Sports

N.F.L. Draft Demands Well-Rounded Linemen Who Can Still Flatten

Published

3 years ago

April 27, 2022

N.F.L. Draft Demands Well-Rounded Linemen Who Can Still Flatten

Offensive linemen have all the time beloved “pancakes” — no-doubt-about-it blocks that finish with them flexing over flattened defenders.

However Ikem Ekwonu, a probable top-10 decide on this 12 months’s N.F.L. draft, which begins Thursday, is a rarity: He’s agile and dynamic sufficient so as to add a bonus pancake after one other massive play.

In an October recreation in opposition to Louisiana Tech, Ekwonu’s North Carolina State staff ran a regular handoff. His job was to wedge the defender reverse him towards the sideline and create area for working again Ricky Individual Jr. On the snap, Ekwonu, a 6-foot-4, 310-pound left sort out, shot out of his stance so shortly that he had time to swivel round and wall off his matchup together with his again turned, waving Individual by means of the alley he had opened.

“Then he runs one other 20 yards downfield and pancakes one other man,” John Garrison, the Wolfpack offensive line coach, mentioned. The play resulted in a 24-yard landing.

Highlights like that one have cemented Ekwonu’s standing on the vanguard of a wave of offensive line prospects, together with Evan Neal of the College of Alabama and Charles Cross of Mississippi State, anticipated to be chosen early within the draft. Their velocity and mobility are in excessive demand at what have historically been soccer’s burliest positions. At this 12 months’s draft scouting mix, Cross was one in every of 12 offensive linemen to run the 40-yard sprint in lower than 5 seconds — Ekwonu clocked in at 4.93 seconds — twice as many because the earlier document of six, set in 2013.

“After they consider offensive linemen, folks get caught on the numbers, peak and weight,” Ekwonu, 21, mentioned in an interview this month. “However the intangible stuff: Are you versatile? Are you able to bend? Are you able to dash round a nook, get sq., preserve your steadiness? That stuff is actually vital, and it’s all tied to mobility.”

In 2013, the final time a lineman was drafted first total, the N.F.L. had simply completed a season by which 5 quarterbacks ran for no less than 300 yards. Final season featured 10 such quarterbacks. The place years in the past a sort out’s task was typically easy — preserve a pocket passer upright — that participant now could must chaperone a trick-play finish round on one snap and run interference for a scrambling signal-caller the following.

“Again when it was Tom Brady versus Peyton Manning, it was extra old-school soccer,” Jordan Reid, an ESPN draft analyst mentioned. “You had these massive, highly effective males making an attempt to overpower guys on the level of assault. Now it’s all about profitable with angles, having these athletic linemen that may seal off go rushers and run defenders versus making an attempt to simply plow by means of them.”

It’s additionally a matter of maintaining with the athletes reverse them. Groups a decade in the past didn’t have to dam Aaron Donald, the undersized however blink-quick go rusher who paced the Los Angeles Rams’ Tremendous Bowl run final season.

“You may have these defensive linemen now who’re freak athletes,” Geoff Schwartz, an offensive lineman who performed six N.F.L. seasons, mentioned. “That’s why it’s so vital that these offensive linemen are matching that athleticism.”

Getting into faculty, Ekwonu didn’t appear to be a future first-rounder. A youth soccer coach referred to as him Ickey, after the previous Cincinnati Bengals working again Ickey Woods, and the identify caught as he turned a three-star recruit. He landed at North Carolina State in 2019 at 288 kilos, missing the scale to face out amongst linemen. (High prospects may be 6-6 and weigh nicely over 300 kilos getting into faculty.)

However Garrison and the remainder of the Wolfpack coaches noticed potential in Ekwonu’s gentle toes, unfastened hips and steadiness, attributes he had developed wrestling and, on a few events, used to anchor the 4×100 relay staff at Windfall Day College in Charlotte, N.C.

“The primary time I noticed him, he was strolling in a handstand throughout the room,” Garrison mentioned. “Simply his athleticism and quick-twitch velocity have been very spectacular.”

Ekwonu’s weight surpassed 300 kilos as a freshman, and he thrived in a system that requested him to be greater than a “jug butt,” as Garrison describes all-muscle-no-hustle maulers. Ekwonu’s routes from snap to snap had practically as a lot selection as these of a large receiver.

On up-the-middle runs, he would deliver defensive ends to a standstill; on large pitches, he would velocity out towards the sideline and wallop a linebacker. In all, he notched 67 pancakes in his final season at North Carolina State.

“Groups knew what we have been going to run,” Ekwonu mentioned. “That simply made me wish to beat them much more. Anytime you may run the ball on somebody who is aware of what’s coming, it simply feels good.”

Main as much as the mix, Ekwonu labored with trainers from the biomechanics firm Sports activities Academy. He had two important objectives: to lock in a dependable 40 time — he hadn’t run one in additional than 5 years — and to prep for the even larger calls for for N.F.L. linemen. His trainers likened Ekwonu’s burst to that of a talent place participant greater than 100 kilos lighter, a top quality that may as soon as have been a luxurious and is now nearly requisite.

“It’s important to be extra athletic and in a position to keep it up a play for an extended length,” Taylor Ramsey, a Sports activities Academy coach, mentioned. “It’s not three to 6 seconds anymore, it’s 5 to eight, with the ability to make one play on the line after which one other one downfield.”

Ekwonu’s N.F.L. idol is Trent Williams, a 2021 All-Professional for the 49ers who ran a 4.81 40-yard sprint on the mix in 2010. As a part of San Francisco’s intricate schemes, which may contain fullbacks splitting out to large receiver and wideouts taking handoffs, Williams generally traces up away from his regular left sort out place. When Williams shifts into the backfield, able to hurry to some shocking spot and knock over whomever he meets there, Ekwonu sees a blueprint for a way his future staff would possibly use him.

“I really feel just like the N.F.L. is actually good at enjoying to the personnel they’ve,” Ekwonu mentioned. “Actually enjoying to their strengths.” His subsequent staff could have a number of to select from.

Sports

Tom Brady must talk Raiders conflict, plus other big things to watch this NFL weekend

Published

6 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Tom Brady must talk Raiders conflict, plus other big things to watch this NFL weekend

The NFL is down to its final eight teams and historically this weekend’s games are viewership powerhouses. Last year, the NFL’s divisional round, led by a mega-matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, averaged a whopping 40.0 million viewers, the highest audience number on record, dating to 1988. Kansas City’s win at Buffalo led the way with 50.4 million viewers, the most-watched divisional round game on record.

There are plenty of stories at The Athletic projecting what might happen this weekend. On the media front, Tom Brady will once again find the spotlight as Fox’s lead NFL analyst, but this week presents something that hits at the crux of Brady’s juggling between his analyst duties and minority ownership of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Last week NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson has been recruited by Brady to interview with the Raiders for the club’s head coach opening.

“Thanks in part to the involvement of Brady, who sources say personally vouched for Johnson and implored him to take the interview through his agent, Johnson spoke with them,” Rapoport wrote.

“Essentially, Brady recruited Johnson to interview.”

Rapoport also reported that “Brady was influential in the decision to fire (head coach Antonio) Pierce and (general manager Tom) Telesco, seeking alignment from him to the GM to the coach.”

(The Athletic’s Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed have essential additional reporting on the Raiders’ coaching and GM searches, both being informed — and influenced — by Brady.)

Lions OC Ben Johnson says he spoke with Tom Brady on the field before the Packers game. First time he’s met him.
Brady will be calling the Commanders-Lions game this weekend for Fox, while helping the Raiders find a new head coach and GM.
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) January 15, 2025

Fox is airing the Lions-Washington Commanders game Saturday (8 p.m. ET, also on Fox Deportes) with Kevin Burkhardt and Brady in the booth. There is no other NFL broadcast with this kind of working conflict, but we already knew that. The conflict has already been written about, including here several times, and as we have reported, Fox has no issues with it, given it is happy to be in the Tom Brady business.

But viewers deserve transparency at a minimum, and what Fox Sports should do out of respect for the audience is have Brady and Burkhardt discuss — on-air — that Brady has been part of the process involving Johnson.

I expect the broadcast to address it in some form (Fox Sports brass knows this is all out there, and its top NFL team has a lead producer and director who are immensely respected across the industry), but how deep they address it, we’ll see.

From my perspective, it should not simply be gloss over it with a 45-second discussion. If you are going to own the conflict, at least be transparent with the audience.

A substantive acknowledgment and discussion of what’s going on would help Brady with viewers who might naturally believe his recruitment of Johnson will have an impact on how he discusses the Lions.

Beyond Brady’s analysis of Johnson and the Lions, what will this year’s divisional round bring as far as viewer interest?

We bring back the Watchability Index for another week, which rates viewer anticipation as well as predicts expected viewership.

Josh Allen and the Bills were part of the most-watched NFL divisional round playoff game in 2024. His 2025 playoff matchup with Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson could top that. (Elsa / Getty Images)

Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills
6:30 p.m. ET Sunday
CBS, Paramount+

Watchability: 10 out of 10

Why it’s watchable: The NFL has always marketed its sport through the quarterbacks — Manning vs. Brady! — and this game has the two leading contenders for the league MVP honors — the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson and Buffalo’s Josh Allen. You can’t ask for more as far as entertainment if you are neutral.

The two teams ranked second (Bills) and third (Ravens) during the regular season. The Ravens are particularly lethal on the ground — they averaged 187.6 yards per game. Highmark Stadium is loud and cold, a perfect setting for football.

Everything about this game feels massive and it’s why the NFL placed it in its most optimum television window.

Odds: Ravens (-1)

Viewership prediction: 47 million viewers

Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles
3 p.m. ET Sunday
NBC, Peacock, Telemundo, Universo

Watchability ranking: 8 out of 10

Why it’s watchable: Hard not to embrace the Rams given the ongoing wildfires in the Los Angeles area. Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp are a collective force, and when Matthew Stafford is on, he’s fun to watch. L.A. looked like a juggernaut against the Minnesota Vikings with a postseason-record nine sacks.

The Eagles have the top-ranked defense (we’ll see how the loss of Nakobe Dean affects that), an all-time asset in Saquon Barkley and “Inner Excellence: Train Your Mind for Extraordinary Performance and the Best Possible Life” working for them.

Lincoln Financial Field is a nightmare for opposing teams given Eagles fans are boisterous and belligerent. A late afternoon game in a great sports city. How can you not watch?

Odds: Eagles (-6)

Viewership prediction: 39 million viewers

Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions
8 p.m. ET Saturday
Fox, Fox Deportes

Watchability ranking: 7.5 out of 10

Why it’s watchable: The Athletic’s projection model gives the Lions a 24 percent chance to advance to the Super Bowl, the best percentage among all the remaining teams. The model has them scoring the most points over the weekend, which makes sense given they led the league in points scored (33.2 points) and were second in total yards per game (424.9 yards).

Detroit is fun to watch, it has an uber-aggressive coach and has an America’s Team feel to it given how many people seem to list it as their second favorite team.

It’s great to see the Commanders fans get this playoff run after all the years of living under the Dan Snyder regime. Jayden Daniels is a lock for Rookie of the Year and plays like a seasoned vet. Plus, how can you not love a doink to win a wild-card game?

Favorite: Lions (-9)

Viewership prediction: 35 million viewers

Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs
4:30 p.m. ET Saturday
ESPN/ABC, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes

Watchability ranking: 5 out of 10

Why it’s watchable: Start with Patrick Mahomes, the standard-bearer for winning. The Chiefs have been the NFL’s viewership bell cow over the last couple of years (for good reason) given their excellence. (Taylor Swift probably helped juice the numbers, too.)

The weather is expected to be chilly and Arrowhead Stadium is chaotic when filled.

The Texans seem to live in the early Saturday afternoon slot, which tells you how the NFL broadcasting department sees them against other teams. Houston has the lowest expected points in our projection model, and the Chiefs’ starters have rested since Christmas Day.

Favorite: Chiefs -8

Viewership prediction: 34 million

(Top photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)

Sports

Ohio State's Will Howard vows to continue to 'trust in the Lord' even in the midst of life's highs and lows

Published

7 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Ohio State's Will Howard vows to continue to 'trust in the Lord' even in the midst of life's highs and lows

Ohio State has looked dominant throughout the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff.

After knocking Tennessee out in the first round, the Buckeyes blew out the top-seeded Oregon Ducks in the quarterfinals. Ohio State then defeated the Texas Longhorns in the semifinal to advance to Monday’s championship game.

Quarterback Will Howard will be under center when Ohio State meets Notre Dame in the highly-anticipated title game.

Howard spent four seasons at Kansas State. However, he entered the transfer portal in 2023. In Jan. 2024, he revealed his intentions to make the move to Ohio State. Howard went on to have the best regular season of his college career in Columbus, Ohio.

Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard, #18, leaves the field following the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal game against the Texas Longhorns at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Jan. 10, 2025. (Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

The 23-year-old has thrown for a career-high 3,779 yards and 33 touchdowns against 10 interceptions during his first year at Ohio State. Howard has also used his legs this season, rushing for seven scores.

EX-NOTRE DAME STAR FUELS NATIONAL TITLE GAME HYPE WITH HARSH CRITIQUE OF OHIO STATE’S WILL HOWARD

This year’s Buckeyes roster features multiple players, including Howard, who are outspoken about their personal faith. Howard’s on-field interview after Ohio State’s aforementioned commanding win over Oregon at the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day was one of many moments in which the quarterback put his beliefs on full display.

“First and foremost, I gotta thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for giving me this opportunity to be on this stage in the Rose Bowl,” Howard said. “Younger me would be in awe right now.”

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard, #18, passes against Texas during the second half of the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal game on Friday, Jan. 10, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Shortly after the Buckeyes were upset by their top rival Michigan in late November, Howard referenced his faith as he was asked to share his reaction to the defeat.

“I sat back and thought the opportunity that I have here and what I’ve gone through this year, the ups and the downs, everything has been for my own good,” he said via Columbus news station WCMH, before reaffirming his unwavering faith. “I know that God is putting those obstacles in front of us to grow us and there’s a reason for it. I’m going to just trust the plan.”

Will Howard, #18 of the Ohio State Buckeyes, runs with the ball in the first quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium on Nov. 23, 2024 in Columbus, Ohio. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)

He added that having an unshakable “trust in the Lord” has proven to be beneficial in his life.

“We got to trust in the Lord and lean on Him no matter what, through the ups and the downs,” he told NBC4. “I tried to just get into my Bible and pray a little bit. Just come back to the Lord and say, ‘I need You.’”

“When you come to Him in a humble way, it changes your perspective. I lay it down for Him and say, ‘God, I trust You. I don’t know why this happened but it happened for a reason. I’m going to trust it.’”

Howard and several of his Buckeyes teammates arrived at preseason workouts wearing “Jesus Won” T-shirts.

The College Football Playoff National Championship game kicks off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 20 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Chantz Martin is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

Sports

Prep talk: New Garfield football coach Patrick Vargas has big plans

Published

7 hours ago

January 17, 2025

Press Room

Prep talk: New Garfield football coach Patrick Vargas has big plans

When Patrick Vargas was a 5-foot-4 starting quarterback for Garfield High in 2008, the Bulldogs stunned City Section power Birmingham 29-28 in their season opener.

Now, at age 32, Vargas is taking over as Garfield’s new football coach, replacing Lorenzo Hernandez, and he’s embracing all the lessons learned about overcoming obstacles and understanding the tradition of excellence at Garfield.

“It’s a dream come true for me, being a kid from East L.A.,” he said. “Garfield has always been the place I wanted to be, first as a football player, then as a coach. What coach Hernandez did was change the program for the better. What I want to do is continue with that leadership and do my best to take it to the next level.”

He’s also going to inherit a new turf football field under construction. …

For the third straight year, Sadie Engelhardt of Ventura has been named the Gatorade state player of the year in girls cross country.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.