N/A
The Los Angeles Chargers have positioned Justin Herbert to become one of the most accomplished NFL players through his first three seasons. He has a chance to achieve Offensive Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl, All-Pro and MVP honors before his 25th birthday.
Herbert has already checked off the first two accolades. With some continuity, offensive balance and a playmaking defense, the latter two are well within reach.
While Herbert would probably prefer to win a Super Bowl rather than achieve any individual feat, we cannot ignore his historic career start. In 2020, he broke rookie records for completions (396) and passing touchdowns (31), and then built on that momentum in his second year.
Per Pro Football Focus, Herbert sits atop the list in multiple passing categories through a player's first two seasons:
Despite changes in the Chargers' coaching ranks—from former head coach Anthony Lynn to Brandon Staley—Herbert has taken a rocket ship to NFL stardom. In 2022, he'll have a chance to grow in second-year offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi's offense, which Staley pointed out during an interview on The Rich Eisen Show:
"I think he's such a hard worker and I think that he puts so much into the game. He makes the improvements because of how much he puts into it. And then, obviously, there's a lot of talent to work with. ... This is the first time in six years that he's had the same offense going in. It just doesn't happen for this guy, and that's what makes him so unique. But I think that comfort zone of being in the same offense, being in rhythm where we can go over the plays that he's actually run and build on that, build that chemistry with our receiving corps, tight ends, backs."
On the collegiate level, Herbert started for four terms and had to overcome instability in his early years at Oregon. He had three different head coaches: Mark Helfrich, Willie Taggart and Mario Cristobal.
Herbert played under Cristobal's staff for two full seasons, and that's when he saw significant growth, blossoming into one of the nation's top prospects with 61 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions between 2018 and 2019. On top of that, he avoided injury after missing five games in 2017.
On the pro level, Herbert could take his game to even greater heights with consecutive seasons in the same system, which bodes well for a Chargers offense that ranked fifth in scoring and racked up the fourth-most yards last year.
On the subject of stability, Los Angeles re-signed wideout Mike Williams to a three-year, $60 million deal. He'll pair with Keenan Allen, and they'll likely continue to produce as one of the league's best wide receiver duos after both pass-catchers eclipsed 1,137 receiving yards in 2021.
Beyond the two wideouts, Austin Ekeler has emerged as one of the top dual-threat running backs in the league.
Herbert doesn't have to force the ball downfield. He can toss a high-percentage pass to Ekeler, who's racked up 282 receptions for 2,726 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns through five seasons.
Aside from his top three offensive playmakers, Herbert has also developed a connection with Jalen Guyton and Joshua Palmer, who provide the wide receiver corps with the necessary depth. He'll look to do the same with Gerald Everett, an athletic pass-catching tight end coming off his most productive season after logging 48 catches for 478 yards and four touchdowns primarily as a starter for the Seattle Seahawks.
Though we often see Herbert use his mobility to extend plays and big arm to thread the needle 40 yards downfield, he has a stout offensive line that allows him to stand in the pocket and throw darts.
As a rookie, left tackle Rashawn Slater earned a Pro Bowl nod. In his first season with the team, All-Pro center Corey Linsley didn't give up a sack across 1,076 offensive snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
In this year's draft, the Chargers selected Zion Johnson and Jamaree Salyer in the first and sixth rounds, respectively. According to Pro Football Focus, they allowed 10 quarterback pressures combined last year.
Johnson projects as the opening-week starter at right guard, though he played on the left side of the offensive line at Boston College. If necessary, the coaching staff can move him to left guard and shift Matt Feiler to right tackle, where he has previous experience while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Salyer, who played right guard at Georgia, could become an option to fill that same position in Los Angeles.
At right tackle, the Chargers have an open competition between Storm Norton and Trey Pipkins III. If Johnson struggles on the right side, Feiler can become the solution to the lone uncertainty along the offensive line while the rookie moves to a familiar spot in a personnel grouping that may provide Herbert with optimal pass protection.
Furthermore, rookie running back Isaiah Spiller's physical style could be a nightmare for opposing defenders as he runs behind a strong front line. In three years at Texas A&M, Spiller averaged 5.5 yards per carry. The 6'0", 217-pound tailback can complement Ekeler and open up passing lanes.
This season, opponents may have to pay a little more attention to the Chargers ground attack, which potentially creates opportunities for Herbert to convert more big plays downfield when a safety drops into the box.
Herbert has help on the other side of the ball as well. The Chargers' new-look defense could allow him to capitalize on shorter drives to the goal.
The front office made a concerted effort to improve a defense that gave up the fourth-most points in 2021. Los Angeles acquired edge-rusher Khalil Mack from the Chicago Bears and signed cornerback J.C. Jackson. The Chargers should have a stronger unit with the addition of an All-Pro defender in the front seven and a true ball-hawking cover man in the secondary.
As new additions to the interior of the defensive line, Sebastian Joseph-Day, who played under Staley when he served as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2020, and Austin Johnson can bolster the run defense.
Before anyone paints a sunset of Mack's career after his injury-riddled 2021 campaign, keep in mind that he only missed two games prior to last year. Don't place him in the category of injury-prone players yet. If healthy, the 31-year-old can significantly bolster the Chargers run defense and wreck offensive lines with new pass-rushing partner Joey Bosa. After all, the 2020 Pro Bowler registered nine sacks and three forced fumbles just two seasons ago.
As for Jackson, his ability to track the ball and force turnovers can provide the Chargers with extra offensive possessions. He's recorded 25 interceptions—tied for the most in NFL history through a player's first four seasons.
The Chargers have done just about everything possible to aid Herbert in his rapid ascension to the top of the quarterback hierarchy. He has the offensive weapons, quality pass protection and perhaps an improved defense that can force more three-and-outs or take the ball away and give it back to the offense.
Los Angeles has done exactly what teams should do with a quarterback on a rookie deal: Support him with high-end playmakers all over the field.
If you thought Herbert had an electrifying start to his career, watch him put together an MVP-worthy 2022 season with the help of a stable operation and a loaded roster.
College football statistics provided by cfbstats.com.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
WWE women's tag team champions Sasha Banks and Naomi walked out of Raw on Monday night, dissatisfied with creative plans not only for the show but generally for the titles and the tag division themselves, according to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select.
Originally slated for a six-woman gauntlet match to determine the top contender for Bianca Belair's Raw Women's Championship at Hell in a Cell, they reportedly took exception to the layout of the match and the lack of forethought put into the women's tag team division.
It is hardly the first time talent has walked out of WWE over a dispute with management, be it related to creative differences or something else. There is absolutely a precedent for it, but this one still feels different, perhaps due to the speed with which WWE released a statement and the media attention the walkout has received.
A History of Disgruntled Superstars
In 2002, WWE Creative booked a King of the Ring qualifying match for the June 10 episode of Raw pitting "Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs. Brock Lesnar. If you are thinking to yourself, "that's a dream match; a WrestleMania main event," you are correct.
Austin recognized as much and took exception to the writing team booking that match with no build and no anticipation. He balked at the idea of it being given away for free and, more importantly, Lesnar beating him on a whim. Stars like Stone Cold do not come around every day, and wasting him in a throwaway match with Lesnar that should have been properly built for a pay-per-view payoff made no sense.
So he left. Walked out or, in the words of Vince McMahon, "took his ball and went home."
Some 12 years later, CM Punk followed suit. While creative frustration over his role at WrestleMania 30 certainly played a part in it, a battered body and mind led to a very public, high-profile divorce from WWE that included a controversial podcast appearance, a lawsuit and Punk being released from his contract on his wedding day.
WWE is not the only company to have disgruntled stars walk out on them.
In 1999, Raven stood up in the middle of a meeting and walked out of WCW, disenfranchised with its impenetrable glass ceiling. A few months later, Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero, Perry Saturn and Dean Malenko forced the company to grant them releases over frustration with their lack of opportunity and distrust of booker Kevin Sullivan.
In every instance, the performer(s) stood their ground and left when their opinions or viewpoints were not respected or heard by management. All were also high-profile figures in professional wrestling, regardless of where they may have found themselves on the card at the moment.
Austin came back. Punk did not. Raven went on to stints in both ECW and WWE, while Benoit and Guerrero would win world titles in Vince McMahon's company, a feat they never accomplished in their former place of employment.
Where Do Banks and Naomi Go From Here?
Walking out in protest over creative differences draws a definitive line in the sand. It is a declaration of independence, one that suggests to management that you are willing to fight for your beliefs and that you are very well aware of your worth.
Banks is a star beyond the wrestling world. She is mainstream, thanks to her role on the Disney+ original series The Mandalorian, an appearance in the opening video for the 2022 college football national championship game, an episode of Hot Ones and, most recently, an appearance on Cold As Balls with Kevin Hart.
She also knows her value to the company and believes in herself in a way she may not have previously, telling the aforementioned Austin on an episode of The Broken Sull Sessions:
"I'm done with the thankful. I'm done with the pizza. I don't need that anymore. I eat steak. Like Vince McMahon. With vegetables. Like him, because I can be that. And that's where I'm at. I'm not, 'can I please be signed?' I'm here. I'm signed, I've been here. I've put in the work and if I see myself where I want to see myself, I'm at Vince McMahon's level."
Naomi is no stranger to the creative ups and downs of WWE, either. As someone who has been on the main roster for a decade, she has seen pushes ignite and disintegrate in a matter of weeks. She has seen her role on the show enhanced, only for it to be deemphasized later.
While WWE's version is currently the only official retelling of the reasons behind the walkout, Sapp's report, coupled with PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson's, zero in on creative frustration. If that is the case, WWE officials are going to have to have to show some sort of goodwill gesture, most likely in the form of genuine plans for the tag team division, to bring Banks and Naomi back in the fold.
Even that may not be enough.
WWE has coerced disgruntled or disappointed talent back into the fold, only for things to return to what they were. Banks and Naomi may be looking for something more concrete than creative plans. Maybe they want the ear of the boss. Perhaps they want certain guarantees that the tag team they worked hard to develop in hopes of elevating a subpar tag division will not be sacrificed in the name of enhancing stars who are already over with fans.
Maybe nothing can be done. Maybe the relationship is too fractured.
That will not stop WWE officials from bringing the tag champs back. They have to recognize how valuable they both are, Banks as a breakout mainstream star and Naomi as a locker room leader. The company's rush to release a defensive statement that varied from what is being reported elsewhere, though, will make it more difficult.
The mainstream media attention this situation has received creates a different feel to prior circumstances. Perhaps the company's immediate jump on the story was in hopes of painting the performers as malcontents or egotistical. We have seen reactionary statements from the company before, but not as quickly and publicly as this.
That will not make it easier to solve the problems.
Still, it does not feel like Banks and Naomi are finished with the company. Frustration happens, and every so often, stars walk to make a point. Companies defend themselves through PR. One can only hope the two sides work things out and the two immensely talented performers can get back to entertaining the masses and further establishing their legacies.
In just two months, Blackpool Combat Club has become All Elite Wrestling's hottest stable. That's likely because the group is composed of three of the most popular acquisitions from WWE dealing out copious amounts of violence. It's an appealing selling point for most fans.
For about three minutes, William Regal waxed poetically about the group's intentions to make sure their opponents never forget them by leaving scars as a part of the Road to Baltimore special.
This amazing segment that aired on the company's YouTube channel deftly summarized why the act works so well.
It was a nice addition to AEW's style of storytelling and the polar opposite of Chris Jericho's promo to introduce the Jericho Appreciation Society. Is it any wonder that Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta attacked the JAS on the last episode of Dynamite? They're essentially their antithesis, so it was only a matter of time before they crossed paths.
This confrontation could lead to the next Blood and Guts match, AEW's version of the classic WarGames stipulation. NXT fans may remember that its former general manager settled disputes that got out of hand with that match type.
So, it could lead to a fun callback to his time with the black-and-gold brand, but where else is this going? Blackpool Combat Club is a tremendous act but what is the endgame for them?
Mentoring Future Stars
This new unit started when Danielson confronted Moxley on Feb. 2, offering him the chance to join forces and run roughshod over the rest of the roster. The proposition led to their gut-wrenching match at Revolution in March.
At the event, Mox countered The American Dragon's triangle choke into a pin to narrowly escape the bloody confrontation. Infuriated by the finish, Danielson started a brawl with his opponent.
Afterward, Regal debuted and broke up the fight, delivering a strike likened to Antonio Inoki's famous slap. Legend has it that a slap from the first IWGP heavyweight champion and the founder of New Japan Pro-Wrestling imbued people with fighting spirit. It's a clever reference for savvy fans that AEW seemed to play off of here and in the initiation into the Blackpool Combat Club.
It's not hard to tell that Japanese wrestling has influenced the group because it has been such a crucial part of their careers. Regal worked with NJPW in the early 1990s as Lord Steven Regal. The Englishman trained Danielson during his time with Memphis Championship Wrestling, but he also was a student at the NJPW's original Los Angeles dojo.
Even more, the 40-year-old also wrestled with promotion before returning to WWE in 2009. His desire to compete in Japan again seemingly led to his decision to join AEW.
Moxley's current presentation is also inspired by Atsushi Onita, and he has wrestled a host of NJPW wrestlers in the United States over the past year.
Regal employed the slap again when Yuta sought to join them on the St. Patrick's Day Slam edition of Dynamite. This excellent callback to Danielson's initial offer, where he talked about taking newcomers like the 25-year-old under their wings, paid off. It also ensured that mentorship will continue to be an integral part of the stable's goals.
The group put the current ROH Pure champion through the wringer, but he ultimately impressed them and won over the AEW fanbase. Yuta is quickly becoming the breakout star of 2022, and he recently made the trip to Japan to compete in this year's Best Of The Super Juniors tournament.
Moxley similarly mentored a young lion, Shota Umino, during his run with NJPW. So, this angle is a great way to draw from each of the initial members' careers and use their collective experience to create new stars. It would be nice to see them interact at Windy City Riot and it would be cool to see Shooter become an official member of BCC.
Nevertheless, we will more than likely see more recruits like Lee Moriarty as he and Danielson have been linked for some time.
Championship Gold
Danielson proposed that he and Moxley could change the direction of AEW by training the future of pro wrestling. However, he also told his stablemate that they could be world champions.
So, it seems easy to predict that Blackpool Combat Club will challenge for title gold very soon. Mox and The American Dragon have been a formidable tag team. They could dethrone Jurassic Express, who the Aberdeen, Washington native mocked as he made his offer.
Adding Yuta to the mix makes them a top option for AEW's eventual trios titles. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Robert Gunier of Wrestling Inc), Tony Khan has already commissioned the new belts and it's only a matter of time before he introduces them.
ROH also has a set of six-man tag team titles that haven't appeared since Final Battle 2021. If Khan wants to take the belts off The Righteous and reintroduce them, Blackpool Combat Club would be the perfect contenders.
Lastly, Moxley is currently third on men's power ranking, which would seem to suggest he will reenter the title picture soon. In fact, he could be the next No. 1 contender following the AEW World Championship match at Double or Nothing on May 29. This would put either Adam Page or CM Punk in his sights.
Punk and the ex-member of The Shield have a history together. However, he also withdrew from the AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament last year, missing his chance to gain a shot at Page. In his absence, his stablemate won the tournament and went on to challenge Hangman, so there is a story to tell between both men.
This also potentially gets us one step closer to a staredown between Punk and Danielson. AEW has not revisited their storied rivalry yet. They haven't even appeared on screen together, which seems incredibly intentional. If The Best in the World defeats Hangman, Blackpool Combat Club could be the way to reignite their feud.
It's difficult to say if this means the stable will secure the company's top prize anytime soon but there is certainly championship gold in their future. It wouldn't even be hard to imagine all three active members holding a title at some point.
With All Elite Wrestling and WWE boasting huge rosters filled with some of the most talented performers in the business, it's easy for some names to fall through the cracks and become an afterthought on a week-to-week basis.
Whether it's being cast aside for other performers in the division or falling out of favor with members of the creative team, athletes such as Ruby Soho, Dominik Mysterio and Nikki A.S.H. should be portrayed in a more favorable light.
Instead, these talented performers are often missing from television or made to look weak when they finally do get time on their company's flagship programming.
Here are the changes that each of the following characters should make in the coming weeks to bring their talent and abilities back into the limelight.
Ruby Soho
After Ruby Soho defeated Riho for a place in the Owen Hart Tournament semifinals, all looks right in the world for the AEW star. She hasn't lost a match since February, but most of those wins have been on Elevation or Dark.
With the chance to be on TV again and AEW's need for character depth in the women's division, Soho should use this opportunity to turn heel and become one of the most dominant forces in all of wrestling.
Not only would the 31-year-old turning heel be a major boost of confidence for her character, but it would also allow one of the other top villains in the division the chance to complete a face turn and create new momentum for themselves.
With an alliance formed with Toni Storm and a talented performer like Mercedes Martinez looking to make a mark on AEW TV, Soho brutally beating down Storm and then using heel tactics to steal the Ring of Honor Women's World Championship from Martinez would cement her place at the top of the division.
Dominik Mysterio
One of WWE's biggest misses in recent months has been the booking of Dominik Mysterio and his father, Rey.
The younger Mysterio hasn't won a match since before WrestleMania 38, but it's time for the company to flip the script on his lackluster booking.
Using the losses while teaming with his father and the singles defeats he took against The Miz and Veer Mahaan as the catalyst, Dominik should grow disenchanted with his career and start to show signs of turning heel.
With Rey determined to keep his son on the straight and narrow, the two should lose a few more bouts before the 25-year-old finally loses his cool and brutally attacks his dad, cementing his turn and generating legitimate interest in a long-term storyline.
If he ultimately forces his father to retire in a program that spans several months, it would ensure he garners a reaction for the foreseeable future.
As WWE looks to add fresh stars to the roster, pushing Dominik as a heel could create a sadistic character who could challenge top faces across both brands.
Nikki A.S.H.
Nikki A.S.H. is one of the most talented all-around performers in the WWE women's division, but she has been mistreated as a superhero character.
After all of the discourse surrounding her current booking, it's time for Nikki Cross to come unhinged.
After dealing with the fallout from Sasha Banks and Naomi walking out on Raw, Nikki A.S.H. should use the moment as a catalyst and begin attacking every beloved face on the main roster until she earns a championship shot.
Once she morphs back into her previous NXT character, her ability on the mic and in the ring would be better utilized, forcing both heels and faces to be aware of the chaos the former women's champion could create.
Nikki A.S.H. has been fun, but The Twisted Sister is what the WWE main roster needs right now.
For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player above (some language NSFW).
In the NFL, a team's playoff window can close over the course of an offseason. With a couple of key losses and a star player coming off a serious injury, the Tennessee Titans will disappoint anyone with high expectations for them in 2022.
Multiple AFC teams added Pro Bowl or All-Pro talent. The Los Angeles Chargers acquired edge-rusher Khalil Mack and signed cornerback J.C. Jackson. The Denver Broncos acquired quarterback Russell Wilson. The Miami Dolphins inked a deal with left tackle Terron Armstead and traded for wide receiver Tyreek Hill. The Cleveland Browns made a move to bring in quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Indianapolis Colts acquired quarterback Matt Ryan.
All five of those AFC teams could make a push for the postseason after failing to clinch a playoff berth in 2021.
What about the Titans?
Most importantly, their star player has to stay healthy. Last season, running back Derrick Henry missed nine games because he fractured his fifth metatarsal and had to undergo surgery. Though the bruising ball-carrier returned for a divisional-round matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, he recorded 20 rushing attempts for just 62 yards and a touchdown.
While it's premature for anyone to say Henry will continue to battle injuries, one has to wonder if he's headed down the same path as Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, who had a tremendous workload for consecutive campaigns before his body started to break down in 2020.
Between 2018 and 2019, McCaffrey recorded 729 touches for 4,357 yards and 32 touchdowns from scrimmage. For comparison, Henry logged 681 rushing attempts for 3,567 yards and 33 touchdowns between 2019 and 2020.
Though McCaffrey handled slightly more touches in a two-year span as a dual-threat playmaker on the ground and in the passing game, Henry takes a lot of physical punishment as one of the league's few workhorse running backs. The latter led the NFL in carries in 2019 and 2020.
Henry has a workload that isn't sustainable at an optimal level. Through eight appearances in 2021, he averaged 4.3 yards per carry, which is a notable drop-off from his 2019 (5.1) and 2020 averages (5.4).
Tennessee selected Hassan Haskins in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, but he doesn't compare to a 6'3", 247-pound two-time rushing champion. If the rookie cuts into Henry's touches, the Titans' run-heavy offense could take another step back.
In a glass-half-full outlook, Henry could bounce back from an injury-riddled campaign, and Haskins may help keep him fresh through a 17-game slate. With that said, both running backs could struggle to find holes between the tackles and on the perimeter of the Titans' zone run-blocking scheme.
Tennessee released Pro Bowl guard Rodger Saffold. Even though he'll turn 34 years old in June, the club doesn't have a clear-cut replacement for him.
During the NFL owners meetings in March, head coach Mike Vrabel expressed confidence in Jamarco Jones.
"This is a player we feel his best football is in front of him," Vrabel said. "We've been able to evaluate him against some very good opponents. This year he played left guard against the Saints, and we’re hoping he can start there and compete at left guard. But he has versatility as well and has played all across the line."
The Seahawks selected Jones in the fifth round of the 2018 draft, and he's only started in seven out of his 36 contests. He's played every position except center, though the 25-year-old offensive lineman didn't establish himself at any position. The Ohio State product may win the starting job through training camp, but he needs more experience against starting-caliber players.
Among last year's starting offensive linemen, the Titans also moved on from David Quessenberry, who signed with the Buffalo Bills. While the 31-year-old had plenty of lapses in pass protection, allowing 11 sacks through 1,184 snaps, per Pro Football Focus, he often sealed the outside lanes for ball-carriers. SI.com's John Glennon provided some insight.
"Quessenberry's forte is the zone-blocking run game, which works well for the Titans," Glennon wrote. "His PFF run-blocking grade last season was 86.5 in 2021, sixth-highest among all NFL tackles."
Dillon Radunz, a 2021 second-rounder, could succeed Quessenberry at right tackle, but he lost a battle for the position last offseason and played in a reserve role at guard and left tackle.
For the sake of the running game, the Titans need Radunz and perhaps Jones to fill big roles. If not, quarterback Ryan Tannehill may have to shoulder a bigger load for the offense, which isn't a promising alternative outlook.
In two years under former Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, Tannehill earned his first Pro Bowl nod and won Comeback Player of the Year, throwing for 2,742 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions through 12 contests (10 starts) in 2019. He also threw for a career-high 33 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in 2020.
Last offseason, Smith took the head-coaching job with the Atlanta Falcons, and Tannehill's passing production dropped significantly under new offensive coordinator Todd Downing. He threw for just 21 touchdowns and 14 interceptions—his most turnovers through the air since his 2013 term with the Miami Dolphins.
Perhaps Tannehill needs an extended adjustment period in Downing's system, but the Titans play-caller doesn't have a good track record. In 2017, he served in the same position for the then-Oakland Raiders, overseeing an offense that ranked 23rd in scoring and 17th in yards. Last year, his Titans unit was 15th and 17th for those offensive categories, respectively.
Downing must keep the ground attack on track despite changes along the offensive line and put Tannehill in a position to flourish without his best wide receiver from the previous three years.
The Titans traded A.J. Brown to the Philadelphia Eagles during the first round of the 2022 draft. General manager Jon Robinson said that the team didn't have a contract offer close to the Pro Bowl wideout's contract demands.
"The trade thing kind of manifested itself from them, and we really started working on that over the last 18, 20 hours," Robinson said, per ESPN's Turron Davenport. "I dealt with [Brown's agent], went back and forth really over the last two to three weeks and just realized that the gap was really too far for us to bridge."
After Tennessee sent the Brown to the Eagles, the club selected Treylon Burks with the No. 18 overall pick acquired in the deal. The Arkansas product models his game after versatile wideout Deebo Samuel. But do the Titans have the offensive coordinator to maximize his talent? Most people would trust an accomplished play-caller such as Kyle Shanahan to get the most out of a dynamic playmaker, but Downing hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt.
Robert Woods, whom the Titans acquired from the Los Angeles Rams, can provide a reliable veteran presence with a 63.5 percent catch rate, but he's 30 years old and coming off a torn ACL.
Going into the 2022 season, the Titans have uncertainty in various areas of their offense. Will Henry bounce back? Can the offensive line create holes for him? How quickly can Tannehill develop a rapport with two new projected starters at wide receiver and incoming tight end Austin Hooper? Is Downing fit to put all those playmakers together for a viable offensive attack?
In a scoring shootout, Tennessee may need its defense to keep the opponent's scoring opportunities at a bare minimum, and even that comes with a big question mark.
Cornerback Caleb Farley hasn't been able to stay healthy, playing 60 defensive snaps through his rookie campaign. Since March of 2021, he's undergone back surgery and torn his left ACL. If the first-rounder cannot stay on the field, rookie second-rounder Roger McCreary may have to take on a big role on the boundary right away.
The Titans have one too many voids amid noteworthy offensive changes to replicate their strong runs as AFC South champions in each of the last two seasons. You can close the window on their playoff aspirations this year.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
When Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot watches Space Jam, he must root for the Monstars because he's building his skill positions in the same manner as the film's antagonists. The Falcons are placing a basketball team around their unsettled quarterback position, and it's the franchise's best path toward respectability.
Entering the NFL draft, an argument could easily be made that Atlanta featured the league's worst roster. A similar discourse can still ensue, though Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith veered off a traditional path in an attempt to be as competitive as possible this offseason.
An adage has circulated in the NFL about building a wide receiver corps much like an NBA roster. Varied skill sets make the position, thus making the entire offense more difficult to defend. The group should include a shifty point guard (quick underneath slot receiver), a post-up center (big red-zone target) and so on and so forth. In the Falcons' case, their approach has been a little more literal.
By featuring Drake London, Bryan Edwards and Auden Tate, as well as tight end Kyle Pitts and John FitzPatrick, the Falcons now have five targets who are 6'3" or taller. Of the five, Edwards is the only one under 6'4". FitzPatrick, whom the team selected in this year's sixth round, is a massive tight end at 6'7" and 250 pounds.
These moves aren't new by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, the Falcons aren't the only team undertaking the same offensive shift. The Indianapolis Colts are another example with their group of targets—Michael Pittman Jr., Alec Pierce, Dezmon Patmon, Mike Strachan, Mo Alie-Cox, Jelani Woods and Andrew Ogletree—all stand between 6'3" and 6'7". A certain amount of success seems to derive from a commitment to finding size mismatches within an offense.
"The teams with the biggest receivers didn't all field great passing attacks, but some did, including four of the top five teams in pass offense DVOA," Football Outsiders' Mike Tanier wrote. "But the win-loss records here are remarkable. Nine of the top 10 teams had winning records, six made the playoffs, and four won their divisions."
Aside from Olamide Zaccheaus, who's the Falcons' leading returning wide receiver and listed at 5'8", the primary options in the passing attack will be giants looming over opposing defensive backs.
Today's tendencies lean toward more speed and explosivity to create chunk plays and lessen the chances of making mistakes within the passing game. That's why receivers Ja'Marr Chase (6'0", 201 pounds), Jaylen Waddle (5'10", 182), DeVonta Smith (6'0", 170), Garrett Wilson (6'0", 192), Chris Olave (6'1", 188), Jameson Williams (6'1", 179) and Jahan Dotson (5'11", 182) all heard their names called in the top half of the first round over the last two draft classes.
London is the outlier compared to other recent selections.
The Falcons made the USC product this year's WR1 with this year's eighth overall pick. London is literally a former basketball player who played for the Trojans' hardwood team. At 6'4" and 213 pounds, the 20-year-old target is the biggest wide receiver taken among the top-10 selections since Mike Williams in 2017. Otherwise, Mike Evans and Calvin Johnson are the only two bigger than both to enter the draft in the last 15 years and become top-10 picks.
"He's fast, and he's big, and he's smart," quarterback Desmond Ridder said of London after their first rookie camp together, per The Athletic's Josh Kendall.
The receiver's basketball background shows in his play. Despite his size, London has nimble feet with flexible hips. He sinks in and out of his routes and runs them with the suddenness of a much smaller target. When those traits are coupled with his size and body control, an elite prospect emerges. Throughout the process, the only lingering question centered on his top-end speed, which teams never verified because London didn't run the 40-yard dash after coming off a fractured ankle.
"I think he's one of the best receivers I've ever seen," a collegiate coach told The Athletic's Bruce Feldman. "He can really high-point the ball, and he runs routes like a little guy, getting in and out of his cuts. He's not afraid to get dirty. People may question his top-end [speed], and he probably won't wow you, but his functional football speed, with his pads on, is really good."
Top targets don't need to be burners, though. Evans is a four-time Pro Bowl selection after posting a 4.53-second 40-yard dash. Cooper Kupp is coming off the greatest season ever by a wide receiver, and he posted a 4.62. London doesn't need elite straight-line speed to be a consistent threat.
"Everybody knew where the ball was going," London told reporters after USC's pro day. "I had triple coverage, double coverage all game, and it still didn't stop me. So whatever they say about that, I could care less."
London's 135.5 yards per game in 2021 ranked second just behind the nation's leading receiver Jerreth Sterns, despite USC's passing offense averaging eight fewer attempts per game and 135.4 fewer yards per contest.
More importantly, London ranked first among this year's class when targeted on routes run against man coverage (44 percent), per Pro Football Focus' Dwain McFarland. Yahoo Sports' Matt Harmon noted London posted a 72.8 percent success rate versus man coverage.
These stats show he's creating separation and getting open even when other teams are trying to lock him down. Less athletic wide receivers can struggle when they aren't gifted free releases with jams near the line of scrimmage, thus rerouting them and becoming less available as a target. London still worked to get open and overcame each opponent's best coverage defender.
As talented as the Falcons' rookie wide receiver is, he'll likely be the team's secondary receiving threat with Kyle Pitts on the roster.
Pitts thrived in his first season and fell just short of setting the rookie tight end record with 1,026 receiving yards. The 21-year-old did become the first-ever rookie tight end to eclipse 60 receptions and 1,000 yards and even earned a Pro Bowl nod.
"He's been exactly who we thought he was," Smith told reporters in January. "He's impacted games immensely. Even [when] the ball hasn't found his way.
"He's not even scratching the surface."
Once again, Pitts' intimidation factors extend beyond his size. Yes, he's a 6'6", 246-pound threat, but he also runs routes like a wide receiver. In fact, he's more than capable of lining up as the X or in the slot and looks perfectly comfortable working over defensive backs or linebackers. He's truly a unicorn at the position based on his blend of size, athleticism and flexibility.
Now, the Falcons can line Pitts and London on one side in twins formations, or they can place one on each side and force a defense to choose which way it rolls coverage responsibilities. The duo can run switch routes off one another. London can line up on the inside with Pitts working outside the numbers. They can overwhelm, out-physical and outplay anyone.
"You've got to play to your strengths," Colts head coach Frank Reich said when discussing his oversized lineup, per The Athletic's Stephen Holder. "That's the thing about a big man—you can always create a mismatch and always create leverage by your length.
"Then when you get an accurate passer to take advantage of that, it can be a big playmaking advantage."
Reich's final statement denotes the difference between his squad and where it stands among the NFL's hierarchy and Atlanta's current setup. Matt Ryan now resides in Indianapolis, while the latter doesn't lay claim to an accurate passer.
Regardless, the Falcons can throw in the 6'5" Tate and 6'3" Edwards as extra big-bodied targets to spend the majority of their time between the numbers and the sideline.
The sheer size of these options should help in Marcus Mariota's second chance as a starting quarterback or Ridder's development. Bigger targets mean larger catch radiuses. Thus, the team's quarterbacks don't require pinpoint accuracy. They simply must put the ball on their targets and let the investments Atlanta made with basketball-adjacent starters work like power forwards trying to average 10 rebounds per game.
London playing alongside Pitts is Looney Tunes. Even though the team still lacks in other areas, the approach to roster construction will help make Atlanta far more competitive than it has any right to be at this stage of its rebuilding process.
Brent Sobleski covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, @brentsobleski.
