The Washington Commanders appear to be making a change with their latest addition. Last week, the Commanders hired former NFL head coach and longtime defensive ****** istant Steve Wilks to a role on the coaching staff. According to head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters, Wilks would spend part of the week in Ashburn working on game planning with the coaching staff and would not be involved in on-field player instruction.
For the first time since his hire became official, defensive coordinator Daronte Jones spoke about what Wilks brings to the Commanders.
"That was something that we had talked about back in training camp, but just for the value of experience that he has, we felt like we could use his resources and his expertise in some categories and experience," Jones said on Thursday.
Jones was asked whether Wilks' presence would let him, as a first-time NFL defensive coordinator, focus on other areas.
"Yeah, still working through how. It definitely does free me up in certain ways and just still manufacturing, working through how exactly we wanna disperse that, the workspace. So, we're still working through those a little bit."

#wilks #week #head

Packers' Matt LaFleur applauds 'savant' Jonathan Gannon after beating Panthers appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Green Bay Packers survived the late rally of the Carolina Panthers to notch a 27-19 victory at Lambeau Field on Thursday.
Jordan Love went 30-of-41 for 288 yards and three touchdowns, while Josh Jacobs scored two touchdowns on 21 carries and six receptions. The defense played a huge part in crunch time, including sacking Bryce Young in the last 20 seconds to seal the hard-earned win.
Coach Matt LaFleur credited the defense, finding the perfect word for defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon, as reported by Sports Illustrated's Bill Huber.
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#matt #jonathan #sports #defense

The Chargers returned from their Week 7 bye with offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel addressing the media Thursday, giving a look at the work to get the offense on track ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Rams.
McDaniel did extensive film work with quarterback Justin Herbert. He said they watched "probably 4 hours" of tape together and called it "a very healthy experience." He stressed their strong relationship and a constructive approach to the struggles.
"There's a healthy way to be accountable, so you're not misdirecting blame to yourself when things aren't working," McDaniel said.
The Chargers remain the NFL's only winless team at 0-6, with the offense ranking last in points per game (15.0) after a season-low six points in the Week 6 loss to the Chiefs. Harbaugh confirmed Wednesday that McDaniel would keep the call sheet, stating, "We're very confident in Mike and his talent, his work ethic and his ability. We continue to be."
Herbert also recently backed his coordinator. On Wednesday, he said the issues are "not his fault, it's our fault as an offense," adding that "the guys are open" and "plays are being made," while stressing the need for better execution.

#chargers #week

UW and Nebraska face off in Lincoln this weekend for the first time as conference foes. The long and storied history between the two teams stretches exactly 101 years and two weeks to the day between the very first match up in 1925 and this Saturday's game. That shared history primarily revolves around the four games played during the 1990s when both programs were at their peak. The 1991 game featured a furious second half comeback in Lincoln that built the momentum towards UW's eventual national championship. The Cornhuskers' return trip to Seattle in 1992 set the stage for the loudest recorded home crowd in college football history. Five years later, Nebraska returned to Montlake to get their revenge for the previous two games while on their way to their own national championship in 1997 in Tom Osborne's final season.
For these two programs, the current stakes of this weekend's game are much lower, although not entirely without significance. Both Washington and Nebraska enter Saturday night's matchup at a crossroads in their seasons. Nebraska sits at 5-2 overall and 2-2 in Big Ten play, but the Cornhuskers are coming off consecutive close losses to Indiana and Oregon. Despite those defeats, Matt Rhule's team has established itself as one of the league's most physical and statistically dominant defenses, keeping every game within reach through disciplined play, strong linebacker action, and excellent situational defense.
Washington, meanwhile, is 4-3 overall and 1-3 in conference play. The Huskies snapped a three-game losing streak with a 38-26 victory over Purdue before their bye week and arrive in Lincoln needing momentum to salvage their Big Ten campaign. Jedd Fisch's offense remains heavily dependent on its passing attack, ranking among the conference's better aerial units, but questions at quarterback and a struggling rushing offense persist.
Over Matt Rhule's four years at Nebraska, the Cornhuskers have embraced a physical and gritty, defensive-oriented identity as a program. Under first-year defensive coordinator, Rob Aurich, Nebraska has maintained the aggressive, fundamentally sound identity Nebraska built under Rhule. The Cornhuskers rank 14th nationally in scoring defense, 9th in total defense, and are holding opponents to just 171 passing yards and 99 rushing yards per game on average. Their suffocating rushing defense on early downs often position them in 3rd & long passing situations where they pressure packages and blanketing secondary can create plays. This formula is what has allowed Nebraska to lead the FBS in defensive 3rd down conversion percentage at just 19%. To put that statistic into perspective, Nebraska's defense has allowed just eight third down conversions in their four Big Ten conference games this season, including games with just one allowed against Maryland and Indiana.
Nebraska typically operates from a multiple-front structure, mixing even-front and odd-front looks while emphasizing gap discipline and disgui

Chiefs' Eric Bieniemy gives heartwarming update on wife after shooting during training camp appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy shared an encouraging update on his wife, Mia, revealing that her recovery from a shooting incident earlier this year is progressing well.
Speaking to reporters Thursday ahead of the Chiefs' Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos, Bieniemy said Mia has been doing well in rehabilitation and recently joined the team's wives' trip to Seattle.
"She's doing great," Bieniemy said, via Matt Derrick of Chiefs Digest. "She actually went on the trip this weekend, she was on the wives trip. She was a rock star, obviously. I was just a has-been. She's doing great. Her rehab has been going great."
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#bieniemy

Ravens OC Declan Doyle reveals absurd suggestion from players to solve second-half woes appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Baltimore Ravens have been on the wrong end of back-to-back disastrous second-half collapses to the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals. After building double-digit leads by halftime, the Ravens proceeded not to score a single point in either of those second halves against their AFC North rivals.
In their search for answers to solve this scoreless issue, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle asked the players for their suggestions. One of them was clearly thinking way outside the box.
"I've asked the players and they brought up the suggestion: 'Maybe we should just stay in the end zone for the end of the first half. Then it will always be the first half for us. We'll never go into the locker room,'" Declan said.
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#Ravens #doyle #clutchpoints #solve

Fennville Public Schools has hired Derrick DeVries as Director of Athletics and Community Recreation.
DeVries takes over for Tony Stennett, who stepped down from the position.
DeVries was a star basketball player at Calvin University and was recently ******* ociate head coach and recruiting coordinator for the Knights the past four years.
"He is a graduate of Calvin University and comes to us with a wealth of experience in coaching and managing teams and athletes, athletic operations including logistical planning of camps and tournaments, athlete development, and has served as the director of youth and team camps," Fennville Public Schools said in a statement.
More: Tony Stennett steps down as Fennville Director of Athletics and Recreation

#director #tony #stennett

Jones spent time in Atlanta as both a quarterback and head coach, leaving a unique mark on the franchise's history.
The Atlanta Falcons have lost another familiar figure from their history, as former quarterback and head coach June Jones passed away on Thursday at the age of 73.
Jones had a lengthy football career that took him across the NFL, college football, and beyond, but his connection to Atlanta was particularly unique. It's not often that a player gets the opportunity to return to the same franchise as a coach, much less lead the team as its head coach. Jones was one of the rare individuals who experienced both sides of that relationship with the Falcons.
Jones originally joined Atlanta as an undrafted quarterback in 1977, spending five seasons with the franchise through 1981. Primarily serving as a backup, he appeared in 17 games and threw for 923 yards and three touchdowns. His playing career wasn't particularly memorable statistically, but his time in Atlanta would prove to be just the beginning of his relationship with the franchise.
After transitioning into coaching, Jones eventually returned to Atlanta in 1991 as offensive coordinator under Jerry Glanville. When Glanville departed following the 1993 season, Jones was promoted to head coach, a position he held from 1994 through 1996.

#jones #atlanta #coach #falcons

Ohio State will travel to Southern California to take on USC for the first time since the Trojans joined the Big Ten on Saturday. It's a pivotal game for both teams, with USC needing a win to stay within arm's reach of the conference ****** le and stay in the running for a College Football Playoff spot. The Buckeyes have those goals also in mind but more in the driver's seat, a place they'd rather not relinquish.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley knows the challenge ahead of him and his team with the No. 2-ranked squad coming to the Coliseum, and he met with his local media on Thursday to preview what he saw from the Scarlet and Gray. We like to watch and listen to the opposing head coaches before and after each matchup with the Buckeyes, and Riley had plenty of compliments for OSU.
Riley discussed the great player receiver Jeremiah Smith is, the skill of the personnel, defensive coordinator Matt Patricia's fingerprints on the defense, and more. You can catch the entire press conference below thanks to the USCAthletics YouTube Channel.
It'll be a night game Saturday when the Buckeyes and Trojans kick things off at 7:30 p.m. ET, and we will be there before, during, and after.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: What USC coach Lincoln Riley said about Ohio State before Saturday

#riley #ohio #state #Trojans

Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has shared a positive update on his wife Mia, three months after she was shot in their family home.
When speaking to reporters on Thursday, Bieniemy said that Mia was doing well enough to go on a trip with friends this past weekend.
"She's doing great. She actually went on a trip this weekend," Bieniemy said. "She was a rockstar, obviously.
"Her rehab has been going great. She actually had an opportunity to come out here and hang out and I'm sure I got on her nerves," he joked.
Mia, 57, was shot in the arm and chest at their family home in Loudoun County, Virginia on July 26. She was hospitalized with multiple gunshot wounds.

#doing

The Oklahoma Sooners are again battling injuries as they head into their game against the South Carolina Gamecocks. The Sooners had 15 players on the Wednesday availability report.
They will again be without key offensive linemen Ryan Fodje and Eddy Pierre-Louis, but should get Heath Ozaeta back. Center Jake Maikkula was listed as "questionable." This follows an injury he suffered against the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Caleb Nitta replaced him in the game and did a nice job in his snaps.
Offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle praised Nitta's preparation when his number is called.
"Caleb's a fighter and he loves football, plays his ****** off," Arbuckle said. "And it's been that way since he's gotten here. That showed on his previous tape from other institutions. He's very smart, like really intelligent, understands defense, understands what's happening in the box, can see defensive back rotations. I mean, he's a sharp kid. But he's a fighter, you know, and he'll give us everything that he has."
Nitta's readiness could prove valuable as Oklahoma navigates another week of uncertainty on the offensive line. Maikkula's status will be worth monitoring, especially as the Sooners try to build on their improved performance against Mississippi State. A backup who can quickly recognize defensive fronts and communicate adjustments gives the offense stability when injuries force changes up front.

#state

EVANSTON, Ill. — Against the window seal of David Braun's office conference room at Northwestern, a bronze statue of a man glares toward visitors.
An award Braun won in 2023, the miniature depiction of Bear Bryant, dressed in his trademark suit and a houndstooth hat, is fitting considering the program's upward trajectory and that his offense, under new coordinator Chip Kelly, is showing flashes of yesteryear: the Wing-T, Wishbone and option concepts that Bryant used to claim six national championships at Alabama more than four decades ago.
"You can call them dated. That's not fair," Braun says with a smile. "But creative!"
Life is good here in this northern Chicago suburb.
The 6-1 and 18th-ranked Wildcats are off to their best start since 2012; the fall foliage sweeps across this campus like a painter's brush; the university alignment and athletic investment is as its best since before the tumult around the clumsy handling of the end of the Pat Fitzgerald era; the program opened a more than $850 million new stadium earlier this season; and the offense is an entertaining throwback under one of the sport's most heralded gurus.

#bryant #evanston #northwestern #bear

Maryland football made a coaching change ahead of its bye week, but not the one fans were expecting. Defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino was fired Sunday, ending his time with the program.
Terrapins Make Change at Defensive Coordinator Positionhttps://t.co/269LMby1wm
Monachino's defense has conceded the eighth-most points (233) in the country this season, including nearly 44 per game during its five-game skid. The Terps gave up at least 40 points in three straight games and allowed Rutgers to score 24 second-half points Saturday.
"I appreciate Ted's hard work and dedication to our program during his time in College Park," head coach Michael Locksley said. "As I evaluate our program, I believe this change is necessary. We wish Ted all the best moving forward."
Maryland, who was tied for the Big Ten lead with 19 interceptions in 2025, has allowed 451.6 yards per game against power conference foes this season. UCLA, Nebraska and then-No. 5 Ohio State each rushed for over 200 yards during their blowout wins over the Terps.

#coach #time

Texas A&M took care of business in Week 7, earning its second shutout win of the season after defeating The Citadel 41-0 behind 264 rushing yards and three touchdowns from sophomore RB Jamarion Morrow. With freshman back KJ Edwards adding 116 rushing yards, the Aggie offense needs to keep a "ground and pound" approach, especially if redshirt junior quarterback Marcel Reed remains the starter.
On defense, Texas A&M didn't have to do much, as the Bulldogs barely attempted to throw the ball, running 47 times for 140 yards, resulting in a one-dimensional attack that didn't require defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill to scheme up pressure, just needing to stop the run and tackle in ******* e, which was accomplished.
The SEC experienced its most chaotic week in what feels like a decade-plus, as No. 1 Georgia, No. 7 Texas, and Texas A&M's next opponent, Alabama, lost at home and on the road, resulting in a seismic shift in the US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Top 25.
As I stated above, Texas A&M will head to Tuscaloosa for the first time since the 2022 season to face Alabama, and after an impressive start to the year against bad defenses, sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell has passed for just 185 yards against Georgia (loss) and 147 yards and an interception during Saturday's loss at Tennessee.
Still, expectations are that the former five-star prospect will rebound at home against Texas A&M's respectable but beatable defense, especially given the Aggies' pass-rush issues. The Aggies enter the week as 15.5-point underdogs, and ESPN FPI gives Texas A&M a 16.5% chance to defeat Alabama (83.5%).

#texas #yards #week #georgia

3 Cowboys to blame for ugly Week 6 NSFW loss to Jordan Love, Packers appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Dallas Cowboys headed to Lambeau Field for a matchup between two all-time NFL powerhouses and were summarily defeated by Jordan Love's team, on a night that included a crazy Dee Winters overturned interception. Ex-Packers DT Kenny Clark turned in a strong performance, but it wasn't enough as the Packers won, 23-13.
The loss sent Dallas to 2-4 on the season and had fans wondering exactly who was to blame. The Cowboys' defense certainly deserves some, but this night was mostly about the Cowboys' anemic offense. Offensive coordinator Klayton Adams' unit was mostly a no-show. Although Dak Prescott had a decent amount of passing yards, he failed to spark much excitement, or to keep up with Love and the Packers in another disappointing effort.
Here are three Cowboys to blame after Sunday night's debacle at Lambeau Field.
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#packers #jordan #love

Calls for Mike McDaniels' job are only getting louder.
This time, though, Jim Harbaugh wasn't as strong in his defense of his offensive coordinator.
Harbaugh, after the Los Angeles Chargers fell 22-6 to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, said that they are going to "have to address everything, and especially offensively." The loss knocked them to 0-6 on the season, which marks their worst start since 2000. Coincidentally, Harbaugh was on that Chargers team as a player that finished 1-15 that season.
And when asked about McDaniel directly and if he was going to keep calling plays, Harbaugh said they were "going to look at everything."
"The job I'm doing, it starts with me. We'll watch this and get with our offensive coaches," Harbaugh said, via ESPN. "I see the effort, I see the work being put in in the meetings, on the practice field, and to get that to translate to the field is what's necessary. Feel bad for our players, our team, our coaches, our fans. And [offense] needs to be addressed."

#offensive #season

Chargers' Jim Harbaugh states the obvious about Mike McDaniel-led offense appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Jim Harbaugh didn't mince words about the offense's struggles under offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel following the Los Angeles Chargers' 22-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon.
Harbaugh has been the Chargers' head coach since 2024, going through his third season with the franchise. Following back-to-back years of playoff appearances, the veteran coach seems to have approached his biggest obstacle yet.
Los Angeles is winless six games into the season. They are at the bottom of the standings with the worst record in the league, immensely struggling on the offensive side of the ball.
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#harbaugh #following

LONDON (AP) — British police on Tuesday arrested a 22-year-old man in London on suspicion of a terror offense over a security incident at a U.S.-run military air base in England that authorities have linked to Iran.
The arrest is the seventh in connection with a suspected plot against RAF Fairford, located 100 miles (160 kilometers) west of London, which has been used by American bombers to strike Iran during this year's war.
Five British men in their 20s were detained near the perimeter of the base in the early hours of Sept. 27, and a 25-year-old British-Iranian man was arrested in London on Thursday. All six have been released on bail under investigation.
Counter Terrorism Policing said a British national was detained Tuesday in the Westminster area of central London on suspicion of preparing terrorist acts.
Vicki Evans, the senior national coordinator for counterterrorism policing, said detectives "continue to pursue multiple lines of inquiry" and "remain committed to investigating all possible angles."

#policing #arrested #base #detained

Sep. 14—PULLMAN — Shortly after Washington State wrapped up its last game, a blowout road loss to Kansas State over the weekend to drop coach Kirby Moore's team to 0-2 to open the season, Cougar quarterback Caden Pinnick was short on words.
On some of the team's biggest problems on offense, Pinnick said only, "We just lost. Next question."
On what was holding back WSU's passing offense, which produced only 65 yards, Pinnick said, "Good team. We lost."
On whether he felt like offensive coordinator Matt Miller's playcalls were putting the team in the best positions to succeed, Pinnick said, "It's not for me to say. We just gotta get better."
On Monday, Pinnick led off his news conference addressing that postgame session, which lasted less than two minutes, saying it was "not quite the response that you want."

#offense

Broncos news: Drew Brees nearly unretired to play playoff game for Denver appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Hall of Famer Drew Brees came remarkably close to returning to the NFL last season after the Denver Broncos lost quarterback Bo Nix to a fractured ankle in their divisional-round overtime win over the Buffalo Bills, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Monday.
With the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots approaching, then-Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive ***** istant Pete Carmichael contacted Brees about potentially playing for Denver. Both coaches had previously worked with Brees during their time with the New Orleans Saints, giving the situation an immediate connection to the quarterback.
Brees, who was 47 at the time, did not reportedly immediately reject the proposal. Instead, he wanted to determine whether his body could handle an NFL comeback. He worked out with the possibility of playing in the AFC ***** le game, but discomfort in his wrist ultimately ended the idea.
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#brees #Broncos #denver #worked

ESPN's Adam Schefter dropped a bombshell just before the Denver Broncos' matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs on "Monday Night Football", reporting that some members of the Broncos staff explored the idea of bringing in former New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees for the AFC Championship Game in January.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton didn't know Denver's then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive ***** istant Pete Carmichael were talking about Brees joining the team after Bo Nix suffered an injury in the Broncos' overtime win over the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional round.
The Broncos were set to turn to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham to lead the offense against a stiff New England Patriots defense in snowy conditions at Empower Field at Mile High.
Denver wasn't sure if Brees would make the start over Stidham, a 2019 fourth-round pick by the Patriots who had only made four career starts before the AFC championship.
A Broncos source told Schefter that Brees was confident he knew how to win that type of contest.

#Broncos #denver #round

Rookie defensive back Mansoor Delane is questionable to return to the Kansas City Chiefs' Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos on 'Monday Night Football' after sustaining a shoulder injury in the first quarter of the primetime tilt.
Delane joined Kansas City as the No. 6 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft and recorded his first career interception in front of a national audience on the game's first drive, which gave the Chiefs an early advantage over Denver.
The Chiefs shared an official update on Delane's status in a post to their official Twitter account:
While it remains unclear if Delane will be able to return to the field in Week 1, Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is already adjusting his scheme to account for the former LSU Tiger's absence.
Stay tuned to find out if Delane's absence will prove to be temporary, or if the rookie defender will need to miss games due to his shoulder injury.

#kansas #city #rookie #defensive

It looks like the Denver Broncos were this close to seeing their 2025 season take an eye-popping turn. On Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees had considered coming out of retirement to join the Broncos in the postseason last year.
Per Schefter, Brees had conversations with the team's then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive ****** istant Pete Carmichael about the quarterback potentially playing in the AFC championship. The Broncos had lost starting QB Bo Nix to a broken ankle in the final plays of the divisional win over the Buffalo Bills, leaving an opening at QB1 that was being filled by backup Jarrett Stidham.
The 47-year-old Brees said that he wanted to work out first to see how his body was doing, but "discomfort" in Brees' wrist led him to turn down the offer, per Schefter.
Lombardi and Carmichael, along with Broncos head coach Sean Payton, all worked with Brees during his time with the New Orleans Saints. However, Payton only heard about the plot to entice Brees back to the NFL this offseason, with the plan leaving him "both fascinated and flabbergasted," per Schefter
However, Denver maybe could have used Brees in the ****** le game, as the team lost 10-7 to the New England Patiotrs; Stidham made crucial mistakes in the loss.

#brees

Drew Brees went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, but he considered coming out of retirement with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. The former New Orleans Saints quarterback explored joining the Denver Broncos ahead of January's AFC Championship Game, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.
The conversations followed Bo Nix's fractured ankle in Denver's Jan. 17 playoff victory over the Buffalo Bills. Then-offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi and offensive **** istant Pete Carmichael, two of Brees' longtime coaches in New Orleans, contacted him about a potential return.
Brees had turned 47 just two days before Nix was injured. He wanted to test his body before committing to a comeback, but wrist discomfort during his workout ended the possibility, Schefter reported.
The initial talks happened without Sean Payton's involvement. Lombardi and Carmichael first wanted to see whether Brees was interested, and Payton didn't learn about their conversations until the offseason, according to Schefter.
Had Brees felt ready to return, Denver would've signed him and evaluated whether he or Jarrett Stidham would start, Schefter noted. One Broncos source explained to ESPN how the team viewed the possibility: "At a minimum, you sign (Brees), he's 1A or 1B. And Drew's point was: 'I know how to win a game like that.'"

#brees #orleans #Broncos

The Seattle Seahawks are 1-0, so it's time to start scouting their next opponent.
The Arizona Cardinals shocked the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 with a 26-14 win in which Mike LaFleur became the franchise's first non-interim head coach to win their first game in charge. The matchup was projected as one of the opening week's most lopsided in favor of Jim Harbaugh and Los Angeles, who were coming off an 11-6 record in 2025. Los Angeles made the playoffs and lost to the eventual AFC champion New England Patriots in the Wild Card round, albeit without either of their starting offensive tackles—Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt—who were both expected to boost the offense upon their return this season. Arizona's defense had other ideas, and became one of the biggest surprises of any unit across Week 1's Sunday slate, while their offense simply looked more talented and outplayed LA with complementary football. That's what the Seahawks will be looking for in Week 2.
The Cardinals defense played with an energy that stifled Justin Herbert and new offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel, who only held the ball for 51 plays and 22:29. Arizona ran 21 more plays and had the ball for 15:02 more of the game (more than an entire quarter?!) When watching this game, the attitude from Arizona's defense seemed to disregard the stature of its opponent. LaFleur retained defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, who Phoenix-based sports radio host John Gambadoro credits for helping set the temperature.
It's easy to see Rallis' results. The intensity of the defense that showed up on tape is just as evident on paper. His Cardinals defense ranks second to last in blitz rate so far this season, yet they held McDaniel and Herbert to a measly 2-for-8 on third downs and 0-for-3 on fourth downs. Their front seven was far more formidable than the Chargers on the day, producing 17 pressures on 55 snaps while LA could only muster 12 on 75 opportunities. On the flipside, the Cardinals' offensive line has been projected as their downfall this season. The Seahawks have a clear opportunity to establish their presence as a physically dominant team if they kill the Cardinals momentum. This will be the game for elite run blockers like AJ Barner and run stoppers like Uchenna Nwosu to put the new age film community on watch.
Offensive talent is far from the problem in Arizona. Trey McBride is the best tight end in football. They've got two running backs in Jeremiyah Love and Tyler Allgeier who can both be a problem for any team. Marvin Harrison Jr. was a matchup nightmare against the Seahawks last season. In Week 3, he had one of the best battles against Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen of any wide receiver all year. When partnered with a seasoned veteran quarterback with a quick release, they were able to make life easy on their OL. Jacoby Brissett looked like at least an average starting QB, completing 27/37 passes for a respectable 73.0% completion rate while taking only 1 sack on 39 dropbacks. Loo

After securing a 48-20 victory over Arizona State to improve to 2-0 in 2026, Texas A&M will now turn its attention to a talented SEC foe with an offensive mastermind at the helm.
First-year head coach Will Stein and the Kentucky Wildcats will travel to College Station for a showdown against the Aggies on Saturday, marking the first contest between the two programs since 2018 and just their fourth matchup ever.
The Wildcats had No. 10 Alabama reeling in Lexington in Week 2, but were unable to close things out, leading to a 45-17 loss to the Crimson Tide. Among the many storylines in this game is the return of former Aggie defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, who is calling the shots for Kentucky's defensive unit.
Texas A&M's performance against Arizona State was solid, but there is still much to be desired, especially offensively. As was projected all offseason, the Aggies' offensive line struggled to establish dominance in the trenches, with a plethora of new pieces in the unit. That is something they must improve upon moving forward, as they open SEC play this weekend.
Here is everything Elko said during his weekly press conference, ahead of Saturday's matchup against Kentucky:

#matchup

If there is a reason for USC football fans to be very optimistic about the upcoming game against Oregon, it's more than just the Ducks' substandard performance. Oregon's coaching staff, with new offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer aboard, might be out of its depth.
Mike Ostrom of Duck Sports Central has more on this:
"Oregon Tipping a Run or Pass - This isn't sign stealing; this is good old fashioned film study and insight. Oklahoma State saw something on film and the result was Cowboy players knowing whether a run or pass was coming.
"'We were noticing earlier in the week that their (Oregon's) offensive line had tendencies that helped us key into run (or) pass and a couple areas we could take advantage of,' said senior linebacker Tate Romney, 'and obviously our defensive line was keyed into that. That was one big thing that gave us a big advantage.' What were those tendencies? 'Just their offensive line had a few stance indicators for most of the time run/pass,' said Romney."
Oregon and Dan Lanning did not have these problems under previous offensive coordinator Will Stein. Lanning had highly professional offensive coordinators the past few years with Stein and predecessor Kenny Dillingham calling plays. The drop-off from them to Drew Mehringer seems steep, and it's a big reason not only for Oregon's decline, but for USC's increased chances of being able to beat the Ducks later this September.

#drew #romney #stein

Wide receiver Hollywood Brown was active for Sunday's game, but the veteran never got on the field during the Eagles' 24-22 win over the Commanders.
DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks started for the Eagles with first-round pick Makai Lemon and Darius Cooper also seeing time on offense. At a Monday press conference, head coach Nick Sirianni was asked about how Brown fits into the team's plans.
"So, with yesterday, you know, we have our rotations that we're doing, you know, Hollywood could obviously help us," Sirianni said, via Brooks Kubena of TheAthletic.com. "We obviously want to get him into the football game because his speed is real. It just didn't work out that way yesterday. There are games like that. There are games where you get shut out on catches. Unfortunately, there are games, they get shut out on reps. But we know that Hollywood can help us win football games, and his speed is real, and, quite frankly, just from my end, we want to get him into the football game, right? And so, you know, we'll make a better effort to do that next time, 'cause I know the playmaking ability that he can bring with his speed. But was pleased with how the wideouts played as a whole. Of course, there were things that you want back. They made a lot of plays down the field — and with different things with their job description. But, you know, I do want to see him in that football game and getting reps and contributing to this football team."
The Eagles' offense looked like a work in progress for considerable portions of Sunday's game, which was their first with offensive coordinator Sean Mannion. Quarterback Jalen Hurts engineered enough big plays to overcome the rough spots and we'll see if Brown fits into the Week 2 plan to create more of them.

#know #Eagles

Geno Smith and the New York Jets were efficient, effective and mostly productive on offense in their season opener.
Wait, who are these guys?
After trotting out one of the NFL's worst offenses last year, Aaron Glenn and the Jets made several significant changes in the offseason to revamp that side of the ball. Among them: They acquired Smith, who began his career with the franchise in 2013, from Las Vegas; hired Frank Reich as offensive coordinator; bolstered their offensive line; and added a few young playmakers in tight end Kenyon Sadiq and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., a pair of first-rounders.
They all helped lead the Jets to an impressive 23-10 victory over the **** ans in Tennessee on Sunday.
"Our offense, how balanced we were — running the ball, throwing the ball," Glenn said Monday. "Very efficient on how we wanted to operate. The O-line was outstanding, giving Geno time to be able to create some of these explosive plays down the field."

#ball #smith #offensive

Vanderbilt football will kick off against Auburn at 3:15 p.m. CT on Sept. 26 from Jordan-Hare Stadium, with the game televised on SEC Network, the league announced Sept. 14.
It will be the SEC opener for the Commodores (2-0), who will start off conference play on the road. Auburn (2-0) starts SEC play with a Sept. 19 contest against Florida. This will also be the homecoming game for the Tigers.
Auburn has a new coach in Alex Golesh, who was the head coach at South Florida and the offensive coordinator at Tennessee previously.
Vanderbilt defeated Austin Peay and Delaware in its first two contests, while Auburn defeated Baylor and Southern Miss.
This game had previously been designated as an afternoon game but did not get the ABC or ESPN slots, which went to Ole Miss/Florida and Oklahoma/Georgia.

#Florida