Latest news with #Verse
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
NFL player Jared Verse did something extreme. Why he's a young star
While Verse lost a workout challenge to an all-time great, the mere fact he wanted to compete against Donald shows his mentality. Verse desires to be the next Rams star defensive player. Last year Verse became the first Rams player to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award since Donald in 2014 and the third player overall in franchise history. Shortly after winning the award, Verse told the media he's not satisfied. "I think it's a small step towards (becoming) one of the best players ever," Verse said. "But there's a lot of people that have won this award that after they win it, they get satisfied. That's the main thing, you can't get satisfied. This is just a small step to a big goal." Verse led all rookies in QB hits (18) and pressures (77) last season. He's a confident and more comfortable player going into Year 2 as the Rams conduct training camp. "He's got a relentless energy. I think he's understanding how to be able to use that to his advantage. He's continuing to mature. We used to hear Aaron Donald talk about controlled aggression and how consistent he can be," Rams coach Sean McVay said. "He has high standards for himself. He is getting better but he's also very coachable...I love the guy's approach. I love his energy." The Kansas City Chiefs are still AFC West favorites. But two things could sink them On paper, the Rams appear to be improved from the team that pushed the eventual Super Bowl 59 champion Philadelphia Eagles to the brink during the divisional round of the 2024 playoffs. The Rams replaced Cooper Kupp with Davante Adams, drafted tight end Terrance Ferguson in the second round and added defensive tackle Poona Ford. The Rams offense is generating a lot of buzz with Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua and Adams, but the team's defense could be a lot better, especially upfront with a more experienced Verse and Braden Fiske. "For one, we're young. And two, we're relentless. We get after it. I think we're just hungry. We got a lot of guys that are hungry to take that next step in their career and just get after it. As a whole, as a team and as a defense, we just appreciate being able to go out there together because these things don't come often when you have a group like we have," Fiske said this week. "I'm just excited to get after it with these guys. We got a really, really solid group." The defending NFC West champion Rams are entering this season as the division favorite. The Rams have only won the NFC West in back-to-back years once under McVay (2017-2018). Los Angeles had the NFL's 26th ranked defense a year ago. An improved defense could be the key ingredient to another division crown. They have an emerging defensive star who's not complacent and hungry for more. And thanks to Donald, Verse has a new workout regime as he prepares to lead the defense into the regular season. "That workout was psychotic. I'm never doing that again. He did change my workout routine. Now my workouts don't hit anymore. So, I had to go a little harder," Verse said. "It was insane to see that's the level it takes to be in the discussions of best defensive player ever or best player ever. So that's the level I have to reach on a consecutive basis. That's what I'm striving for now." Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Vikings' Dallas Turner opens up about his offseason plan for a breakout 2025
Dallas Turner is under a microscope heading into his second year, especially with the team having to look around and see the likes of Chop Robinson and Jared Verse thrive with the teams that picked them. While Turner was drafted 17th overall, Verse was drafted 19th by the Rams, and Robinson was selected 21st by the Dolphins. While Turner looks to join his draft classmates in the top tier of pass rushers, he took some steps this offseason to get there. Speaking at training camp, Turner gave everyone a glimpse into who he worked with and how he is getting ready for the new season. Turner explained his offseason work and the urgency he had, saying, 'Right after the season… [Greenard and I] were hitting it strong in the weight room, watching film, picking each other's brain. He has a lot of knowledge. He's one of the best vets on the team… it was a good opportunity to be around him and spend time with him and see how he got to this point in his career.' For Turner, he is behind two Pro Bowlers, compared to Robinson and Verse, who are on the same team as Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard. What is going to turn Turner, though, is that Brian Flores has shown he will use a rotation of pass rushers in his schemes. Turner didn't get a lot of playing time last year, so tracking his snaps in the preseason will be critical to setting expectations.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Chris Shula compares Jared Verse's work ethic to Aaron Donald's
Shula continues to see signs of greatness in edge rusher Verse, likening his approach to that of Donald Defensive coordinator Chris Shula had the privilege of witnessing Rams legend and future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald up close for seven seasons in various assistant coaching roles with the Los Angeles Rams. Just before getting the opportunity to fully coach Donald a year ago, after being named DC, the Rams' defensive great announced his retirement. And just like that, the team began life without No. 99 and knew right then and there that they had an irreplaceable hole on the defensive front. While finding a player like the former three-time defensive player of the year is no easy task, the team managed to come away with OLB Jared Verse in last year's draft, who would go on to win Defensive Rookie of the Year while providing the defense with a future foundation in the post-Donald era. Just now entering his second season, Shula is beginning to see shades of the all-time great in his young edge rusher. "They work hard, they love to be coached hard, and they love football, Shula said. 'It's really easy to coach guys like that. Aaron Donald was the same way. He was the hardest worker on the team, led the defense, and held everyone accountable for playing hard. Jared Verse is clearly taking steps in that direction, and that's exactly where he's at right now." Verse finished his rookie season recording 66 tackles, 11 for loss, 4.5 sacks, and 33 pressures in 16 starts. The former 2024 first-round pick will look to build off his promising rookie campaign and grow more into a leader for the defense that Donald led for 10 seasons, which included a Super Bowl victory in 2021; Donald and the defense came to the team's rescue in the final minute of that win. As we all know, to emulate the best, one must surround oneself with greatness. Verse did just that recently, as he recounted a story about his intense and amusing workout with the defensive stalwart. "We go to the weight room. It's all arms, that's why he's big as hell," Verse said. "We go to the weight room. It's eight different circuits. All arms, four sets each. I'm there for an hour and a half. His wife came in laughing at me. I told her to call the police. I'm dead serious. I'm not even joking. I'm dead serious. I told him to call the police. She wouldn't do it. I tried to lie and say my mom was at my house and I had to go let her in. He told me to give my keys to his management or assistant and that they would go let my mom in. So I wasn't leaving. Finished the workout. I'm dead tired, I'm exhausted. I had a plan to go jump in the sauna afterwards, didn't happen. I had plans to watch film, didn't happen. Went home and I didn't work out for another day and a half because I couldn't move my body.' Safe to say Verse may rethink his decision to work out with Donald. All jokes aside, the Rams are hoping to see continued growth in the 24-year-old and certainly hope to have found another Donald-like player to help lead the defense for years to come. After his award-winning rookie season, it's clear Verse is on the right track. Follow Rams Wire on X, Facebook and Threads for more coverage!
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Why an ex-NFL lineman told Jared Verse to watch all of his bad plays from 2024 season
Los Angeles Rams star edge rusher Jared Verse is going into his second NFL season with a lot of expectations. Not only did he excel in his first year, but Verse won NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year and immediately became a household name among defensive players. But, as he heads into 2025, Verse admitted he knows what he needs to correct. And he told reporters at training camp that he was instructed by former Florida State and NFL defensive tackle Cory Simon to specifically watch all of his bad plays from the 2024 season. 'He said, 'Hey, you had a good season. Congratulations on all you've done but go watch the whole season, not just your good plays but the bad plays.' So I've watched every game probably about three/four times each," Verse said Thursday. "Just watching everything I've done wrong and everything I've done right. And you realize how many bad plays you had with all the accolades and all that stuff. You realize how much [more] you can grow. And, don't let your head get too high because now, I'm thinking of how much better I can get. People are like, 'oh, you're good, you're good.' No, I've got so much farther to go.' This is called growth. And it's why Verse is developing into one of the best edge rushers in the NFL. While he had a lot of quarterback pressures as a rookie, he only finished with 4.5 sacks. To become an elite talent, Verse needs to turn those plays into game-changing moments. The Rams are equipped to help him do that. Verse will once again be surrounded by capable defensive lineman like Kobie Turner, Brade Fiske and fellow edge rusher Byron Young. L.A. also added Poona Ford as a great run-stuffer in the middle of the defensive line. Now, it'll be on Verse to see his flaws and correct them in his second season.
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams DE Jared Verse tested the legendary Aaron Donald: 'I'm never doing that again'
Jared Verse challenged future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald to a workout this offseason. Donald announced his retirement after the 2023 season, but the session went about as expected. "I tried to test a legend... and he responded with a workout from hell. Learned my lesson," Verse posted on social media accompanied with a picture. While Verse lost a workout challenge to an all-time great, the mere fact he wanted to compete against Donald shows his mentality. Verse desires to be the next Rams star defensive player. Last year Verse became the first Rams player to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award since Donald in 2014 and the third player overall in franchise history. Shortly after winning the award, Verse told the media he's not satisfied. "I think it's a small step towards (becoming) one of the best players ever," Verse said. "But there's a lot of people that have won this award that after they win it, they get satisfied. That's the main thing, you can't get satisfied. This is just a small step to a big goal." Verse led all rookies in QB hits (18) and pressures (77) last season. He's a confident and more comfortable player going into Year 2 as the Rams conduct training camp. 'He's got a relentless energy. I think he's understanding how to be able to use that to his advantage. He's continuing to mature. We used to hear Aaron Donald talk about controlled aggression and how consistent he can be,' Rams coach Sean McVay said. 'He has high standards for himself. He is getting better but he's also very coachable…I love the guy's approach. I love his energy.' The Kansas City Chiefs are still AFC West favorites. But two things could sink them On paper, the Rams appear to be improved from the team that pushed the eventual Super Bowl 59 champion Philadelphia Eagles to the brink during the divisional round of the 2024 playoffs. The Rams replaced Cooper Kupp with Davante Adams, drafted tight end Terrance Ferguson in the second round and added defensive tackle Poona Ford. The Rams offense is generating a lot of buzz with Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua and Adams, but the team's defense could be a lot better, especially upfront with a more experienced Verse and Braden Fiske. 'For one, we're young. And two, we're relentless. We get after it. I think we're just hungry. We got a lot of guys that are hungry to take that next step in their career and just get after it. As a whole, as a team and as a defense, we just appreciate being able to go out there together because these things don't come often when you have a group like we have,' Fiske said this week. 'I'm just excited to get after it with these guys. We got a really, really solid group.' The defending NFC West champion Rams are entering this season as the division favorite. The Rams have only won the NFC West in back-to-back years once under McVay (2017-2018). Los Angeles had the NFL's 26th ranked defense a year ago. An improved defense could be the key ingredient to another division crown. They have an emerging defensive star who's not complacent and hungry for more. And thanks to Donald, Verse has a new workout regime as he prepares to lead the defense into the regular season. 'That workout was psychotic. I'm never doing that again. He did change my workout routine. Now my workouts don't hit anymore. So, I had to go a little harder,' Verse said. "It was insane to see that's the level it takes to be in the discussions of best defensive player ever or best player ever. So that's the level I have to reach on a consecutive basis. That's what I'm striving for now." Follow USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
