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Trevor Lawrence suffered a concussion during Sunday’s game when he was on the receiving end of a brutal cheap shot, and Rex Ryan believes the play should serve as evidence that quarterbacks need to stop sliding so much.
During Monday’s edition of “Get Up” on ESPN, Ryan broke into a fiery rant urging coaches to stop instructing quarterbacks to slide when they have a defender coming at them. The former coach thinks quarterbacks should dive at the defender’s ankles instead.
“I am so sick and tired of seeing people teach, ‘Hey, slide. When you’re running out here, you slide.’ The hell you do!” Ryan said. “Not when you’re going full speed down the field and the defender’s coming full speed at you. You don’t slide. This happens over and over and over again. … I’m sick and tired of it.
“You are not protecting your quarterback when you teach him how to slide when it’s not in the open field. Open field, of course, that’s great. Absolutely not here. If you want to get a concussion, you slide like this when contact’s coming. They should be taught to dive at the ankles of the defender. Or, run the football and take your head out of it.”
Rex Ryan: "I am so sick and tired of seeing people teach, 'Hey, slide. When you're running out here, you slide.' To hell you do. Not when you're going full speed down the field and the defender's coming full speed at you… they should be taught to dive at the ankles of the… pic.twitter.com/JUiJI3k7mF
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 2, 2024
Ryan’s theory is that a defender will be more likely to try to defend himself if the quarterback dives head first. While Rex agreed that Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair’s ruthless hit on Lawrence was dirty, the ESPN analyst said he has seen other plays where a quarterback suffers a head injury by sliding too late after the defender had already begun the tackle.
Sliding is universally viewed as the best way for a quarterback to protect himself, but there are plenty of players who give themselves up by falling forward instead. We see if often with Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen and other mobile quarterbacks. Ryan feels that strategy should be coached more.
The NFL on Tuesday announced disciplinary action against Al-Shaair for the hit on Lawrence.
More must-reads:
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Steelers rookie Will Howard may have already moved up the depth chart
Pittsburgh Steelers training camp is in full swing, and it’s already been full of excitement. With many new faces on the roster, fans are eager to see how these additions will fit in. After a busy and eventful offseason, training camp serves as the perfect opportunity for all the anticipation surrounding the team to start coming together on the field. One of the most talked-about positions for the Steelers this offseason has been quarterback. The team completely overhauled the position, leading to plenty of uncertainty and speculation early on. While the Steelers were strongly linked to Aaron Rodgers for some time, no official deal had been made by the start of the 2025 NFL Draft. Amid the uncertainty, the team made a bold decision by selecting Will Howard out of Ohio State, bringing in a new face and creating even more talk about the future of the position. Because the Steelers picked Howard late in the draft, there were questions about what his role on the team would be. Even before Rodgers signed, it was clear Howard wouldn’t be the starter. However, during a recent 7 shots drill, Howard unexpectedly took reps with the third team, raising more questions about where he might fit in. Rodgers is clearly locked in as the starting quarterback, with the hope that he can stay healthy throughout the entire season. Earlier in the offseason, he mentioned that this would likely be his final year, though he expressed excitement about the opportunity to play for a franchise like the Steelers. That said, Rodgers has always been unpredictable, and there’s still a chance his career may continue beyond this season. Regardless of what the future holds, his experience and football knowledge are incredibly valuable to the other quarterbacks on the roster, and they’ve made it clear how much they appreciate having him around. Mason Rudolph is expected to be the primary backup behind Rodgers this season. Rudolph was originally drafted by the Steelers and has spent most of his career in Pittsburgh as a dependable backup. However, he’s also shown he can step up when needed, filling in during important games and leading the team when called upon. Rudolph spent last season with the Tennessee Titans, gaining additional experience outside of Pittsburgh. After that brief stint, he re-signed with the Steelers early in the offseason, bringing familiarity, veteran presence and stability to the quarterback room behind Rodgers. Rudolph recently shared that Rodgers has been both incredibly helpful and genuinely friendly since joining the team. Many expected Skylar Thompson, another veteran backup the Steelers signed this offseason, to be next in line on the depth chart. However, with Howard now taking third-team reps, he could move up the depth chart as the season progresses. Rookies bring an element of unpredictability since they’re adjusting to a completely new environment and haven’t yet played in professional games. It’s hard to know how they’ll perform until they get real field experience. If Howard continues to perform well, there’s no reason he shouldn’t climb higher on the depth chart. It’s unlikely that Howard will get much playing time this year, but that doesn’t mean this season isn’t important for him. Learning from a player like Rodgers is incredibly valuable, and Howard has shared how grateful he is to have Rodgers as a mentor. Even if he doesn’t take the field this season, the experience and knowledge he gains behind the scenes could greatly influence his opportunities for playing time down the road. Steelers' future at QB likely isn't on the roster The Steelers were connected to several quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, and the situation drew plenty of attention due to the uncertainty surrounding Rodgers at the time. Although the team eventually signed Rodgers and selected Howard in the later rounds, it seems the search for a long-term franchise quarterback may still be ongoing. Rodgers is only on a one-year deal, and reports have already surfaced that the Steelers are eyeing next year’s quarterback draft class. Opinions on Howard vary, as some view him as a potential career backup, while others are optimistic about his upside and believe he could develop into a solid starting option in the future. Will Howard prove himself and continue to move up the depth chart?
Dustin Rhodes Assigns Blame After Hulk Hogan’s Death
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'Ceiling Is Unlimited': Steelers Fans Get Great News About Key Offensive Piece Moving Forward
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a ton of question marks surrounding the roster heading into the 2025 NFL season. There are plenty of proven players on the team, but some are past their prime and there is the general question of how everything on the roster will gel together. The defense is the highest-paid unit in the NFL for the fourth straight season, so fans are fairly confident that the group will be able to play like one of the best defenses in the league, but there is some worry about the offense. The offense has struggled in recent years, and everyone in Pittsburgh is hoping that changes in 2025. A big mystery for the Steelers is how quarterback Aaron Rodgers is going to perform during the 2025 season, especially with the wide receiver group he is working with. His chemistry with DK Metcalf seems to be improving, but outside of Metcalf, the receiver group is fairly bleak. Another factor in Rodgers' performance is going to be the offensive line, which is made up of a lot of young pieces. There is a lot to be worried about with the line, but insider Mark Kaboly joined 93.7 The Fan on Friday to discuss a bright spot. "[Mason] McCormick, I think his ceiling is unlimited," Kaboly said. "I think he's really, really good." Mason McCormick was a big surprise for the Steelers during the 2024 season. The team drafted him in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, and he was not expected to see much playing time. However, James Daniels went down early in the year with a season-ending injury, and McCormick was thrust into the starting lineup at right guard. He played well throughout the season, and he got better as the year went along. If everything goes according to plan, it seems as though the Steelers have solidified the right side of the offensive line for years to come. Zach Frazier is shaping up to be one of the best centers in the NFL, McCormick is expected to turn into a potential Pro Bowl player, and hopes are high for second-year right tackle Troy Fautanu, who only played in one game during the 2024 season due to a knee injury. This gives Pittsburgh an advantage when it comes to running to that side, and it can make Rodgers feel comfortable in the pocket. It has been reported that the coaching staff in Pittsburgh believes Fautanu could be the team's best offensive lineman, which is high praise considering what Frazier did during his rookie season in 2024. McCormick could also join that conversation eventually after Kaboly's comments, but either way, that is something the fan base should be extremely happy with, considering the franchise drafted him in the fourth round. Steelers' Potential At Offensive Line Will Rely On The Production Of Broderick Jones Pittsburgh drafted Broderick Jones in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and his career has been a rollercoaster so far. He was drafted to be a left tackle, but he wound up playing his first two seasons on the right side of the line. He looked shaky at times, and he struggled with penalties. He is now being moved to his natural position at left tackle, which will hopefully change things. The team is relying on him to take a step forward, and if he doesn't, the offensive line could look ugly in 2025. Nearly every great team in the league has a reliable left tackle, and Pittsburgh is still struggling to find that.
Packers rookie could miss time after suffering injury in training camp
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