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George Kittle delivered great quote after 49ers’ loss to Ravens
The San Francisco 49ers played one of their worst games of the season in Monday night’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens, but George Kittle insists he is not going to dwell on it.
Brock Purdy threw a career-worst four interceptions as San Francisco fell 33-19 at home. Some viewed the lopsided affair as a concern for the Niners, as they and the Ravens are considered by many to be the favorites to win their respective conferences.
Kittle is not reading too much into it. Kittle was one of the lone bright spots for the 49ers, as he led all pass-catchers with seven receptions for 126 yards. The big game was not nearly enough, but San Francisco should be fine if his mentality is shared throughout the locker room.
The Niners have already clinched the NFC West and are still in the hunt for a bye. Aside from having a major impact on the MVP race, Monday night’s game should not change all that much for them. If anything, Kyle Shanahan’s team should be more motivated after putting up a dud against an elite opponent. Kittle’s mindset reflects that.
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Mavericks move big offseason acquisition to bench
The Mavericks made a change to their starting lineup in Monday’s game against Phoenix, benching Grant Williams in favor of Tim Hardaway Jr., tweets Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports.
The other four starters were Luka Doncic, Dante Exum, Derrick Jones Jr. and Dereck Lively. While Hardaway is starting on Christmas, head coach Jason Kidd said before the game that once Kyrie Irving returns from his heel injury, the starting five will be Doncic, Irving, Exum, Jones and Lively, per Tim MacMahon of ESPN (link). Williams, a 6’6″ forward who was acquired in a sign-and-trade with Boston, inked a four-year, $53.4M deal as a restricted free agent this offseason.
He had started all 26 games in which he appeared this season for Dallas, averaging 9.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG and 1.8 APG on .422/.399/.656 shooting in 26 contests (29.2 MPG). Exum (two years, $6.15M; only 2023-24 is guaranteed) and Jones (one-year, minimum salary) signed far less lucrative contracts than Williams, but they’ve both been playing well, especially lately.
The Mavs have a plus-14.7 net rating in their 190 minutes on the court together, MacMahon adds. Williams came off the bench for the majority of his four seasons with the Celtics, so it likely won’t be a difficult adjustment for the 25-year-old. Still, it’s a noteworthy change for Dallas, which currently holds a 17-12 record, good for the No. 5 seed in the West.
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Lakers reportedly interested in acquiring defensive-minded guard
Atlanta Hawks’ Dejounte Murray reportedly could emerge as a trade target for the Los Angeles Lakers. The 6-foot-5 guard is in his second season with Atlanta but has recently found his name circulating in trade rumors.
According to Shams Charania, who was speaking on a recent episode of FanDuel TV’s “Run it Back,” Murray’s impending four-year contract extension makes him a desirable target to pair with LeBron James and Anthony Davis. “One more player to keep an eye on, I’m told, as a potential target for the Lakers is Hawks guard Dejounte Murray,” Charania said. “(Zach) LaVine is in the second year of a $215 million deal.
Murray still has four years and $120 million of an extension that kicks in next season. So that’s a little bit better when you think about a reasonable salary to be bringing in when you already have LeBron James and Anthony Daivs on your books.” The Lakers recently decided to move D’Angelo Russell to the bench as they search for defensive balance within their starting five.
Murray’s reputation as a genuine point-of-attack defender who can switch onto multiple positions could make him an enticing prospect for Los Angeles general manager Rob Pelinka in the coming months. The Hawks originally acquired Murray to help improve their backcourt defense by slotting in next to Trae Young. Murray would provide the length, ball-handling, tertiary scoring, and perimeter defense that the Lakers are looking for.
However, his arrival would almost certainly spell the end of Russell’s second tenure with the Purple and Gold. Pelinka has been relentless in his search for the right pieces to put around LeBron and Davis. He made multiple moves at last year’s trade deadline, which helped the Lakers surge to the Western Conference Finals, where they ultimately lost to the Denver Nuggets.
If Murray is available via trade, and the Lakers don’t see his asking price as being too high, they could likely begin negotiations in the new year. After all, the goal is to win a championship and convince LeBron to continue his career in Los Angeles. If Murray can help achieve that goal, every avenue is worth exploring.
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Aaron Rodgers was ‘overruled’ by Jets on one recent decision
The New York Jets opted to activate Aaron Rodgers from injured reserve last week even though he is not going to play again this season, and the star quarterback says he was not in favor of the decision.
Last Wednesday was the deadline for the Jets to activate Rodgers from injured reserve, as the quarterback’s 21-day practice window was opened on Nov. 29. The team is eliminated from playoff contention, but Rodgers was still activated so he can continue to practice in an official capacity as part of his Achilles rehab. Because they activated Rodgers to the 53-man roster, the Jets had to cut a player.
The team waived veteran fullback Nick Bawden, though later signed Bawden to the practice squad. During his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” Tuesday, Rodgers said he asked the Jets to place him on season-ending injured reserve rather than activate him. “I asked to be put on IR because, you know, there was a conversation of do you want to practice? I said not at the expense of somebody else getting cut,” Rodgers explained. “I know how this works, and I didn’t feel like I needed to practice to continue my rehab. I could do on-the-field stuff on the side. Obviously, I got overruled there. It is what it is.” Rodgers said he called Bawden immediately to tell the fullback that the decision to be activated from IR was not one that Rodgers made.
Bawden, a third-year veteran who was on the roster at the start of the season, is fully vested and still getting his full salary, so he told Rodgers not to fret. “It’s an interesting spot for me because I’m basically just saying, hey, (put me on) IR because this season is over for me.
Again, I got overruled,” Rodgers added. “Because of that, I was on the practice field. I love to practice. I didn’t want it to be at the expense of a teammate, but that’s out of my control.” The Jets obviously feel it is in their best interest to keep Rodgers as hands-on as possible.
The 40-year-old has essentially become an offensive assistant while rehabbing. Rodgers also made it clear recently that he is invested in the success of the Jets beyond 2024. Rodgers confirmed on Tuesday that he was still on track to return for the Jets’ Week 16 game had they remained in playoff contention. That was never a realistic outcome.
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Why Don’t the Packers Play More Man Coverage?
The Green Bay Packers have long been proponents of zone coverage in their base defense. But here’s the kicker: It’s not quite the impenetrable fortress it was supposed to be. Lately, it’s like there’s an open invite for receivers to stroll through the middle and up the seams.
They’ve essentially become VIP lanes. Defenders look lost and are missing tackles left and right. Green Bay’s defense has maintained a “bend but don’t break” mantra, sticking to zone coverage like glue to prevent explosive plays. It’s been their go-to strategy to prevent the opposition from executing home-run plays.
The problem is that the defense is starting to bend … and break. Last week, Baker Mayfield had a perfect passer rating against Green Bay’s defense, slicing through the supposedly sturdy zone. If that wasn’t enough, Bryce Young toyed with Joe Barry’s defense in the second half on Sunday, putting up career-best numbers in a season where he has struggled.
The Packers feel like they’re married to zone defense, but that defense is beginning to fail because the coaching staff is not making adjustments. Barry revealed this issue earlier in the season, shedding light on the deficiency in having essential “checks” for specific offensive formations. Barry acknowledged the problem after the Las Vegas Raiders game.
On one notable play, Barry tasked Preston Smith with covering Davante Adams, underscoring the urgency for the Packers to address and rectify these coverage lapses. After the game, Barry said it wasn’t as easy as shifting coverages. “I wish it was that easy. We called a coverage that required Preston to drop, and he happened to be a boundary dropper, and they happened to put Tae at slot into the boundary.
Sometimes you’ll have mechanisms, you have checks or things built in where you can get out of that. Based on the personnel we were in, and the personnel they were in, we didn’t have that mechanism.” Green Bay’s coverage conundrum in Vegas isn’t a one-time hiccup. It’s been a recurring headache all season.
Take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game, for instance. Even as Mayfield picked it apart, the Packers stuck to their zone coverage strategy. Defenders found themselves perpetually out of position, and linebackers had to cover speedy receivers. Therefore, the secondary had to primarily deal with running backs and tight ends. De’Vondre Campbell allowed the most yards in zone coverage by a Packers linebacker since 2006.
Against the Buccaneers, the Packers clung steadfastly to their zone coverage strategy for the entire game. It backfired spectacularly. Receivers found wide-open spaces in the middle of the field with alarming ease. Barry justified this approach with the “Mike Evans factor,” acknowledging the future Hall of Famer’s impact. Fair enough, but the real issue unfolded as the Packers failed to contain everyone else, including Evans, who still managed to score a touchdown.
Barry stubbornly stuck to the same soft zone throughout the game, allowing the Buccaneers to move the ball effortlessly. Adaptability is critical in the NFL, and the Packers aren’t adapting. Green Bay’s inability to adjust mid-game is a glaring weakness in its defensive playbook, costing them dearly on the field. Green Bay’s cornerbacks are capable of playing man coverage.
With Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, and Carrington Valentine, they’ve got a trio of corners who excel in tight man-to-man situations. Why not unleash their strengths? Let these cornerbacks disrupt the receiver’s rhythm at the line of scrimmage and trust them to build their own islands. If successful, that strategy is a game-changer. The Packers have one of the league’s best pass rushes when rushing four players.
Allowing their corners to play to their strengths would enhance Green Bay’s coverage and set the stage for the pass rush to feast. Barry deviated from the usual script against the Panthers, mixing up defensive approaches. He occasionally opted for coverage while he dialed up the pressure against Young in other instances. Young had a field day when the defense dropped back, going 15/19 in non-blitz situations.
Young exploited breakdowns in Green Bay’s zone defense between the linebackers and the secondary in throws spanning the 10- to 19-yard range. He finished 11/17 with two touchdowns in such scenarios. Barry decided to unleash the blitz, opting for a season-high 44% blitz rate on dropbacks against Young, which changed the game’s dynamics.
Young struggled under pressure in the first three quarters, completing three of 10 passes. However, he showcased resilience and effectiveness in the fourth quarter, completing four out of six passes and throwing for two touchdowns. Moreover, Barry used man coverage on 64% of dropbacks. In the first three quarters, Young connected on eight of 15 attempts for 98 yards.
But he excelled in the fourth quarter, going 7/9 for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Despite Barry’s adjustments, it became evident that Young could still make impactful plays under duress. The underlying issues of miscommunications in zone coverage and missed tackling opportunities persisted for Green Bay’s defense.
While people often blame the defensive coordinator alone for breakdowns, it’s crucial to highlight the struggles of individual defenders. Packers defenders rarely made tackles that drove Carolina’s players backward. Zone coverage may not be the strength of every Packers defender, but the defense can still execute it effectively.
Ultimately, it comes down to finding a coordinator to position players and orchestrate the defense to eliminate open seams. He must also curb easy 10-plus-yard gains on second- and third-down situations. The key takeaway is the need for versatility. The Packers can’t afford to be hostage to a single defensive scheme.
Whether it’s zone or man coverage, the emphasis should be on adaptability. Green Bay must find a coordinator who can leverage individual players’ strengths while shoring up the weaknesses, ultimately creating a cohesive unit capable of thwarting opposing offenses regardless of his core strategy.
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Tyreek Hill has one wish for Dolphins vs. Ravens showdown
The Baltimore Ravens are set to host the Miami Dolphins for a must-watch showdown in Week 17. If the Ravens come away from the contest with a win, then they will officially clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
At the moment, inclement weather is not expected in Baltimore, Maryland on Sunday, and Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill hopes that it will stay this way. “So I believe going against the Ravens will be a good test,” Hill said after the Dolphins’ win over the Dallas Cowboys. “Looking forward to it.
They’ve got a good defense, real good team at that. It’s going to be fun. “We can’t take no match-up lightly. … So it’s going to be dope. Hopefully it don’t rain.” The Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys were treated to a bit of rain during their meeting in Week 16, and it did not seem to bother Hill at all.
The veteran wideout recorded nine catches for 99 receiving yards against the Cowboys. Regardless of whether it ends up raining during the game, Baltimore’s secondary sure will be put to the test against Hill and the Dolphins’ high-octane offense.
