Latest news with #Staley
The Herald Scotland
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Cooper Kupp brilliantly breaks down evolution of NFL defenses
It wasn't always this way. Just a short time ago, anywhere from five to seven years or so, offenses dominated the league. They morphed and shifted, and defenses were often (though not always) helpless to stop them. That has changed. The reasons why vary and what's always been interesting is how few people have fully, and easily (that's the key), publicly explained why. Until now. Behold former Los Angeles Rams and current Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp. He was part of the Rams offense, led by Sean McVay, when in 2021 he won a rare NFL receiving triple crown, leading the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. What Kupp does on the "Bump & Stacy" show is give one of the best breakdowns of recent defensive evolution you will ever hear. It's remarkable stuff. His explanation starts by taking us back in time to almost a decade ago. "So, in 2017 and 2018, Sean McVay's offense is ahead of the game," Kupp said. "There were times we were running plays and (defenses) have no idea what was going on. "And we were just manipulating them (defenses), moving them ... manipulating them to where we wanted to go ... it was just, it was stupid." It's difficult to overstate how advanced McVay's schemes were. McVay's rep as an offensive genius started with those years. And Kupp is right. It was stupid. Defenses had an incredibly hard time stopping them. McVay was named coach of the year in 2017. Then, as Kupp notes, ever so slowly, defensive coaches, who don't like to be on the other end of stupid, began to adapt. It took some time, years actually, but it happened. "2019, defenses start catching on, and there's a little bit of a Vic Fangio thing that comes on." MORE: Los Angeles Rams are 'right place' for wide receiver Davante Adams Fangio started using more Cover 4 or "quarters" where four defenders split up the field into fourths and focus on deep coverage. This didn't stop offenses' explosive deep games, but it slowed them. Fangio mixed in other coverages as well. Then something else happened. "2020 comes. Brandon Staley gets hired to LA. Brandon Staley was with Fangio. Staley in one year puts together the No. 1 defense in the league," Kupp said. Staley transformed the Rams' defense overnight to where they were first in almost every major statistical category. "Now Staley's thing is all about concept recognition, concept match," explained Kupp. "Being able to cancel routes and move in to new things." This is a sophisticated way of saying Staley taught how to quickly recognize what the offense was doing and get it, before it got you. NFL defenses are better than ever and it's because offenses got too good. Cooper Kupp explains it perfectly — Joel Moran (@joelvmoran) June 13, 2025 "So now you have defenses not just dropping to spots, but now they're playing the offenses," he said. See the education you're getting here? Kupp is explaining some high level, and historical things, in easy-to-understand bites. He sounds like a really good college professor explaining how aluminum tariffs work. But doing it with pizazz and energy. All of these defensive techniques and philosophies from the past eight years or so are now in modern defenses, which feature a mash of concepts, aggression and trickery. They have officially caught up to the offenses that just a short time ago used to overwhelm them. "Now more and more of this has shifted and molded into defenses now that are holding these shells and being able to say, 'You're not going to see what we're doing pre-snap. We're going to show you late. We're going to bring pressures from all different directions,'" Kupp said. One of the interviewers then says to Kupp: "You should be an analyst." Oh, he will be. If he wants to. But he's not done on the field just yet. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shells. 'Quarters.' Attacks from all angles. Cooper Kupp talks defenses
Editor's note: This story is a part of a series by USA TODAY Sports called Project: June. We will publish at least one NFL-themed story every day throughout the month because fans know the league truly never sleeps. If you follow the NFL, it's likely you've heard (or seen with your own eyes) how defenses have caught up to offenses. Advertisement It wasn't always this way. Just a short time ago, anywhere from five to seven years or so, offenses dominated the league. They morphed and shifted and defenses were often (though not always) helpless to stop them. That has changed. The reasons why vary and what's always been interesting is how few people have fully, and easily (that's the key), publicly explained why. Until now. Behold former Rams and current Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp. He was part of the Rams' offense, led by Sean McVay, when in 2021 he won a rare NFL receiving triple crown, leading the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Advertisement What Kupp does on the "Bump & Stacy" show is give one of the best breakdowns of recent defensive evolution you will ever hear. It's remarkable stuff. His explanation starts by taking us back in time to almost a decade ago. 'So, in 2017 and 2018, Sean McVay's offense is ahead of the game,' Kupp said. 'There were times we were running plays and (defenses) have no idea what was going on. 'And we were just manipulating them (defenses), moving them…manipulating them to where we wanted to go…It was just, it was stupid.' It's difficult to overstate how advanced McVay's schemes were. McVay's rep as an offensive genius started with those years. And Kupp is right. It was stupid. Defenses had an incredibly hard time stopping them. McVay was named coach of the year in 2017. Advertisement Then, as Kupp notes, ever so slowly, defensive coaches, who don't like to be on the other end of stupid, began to adapt. It took some time, years actually, but it happened. '2019, defenses start catching on, and there's a little bit of a Vic Fangio thing that comes on.' Los Angeles Rams are 'right place' for wide receiver Davante Adams Fangio started using more Cover 4 or 'quarters' where four defenders split up the field into fourths and focus on deep coverage. This didn't stop offenses' explosive deep games, but it slowed them. Fangio mixed in other coverages as well. Then something else happened. Advertisement '2020 comes. Brandon Staley gets hired to LA. Brandon Staley was with Fangio. Staley in one year puts together the No. 1 defense in the league,' Kupp said. Staley transformed the Rams' defense overnight to where they were first in almost every major statistical category. 'Now Staley's thing is all about concept recognition, concept match,' explained Kupp. 'Being able to cancel routes and move in to new things.' This is a sophisticated way of saying Staley taught how to quickly recognize what the offense was doing and get it, before it got you. 'So now you have defenses not just dropping to spots, but now they're playing the offenses,' he said. Advertisement See the education you're getting here? Kupp is explaining some high level, and historical things, in easy-to-understand bites. He sounds like a really good college professor explaining how aluminum tariffs work. But doing it with pizazz and energy. All of these defensive techniques and philosophies from the past eight years or so are now in modern defenses which feature a mash of concepts, aggression, and trickery. They have officially caught up to the offenses that just a short time ago used to overwhelm them. 'Now more and more of this has shifted and molded into defenses now that are holding these shells and being able to say, 'You're not going to see what we're doing pre-snap. We're going to show you late. We're going to bring pressures from all different directions,'' Kupp said. Advertisement One of the interviewers then says to Kupp: 'You should be an analyst.' Oh, he will be. If he wants to. But he's not done on the field just yet. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cooper Kupp brilliantly breaks down evolution of NFL defenses
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley to serve as analyst on new CBS Sports WNBA pregame show
South Carolina women's basketball coach Dawn Staley will be part of the new CBS Sports WNBA pregame show, beginning June 7. Staley, now a three-time national champion with the Gamecocks, will spend time this offseason in the WNBA, serving as an analyst alongside Renee Montgomery, who played in the league from 2009-19. Sarah Kustok will join the two analysts as the host. Advertisement The first appearance for the new show will be ahead of the game between the Indiana Fever and the Chicago Sky, which tips off at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Staley has former players on both teams. Aliyah Boston is a star for the Fever, and Kamilla Cardoso is a star for the Sky. CBS sports and the WNBA agreed to a multi-year deal in 2024, which included CBS airing eight regular-season games per year. The June 7 game will be the first. According to the WNBA, it will be the first-ever primetime WNBA regular-season game on broadcast television. This isn't Staley's first time on a pregame show. In addition to being interviewed on ESPN's "College GameDay" multiple times, she was on NBC as part of the network's basketball coverage of the Olympics with Mike Tirico last summer. REQUIRED READING: Dawn Staley's home is with South Carolina women's basketball but she's forever Philadelphia Advertisement According to the announcement from CBS Sports, the pregame show will be a part of only four of the eight games. The second will be on July 12, when the Golden State Valkyries play the Las Vegas Aces. There are nine former South Carolina players in the WNBA this season and two are on the Aces, A'ja Wilson and Tiffany Mitchell. The final two pregame shows are on Aug. 9 (7:30 p.m.) for another Fever vs. Sky game and Aug. 16 when the New York Liberty play the Minnesota Lynx (1:30 p.m.), a rematch of the 2024 WNBA finals. Lulu Kesin covers South Carolina athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email her at lkesin@ and follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Lulukesin This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Dawn Staley to serve as analyst on new CBS Sports WNBA pregame show
USA Today
09-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Saints should reunite former Pro Bowl corner with one of his favorite coaches
Saints should reunite former Pro Bowl corner with one of his favorite coaches Ramsey-Staley reunion could solve Saints' cornerback concerns The cornerback position remains one of the biggest question marks for the New Orleans Saints heading into the 2025 season. Following the trade of Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore to Washington and the departure of Paulson Adebo in free agency, the team enters camp without a clear-cut starter on the outside. So who are the options? The Saints have made significant investments in the position, selecting Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry in the early second round in recent drafts. While both players bring pedigree and upside, they also come with uncertainty — whether due to inconsistent play (Taylor) or limited NFL reps (McKinstry). The team also brought back Isaac Yiadom, who spent last season with the 49ers, but ideally, the Saints are looking for more than just depth or insurance. They need a reliable, starting-caliber presence on the boundary. One name that continues to surface in trade discussions is Jalen Ramsey of the Miami Dolphins. Ramsey has reportedly been seeking a move, and both sides appear open to a fresh start. For New Orleans, the fit makes a lot of sense — particularly given Ramsey's past success under new Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. The two were instrumental in the Los Angeles Rams' No. 1 ranked defense in 2020, with Ramsey earning his second All-Pro nod and fourth Pro Bowl selection under Staley's leadership. That season would also serve as the launching pad for Staley's head coaching opportunity with the Chargers. Ramsey has made no secret of his respect for Staley, calling him 'the best defensive coordinator' he's played for. When Staley was announced as the Saints' new DC, Ramsey even reacted on social media with a supportive "My guy" — adding some fuel to the speculation. Even entering his ninth NFL season, Ramsey has shown little sign of decline. According to Pro Football Focus, he graded as the 16th-best cornerback in the league last year (76.9 overall), out of 222 qualifying players. His physicality, experience, and elite instincts would bring immediate stability to a Saints secondary that's currently filled with more 'what-ifs' than answers. The Saints have already explored potential additions with ties to Staley — most notably bringing in Asante Samuel Jr. for a visit last month. However, concerns over Samuel's health may complicate the possibility of a reunion. As it stands, the Saints have a young and promising, but largely unproven, group at cornerback. If New Orleans wants to solidify the position and return to being a stifling defense, making a move for Jalen Ramsey would go a long way to achieving that. With familiarity and a clear need at that spot, this is a move that makes too much sense to ignore.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Former Bellefontaine sergeant in court on OVI, firearm charges
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – A former Bellefontaine officer was in a Logan County court Wednesday on firearm and OVI charges. Bellefontaine Police Sgt. Bradley Staley faces charges of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle, a felony of the fifth degree, and operating a motor vehicle under the influence (OVI), a misdemeanor of the first degree. Staley appeared before Judge Kevin P. Braig in the Logan County Court of Common Pleas. The judge granted Staley recognizance bond, ordered him to keep in contact with lawyer Madison Mackay and submit to pre-trial drug/alcohol testing. Staley pleaded not guilty to the charges. He moved the court for admission to the intervention instead of the conviction program. He was ordered by the court to appear for a pre-sentence investigation interview. A hearing is scheduled on the motion and to accept a change of plea on the OVI charge for July 11 at 2 p.m. 2 NEWS will follow this case as it develops. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
