for positional flexibility and better disguises for Austin to and Brown to craft coverages that confuse quarterbacks. Witherspoon and Wallace have typically been outside cornerbacks, but if they can mix with Sutton, Maulet and Norwood more, it makes it harder to predict their assignments pre-snap.
That’s especially the case for Norwood.
“It’s not one specific role,” Norwood said about his assignments. “We’re early in the process and I’m doing safety right now, but the plan is to get slot reps. For me, I have to pinpoint and hone in on my versatility in different roles.”
Norwood was known for getting his hands on the football in college and did a solid job as a rookie selected in the seventh round last year. In just 305 coverage snaps he recorded four pass breakups and an interception while allowing 32 receptions on 44 targets.
That’s a lot of responsibility for a rookie who played all over the defense and on special teams. But Norwood earned that with a strong training camp showing his rookie year. And now he’s earned the respect of his coaches to further increase his roles and responsibilities.
“That’s what makes Tre great,” Brown said of Norwood. “He can do a number of things. We’re not going to handcuff him. We’re not going to lock him into a certain position. I think he needs to continue to be a young Cam Sutton. He does so many things. You can never have enough of those players in your room.”
That’s high praise for Norwood, as Sutton was a rookie third round draft pick in 2017 who filled in for an injured Joe Haden at outside cornerback on a 13-3 Steelers team. After playing almost exclusively in the slot role in 2019, Sutton has been open to playing all over the Steelers’ defense.
If Norwood can bring that kind of versatility, it will give Austin a lot to play with when drawing up matchup opportunities week-to-week against NFL opponents. Meanwhile, Norwood knows nothing will be handed to him while Maulet pushes to be the team’s top slot option.
--Broncos defenders see 'a lot of potential' in Nik Bonitto
Jon Heath
June 22, 2022 6:00 am MT
Nik Bonitto isn’t a finished product.
In Year 1, he won’t have to be because the Denver Broncos are loaded with depth at outside linebacker, led by Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory.
Bonitto will make an impact this season, but he’s unlikely to start initially, and that will give him time to grow and improve.
“He’s very fast,” Broncos defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones said of Bonitto on June 7. “He kind of reminds me of how Baron [Browning] plays. They both are very speedy guys off the edge. I see a lot of potential in him. There’s a lot more to go with just understanding the plays and understanding the system, but he’s going to be good.”
Chubb agreed with Jones’ assessment, and he’s willing to coach up the rookie pass rusher, as much as he’d like to be.
“His get off is crazy,” Chubb said. “He’s such a finesse guy. He moves around tackles and goes past them. It’s been fun to watch him grow.
“I’m just trying to teach him all the little things that helped me out. He can take it or leave it, but he’s already a good player. When the guys in that room keep working around each other, it’s going to be better for all of us.”
With so much depth at the position, the Broncos will aim to have a healthy, fresh OLB room this fall with waves of pass rushers rotating on game days.
--Chargers Players under the Most Pressure Heading into Minicamp
LB Kenneth Murray
Murray’s sophomore season was not all sunshine and rainbows. Murray dealt with ankle issues since training camp last year, and that stunted his development. He spent six weeks on the injured reserve, and some time on the COVID-19/Reserve list. When on the field, Murray struggled with missed tackles, over-pursuing ball carriers, and struggling to shed blocks and work off contact. Murray ended up experiencing a new position as an edge defender late in the season when the team was limited with players at the spot, which was a challenge. Murray had ankle surgery in early April, and Staley said the hope is the former first-round pick will be ready for training camp. With the team likely to run more five-man fronts in nickel packages with only one linebacker on the field, Murray must prove that he’s capable of resorting back to starter status. Drue Tranquill, second-year players Nick Niemann and Ogbongbemiga and newest addition Troy Reeder will also be vying for that playing time.
