Latest news with #passrush
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions Predicted to Make Trade Deadline Move for Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux
Lions Predicted to Make Trade Deadline Move for Giants' Kayvon Thibodeaux originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The deeper we get into the offseason without the Detroit Lions doing anything to address their pass rush, the less likely it seems they're going to make a move ahead of the 2025 season. Advertisement Even with notable names out there like Za'Darius Smith and Jadeveon Clowney still out there, the Lions haven't seemed interested in fixing the one apparent weak spot on their defense. That reluctance could change during the regular season. If the team's pass rush doesn't perform early in the year, they may find themselves seeking an edge rusher at the trade deadline for a second consecutive season. Detroit Lions general manager Brad HolmesKimberly P. Mitchell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon believes that move could come in the form of a player who has already been brought up as a potential trade option this offseason. Gagnon predicted the Lions would pursue New York Giants edge Kayvon Thibodeaux at the trade deadline. Advertisement For now, it seems the Giants are content to see what their defense can do with Thiboadeaux, Abdul Carter, and Brian Burns playing together. However, that could change around the trade deadline. The Giants are expected to have a rough year in 2025. They face a brutal schedule and aren't that much better than last season. That should have the Giants looking to move on from some veteran pieces at the deadline to pick up some draft capital and Thibodeaux makes a lot of sense to be one veterans. They could still get a solid return for him with his contract running through the end of the 2026 season. The Lions probably wouldn't be looking at him as a long-term option either because of their own defensive investments, but he'd be a high-upside option for them to improve their pass rush for a couple of seasons. Advertisement He is just a year removed from an 11.5-sack season and at just 24 years old, we still might not have even seen him at his best yet. If they haven't made a move by then and the Giants do make Thibodeaux available at the trade deadline, he'd be a great fit for the Lions to finally get their pass rush upgrade. Related: A Jameson Williams Extension Would Be the Wrong Move for the Lions Right Now Related: Lions Players Had Five of the NFL's Most Popular Jerseys in Newest Sales Data This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles Pass Rush Remains 'Dilemma' In 2025
Eagles Pass Rush Remains 'Dilemma' In 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Philadelphia Eagles are in a dilemma this offseason. Their roster appears to be good enough to compete for another Super Bowl run, but there's one lingering weakness they have to deal with. Advertisement And it's the one weakness that may not be solved this season. FanSided's Ryan Heckman made it clear that the Eagles have a "dilemma" with the pass rush heading into training camp, especially after all their losses during the offseason. "With training camp around the corner, the Philadelphia Eagles are still looking thin at one specific position, and to this point, Howie Roseman has not done much to remedy the concern," Heckman said. "Spoiler alert: it's the pass rush. The Eagles watched their group's best player, Josh Sweat, sign with the Arizona Cardinals and did not do a lot this offseason to remedy that loss. "Howie Roseman will watch the Eagles enter training camp with massive question marks at edge rusher." Advertisement Sweat wasn't the only pass rusher on the team who left this offseason. Brandon Graham retired, and Milton Williams, a defensive tackle, also left on the open market. Philadelphia needs to determine whether it can rely on young players like Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt without having to spend important draft capital on a trade. If both Smith and Hunt can step up immediately, the Eagles' defense should remain a top unit in the league. Philadelphia also added free agents Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari to bolster the group's depth. Will it be enough? Only time will tell in that regard. Related: ESPN Links Eagles To Possible Signing of Asante Samuel Jr. Related: Eagles Young Cornerback Remains Big Winner of Offseason This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 20, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens Coach Names Unlikely 'Centerpiece' of Defense
Ravens Coach Names Unlikely 'Centerpiece' of Defense originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Pass rushers are all-important for high-impact NFL defenses. Baltimore Ravens' pass rush coach Chuck Smith's primary focus is turning anybody that comes his way into prolific pressure guys for the team. Smith has a lot of great players at his disposal, such as veterans Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh … Advertisement Maybe now rookie Mike Green. Smith turned heads recently by saying he believes an unheralded player is progressing toward becoming the "centerpiece" of their defense. Smith had that high praise for Tavius Robinson. Robinson is 'everything you look for in a Baltimore Raven,' according to Smith, who believes the third-year pro will be a 'bona fide pass rusher and he has an opportunity to have a breakout season," as quoted by Baltimore Banner's Giana Han. "Tavius Robinson doesn't get enough credit," Smith said, in a video Han posted on X. It's high praise for a player that has started just eight NFL games in his career. Still, Smith sees Robinson becoming "a centerpiece in our defensive front,' Advertisement Robinson has shown flashes in his two-year career. Last season, Robinson tallied 3.5 sacks and a pass breakup. also racking up 12 quarterback hits, despite playing less than 50 percent of defensive snaps. Smith himself logged 58.5 sacks in his nine-year NFL career. He wants to see Robinson get onto the field more often, which makes sense, when you consider Robinson is a freak of nature. Listed at 6-foot-6, 262 pounds with a quick first step, Robinson has the physical tools for success. The Ravens have been waiting for Robinson's tools to translate to on-the-field production. Robinson had high expectations after general manager Eric DeCosta compared him to ex-Ravens Pro Bowler Za'Darius Smith. Robinson had started earning more trust during the regular season, due to a growing confidence in shutting down the run and pressuring the quarterback. Advertisement Robinson had a massive play in the playoffs last season, tacking NFL MVP Josh Allen for loss after Allen held on to the ball on a read option. The Ravens ultimately lost that game 27-25, but two of Robinson's four tackles during the run were for loss. Related: Ravens Face Potential 'Nightmare Scenario' in 2025 Related: Ravens Cornerback Labeled Prime Breakout Candidate This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens Emerge As 'Makes Sense' Suitor for Pro Bowler
Ravens Emerge As 'Makes Sense' Suitor for Pro Bowler originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Baltimore Ravens have Pro Bowl talent up and down the roster. The offense is amongst the most complete and versatile in the NFL, and the defense features impact players on all three levels. Advertisement Zach Orr's defense underwent some growing pains in his first year as coordinator, but the team returns a lot of promise for this season, with hopes a full year of experience in his system will result in more production in 2025. One area of the defense that might raise a sense of urgency is the pass rush. Veteran Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh - two double-digit sack-getters - are on expiring contracts. Baltimore drafted college football's sack champion in Mike Green, but you can never go wrong with adding more experience to the depth chart to bring along a highly-touted rookie. Trenton Simpson underwhelmed last season, so a veteran linebacker presence could offer him some mentorship, too, and be an insurance plan if Simpson continues to struggle. Advertisement Frankly, at a spot like pass rusher, you can always be happy with more. Especially on a team with Super Bowl aspirations like the Ravens. One name on the free agency market is a familiar one for Ravens fans: outside linebacker Matt Judon. A free agency contract to Judon, who was in Baltimore from 2016-2020, may not threaten a starting spot, but could offer more depth and a chance at spotty production to aid the starters with a breather. As Last Word On Sports writes, "the linebacker will sign at least with a contender, as he wants to head to a team that 'makes sense.' Baltimore fits that mold, and it's leg-up in familiarity could help its chances in joining the bidding war for the four-time Pro Bowler. Advertisement "... No one should rule out the idea of a reunion, as Judon isn't shutting the door on that," Writer Anthony Palacios said. "Between Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Roquan Smith and Trenton Simpson, Judon could complete this package to add more firepower." He's coming off a down season in 2024, but Judon may still have the physical attributes to compete at a high level. He posted an impressive 15.5 sack total as recent as 2022 with the New England Patriots. Last season on the Atlanta Falcons, he totaled 5.5 sacks, 41 tackles, seven tackles for loss and the first interception of his nine-year career - it was returned for a touchdown. His best years may be behind him, but on a cheap homecoming deal, Judon could provide much-needed pass rush depth to the team that drafted him almost a decade ago in the Ravens. Advertisement Related: Ravens Coach Names Unlikely 'Centerpiece' of Defense Related: Ravens Making Case for Best Roster in Franchise History This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
New York Times
09-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
49ers' Kris Kocurek goes deep on Bryce Huff, Mykel Williams and revamped D-line
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Kris Kocurek had a rare shutout last year. The San Francisco 49ers didn't use any of their eight draft picks on a defensive lineman, compelling Kocurek to go all-in for free agent Evan Anderson once the draft ended. This year was different. Three of the team's first five picks were defensive linemen, and the 49ers put a cherry on top of Kocurek's haul last week when they traded for pass-rush specialist Bryce Huff. Advertisement Kocurek, who arrived as defensive line coach in 2019, hasn't seen this much turnover since his inaugural season in San Francisco. Which is why I stuck next to him during a half-hour session last week when the defensive assistants were made available to the media. For reporters, the annual gathering is usually like speed dating: You go around the room and grab tidbits from each of the coaches. This year, the defensive line is so young, so new and so integral to the team's success that it seemed worthwhile to concentrate on Kocurek. He held court for the full 30 minutes, and some of the reporters circulating asked the same question as another reporter. For that reason, the following is not a true transcript but rather the 10 most interesting answers Kocurek gave. The order of the questions has also been altered for continuity. Do you plan to use first-round pick Mykel Williams as an edge or interior pass rusher? Both. That's one thing at Georgia that he displayed. He can get to the passer from the edge and then slide over guards and utilize that skill set, the wiggle, the ability to get on the edges and manipulate guards from the interior. He's just a really versatile player, which is something we've always utilized in the past with guys like Arden Key and Charles Omenihu and Arik Armstead in 2019 and 2020. … The thing we like about Mykel is we've seen it at Georgia. He'll line up 4i, 3-technique, 3-technique on both sides, edge player. So he's done it before, so I don't think the learning curve is quite as steep with him. Has Williams stood out in practice as far as running to the football? The first day, I would say, was good. But we explained to him that good's not good enough. We need him to be elite in certain categories. And getting to the football with effort is one category that Mykel needs to be elite at. And I challenged him after the first day. I'm not saying that it was bad. But it wasn't quite exactly what we wanted. And I thought that in the following days, he's really, really responded on making a concerted effort to get to the football, whether it's out on the field chasing plays 30 yards down the field. And not just running because the coach said to run, but running with intent, running to get to the football with a purpose. So I like where he's at in that stage of it. Advertisement What's the interaction between Williams and Nick Bosa been like? (Williams has) really gravitated toward Nick a lot. And if you watch 'em at practice, he's always standing right behind Nick. And Nick knows he's watching him, and he's a kid who's really eager to learn and wants to know how and why. … I think it's a good match. You've got an older — I shouldn't say 'older' — you've got a veteran player, Nick, going on his seventh year with a rookie who's like a sponge right now and wants to learn from one of the best in the game. It's a good matchup. What do you like about Huff? His speed is always showing up. His ability to get off, to close space on tackles really quick, make air disappear and win on the edge. And then with his built-in leverage in his body, he has the ability to (convert) speed to power. When tackles overcompensate and over-set on him, he can beat people across his face, inside, as well. Huff did well under Robert Saleh with the New York Jets, but what did you see from him last year in Philadelphia? It was hand in the ground versus playing the stand-up outside linebacker role. It's different — the foot sequence. If you're born into a hand-in-the-ground defense, it's an adjustment period to turn yourself into a standup outside linebacker and vice versa. … I still saw a good player on tape (in Philadelphia). He had a wrist injury about midseason that I think kind of derailed his progression with him being a stand-up player. But I thought he was really coming along. A look at new guy Bryce Huff, who was one of the few DEs practicing today. — Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) June 4, 2025 What's your vision for rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins, who played in a different system at Texas. Will he have to adjust? You look for the skill set on tape (and) he has the ability to play within our scheme. And we don't ever want to draft a big guy just to draft a big guy. He still has to have the skill set that we call for within the scheme. So you see enough of it on tape. You're right — he did play more of a frog stance (four-point stance). But there are times — passing situations — where they kind of turned him loose. And you saw the explosiveness of his body, the ability to really change direction and the speed to pursue the ball, the change of speed to go fetch plays downfield. So, yeah, it's going to be a little bit of a learning curve. Seventeen years in the NFL, I've dealt with that a lot. But he'll be all right. We've got time through camp to adjust to it. He'll be fine. You have a number of young, big, quick defensive tackles in Collins, Evan Anderson and C.J. West. How do you decide where they line up at defensive tackle? When we're looking at 'em in an evaluation setting, we kind of get a sense of, 'Hey, is this guy more of a 3-technique? Is this guy more of an A-gap player playing down at the 2i and a shade?' But with the way offenses are nowadays and the way they can manipulate the fronts and they can slide the fronts, you have to have the versatility to play both. … Some guys are more built for the A-gap, and the longer players are maybe a little better suited to play the three-technique. But they've got to be able to play both. They've got to be interchangeable. We do have certain spots envisioned, but quickly they could go from one to the next before the snap of the football. And they've got to be able to execute at both. What do you think of West's hands? His ability to be able to strike and win contact and jolt that contact and control blockers with his hands, and then his ability to shed and escape blockers. As a young dude coming from college, it's advanced for where he's at this stage in his career. … It's obviously something that really drew us to him. Advertisement What are you looking for from Anderson this offseason? Just wanted him to get back here as early as he could, get with our strength staff as early as he could, continue to change his body into the type of body that he foresees himself playing at, that type that we want. … He's done a really good job this offseason. I think he's taken a jump. Going into his second year, it's kind of where in this scheme guys start getting a good feel for exactly what we want done. And he should see a jump in his play. Has Saleh's scheme evolved since he was last in San Francisco? Yeah, there's always things that evolve within a scheme. I would say the place that it's evolved maybe the least is up front and what we do up front. The coverage aspects of it and how you adjust to what offenses are doing from a motion standpoint — a lot of these college coordinators integrate into the NFL with what they were doing on a college level. Especially the back-end dudes. They have a lot of adjustments that have to change yearly. And up front, yeah, there's some small tweaks. Nothing significant that you're gonna be able to see. But there will be some small tweaks that have been changed since (Saleh) was here in 2020. (Top photo of Bryce Huff and Kris Kocurek: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)
