Latest news with #tightend
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cowboys' Brian Schottenheimer sounds off on Jake Ferguson right after contract extension
The post Cowboys' Brian Schottenheimer sounds off on Jake Ferguson right after contract extension appeared first on ClutchPoints. With the Dallas Cowboys signing tight end Jake Ferguson to a $52 million contract, it shows the confidence the team has in the player to bounce back after a disappointing year. While some fans may have wanted to see the Cowboys sign Micah Parsons to a contract extension after a long dispute, it was no doubt a goal to lock down Ferguson as head coach Brian Schottenheimer speaks on the tight end. Last season, Ferguson would record 494 yards on 58 catches with zero touchdowns in 14 games. Schottenheimer would say Sunday, after the news was announced by the contract, that he is a 'really good player' and a 'great leader,' while also discussing his season last year, according to Jon Machota. 'He's a great leader, he's lighter (this season), he's moving around really, really well,' Schottenheimer said. 'I think last year, you look at the first game against Cleveland, and he gets his knee pretty banged up. And then he's got a concussion mid-season at some point. That's so uncharacteristic of (Ferguson).' '(He's) a really, really good player in this league,' Schottenheimer continued. 'He has always been, he's one of those guys that, as a young player, second-year player, there was leadership, he's an enforcer, he's a guy that plays the game the right way, he plays the game on the edge.' Cowboys' Jake Ferguson had a 'fluke' season last year With Ferguson working out his flaws in the Cowboys' training camp, he looks to get back to the season he had in 2023 and be a key offensive weapon next to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and new acquisition George Pickens. In 2023, Ferguson would have 761 yards to go along with five touchdowns on 71 receptions, with Schottenheimer believing he can get back to that level. 'I have zero doubts in my mind that his production will get back to where it was the year before,' Schottenheimer said. 'I think last year was just kind of one of those years that you look back on your career and it was more of a fluke than anything.' It wouldn't be the first time Schottenheimer expressed his confidence in Ferguson, saying last month that his season in 2024 was a 'fluke,' according to 'I think last year was a fluke [for Ferguson],' Schottenheimer said. 'He definitely dealt with some stuff that was hard for him. Jake's always motivated. Jake is one of those tone setters who just plays the right way. But the look in his eyes and the way his body looks, in terms of physique, and the way he's moving has been noticeably different in a good way.' At any rate, Ferguson and Dallas look to improve after finishing 7-10, putting them third in the NFC East as they start the upcoming season on Thursday, Sept. 4, against the Philadelphia Eagles. Related: Stephen Jones' harsh reaction to Cowboys fans wanting Micah Parsons paid Related: Jake Ferguson agrees to $52 million Cowboys contract extension
New York Times
4 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
The Steelers are getting weird with tight ends, to Arthur Smith's delight: Takeaways
LATROBE, Pa. — When Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Omar Khan was asked about the acquisition of tight end Jonnu Smith, 'flexibility' was the first word that came to mind. 'We love his flexibility,' Khan said. 'If you look at where he played last year and even when Arthur (Smith) had him a couple years ago, he lines up at receiver. He has the ability to play outside receiver, inside receiver, tight end.' Advertisement After the past two days of practice, you can add one more position to the list: running back. During Wednesday's early practice walk-through period, the Steelers had 04 personnel (no running backs and four tight ends) in the huddle. When they lined up, Darnell Washington, Pat Freiermuth and Connor Heyward were in positions you'd expect. Jonnu Smith, the joker in this deck of cards, lined up in the backfield. Aaron Rodgers completed a pass to Smith in the flat on one of the plays. On another, he handed it to the tight end-turned-running back. Thursday, the Steelers continued to install more 04 personnel plays, including what appeared to be a wide-zone 'zorro' toss, with Heyward paving the way as a lead blocker for Smith. 'Everybody's got a different skill set, and so we gonna feed off each other,' Smith said. 'We can come together and see how we can put ourselves in the best advantageous position on Sundays. And I think that's the fun part about it.' Though the 04 personnel package is new for the Steelers, the way Arthur Smith is embracing the tight end position is not. He spent five formative years from 2014 to 2018 working directly with tight ends as a position coach in Tennessee and continued to feature the tight end as the offensive coordinator for the Titans and later as a play-calling head coach in Atlanta. Last season in Smith's first year as the Steelers' offensive coordinator, Pittsburgh led the NFL in 13 personnel (one back, three tight ends) with 177 plays, according to TruMedia. Add in the 275 plays in 12 personnel (one back, two tight ends), and they utilized multiple tight ends on more than 40 percent of snaps, making Smith perhaps the NFL's most tight-end-friendly coordinator. The Steelers leaned into this philosophy even more when they traded Minkah Fitzpatrick for Jonnu Smith and All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey. Pittsburgh now employs two of the NFL's 10 highest-paid tight ends on a per-year average, per Over the Cap — Freiermuth is ninth ($12.1 million per year) and Smith, who signed a one-year extension through 2026 as part of the trade, is right behind him ($12 million). Advertisement 'So much of the game has gotten into the sub defenses,' Arthur Smith said, referring to nickel and dime packages. '(The tight end) can give you unique matchups. If teams want to go small … in theory, you should have a leg up. They went small. We are big. … If they're in sub defense, making little DBs play two-back runs or play into heavy, condensed (formations), they might misfit a gap.' Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator said he never treats tight ends as 'apples to apples.' In a crowded room, each of the Steelers' top options gives the team a little something different. 'We've got a guy like Darnell as a 'Y' that's as good as some tackles blocking, or even in some of the protection things you want to do,' Arthur Smith said. 'Pat's a very instinctive route runner. … Pat's our unique chess piece. 'Jonnu, I've just been with him so long (in Tennessee and Atlanta). He's a unique catch-and-run guy, some of the vertical stuff. He's taken screens to the house for 60 yards. And then Connor is another unique guy.' A player like Jonnu Smith or Washington can be a mismatch on his own, but the Steelers can take things to another level when they put multiple tight ends in the huddle and then deploy them in various ways. For example, they might have three tight ends on the field, but all split out wide. They could have four tight ends, but Heyward is in the backfield as a blocker. They can also line up one way and motion into a completely different formation. New TE Jonnu Smith hitting the sled — Mike DeFabo (@MikeDeFabo) July 30, 2025 'That's the beauty of it, is just being able to move those pieces around so it can look like 10 personnel (one back, no tight ends),' Smith said. 'It can look like 12 (one back, two tight ends), look like 13. It can look like 22 (two backs, two tight ends). To be able to do that with those chess pieces, if you got the guys that could win in the passing game and are decent enough run blockers, that just gives you way more flexibility.' Advertisement Somewhat along the same lines, the Steelers also showed a 'tackle-over' formation this week in which right tackle Troy Fautanu and the other offensive tackle (Calvin Anderson, filling in for Broderick Jones) aligned next to each other on the right side. Washington lined up next to the guard on the left side. With this tactic, the Steelers can create an extra gap, outnumber defenders on the front side, disguise where eligible receivers are aligned (which is especially useful against man coverage) and trick defenses by rushing to the line. It doesn't hurt that Washington is as big as a tackle and can hold up in pass protection, if needed. Now, it's important to address that just because the Steelers want to feature the tight end in all these ways doesn't mean it's always productive. In fact, some stats suggest that every time the Steelers put an additional tight end on the field last year, they became less efficient, according to metrics from TruMedia. Overall: If EPA is your preferred metric, the Steelers produced a positive total EPA out of only 11 personnel (0.51), according to TruMedia. In 12 personnel, they were at -6.14, and in 13, they accumulated -54.73. Those numbers don't materially improve when isolated to first and second downs, when runs are more likely Only three teams ran 13 personnel more than 100 times last year. The Arizona Cardinals (162 plays) were twice as efficient as the Steelers, averaging 6.0 yards per play and 4.3 yards per carry. The Chiefs, meanwhile, ran 13 personnel 110 plays, averaging 4.5 yards per play and 3.6 yards per rush. If you're looking for reasons the Steelers' stats could improve this year, there are a couple of things to consider. Using Jonnu Smith, a Pro Bowler, as the second or third tight end instead of Heyward could make a major difference. When Heyward was on the field in 13 personnel last season, the production dipped to 2.5 yards per play and 2.4 yards per rush. Upgrades at running back could lead to better rushing production in general. A quarterback more capable of completing intermediate passes should help tight ends. And, if the offensive coordinator does in fact tap into his tight ends' versatility to expand or condense sets — essentially making the defense wrong no matter which personnel package it sends onto the field — the efficiency could improve. 'The guys that we have in the tight end room, we have a lot of skill sets in there,' Freiermuth said. 'I think Art does a great job of getting us in looks that we want to be in. If the defense is going to play something that we don't feel comfortable matchup-wise, then we're not going to do it. But if we can get in four tight ends, three tight ends, and we have an advantage schematically, then we're going to go out there and we're going to run it.' Advertisement • After practicing in pads on Wednesday, the Steelers had a much lighter workout in helmets and shoulder pads Thursday. That didn't stop tempers from flaring. During one-on-one coverage drills, Smith caught a pass over safety Juan Thornhill, then spiked the ball at the DB's feet. Thornhill took exception, and the two players started wrestling. Smith ended up ripping Thornhill's helmet off. In a rematch, Thornhill got physical with Smith at the line of scrimmage, giving him no room to create separation. After the pass fell incomplete, Thornhill picked up the ball and handed it to Smith, causing more barking. 'I loved the energy and competitive spirit on display,' coach Mike Tomlin said. 'I think you can learn and develop skills while competing. I'd rather say whoa than sic 'em. This is a football team we're putting together.' • In other one-on-one drills, Roman Wilson beat Joey Porter Jr. on a deep ball. It's been a quiet camp for Wilson to this point, making the go route one of his flashiest plays. • The Payton Wilson-Kenneth Gainwell matchup continued. The speedy running back won on a whip route early. On another rep, Gainwell used a skip-step to gain separation. The ball from Mason Rudolph was a bit underthrown. Wilson raced to close the gap and break up the play. • In Seven Shots, the defense won the day 4-3. During Rodgers' three reps to start the drill, the QB just missed DK Metcalf on a fade route with Darius Slay in coverage. Rodgers came right back to Metcalf on the next play, throwing a slant low where only the receiver could get it. On Rodgers' third rep, he looked for Wilson on an out route, but Slay again was in good position to force an incompletion. • Injuries are adding up at defensive tackle. Dean Lowry, Jacob Slade and Esezi Otomewo all sustained knee injuries Wednesday and did not practice Thursday. Tomlin said they're being evaluated. • Isaac Seuamalo was activated from the non-football injury list ahead of practice. He worked out only during individual periods. Broderick Jones, who is recovering from a groin injury, also competed only in individual drills. (Photo of Jonnu Smith: Gene J. Puskar / Associated Press)
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bengals expected to sign tight end Noah Fant
CINCINNATI (AP) — Tight end Noah Fant is expected to sign with the Cincinnati Bengals. The team has not announced the signing, but coach Zac Taylor said before Thursday's practice 'we potentially have a good signing there" when asked about reports of a deal. ESPN reported the sides were working on a one-year contract. 'You've got a player that's really a plus player in both the run and the pass. At the point of attack blocking, back side of blocking. Protection, can help you. Also really explosive as a receiver," Taylor said about Fant. "Great size, great explosiveness, really good hands. Tough to bring down. We really feel good about where our tight end room will be.' Fant visited the Bengals last week after being released by the Seattle Seahawks on July 20. He had 48 receptions for 500 yards and a touchdown in 14 games last season. Fant also visited New Orleans and Miami after his trip to Cincinnati. The addition of Fant will give quarterback Joe Burrow a solid tight end duo. Mike Gesicki is expected to the starter. Fant will be going into his seventh season. He was a first-round pick by the Denver Broncos in 2019 and spent three seasons there before going to Seattle. ___ AP NFL:
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
NFL first-round draft pick Noah Fant joins the Bengals as Joe Burrow gets dangerous new offensive weapon
The Cincinnati Bengals are on the brink of signing tight end Noah Fant, who was cut by the Seattle Seahawks earlier in July. Fant was a first-round draft pick by the Denver Broncos in 2019 but was traded to the Seahawks as part of the deal that sent Russell Wilson to Colorado. The 27-year-old was cut on July 20, with the Seahawks saving nearly $9million in cap space by parting ways with the tight end. And now, he's going to be another offensive weapon for Joe Burrow heading into the new season. To make room for Fant, the Bengals have released another tight end in Kole Taylor.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
4-star TE recruit projected to commit to Georgia over LSU, Penn State
The Georgia Bulldogs are projected to land an elite tight end prospect, but it is not in-state five-star Kaiden Prothro, who is expected to announce his commitment on July 12. Four-star Brayden Fogle plans to announce his commitment on July 4 and is predicted to commit to Georgia over Penn State and LSU, per Chad Simmons of Rivals. Fogle is a member of the class of 2026 and recently released a top three of Georgia, Penn State and LSU. The 6-foot-3, 225-pound tight end plays high school football for Lexington High School in Lexington, Ohio. Lexington is located about an hour north of Columbus. Fogel is the No. 8 tight end prospect in the country. He is the No. 6 recruit in Ohio and the No. 132 recruit in the nation, per 247Sports. If Fogel commits to Georgia, he would be UGA's second tight end commit in the class of 2026. Georgia already has a commitment from four-star tight end recruit Lincoln Keyes. The Bulldogs are expected to be in the mix for Prothro. Georgia has signed three tight ends in a single recruiting class in the past, so it is possible Georgia would take all three tight end prospects. Georgia could lose junior tight end Lawson Luckie and senior tight end Oscar Delp to the 2026 NFL draft, so Georgia's tight end room could use a few reinforcements next year. Follow UGAWire on Instagram or Threads for more Georgia football coverage! This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: 4-star TE Brayden Fogel projected to commit to UGA football
