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Home , 1932 NFL Playoff Game, Aaron Kromer, Alex Okafor, Andrew Whitworth, Austin Blythe, Barkevious Mingo

NFLPREVIEW

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER1, 2019

PUTTING THE FINAL PIECES IN PLACE The Rams and Chargers have unfinished business as they retool to win the ultimate prize.

NO HANGOVER, RAMS INSIST McVayuses loss as amotivational

tool, not ajinx. V3

CHARGERS FAR FROM SATISFIED Returnoftwo starters from injury is welcome

newsafter12-4 season. V8

TELLING TALES OF THE NFL Sam Farmer takes us behind the scenes on the

league’s 100th year. V15

Andrea Levy ForThe Times V2 SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 LATIMES.COM NFL PREVIEW RAMS’ BIG QUESTIONS READY TO TAKE LAST STEP

fine. He even joked that reporters needed By Gary Klein to stop putting bad mojo on his knee by asking him about it. They lost in the Super Bowl and then The Rams gave Gurley $45 million in shed five starters, but the Rams remain guaranteed money before last season. His contenders to return for another shot at performance and durability in this one the title. will go a long way in assessing whether the Coach Sean McVay begins his third long-term investment was a wise one. season, having won 24 regular-season and two playoff games in his first two. Speaking of knees, is all With a massive contract extension for the way back from season-ending on the horizon, surgery? this will be the final season for the Rams to During training camp, Kupp appeared take advantage of the window of spending to be at full speed, running crossing routes opportunity that his rookie contract com- with confidence and deep routes with pensation provides. aggression. McVay even remarked that Here are questions facing the Rams: Kupp looked faster than before. Kupp’s return to a lineup that also Can McVay and his players put the Super includes receivers Robert Woods and Bowl defeat behind? Cooks restores the next-level connection Only three teams that have lost in the Goff has with the trio. Super Bowl came back to win it the next Josh Reynolds stepped up last season season. in Kupp’s absence and now helps give the The Cowboys did it in the 1971 Rams what Woods described as a “four- season,the Dolphins in 1972 and headed monster” of receivers. And tight the last season, ends and when they defeated the Rams13 -3. have developed into playmakers. The Rams have a tougher schedule Receivers Mike Thomas, JoJo Natson than last season and lost key players from and KhaDarel Hodge also are potential ateam that finished 13 -3 before defeating contributors. the Cowboys and Saints in the . Are and Joe Noteboom ready The Rams had its worst per- for starting roles? formance under McVay in the Super Bowl. McVay held the second-year pros out of But the defeat was not akin to the Eric Risberg Associated Press preseason games, so it is difficult to assess Seahawks’ team-dividing Super THE RAMS hope Cooper Kupp can regain the form he showed before his season- how they will fare when the season begins. Bowl loss to the Patriots after a question- ending knee injury in 2018. The receiver has emerged as a top target for Jared Goff. Allen replaces 10 -year veteran John able play-call by coach . Or Sullivan at center. Allen, 23, is a physical the ’ soul-crushing melt- upgrade but lacks experience directing an down during which they blew a 25-point NFL line and protecting Goff. third-quarter lead against the Patriots. Noteboom, 24, played mainly as a swing as a rookie. He replaces Is Goff ready to take the next step? nine-year veteran Rodger Saffold at left It was a similar question at the outset guard. of last season. Allen and Noteboom participated in After playing well before floundering in joint practices with the Chargers and his first playoff game in 2017, Goff pro- Oakland Raiders. That, apparently, was duced another season and enough to convince coaches they will be helped lead the Rams to the Super Bowl. prepared. But Goff did not perform up to his standard against the Patriots. He was late Can the improve after losing on a potential pass to Brandin three starters? Cooks, and had a pass intercepted late in The Rams let defensive lineman the game, all but clinching the victory for , the Patriots. and safety leave via Throughout his college and NFL ca- release or free agency, veteran presences reer, Goff has improved every season. If that could be difficult to duplicate. But that trend continues, the preseason ques- the Rams did plug the holes. tion next year might be: Can Goff win two They re-signed outside linebacker Super Bowls in a row? and added safety Eric Wed- dle and outside linebacker Clay Will ’s left knee hold up the Matthews. Weddle, a12-year veteran, will entire season? run the defense. The Rams have been engaged in a Second-year pro Sebastian Joseph- full-on, load-management plan and narra- Day appears on track to start at nose tive for Gurley since the star tackle for a unit that struggled to consis- struggled late last season. tently stop the run during most of last Gurley did not participate in team season. offseason workouts, practiced every other required surgery after day during training camp and did not play Wally Skalij Times suffering a pectoral injury during the in preseason games. TODD GURLEY insists he’ll be ready to go following knee issues that slowed him preseason, so will take Bar- Throughout it all, Gurley said he felt down at the of 2018. The Rams plan on managing his load this season. ron’s spot at inside linebacker.

PROJECTED OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART PROJECTED DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART

QB 2018 STATISTICS WR OLB 2018 STATISTICS CB 16 32.9 12 52 24.0 21 JARED GOFF POINTS GAME (2nd NFL) CLAY MATTHEWS POINTS PER GAME (20th) AQIB TALIB Ht: 6-4 Wt: 222 Age: 24 281.7 Ht: 5-10 Wt: 183 Age: 25 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 255 Age: 33 236.3 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 209 Age: 33 RESERVE PASSING YPG (5th) 17 56 PASSING YPG (14th) 22 No: 5 Ht: 6-5 Wt: 236 Age: 27 ROBERT WOODS DANTE FOWLER 139.4 Ht: 6-0 Wt: 195 Age: 27 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 255 Age: 25 122.3 Ht: 6-0 Wt: 195 Age: 26 RB RUSHING YPG (3rd) RUSHING YPG (23rd) 18 RESERVES RESERVES 30 19 30 NICKELL ROBEY-COLEMAN COOPER KUPP No: 50 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 245 Age: 24 No: 23 Ht: 5-8 Wt: 180 Age: 27 TODD GURLEY TURNOVERS (Tie 18th) TURNOVERS FORCED (3rd) Ht: 6-2 Wt: 208 Age: 26 NATREZ PATRICK TROY HILL Ht: 6-1 Wt: 224 Age: 25 No: 57 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 242 Age: 22 No: 20 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 183 Age: 27

RESERVES RESERVES K MLB P S MALCOLM BROWN JOSH REYNOLDS No: 34 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 222 Age: 26 No: 83 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 196 Age: 24

DARRELL HENDERSON 4 MIKE THOMAS 58 6 43 No: 27 Ht: 5-8 Wt: 208 Age: 22 No: 88 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 189 Age: 25 GREG ZUERLEIN JOHN KELLY JOJO NATSON Ht: 6-0 Wt: 191 Age: 31 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 228 Age: 25 Ht: 6-5 Wt: 241 Age: 29 Ht: 6-0 Wt: 209 Age: 23 No: 42 Ht: 5-10 Wt: 205 Age: 22 No: 19 Ht: 5-7 Wt: 153 Age: 25

TE LT RT 54 KR/PR 32 BRYCE HAGER JOJO NATSON 89 77 79 No: 19 Age: 25 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 237 Age: 27 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 195 Age: 34 Ht: 5-7 Wt: 153

TYLER HIGBEE RESERVES RESERVE Ht: 6-6 Wt: 255 Age: 26 Ht: 6-7 Wt: 330 Age: 37 Ht: 6-8 Wt: 330 Age: 27 LS RESERVE RESERVE No: 51 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 232 Age: 23 No: 24 Ht: 6-0 Wt: 208 Age: 21 RESERVE JAKE MCQUAIDE GERALD EVERETT DAVID EDWARDS BOBBY EVANS No: 44 Age: 31 MARQUI CHRISTIAN No: 81 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 240 Age: 25 No: 73 Ht: 6-6 Wt: 308 Age: 22 No: 71 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 312 Age: 22 No: 48 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 219 Age: 23 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 235 No: 26 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 207 Age: 24

LG C RG DE DT DT 70 55 66 90 99 69 JOE NOTEBOOM BRIAN ALLEN SEBASTIAN JOSEPH-DAY Ht: 6-5 Wt: 321 Age: 24 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 303 Age: 23 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 298 Age: 27 Ht: 6-5 Wt: 305 Age: 28 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 280 Age: 28 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 310 Age: 24

RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE

JAMIL DEMBY AUSTIN BLYTHE JOHN FRANKLIN-MYERS GREG GAINES No: 64 Ht: 6-5 Wt: 321 Age: 23 No: 66 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 298 Age: 27 No: 64 Ht: 6-5 Wt: 321 Age: 23 No: 94 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 288 Age: 22 No: 92 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 295 Age: 24 No: 91 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 312 Age: 23 LATIMES.COM SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 V3 NFL PREVIEW RAMS

SCHEDULE

With Gary Klein comments. The Rams are off for Week 9:

Sept. 8 at Carolina 10 a.m., Channel 11 The Rams go cross-country to face quarterback Cam New- ton, running back Christian McCaffrey and a solid defen- sive line in a tough opener.

Sept. 15 NEW ORLEANS 1:15 p.m., Channel 11 Wonder if the new rule en- abling challenges of noncalls on pass interference will be discussed much before this NFC title game rematch.

Sept. 22 at Cleveland 5:15 p.m., Channel 4 Browns are loaded with Odell Beckham Jr. and other stars. Running back won’t play because of his NFL suspension.

Sept. 29 TAMPA BAY 1p.m., Channel 11 Buccaneers defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh will be back at the Coliseum to face a Rams team that let him walk after a one-year experiment.

Oct. 3 at Seattle,5:15 p.m., Ch. 11 , NFL Network is the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback. But do the Seahawks have the talent around him to supplant the Rams atop the NFC West?

Oct. 13 SAN FRANCISCO 1p.m., Channel 11 has never faced a pass rush from Rams tackle Aaron Donald. Now he will do it with a surgically Wally Skalij Los Angeles Times repaired left knee. SEAN McVAY says the Rams have “got the right guys that are essentially wired the right way” to rebound from the Super Bowl loss. Oct. 20 at Atlanta 10 a.m., Channel 11 Rams return to the site of their Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. Falcons have not recovered from their Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. CURSES Oct. 27 VS. 10 a.m., Channel 2 Sean McVay faces disciple in a coaching-tree showdown. Rams are 1-1 in London since the franchise returned to Los Angeles.

Nov. 10 at Pittsburgh BE DAMNED 1:15 p.m., Channel 11 Aaron Donald no doubt wants to put on a show before his hometown fans. Former Rams linebacker Mark Barron is a McVay plays down history and talk of a Super Bowl hangover member of the Steelers.

Nov. 17 BILL PLASCHKE curse is injury, and the Rams cannot control While that locker room possesses the usual that. Guess that’s why they call it a curse, and uncertainties, so much is already solid and 5:15 p.m., Channel 4 The Super Bowl curse is real. you might remember a few teams that suffered settled, McVay plainly and quickly answers the and the Bears In 52 years, only three teams that fate the year after losing the Super Bowl. most complicated of questions. defense dominated the Rams have won the Super Bowl the In 1999, the Atlanta Falcons’ Jamal Ander- Are you better this year? last season at . year after losing in the Super son was lost for the season with an injured knee “I think so,” he says. “If we keep approaching Coordinator left to Bowl. in Week 2, and the team finished 5-11 . it the right way, we have a lot of returning play- coach the Broncos. The Super Bowl curse is real In 2002, the St. Louis Rams’ ers, we have coaches working hard … what does …real funny, according to Rams broke a finger on his throwing hand, played just this mean in terms of winning and losing Nov. 25 coach Sean McVay. seven games, recorded a career-low passer games, I have no idea. But I do feel confident BALTIMORE “Look at last year,” he says. rating of 67.4, and the team went 7-9. we’ll be a better football team this season.” 5:15 p.m., ESPN Well, yes, last season the New Then there’s the doozy of all cuts, in 2008, Yes, Goff needs to step up and take this team Rams safety Eric Weddle England Patriots became the first team in 46 when the Patriots’ suffered a torn on his shoulders. Yet, despite the league-wide played three seasons for the years to follow a Super Bowl loss with a victory knee ligament in the first game. He missed the narrative he is a system quarterback, his per- Ravens and made a sixth Pro —a13 -3 win over the Rams. rest of the season while the Patriots, despite an sonal history says those shoulders are now Bowl in 2018. Ravens signed “Yep, you see?” McVay says. 11-5 record, missed the playoffs. broad enough. to replace him. OK, but how about how only eight teams in The Rams need luck to avoid all that stuff. Certainly, Todd Gurley is no longer 10 0% history have lost in the Super Bowl and even But they are deftly built to avoid the other stuff. Todd Gurley. But even an 80% Todd Gurley, Dec. 1 returned to the big game the following year? In 2003, Raiders coach Bill Callahan called handled carefully and with proper load man- at That’s eight out of 52. his year-after-Super-Bowl squad, “The most agement, should be good enough, particularly 1p.m., Channel 11 And since 2000, eight of the 18 teams that dumbest team in America,” in- with speedy backing him have lost in the Super Bowl have failed to even jured his shoulder around midseason, and up. Rookie quarterback Kyler make the playoffs the following year, finishing a Oakland finished 4-12. The rest of the skill guys — Brandin Cooks, Murray and first-year coach combined 18 games under .500. The Rams have developed a culture under Robert Woods, and the returning Kupp — form will have had Is that real enough for you? the brainy McVay where they’re one of the areceiving corps among the deepest in the more than half a season to get “I really haven’t looked too much into it,” smartest teams in football, and they got only league. ready to face the Rams. McVay says, smiling now. “I just know that smarter with the addition of safety Eric Weddle The offensive line, despite a couple of new before us, the last team to lose it won the next and the return of receiver Cooper Kupp. faces, is still returning monster anchor tackles Dec. 8 year.” “I think we’ve got the right guys that are Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein. The SEATTLE 5:15 p.m., Channel 4 He’s not biting. He’s not conceding. When it essentially wired the right way,” says McVay, defensive line, despite the loss of Ndamukong comes to Super Bowl curses, he’s implying that later adding two of his favorite adages, “We Suh, still has the power of Donald and Michael Pete Carroll gets a look at the if the mighty Patriots can break it, so can the believe in being where your feet are planted … Brockers. refurbished Coliseum on Rams, and you know what? Maybe he’s right. keeping the main thing the main thing.” Throw in a full season of linebacker Dante “Sunday Night Football.” Maybe this smart and bonded and deep team is Then there was the curse that affected the Fowler Jr., add the savvy of Clay Matthews and Former Trojan Clay Matthews actually good enough to finish the job they 2005 , whose locker room finish with accomplished defensive backs Wed- will try to ruin that visit. nearly pulled off last February. was so mired in distraction, they kicked re- dle, Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters and John John- One more quarter. That’s all they had ceiver Terrell Owens off the team for detri- son, and their mandate is obvious. Dec. 15 needed. Their Super Bowl loss came down to mental conduct and finished 6-10. “For us, we just have be ourselves, don’t do at Dallas the fourth quarter, and though that scenario The Rams don’t have any similar divas anything more, don’t do anything less, we’re 1:15 p.m., Channel 11 has demoralized some teams, it has seemingly because of an aura of humility that permeates obviously good enough,” says Woods. “We obvi- Running back , energized this one. the building, an attitude created by the only ously got there last year and played well presumably, will have settled Think about it. Listen to them. You hear any guy to criticize anybody at the Super Bowl. enough, don’t need to do anything more, just be his contract dispute by this groaning? You sense any unrest? Remember when McVay ripped himself? ourselves and play the game.” game. Rams beat Cowboys in Didn’t think so. “Offensively, I make no excuses for why I feel Oh yeah, and they also have arguably foot- the playoffs last season. In the months since that long night in At- responsible for us not performing better,” he is ball’s best kicking tandem in kicker Greg Zuer- lanta, nobody has blamed anybody. Nobody still saying, and if your leader talks like that, lein and Johnny Hekker. Dec. 21 or 22 ripped Jared Goff’s passes in a controversial how can anybody talk back? “We’ve got the right guys,” McVay says at San Francisco magazine story. Nobody questioned McVay’s The 2016 were Super again, and it’s hard not to believe him. Time and TV TBD strategy on a national radio show. Nobody gave cursed by their leader. After quarterback Cam There is one notable change in the Rams Coach Kyle Shanahan and ared-carpet interview in which they wondered Newton missed a game because of a concus- locker room this season. On the wall, McVay’s John Lynch what the heck happened to Aaron Donald. sion, he was benched at the start of another inspirational pyramid has been replaced by a reportedly signed six-year Everyone just went quietly, stealthily, furi- game for a dress code violation because he compass containing cultural tenets like “We contracts in 2017. This is a ously back to work in a fashion that reminds didn’t wear a tie on the team plane. He had no Not Me,” and “Relentless” and “Mentally barometer game at this point. one of, well, the Patriots. Everyone has gone tie because he forgot to pack a collared shirt. Tough.’’ back to doing their job. He finished with a career-low quarterback “This kind of represents how we stay the Dec. 29 “Our team handled it the right way,” says rating of 75.8 and the team finished 6-10. course for a16-game season,” McVay explains. ARIZONA McVay, using two of his favorite adages. “At the The Rams have leaders who don’t seem “A compass is kind of something we felt like was 1:15 p.m., Channel 11 end of the day, we didn’t get it done, and we likely to stray. Goff has improved every year relevant, especially coming off a good season, Last year, Todd Gurley sat out don’t shy away from that, but I loved the way we since high school, and is becoming so familiar but making sure we understand we have to against the Cardinals because responded. There’s something powerful with with McVay’s offense he’s actually changing the produce in the present.” of knee soreness. He could sit the way the guys stayed connected, with feel- Boy Wonder’s plays. Donald was voted by his Although the compass is not pointed in a out again if the Rams have the ings of appreciation and gratitude but also NFL colleagues as the best player in the game, specific direction, they hope it will eventually division title in hand. motivation from getting there and knowing and he still never takes a play off. guide them southeast, to , to Miami, to what it feels like.” “We’ve got the right leaders that influence Feb. 2, 2020 — back to the Super Bowl, and far All times Pacific One of the leading causes of the Super Bowl the rest of the locker room,” McVay says. away from its curse. V4 SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 LATIMES.COM NFL PREVIEW RAMS’ NEW PIECES

Los Angeles Rams JOAE NOTEBOOMUNIFIED(70) and Brian Allen are new starters on the offensive line. “That’s going to take time,”FRveteran tackle AndrewONTWhitworth said of the transition. Untested Noteboom, Allen look to make seamless transition to starting roles

the road. But we’re going to contin- the line. Havenstein and former and family are back there.” me.” By Jack Harris ue, like anything else, to every day guard Rodger Saffold, draft picks Sullivan became his closest He moved to the offensive line in try to get better.” from the team’s St. Louis days, de- confidant, bonding over a relation- college and found his niche as a They practiced football’s Erecting an offensive line is an veloped into stalwarts. Whitworth ship that went beyond the Rams’ swift-footed steamrolling tackle in cruelest position as one, with steps exercise in stability. The delicate and Blythe were acquired during detailed blocking schemes and the Christian’s physical rushing that seemed choreographed and process is dependent on cohesion the 2017 offseason. Veteran center centers’ ancillary responsibilities. attack. blocks that were synchronized. and chemistry, yet demands dura- also was signed in In training camp, they roomed to- Afull-time guard for the first Brian Allen, Austin Blythe and ble results. To incorporate Allen the offseason. He anchored the line gether. During the season, Allen al- time this season, he has a simpler Rob Havenstein performed the and Noteboom this preseason, the as the Rams won back-to-back most moved into Sullivan’s guest goal in mind: “To be a starter, and drill near one . Joe Note- Rams have worked slowly, deliber- NFC West titles. house. not have a dip after losing veterans boom and Andrew Whitworth mir- ately, wary that even one weak link But Sullivan and Saffold “He was always there for me,” like Saffold and Sullivan,” Note- rored them from the other. could bring the whole group tum- weren’t re-signed this summer. In- Allen said. “Kind of took me on like boom said. “Go in there and not They executed another set of bling down. stead, Noteboom and Allen — alittle brother.” hurt the team, make the team bet- precious preseason practice reps “We have great communication, third- and fourth-round draft Occasionally, the veteran would ter. Try not to be a liability.” together — a reconfigured offen- on the field and off the field,” Ha- picks in 2018 who played sparingly pester his understudy. Allen would The early indicators have been sive line reaching for perfection. venstein said. “Where, maybe as rookies — were bumped to the clean Sullivan’s house, sign for de- positive. Pro Football Focus These are the members of the something doesn’t feel right, and first team. They performed well liveries, move the cars. “But some- ranked this Rams offensive line as Rams’ front five. Whitworth and it’s like, ‘Hey, let’s work on [this]. enough in training camp and dur- times,” Allen pointed out with a the 13 th-best in the league. Goff Havenstein bookend the unit at My backside technique didn’t feel ing joint practices with the Char- laugh, “I needed that.” has exhibited early confidence in left and right tackle, a pair of pillars great. Let’s get a couple, let’s feel it gers and Oakland Raiders to be Now, the Rams have tasked his budding center-quarterback around which coach Sean McVay’s out. Let’s make that an emphasis held out of preseason games. Just Allen to fill his mentor’s void. relationship with Allen. flashy offense has flourished. the next day.’ That’s something as the Rams had hoped, they ap- “You look at what a great job And, after their de facto red- Blythe, the right guard, is another we’re doing a good job with, and pear primed for their promotions. John Sullivan did for us the last shirt seasons last year, the two new mainstay, back for his second sea- that’s something that doesn’t stop “There’s a reason why we took couple of years — how smart he starters are cementing chemistry son as a first-teamer. the whole year.” them the way that we did,” McVay was,” McVay said. with the rest of the front five. Allen and Noteboom are new. At Three years ago, the Rams had said of the draft. “This kind of was “For Brian to be able to see the “That experience, it’s shown center and left guard, respectively, one of the weakest offensive lines in the plan all along.” way John led and the way that he up,” run game coordinator Aaron the untested second-year pros are football. Like a bridge built with Allen struggled to find personal interacted with [Goff] I think is Kromer said. “We were all a little taking over positions once held by faulty beams, they would topple stability when he first arrived in such a great example of what it rusty coming in. You can see now, established veterans. On a team under the slightest stress. Jared Los Angeles. An native, the looks like to do it right.” more and more production that returning 18 starters, they are Goff, then a rookie, was often bur- thickly built, 6-foot-2, 303-pound Noteboom, meanwhile, has we’re having up front as a unit. I among the depth chart’s biggest ied beneath the debris, sacked 26 center had never lived so far from thrived on a career of constant think they’re really starting to questionmarks. For the Rams to times in just seven games. Todd home. In four years at change. A 6-5, 321- pound left guard come together.” replicate another postseason run, Gurley couldn’t run through the State — where he played alongside now, he was at in The most noticeable aspect of the new-look offensive line still wreckage either, suffering his first his two brothers, also offensive high school in Plano, Texas. Until the transition so far is how unno- needs to be solidified around the and only sub-1,000-yard rushing linemen — Allen started 38 games his junior year, he played ice ticeable the introductions of Allen two new starters. season. The Rams’ hamstrung of- and was a team captain. On the hockey too. and Noteboom have been. “That’s going to take time,” said fense ranked last in yards, and the West Coast, he initially felt out of “Everyone would back away,” “Those guys have a long way to Whitworth, the leader of the group team finished 4-12. place. Noteboom said of his presence dur- go,” McVay said. “But they’re in a in both stature and status. Upon McVay’s arrival after the “The weather is nicer, but I’m a ing his hockey days. “I couldn’t good place right now. We’re very “There’s going to be bumps along 2016 season, the franchise rectified homebody,” he said. “All my friends evenhit anybody.They wouldn’t let confident in them.” HAVING FAITH IN THEIR PLAN B

ing opportunity with another NFL out of preseason games, Bortles By Gary Klein team in 2020. got a chance to startand run the of- It was a good deal for the Rams. fense for a few series during pre- In 2017, Blake Bortles was busy Goff, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 season games against the Oakland passing for , scram- draft, has never been sidelined be- Raiders and . He bling for first downs and leading cause of injury or poor play. He has looked comfortable, overcame mis- the to the missed only a handful of snaps in 38 takes by less experienced players, AFC championship game. career starts. But if injury or other extended a few plays with his run- But the quarterback was aware circumstances befall Goff, the ning ability and generally showed of what was happening in the NFC. Rams now have a seasoned insur- he could operate McVay’s system. Philadelphia backup ance policy in Bortles, the No.3 “If something happens and your replaced injured starter Carson pick in the 2014 draft, who has number gets called, especially as a Wentz late in the season and led the started 73 regular-season games quarterback, they want you to go Eagles on a Super Bowl run that and three playoff games. out there and make sure the of- concluded with Foles winning Su- “God forbid if something were fense doesn’t miss a beat,” Bortles per Bowl MVP. to happen, that’s why you go get said. Two years later, Bortles is the Blake Bortles,” McVay said. “Be- He is not looking too far ahead. backup quarterback for a Rams cause you do have confidence that Whether he playsextensively or not team regarded as a contender to re- if he had to, he could step in and this season, he will probably be a turn to the Super Bowl. lead the team and guys have confi- sought-after commodity in 2020. “Obviously, you don’t ever hope dence and belief in him.” For now, he is focusing on im- anybody gets hurt or something Bortles, 27, compiled a 24-49 proving and helping Goff, who happens, but unfortunately stuff record in five seasons with the Jag- shares the same agent and has does happen and so when it does uars. He has passed for 103 touch- Robert Reiners Getty Images been a friend for four years. you’ve got to be ready to go and take downs, with 75 . BLAKE BORTLES comes to the Rams to back up Jared Goff “He has a wealth of knowledge I advantage of it like Philly and Nick Two years ago, he passed for 21 two seasons after taking Jacksonville to the AFC title game. can dive into at times and ask him did,” Bortles said. “And then you touchdowns, led the Jaguars to a what his experiences with certain see where he’s at now, and the spot 10 -6 record and won two playoff Now he is getting a fresh start, taught, the way that things are plays are, and what his experiences he ended up getting himself in.” games before losing to the New and a fresh perspective, with the coached, it’s all impressive and it’s with different situations are,” Goff The Jaguars released Bortles in England Patriots in the AFC title Rams. During offseason workouts aconstant place to learn every sin- said. March so they could sign Foles to game at Gillette Stadium. and training camp, he absorbed all gle day.” The two share in- an $88-million contract, with The Jaguars rewarded Bortles that McVay and the coaching staff Bortles’ addition to the roster formation and experiences on the $50 million in guarantees. with an extension that included had to offer. also has benefited the Rams’ start- field and off. Bortles, still reportedly owed $26.5 million in guarantees. “What they do here is on a whole ing defense, which often faces him “We’ve gone and played golf, $6.5 million from the Jaguars, But 2018 did not go as planned ’nother level,” Bortles said. “I during practice. been on trips and done different signed a one-year, $1-million con- for the Jaguars or for Bortles. In 13 mean, there’s little intricacies and “He’s experienced, he’s been to things before,” Bortles said. “So tract with the Rams. His goals: games, he passed for 13 touch- things that have been talked about the playoffs, he’s won games and now that we’re in the same room to- Learn at coach Sean McVay’s el- downs, with 11 interceptions. He that I never even thought to think done it all,” safety John Johnson gether every single day, it’s like, ‘We bow, provide a seasoned backup for lost the starting job after a seven- of. said. can just do this whenever we want.’ Jared Goff and prepare for a start- game losing streak. “So the way that things are With McVay holding starters “So it’s been awesome.” LATIMES.COM SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 V5 NFL PREVIEW RAMS’ NEW PIECES

Wally Skalij Los Angeles Times LINEBAITCKER CLA’SY MATTHEWSNO,astar at USC and a six-timeTPro Bowl selectionAwith Green BaCAy, is out to prove with theMERams that he still is an elite-levOel player. Rams’ Matthews, a regular of TV commercials, plans to be a headliner again

Adecade is an eternity to play at for the first time since he left USC. and opposite fourth-year pro Dan- regular-season games and 15 play- By Gary Klein an elite level in the NFL, especially The Rams defeated the Packers, te Fowler, both of whom recall off games. In Super Bowl XLV, he for players other than quarter- but Matthews left an impression watching Matthews on television forced a that helped the It’s not wise to underestimate backs or specialists. It is not the with seven tackles, a sack and two in their early teens. Packers defeat the Pittsburgh Clay Matthews. norm. hits on quarterback Jared Goff. “I was like, ‘Who’s this dude with Steelers. That came in his second He walked on at USC in 2004 “Well,” Matthews said, “it’s the “I said, ‘What’s up?’ to him dur- the long hair?’ ” Ebukam said. NFL season, so he remembers and, five years later, walked out as norm in our family.” ing pregame,” said Rams receiver “He’s out there flying all over, the what it was like to be a young player first-round NFL draft pick. Matthews’ father, Clay Robert Woods, who began his USC way football is to be played.” like Ebukam and Fowler. That was 10 years ago, a verita- Matthews Jr., played linebacker for career two years after Matthews When Matthews signed with “I was there to work,” he said. ble eon for a modern-day outside 19 NFL seasons, 16 with the Cleve- completed his eligibility. “And in the Rams he was essentially pen- “Guys would make fun of me for ne- linebacker. Along the way, land Browns and three with the At- the game it was like he didn’t even ciled in to take Ebukam’s starting ver going out and being a shut-in, a Matthews won a Super Bowl with lanta Falcons. know me. He was just slapping me job. Ebukam, coming off offseason recluse and stuff. the , earned six Matthews’ uncle, Bruce around. knee surgery, says he wasn’t bitter. “But I’m all about ball. I’m still Pro Bowl selections and amassed Matthews, played offensive line for “That’s the kind of guy you want “I was like, ‘This is an experi- like that. As long as I’m doing this, I 1 83 ⁄2 sacks. 19 NFL seasons, 14 with the Hous- on your team: Come out there and ence I’m going to have to just cher- want to be the best at it.” The Rams signed Matthews ton Oilers and five more when the just cause havoc.” ish, just having somebody who’s on Matthews is married and the fa- and veteran safety Eric Weddle franchise moved and eventually In defensive coordinator Wade his way to becoming a Hall of ther of three young children. He during the offseason to improve became the Titans. Phillips’ 3-4 scheme, outside line- Famer right in front of me,’ ” and his wife are building a home in their defense and help them earn The Rams are confident backers enjoy ample opportunities Ebukam said. “Being able to pick Calabasas, just down the freeway another shot at the Super Bowl. Matthews can still produce. They to rush the quarterback and make his brain is something I’m going to from where he was raised in Ag- At 33, Matthews looks much like signed him to a two-year, $9.25-mil- plays. take advantage of.” oura Hills. 1 he did when he left USC, his trade- lion contract, with $5.5 million in Tackle Aaron Donald had 20 ⁄2 Fowler lights up when he talks In Week 3, the Rams play the mark long blond hair still flowing. guarantees. They want Matthews sacks last season and will com- about watching Matthews’ per- in Cleveland on But after recording a career-low to make plays and help lead young- mand double teams. The Rams’ formance on the field and in televi- “Sunday Night Football.” The 1 3 ⁄2 sacks last season, and having er players. high-scoring offense is apt to force sion commercials for an insurance Browns will use the occasion to in- the Packers move on without him, “Anybody that’s played as much teams to play from behind. So company. duct Clay Matthews Jr. into their Matthews knows there are ques- as he has and had the amount of Matthews can sense what awaits. Now, Fowler says, Matthews Ring of Honor. tions about his capabilities. success, been in a big-time organi- Donald can too. has taken him under his wing. Matthews is thrilled for his fa- Go ahead, he says, underesti- zation, where he’s been a world “Adding Clay to the mix ain’t go- “To have a guy like that who’s ther, and is looking forward to mate him. champion,” Rams coach Sean Mc- ing to do nothing but help us up going to wrap his arms around me sharing the evening with his family. “Hopefully, guys do think that Vay said, “that’s always something front, as far as getting after the and sees good things in me, that But he is incredulous when people I’m over the hill and one foot in the you can learn from.” quarterback and stopping the just gives me motivation to better ask if he’ll come out of the locker grave,” he said. “I’ll show you what The Rams saw what they were run,” Donald said. myself and not let him down,” room for the halftime ceremony. I’ve been able to do for a decade getting last season, when Matthews will start ahead of Fowler said. “I’m trying to win a ballgame,” and running.” Matthews played at the Coliseum third-year pro Samson Ebukam Matthews has played in 14 3 he said. SUNDAES FOR A SUNDAY WIN

Weddle is an “assistant, assist- after three seasons with the By Gary Klein ant defensive coordinator,” outside Ravens, all of which ended with his linebacker Dante Fowler said. Mid- selection to the Pro Bowl. His re- The sweet and sometimes hu- dle linebacker Cory Littleton de- lease reportedly saved the Ravens mongous concoctions, often scribed him as a master of disguise. $7.5 million in salary-cap space. photographed and posted to social And a master of Phillips’ scheme, For the next 24 hours, Weddle media by Eric Weddle, are a reward Marcus Peters said. said, his emotions ran the gamut. for a job well done, a way of cele- “He knows everything,” Peters “You still want to play, but it brating avictoryand the sacrifice it said, “from the front to the back doesn’t matter if you still want to took to help achieve it. end.” play and no one else wants you at Weddle, a 12-year NFL veteran, It took a few walk-throughs and this point in your career,” he said. denies himself sugar during game practices for Rams players to accli- “Who’s interested? Is there any- weeks. The payoff comes after mate to Weddle’s instructions and one? wins, when he creatively con- style. “You have to prepare yourself ... structs and enjoys massive ice “Guys were like, ‘What are we This may be it.” cream treats with his wife, Chanel, doing here?’ ” he said, laughing. The Rams were among several and their four children. “And I’m like, ‘It’s OK, man. Just contending teams that showed in- When the Rams signed the six- trust me.’ ... I do a lot of crazy stuff terest. After meeting with McVay time Pro Bowl safety last March, like disguising and running and the Rams staff, Weddle signed Weddle’s contract included an in- around. what he has described as his final centive clause tied to wins that is ti- “It takes an adjustment to play NFL contract. tled the “Brooklyn, Gaige, Silver & Kelvin Kuo Associated Press when you’re not used to it. That pe- “I kind of asked him, ‘What are Kamri’s Ice Cream Sundays Incen- ERIC WEDDLE,right, has an ice cream clause built into his riod was short-lived. Now they’re you still playing for?’ ” running tive.” Rams contract, much to the delight of his children. on it.” back Todd Gurley said. “He gave “My kids know when we get Said safety John Johnson: me the answer: He still loves the home after games it’s like ‘Ice six-time Pro Bowl player. of the 2007 draft. That was the year “We’re just doing a lot more things game.” cream! Ice cream! Ice cream!’ ” Weddle has been a part of two Phillips left the Chargers as defen- that stress the quarterback men- During offseason workouts, Weddle said. “They know what’s defenses that ranked No.1in the sive coordinator to become coach tally.” Weddle stayed near the Rams’ up.” NFL in fewest yards per game — of the Dallas Cowboys. Rams quarterback Jared Goff Thousand Oaks training facility The Rams won 13 games last the 2010 Chargers and the 2018 Bal- But during his nine seasons can relate. He said working against during the week and drove to his season en route to their second timore Ravens. He calls defensive with the Chargers, Weddle —and with — Weddle has contrib- family’s home in County consecutive NFC West title and a signals, and actively directs team- mastered the concepts of the 3-4 uted to his development. on weekends. run to the Super Bowl. After the mates from all points on the field defense that Phillips had installed. Goff and Weddle play a “chess He’ll employ a similar arrange- season they released linebacker before and during the snap. “Everything he built there we match” during practices. After a ment during the season, seeing the Mark Barron and did not re-sign Weddle is a “coach on the field,” carried over and added to and play or series, Goff might ask Wed- family at Sunday home games and defensive lineman Ndamukong Rams coach Sean McVay said. changed a little bit,” Weddle said, dle what he saw, how he might have then traveling home together for Suh and safety Lamarcus Joyner. “Really smart guy,” defensive adding that when he began off- known what was coming. Weddle days off. To upgrade the defense they coordinator said, season workouts with the Rams a does the same. Weddle is already anticipating signed the 34-year-old Weddle to a “smarter than I am, I know.” dozen years later: “It came back And they don’t limit the dia- the shouts when his family walks two-year contract that includes Weddle, who played at Rancho real quick. ... It was like I’ve been logue to the field. through the front door together af- $5.2 million in guarantees. The Cucamonga Alta Loma High and running the defense the whole “Walking in the hallway, when- ter a Rams victory. Rams then added veteran line- in college at , was selected by time.” ever,” Goff said. “I go all out,” he said. “When we backer Clay Matthews, another the Chargers in the second round Rams players agree. Weddle landed with the Rams win, let’s smash some ice cream.” V6 SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 LATIMES.COM NFL PREVIEW READY TO HELP McVay is hoping his three young coaching hires improve the Rams

“When you have guys like that, it By Gary Klein makes it fun.” Henderson, Donald said, is The new job came with a major young, hungry and adept at teach- perk, and wel- ing and breaking down film. comed it. “He’s telling me my weaknesses Henderson, the Rams’ defen- and things I need to clean up, and sive line coach, inherited a position trying to teach me things that I can group that includes Aaron Donald, do better and work better that can two-time NFL defensive player of help my game,” Donald said. the year. “When you’ve got a coach like that, “I was extremely fired up,” Hen- you just sit and listen and you try to derson said, chuckling. “I’m like, keep what you’ve been doing, but ‘Oh my god.’ To work with a guy like also add what he’s trying to teach that is a dream for a coach, and it’s me and make me that much bet- been awesome.” ter.” Henderson is one of three Robinson, 32, played quarter- coaches Sean McVay added to his back at State and was staff since the Rams’ 13 -3 Super selected in the seventh round of the Bowl loss to the New England Pa- 2010 draft by the Patriots. He was triots. Zac Robinson is the assist- waived before the season and ant quarterbacks coach, and Wes spent time with the Seattle Sea- Phillips is coaching tight ends for a hawks, and Bengals. team regarded as a contender for After his playing career ended, another deep playoff run. he began coaching quarterbacks as McVay hired Henderson, 36, to they prepared for the NFL scouting replace Bill Johnson based on his combine and the draft. For the last performance as an assistant defen- three years, he worked as a senior sive line coach for the Chargers. analyst for Pro Football Focus. Henderson got a strong recom- “He’s a future star in this league, mendation from Chargers defen- as far as a coach,” McVay said. sive line coach , whom Robinson spent the last few McVay has known for years. years analyzing quarterbacks and “You get in front of him, you in- offenses and defenses throughout terview him, you get out on the field the NFL. Robinson said his experi- where you’re demonstrating some ence as a player, coupled with the different things with him — and broad perspective he got as an ana- you talk about an unbelievably lyst, has helped him working with high level of competency with the Rams coaches — McVay is the de defensive line position,” McVay facto quarterbacks coach and Luis Sinco Los Angeles Times said of Henderson. “A great pas- the passing game ERIC HENDERSON, the Rams’ new defensive line coach, came over from the Chargers. and in- sion, a good juice and energy that coordinator — and with Jared Goff, herited a strong line, including two-time defensive player of the year Aaron Donald. makes guys want to compete for Blake Bortles and other Rams him.” quarterbacks. Henderson, a former defensive “I just try to take each piece of lineman for the Cincinnati Ben- what I’ve learned the past couple gals, has experience coaching elite years and apply it any way I can,” pass rushers. With the Chargers, he said. he worked with and Phillips, son of Rams defensive . coordinator Wade Phillips, has So he was a good fit for the coached in the NFL for 12 seasons. Rams and a line that includes Don- He coached with his father on the ald and Michael Brockers, Char- Dallas Cowboys staff and with Mc- gers coach said. Vay on the Redskins “He’s been around those guys staff. before and he can coach those “Sometimes, even when you’re guys, so I don’t think it will be a in a coordinator role or a head bump in the road for him at all,” coach, you need to have people Lynn said during the NFL owners that’ll be able to challenge you in a meetings last spring. good way,” McVay said. “Wes has al- Henderson employs a hands-on ways done that where we’ve been approach. At the Rams’ training able to kind of positively push each camp facility at UC Irvine, he used other.” asmall, separate field to actively in- McVay welcomes the interac- struct his position group. The de- tion, Phillips said. fensive linemen have a range of ex- “You don’t want yes men,” he perience, from a seven-year veter- said. “You want people who can an such as Brockers to rookie Greg communicate but can also tell you Gaines. when they think you’re wrong or “I can’t give enough credit to the they have a different opinion. ... leaders,” Henderson said of Brock- “We see things a lot the same ers and Donald. “If you can coach way as far as scheme-wise and those guys hard, you can coach game-planning. When we don’t, Jeff Lewis Rams Jeff Lewis Rams anybody hard. ... Their willingness he’ll tell me, certainly, and he ZAC ROBINSON, the assistant quarterbacks WES PHILLIPS, the tight ends coach, is the to get better has been nothing knows that he’s going to get my coach, has experience as a player and analyst. son of defensive coordinator Wa de Phillips. short of phenomenal. honest opinion.”

Rams rookies ROOKIES FROM L.A. How these rookies might be contributing this season:

TAYLOR RAPP: Versatile GREG GAINES: Hyped as a poten- second-round draft pick from tial starting nose tackle, the fourth- Washington can line up all over the round pick will probably play be- MAKE A BIG JUMP field and will provide depth at hind second-year pro Sebastian safety behind Eric Weddle and John Joseph-Day at the outset of the Johnson. Also can play as a hybrid season. A proven run-stopper in linebacker. college at Washington. the Rams as a fourth-round selec- Once you get here, everyone is an By Eric Sondheimer tion, said: “Our career is on the line. adult. You’re worried about your DAVID EDWARDS: Classic Our livelihood is on the line. It puts job and family. You really focus on DARRELL HENDERSON: Drafted in Rams rookie cornerback David that extra motivation in there. football and get your body ready. I the third round ostensibly to lineman in the mold of right tackle Rob Havenstein. The Long, 21, began to realize he was a Those are the conditions a lot of us don’t have as much time as I provide coach Sean McVay with a professional football player soon thrive under.” thought I had working out early James White-type option a la the fifth-round pick will be a reserve after he started summer workouts. One lesson Long learned con- and often.” Patriots. Also an insurance policy if swing tackle much like offensive “I played against guys on video cerned his training regimen. He The grind to make an NFL ros- star To dd Gurley is slowed or line coach deployed sidelined because of left knee last season. games,” he said. “Now I’m team- called it “getting smarter.” ter continues. problem. mates.” “It’s not about working out ev- Marcus Epps, a former Hunt- NICK SCOTT: Special-teams Making the jump from youth ery hour every day of the week,” he ington Beach Edison and Wyo- standout at Penn State is under the football to high school to college to said. “It’s about having a plan and ming , was a sixth- DAVID LONG: The Rams’ second tutelage of special-teams coor- the NFL always requires devel- being consistent. It’s about peak- round pick of the Vi- pick of the third round will play dinator , who always opment — physical and mental. ing at the right time. Being calcu- kings. He started his college career special teams while learning from finds creative ways to utilize a Ahandful of Southern Califor- lated with all your playing. Being as a walk-on and continues to defy and providing depth for a player with Scott’s skills. Scott was nia products will be trying this sea- smarter. Everybody is working. It’s the skeptics. cornerback group that includes drafted in the seventh round. son to earn roster spots and even about who’s making progress, not Caleb Wilson, a from veterans Aqib Ta lib, Marcus Peters be contributors in their first year in just banging a head against the Gardena and UCLA, was taken by and Nickell Robey-Coleman. DAKOTA ALLEN: The former “Last the NFL. wall.” the as the ” star is taking advantage Long, a third-round draft Long is a 5-foot-11, 196-pound player selected in the draft and BOBBY EVANS: Former Oklahoma of every opportunity on special teams and as part of an inside choice out of Los Angeles Loyola cornerback with speed and athleti- caught a touchdown pass in their tackle blocked for High and Michigan, already has re- cism. He got better each of his second preseason game. and in college and linebacker group that includes Cory Littleton, Bryce Hager and the ceived helpful advice from veterans three years at Michigan. He figures Iman Marshall, a cornerback was the Rams’ third pick in the Aqib Talib, Eric Weddle and Mar- to add depth and durability to the from Long Beach Poly and USC, third round. Like David Edwards, he injured Micah Kiser. He was the cus Peters. He said they’ve “ex- Rams’ secondary while learning was a fourth-round pick of the Bal- has been practicing at both tackle Rams’ final pick in Round 7. tended their hands” and shared from the many veterans. timore Ravens but has been ham- spots and also at guard. —Gary Klein their knowledge with Rams rook- “I’m trying to be the best player pered by an injury. ies. for the Rams and be available in One Southern rookie “They’re trying to make sure any way,” he said. “Whatever role who could find a roster spot after we’re at our best. I appreciate that comes, I’m ready to embrace failing last season is kicker Tristan that,” he said. and run with it.” Vizcaino, who played at La Verne The first task for drafted first- The transition from college stu- Damien and Washington. He has year players and free agents is to dent to making football his full- made field goals of 47 and 57 yards convince teams they can be con- time job is something Long has al- during the preseason for the Cin- tributors. And their biggest re- ways wanted since his days grow- cinnati Bengals. sponsibilities have been to show up ing up in Pasadena and training on Long voiced what all are experi- healthyand in top physical shape trails around the . encing — being a pro football play- and be ready to learn. “I’m still getting my feet wet,” he er is different. It’s a full-time job. David Greg Taylor Darrell Greg Gaines, a nose tackle from said. “I think the biggest time com- “This is my entire focus,” he Long Gaines Rapp Henderson La Habra and Washington who is mits are high school and college said. “I don’t have to worry about trying to be a major contributor for with all the things you’re juggling. anything else but football.” LATIMES.COM SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 V7 NFL PREVIEW NEW STADIUM IN INGLEWOOD

HKS Mel Melcon Los Angeles Times AN ARCHITECTURAL RENDERING of the stadium, which will seat 70,000. WORKERS SIGNED the final beam for the stadium’s bowl in June 2018.

Genaro Molina Los Angeles Times THIS SEPTEMBER 2018 photo shows construction on the future home stadium of the Rams and Chargers. Officials say the facility is now 75% complete. L.A. STADIUM NEARS PAY DIRT

If the Los Angeles Stadium at Hollywood Park, the fu- ture home of the Rams and Chargers, were on offense, it would be close to the red zone with an eye towardatouch- down. Stadium officials say the facility is 75% complete and slated to open during the summer of 2020. “All the primary structural components of the sta- dium are complete,” said Jason Gannon, managing di- rector of the LA Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park. “The secondary structural compo- nents, such as the roof’s cable netting, are going into place now. “We are beginning to pave parking lots, and the interi- or finishings of the stadium are being installed. As spec- tacular as the stadium renderings are, the reality of Mr. [Stan] Kroenke’s vision will be even more impressive when we open next summer in 2020.” The open-air venue is the first indoor-outdoor sta- dium to be constructed. The canopy roof shell that will cover the 70,000-seat stadium and an adjacent 6,000-seat performance venue is being installed. Up to 3,000 construction workers are on the 298-acre site daily. In the coming weeks, they will work on interiors and install seats, and over the next year, they will build, raise and hang the double-sided oculus video board. The stadium is scheduled to play host to Super Bowl LVI in 2022, the Playoff national title game in 2023, and the opening and closing ceremonies of Genaro Molina Los Angeles Times the 2028 Summer Olympics. CONSTRUCTION on the stadium in Inglewood continued in May. It is slated to open in the summer of 2020. —Arash Markazi V8 SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 LATIMES.COM NFL PREVIEW CHARGERS’ BIG QUESTIONS WA NTING MUCH MORE

Because he was so versatile in 2018 , By Jeff Miller James allowed defensive coordinator to use a variety of packages, Aproductive and once wildly promis- depending on what the Chargers were ing 2018 season died a dramatic death for attempting to take away from the opposi- the Chargers when they lost badly in the tion. AFC divisional round of the playoffs in They still have plenty of playmakers New England. and interchangeable pieces, and it will That was nearly eight months ago, but require a village to fill the enormous void. the stench of that defeat lingered as the If the defensive backs can stay healthy — team’s front office retooled to take anoth- given the group’s potential — they could er Super Bowl shot before ’ hold things together until James returns. career is over. The blueprint was dealt a blow in train- Can the Chargers continue to be domi- ing camp when All-Pro safety Derwin nant on the road? James was lost to a foot injury. They opened last season by winning Still, there are postseason aspirations their first nine games played outside —and expectations — for a team that Southern California. They were perfect, went 12-4 a year ago. in fact, until losing that January game to Here are a few questions facing the the Patriots. Chargers: “You can’t take that for granted,” coach Anthony Lynn said. “Just because How will the left tackle situation hold up we had it last year doesn’t mean we’ll without ? have it this year. We need to start with the Atwo-time Pro Bowl player, Okung first game and try to build something suffered a pulmonary embolism in June special again.” and is sidelined indefinitely. Because he is Along with their four AFC West trips, on blood thinners, the Chargers must the Chargers also travel to Mexico City to wait for medical clearance before he can play City. They visit Florida twice, return. That clearance could come soon to face Miami and Jacksonville. In Octo- or well into the season. ber, they have back-to-back games at The Chargers can’t be sure that Tennessee and Chicago. they’ve found a solution in young tackle Trent Scott. But, until further notice, he’s Robert Gauthier Los Angeles Times Will the difficult playoff loss in New the answer they’re going with. PHILIP RIVERS relies on veteran Russell Okung (76) to protect his blind slide, but England propel the Chargers forward? Scott has one career NFL start and, the tackle has been sidelined by a clot in his lungs and his return date is uncertain. Everyone knows about the concept of just a year ago, was an undrafted rookie the Super Bowl hangover in this sport. out of Grambing State trying to find a On the opposite end, there’s the suggesti- spot on the . on that a particularly stinging loss can Now, he’s being entrusted to protect lead a team to greater heights the next the blind side of the franchise’s 37-year- season. old icon of a quarterback. The Chargers were embarrassed by the Patriots in January, the deficit at one Will fulfill his potential point reaching 38-7. If a team ever was and establish himself on the offensive going to be a candidate to benefit from a line? painful loss, it’s the 2019 Chargers. Even Lamp has joked about his al- Early in the offseason, several players most cult-like popularity among Char- talked about that defeat driving them in gers fans. Taken in the second round in workouts and film study. 2017, he was considered by some ob- Who knows? If this season blossoms servers to be the best offensive lineman into something special, those same play- available in the draft. ers might be revisiting their comments But a knee injury that required two with even more certainty. surgeries has prevented Lamp’s career from launching. He spent training camp How much will the return of Hunter battling for playing time at guard and Henry help Rivers? appeared to make significant progress. Throughout his career, Rivers has The Chargers’ offensive line spent relied heavily on his tight ends, in part much of 2018 being told it was the team’s because one of those tight ends was fran- weak spot. Those doubts have only inten- chise legend Antonio Gates. But Henry sified in the absence of Okung. A healthy figures to be popular again after missing and productive Lamp would be a much- most of last season. needed plus. “We’ve built a good relationship and good chemistry on the field,” Henry said How much will the loss of James affect of working with his quarterback during the defense? training camp. “It’s always fun to get back The good news is the Chargers have out here and continue to build on that.” depth and versatility to attempt to make Henry was targeted115 times over the up for missing their most dynamic de- two seasons before he was injured. He fender. Veteran and All-Pro special Myung J. Chun Los Angeles Times caught 81 passes for 1,057 yards and 12 teamer Adrian Phillips will take over at THE CHARGERS hope guard Forrest Lamp can take a place on the line after bat- touchdowns. He and Rivers should con- strong safety. tling injuries. A healthy and productive Lamp would be a much-needed plus. tinue to build on that in 2019 as well.

PROJECTED OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART PROJECTED DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART

QB 2018 STATISTICS WR DE 2018 STATISTICS CB 17 26.8 13 97 20.6 43 PHILIP RIVERS POINTS GAME (Tie 6th NFL) JOEY BOSA POINTS PER GAME (8th) MICHAEL DAVIS Ht: 6-5 Wt: 228 Age: 37 255.6 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 211 Age: 27 Ht: 6-5 Wt: 280 Age: 24 227.9 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 196 Age: 24 RESERVE PASSING YPG (10th) 81 54 PASSING YPG (9th) 26 No: 5 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 217 Age: 30 MIKE WILLIAMS MELVIN INGRAM 117.1 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 220 Age: 24 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 247 Age: 30 105.8 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 192 Age: 29 RB RUSHING YPG (15th) RUSHING YPG (9th) 25 12 RESERVE RESERVE 19 20 DESMOND KING II No: 98 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 280 Age: 24 No: 20 Ht: 5-10 Wt: 200 Age: 24 TURNOVERS (Tie 18th) PATRICK AFRIYIE TURNOVERS FORCED TREVOR WILLIAMS Ht: 6-1 Wt: 215 Age: 26 Ht: 5-10 Wt: 175 Age: 29 (Tie 16th) not on active roster No: 96 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 240 Age: 23 No: 24 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 191 Age: 25

RESERVES RESERVES K DT P S DONTRELLE INMAN No: 30 Ht: 5-10 Wt: 200 Age: 24 No: 16 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 205 Age: 30

JUSTIN JACKSON 4 GEREMY DAVIS 93 1 23 No: 22 Ht: 6-0 Wt: 199 Age: 23 No: 11 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 211 Age: 27 MIKE BADGLEY JUSTIN JONES TROYMAINE POPE ARTAVIS SCOTT Ht: 5-10 Wt: 183 Age: 24 Ht: 6-3 Wt: 309 Age: 22 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 205 Age: 26 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 220 Age: 25 No: 35 Ht: 5-9 Wt: 205 Age: 25 No: 10 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 195 Age: 24

TE LT RT 92 KR/PR 31 BRANDON MEBANE DESMOND KING ADRIAN PHILLIPS 86 76 69 No: 20 Age: 24 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 311 Age: 34 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 210 Age: 27 Ht: 5-10 Wt: 200

HUNTER HENRY RUSSELL OKUNG RESERVE RESERVE Ht: 6-5 Wt: 250 Age: 24 Ht: 6-5 Wt: 310 Age: 30 Ht: 6-5 Wt: 315 Age: 24 LS not on active roster JAYLEN WATKINS RESERVE RESERVE No: 99 Ht: 6-6 Wt: 295 Age: 22 No: 27 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 194 Age: 27 RESERVE VIRGIL GREEN No: 45 Age: 24 TRENT SCOTT No: 88 Ht: 6-5 Wt: 255 Age: 31 No: 79 Ht: 6-6 Wt: 309 Age: 22 No: 71 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 293 Age: 30 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 247 No: 32 Ht: 6-0 Wt: 206 Age: 22 No: 78 Ht: 6-5 Wt: 320 Age: 25

LG C RG OLB MLB OLB 66 53 75 58 52 42 MICHAEL SCHOFIELD THOMAS DAVIS Ht: 6-4 Wt: 310 Age: 25 Ht: 6-5 Wt: 298 Age: 30 Ht: 6-6 Wt: 301 Age: 28 Ht: 6-1 Wt: 235 Age: 36 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 240 Age: 26 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 251 Age: 22

RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE RESERVE

FORREST LAMP DAN FEENEY FORREST LAMP KYLE WILSON No: 77 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 310 Age: 25 No: 66 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 310 Age: 25 No: 77 Ht: 6-4 Wt: 310 Age: 25 No: 44 Ht: 6-2 Wt: 218 Age: 23 No: 56 Ht: 6-0 Wt: 231 Age: 23 No: 57 Ht: 5-11 Wt: 221 Age: 25 LATIMES.COM SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 V9 NFL PREVIEW CHARGERS

SCHEDULE

With Jeff Miller comments. The Chargers are off Week 12:

Sept. 8 INDIANAPOLIS 1p.m., Channel 2 Chargers face Colts starting QB instead of , who retired instead of having to come back from another injury.

Sept. 15 at Detroit 10 a.m., Channel 2 The Chargers won their first nine games outside of South- ern California last year before falling at New England in the playoffs.

Sept. 22 HOUSTON 1:15 p.m., Channel 2 Another battle of the Watt brothers, as the Chargers’ Derek (a fullback) and the Texans’ J.J. (a defensive end) share the field.

Sept. 29 at Miami 10 a.m., Channel 2 The Chargers lost in their last visit to the Dolphins, 37-0 in 2014 . Philip Rivers had three passes intercepted, was sacked three times.

Oct. 6 DENVER 1p.m., Channel 2 Amonth into the season, the first AFC West Division game arrives. The Broncos won in Carson 23-22 in November 2018.

Oct. 13 PITTSBURGH 5:15 p.m., Channel 4 In a prime-time rematch, the Chargers face the Steelers after winning in Pittsburgh on alast-play in Decem- ber.

Oct. 20 at Tennessee 1p.m., Channel 2 Also met last season in Lon- don, with the Chargers win- ning 20-19 in the waning sec- onds with stops on two two- point conversion attempts.

Oct. 27 at Chicago 10 a.m., Channel 11 Robert Gauthier Los Angeles Times All-time, the Chargers are 1- 4 QUARTERBACK Philip Rivers, left, and running back Melvin Gordon must thrive for the Chargers’ offense to succeed this season. when playing on the road against the Bears. The victory came in 1970 with at quarterback.

Nov. 3 GREEN BAY 1:15 p.m., Channel 2 This matchup of veteran prolific quarterbacks, Rivers and , will be WINDOW IS one of the highlights of Week 9.

Nov. 7 at Oakland 5:15 p.m., Ch. 11 , NFL Chargers face a short turnaround for a Thursday game and their final regular- season trip to Oakland as Las Vegas continues to build the WIDE OPEN Raiders’ stadium.

Nov. 18 KANSAS CITY 5:15 p.m., ESPN The Chargers are positioned for success, but the team For the second consecutive season, the Chargers play a home game in a different with a tortured history better take advantage of it now country. This one is in Mexico City.

Dec. 1 DYLAN HERNANDEZ Super Bowl, along with the are nothing compared with what they could at Denver and New England Patriots. face in the future. 1:15 p.m., Channel 2 The Chargers’ doomsday sce- “I think we are in a similar window that we Bosa, a former No. 3 overall pick in the draft, After aweek off, a third con- nario isn’t difficult to imagine. were in from 2006 to 2009,” Rivers said. is entering his fourth year in the league. The secutive AFC West game has Picture this: Over that four-year stretch, the Chargers team already has picked up the fifth-year op- the Chargers facing the poten- It’s 2021. Philip Rivers has won four AFC West Division championships tion on his rookie contract, but there are no tial mile-high chill of Col- retired. Joey Bosa has departed and averaged more than 11 wins per season. guarantees he will be with them beyond that. orado. in free agency. The Chargers are They secured a couple of first-round byes in the In fact, if Bosa plays too well over the next entering their second season in playoffs and reached an AFC championship couple of seasons, the Chargers could decide to Dec. 8 their new stadium, but have to game. let him go rather than offer him the kind of at Jacksonville share the place with the defend- In the eight years that followed, they re- megadeal that would be required to keep him. 1p.m., Channel 11 ing Super Bowl champion turned to the playoffs once. But if they part ways with Bosa, they would Playing the Jaguars on the Rams. Rivers’ sense is that window has opened up have to replace him. There’s no guarantee they road two years ago, the Char- So much for the ambitions they had of mak- again — perhaps for the last time in his career. would be able to do so capably. gers blew a lead late in the ing themselves relevant in Los Angeles. “I feel like we’re in that window,” Rivers said. The same is true of Rivers, their ageless fourth quarter and lost in The point of painting such a bleak picture “That doesn’t mean that it’s going to just hap- wonder. overtime. isn’t to introduce a fear of the future but, pen, but I do feel like we’re in that window Now in his 16th season, Rivers still projects a rather, to emphasize the promise of the upcom- capability-wise.” youthful exuberance. Dec. 15 ing season. Rivers mentioned the competition the “I feel great mentally,” Rivers said. MINNESOTA This is a rare window of opportunity in the Chargers will encounter in the West, particu- And physically? 5:15 p.m., Channel 4 tortured history of the Chargers. larly from the defending division champion “I don’t know about that,” Rivers joked. “I The Chargers will play at “No question,” Rivers said. Chiefs. felt stiff and old this morning.” home in Carson for the first They better do something with it. “That’s where it starts for us, trying to find a Which should be expected. He will be 38 by time in six weeks, and in their They still have their franchise quarterback way to win the division,” he said. the next Super Bowl. fourth prime-time kickoff of the season. in Rivers. They have dominant pass rushers in The Chiefs won’t be their only obstacle. His longevity has afforded the Chargers the Melvin Ingram, whom the team has signed to a 8 The Chargers’ best defensive back, Derwin luxury of being set at their most important Dec. 21 or 22 long-term contract, and Bosa, whom they James, will be sidelined for three to four position for more than a decade. In each of the OAKLAND haven’t. months. last13 seasons, Rivers started all 16 regular- Time and TV TBD They have a top-tier running back in the 8 Left tackle Russell Okung is sidelined season games. Raiders receiver Antonio prime of his career in Melvin Gordon, assuming indefinitely after suffering a pulmonary embo- As well as Rivers played last season, the Brown makes his only Carson he ends his holdout and rejoins them at some lism. reality is that his career is down to its two- appearance, assuming he’s point. 8 Receiver Keenan Allen has been slowed by minute warning. still on speaking terms with In their first season back in Los Angeles, knee and ankle problems. Rivers has said he intends to play in 2020, the NFL. they won six of their last seven games and “Once we start playing real football games, when the Chargers move into their new sta- narrowly missed the postseason. we’ll see exactly where we are,” coach Anthony dium. Beyond that, who knows? Dec. 29 In their second, last year, they were 12-4 and Lynn said. And who knows where the Chargers could at Kansas City won a playoff game. The Chargers host the Colts in Week 1 and be headed? 10 a.m., Channel 2 The Chargers should again be a contender the in Week 3. They have to win now. They don’t know The regular-season finale is to emerge from the AFC and earn a place in the Whatever problems the Chargers have now when a window will open for them again. set up to potentially hold massive AFC West and post- season ramifications in the cold. ‘I feel like we’re in that window. That doesn’t mean that it’s going to just happen.’

All times Pacific —PHILIP RIVERS V10 SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 LATIMES.COM NFL PREVIEW CHARGERS’ NEW PIECES NEW BEGINNINGS FOR THESE ENDS Bosa and Henry look revitalized as they put 2018 injuries behind them

By Jeff Miller

One return was about as subtle as a growling 6-foot-5, 280-pound rip and rush off the edge. Chargers defensive line coach Giff Smith said he noticed Joey Bosa — the real Joey Bosa — ex- actly one play into offseason work- outs this spring. “His first drill of individual,” Smith recalled, smiling. “You’re like, ‘Oh, God dog, now I know what he’s talking about.’ I missed him, man.” The other return required close observation of the whole package, which is fitting since the whole package is what Hunter Henry as- pires to be. Coach Anthony Lynn said he detected something slightly differ- ent about his tight end early in training camp. “Hunter is really cool,” Lynn said. “Even when he sweats, he ne- ver lets you know that he’s sweat- ing. I can tell, though, that he’s happy to be back.” Technically, they aren’t new pieces, although they missed most of last season, but more renewed pieces, Bosa and Henry returning healthy and ready to bolster the Chargers — a pair of ends, one on each side of the . Bosa was sidelined the first nine games last year because of a foot injury and, when he finally made it back, said he felt so unlike himself that he now prefers to for- Christian Petersen Getty Images Kyusung Gong Associated Press get the whole experience. HUNTER HENRY is expected to be a major target for Philip JOEY BOSA sat out nine games to start last season and said he Henry suffered a torn anterior Rivers after playing only 14 snaps in the 2018 season. never felt right even when he got back on the field. cruciate ligament that required surgery and a season’s worth of re- “It’s what I enjoy,” Bosa said. Damion Square, along with sec- tight end,” Scherer said. “A lot of able to reconnect. Rivers and habilitation before he returned to “People always ask me if I love foot- ond-year tackle Justin Jones and guys want to be just receivers and Henry even worked out together play 14 snaps in the Chargers’ final ball. I say I don’t love the sport of first-round pick Jerry Tillery, the they can’t block me or won’t block this summer in Florida when both game. football in the sense that I’m going depth as promising as the poten- me. That’s not Hunter.” were staying there. Both are now whole. to go home and watch it. But I love tial. Henry blocked extensively in He is another weapon at the vet- “In the spring, he was so much football in the sense of pass rush “The best pass-rushing teams college at , which back eran quarterback’s disposal on a faster, so much more explosive,” and technique.” have balance on both sides,” Smith then was operating a pro-style sys- team expected to contend in the Smith said of Bosa. “There is defi- On film, he dissects everything said. “When you have [Nos.] 54 [In- tem that ran before it passed. AFC. nitely a physical difference be- he does, in games and practices. gram] and 97 [Bosa], it causes Growing up, he tried to emulate Ja- “He’s another guy that can tween last year and this year. It’s He studies Aaron Donald, Von stress. They can only chip [block] son Witten, a player Pro Football ball,” Keenan Allen that obvious.” Miller, Khalil Mack and others. one of them. They can only slide Focus once labeled the NFL’s said. “I’ll still get my double-teams. The Chargers defense lost a sig- Bosa said his game — tech- the center to one of them. “most complete tight end.” But now we have another threat nificant piece in August when All- nique-wise — never has been more “We’re saying, ‘Pick your poi- Fellow Charger Sean Culkin lik- that’s going to be open 90% of the Pro safety suffered a advanced than it is today. He son. Which one do you want to have ened Henry to the queen on a chess time, and he always catches the stress fracture in his foot. Not long hasn’t necessarily perfected the one-on-one?’ And we’re good with board because “you can do every- ball. Hunter’s great.” before the injury, James had talked art of unleashing his hands from it. Having that balance back … thing with him.” Henry figures to The Chargers lost wide receiver about his desire to be an enforcer what’s called “combat position,” we’re excited about where we’re be a primary third-down and red- to Oakland this season. but nearly has mastered it. progressing.” zone target running the seams for through free agency and spent all Bosa now can assume that role, “It really helps your room be- The Chargers defense appears quarterback Philip Rivers. of training camp without Pro Bowl if he chooses, the fourth-year de- cause you’ve got an example to to be more complete. So too does He caught12 touchdown passes running back Melvin Gordon. fensive end pronouncing himself to show younger guys,” Smith said. Henry, whose commitment to be- over two seasons before his ACL But with the return of Henry, be ahead physically of where he “‘Hey, this is where we’re trying to ing an every-down tight end re- ripped during a practice in May Rivers has regained something was before he got hurt last August. get to.’ You wish they all could do it. sulted in him asking to take pass- 2018. The Chargers were then that was missing in 2018 — some- In the offseason, Bosa rededi- But it’s kind of like raising a kid. ing plays off during the offseason forced to bring back franchise icon thing reliable and complete. cated himself to working on his You can tell ’em. But sooner or lat- program. Antonio Gates. “Shoot, we could be really good, hand technique. He returned to er, you’re going to have to hold ’em He explained to his position “I was excited to kind of be the especially if we put our mind to it State for a few days to train accountable.” coach, Rip Scherer, that if the guy, you know,” Henry said. “I was every week and lock in,” Henry with his college position coach, An intact Bosa restores the Chargers were intent on limiting excited to continue to work with said. Larry Johnson. Chargers’ potent look up front. He the reps of their veterans for the Phil … I was really excited for the “When you’re spread out on of- He spent less time building and Melvin Ingram sake of preservation, he’d prefer to year. To have it taken away so early fense, it’s hard to defend. It makes brute strength and more time figure to be capable of bringing as focus on run blocking rather than was really difficult.” things easier on all of us. It’s going swatting at blocking bags and much pressure as any defense. pass catching. Now Henry is back, and Rivers to be fun.” swiveling his hips past imaginary Inside, the Chargers have veter- “Unlike a lot of tight ends these said it feels as if he never was gone. At least for two Chargers, it has defenders. ans such as Brandon Mebane and days, he wants to be an every-play That’s how quickly the two were to be more fun than all of last year. TAYLOR PROVIDES A BACKUP PLAN

those guys that just takes care of drafted Baker Mayfield. By Jeff Miller his business.” Taylor started the first three The Chargers hope Taylor never weeks of the regular season, was The performance was so stag- receives a meaningful snap this sidelined because of a concussion geringly dreadful that it lives on to- season, which would mean another and then wasburied with the rest of day with its ownproper name: “The healthy year for Rivers, who has Cleveland by Baker-palooza. Game.” started 219 consecutive games — “You can’t let anything in this As bad as Peterman’s five-inter- including the playoffs — since he NFL surprise you,” Taylor said. “I ception first half was against the took over in 2006. have great faith in my ability, and Chargers in November 2017 — and it But if the backup is needed, the I’ll stand on whatever’s meant for set records for awful — the after- Chargers believe they have in Tay- me. God will make everything work noon wasn’t exactly great for Tyrod lor one of the NFL’s most reliable out.” Taylor, either. insurance policies at the position. After opening four consecutive “There were a lot of emotions To understand how important seasons as his team’s starter, Tay- that day, a lot of different feelings,” that is for a team with Super Bowl lor signed with the Chargers in Taylor said. “I can’t necessarily ex- aspirations, just consider what March knowing, barring calamity, plain all that right now.” Nick Foles meant to the title-win- he has zero chance of starting. Benched in favor of Peterman in ning 2017 Philadelphia Eagles. He received a two-year deal adecision that instantly became “I’m confident,” Taylor said. “I worth up to $11 million, with $6 mil- part of lunatic lore, know my teammates are confident lion guaranteed, and — as has been Taylor maintained his profession- in my ability. I just gotta keep doing the case everywhere he has been — alism, gathered his wits and his whatever it takes each day to help showed up for his first day of work teammates, and led the whole this team. You can’t compare situa- Allen J. Schaben Los Angeles Times at 5 a.m. to work out. bunch into the playoffs anyway. tions. CHARGERS quarterback Tyrod Taylor, left, enters his ninth Taylor could have delayed sign- Reinstated as the starter, he “It’s different years, different NFL season knowing that he has almost zero chance of playing. ing, waiting to see if an opportunity guided the Bills to a 4-2 finish and players, different teams. You never to compete for a starting job ar- the franchise’s only postseason know what might happen. I know Because of those largely inac- mates — and — rived, but that possibility seemed berth over the last 19 seasons. I’ll be ready to do anything I can to tive years, Taylor, now 30, is one of enter the Pro Football Hall of slight. He never complained publicly. help this organization if the oppor- the NFL’s least appreciated, most Fame. As it turned out, Miami was the He never pouted. He never went tunity presents itself. If it doesn’t, forgotten longtime veterans. Then again, Taylor shared the only team in training camp with an the slightest bit diva. I’ll just be the best teammate I can Chargers coach Anthony Lynn field in his first Chargers game — in unsettled quarterback situation All he did was come in and fin- be.” was shocked in June to learn that the preseason in Arizona — with that didn’t involve a highly touted ish, closing with authority, like any Taylor, entering his ninth sea- Taylor had enough tenure to skip ex-Raven , who now rookie looking to break through. good reliever. son, wastaken in the sixth round by the team’s final day of minicamp plays for the Cardinals. “I’m a competitor,” Taylor said. That’s the guy the Chargers now Baltimore in 2011. He was the 11 th of under the veryguidelines Lynn had “When I got drafted in ’11, I “Of course, Iwant to play.But those have warming up in the bullpen if 12 quarterbacks drafted that year. established. thought he was a super veteran opportunities don’t always open anything were to happen to Philip Those selected before him include “It slips my mind sometimes back then,” Taylor said. “He’s defi- up. Rivers. , Ricky Stanzi and Na- too,” Taylor said, laughing. “I don’t nitely a super, super veteran now.” “You can’t turn down some- “He’s a pro’s pro,” quarterback than Enderle. feel old by any means. It’s been a After three years as the starter thing like I had on the table. I’m coach said. “If you He spent four years with the journey, but it’s also been a bless- in Buffalo, Taylor was traded to comfortable with the decision that can get a lot of players like that on a Ravens behind , won a ing.” Cleveland for a third-round pick in Imade. I think it was the right fit.” team, you’re probably going to have Super Bowl in 2012 and attempted Still, he already has watched March 2018. Just as importantly, so do the success in this league. He’s one of only 35 regular-season passes. two of his former Baltimore team- The next month, the Browns Chargers. LATIMES.COM SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 V11 NFL PREVIEW CHARGERS’ NEW PIECES THE VOICE YOU HEAR After 14 seasons with Carolina, Davis brings wisdom and leadership to Chargers

By Jeff Miller 2018 top team He is entering his 15th season in defenses in NFL aleague that traditionally chews up tendons and bones and players TEAM AVG. YDS (PTS) much sooner than that. 1. BALTIMORE 292.9 (17.9) Thomas Davis participated in his only Super Bowl to date with a 2. BUFFALO294.1 (23.4) broken arm. He has had the anteri- 3. CHICAGO299.7 (17.7) or cruciate ligament in his right knee repaired three times, doctors 4. MINNESOTA 309.7 (21.3) harvesting a slice of his hamstring 5. JACKSONVILLE 311.4 (19.8) and bits of both his patellar ten- dons in order to put the joint back 6. PITTSBURGH 327.2 (22.5) together. 7. DALLAS329.3 (20.3) The man is 36. “When the Chargers signed a 36- 8. TENNESSEE 333.4 (18.9) year-old linebacker, I’m sure a lot of 9. CHARGERS 333.7 (20.6) people were displeased,” Davis said. “For me, it was all about com- 10.DETROIT 335.0 (22.5) ing in and proving my worth, prov- ing I have a lot left. I want to make them proud I’m on this team.” James admitting, “I thought I was a After just one training camp, leader until I met him.” the Chargers are genuinely burst- James called Davis “a watch- ing over the most significant piece dog” because he misses nothing they added in a rather quiet off- that happens on the field. Defen- season. sive end Joey Bosa said Davis has They have marveled at Davis’ called him out for not hustling to leadership. They have praised his the sidelines. Linebacker Kyzir commitment. They have gushed White called Davis “an extra over his ability to blur past them in coach.” pursuit of the ball. “You always try to show players Over and over, for months now. what it looks like,” defensive coor- And here’s the interesting thing: dinator Gus Bradley said. “They Davis is certain those three torn learn better when they can see what ACLs — each a threat to his career it looks like. Well, now they know —have allowed him to extend it. what it looks like with him in the “I think that definitely has given room.” me some time on the back end,” he The Chargers added all this said. “I’m a15-year player right now, when they signed Davis. And so but I don’t have the pounding of a much more. 15-year guy. I’m trying to take ad- On a mantel back in North Car- vantage of that.” olina sit trophies for the following Over three seasons — from 2009 awards: the Call to Courage, for dis- to 2011 — Davis appeared in only playing character through adver- nine games because of his knee. sity and triumph; the , Otherwise, in his other 11 seasons, for exemplifying outstanding char- he has been the precise opposite of acter and leadership, and the Tony injury prone, missing five games Dungy Uncommon, which Davis because of injury. earned for his work with underpriv- Though Davis’ knee was once ileged kids. delicate, the rest of him never has There’s also a statue depicting stopped being dependable. one of the NFL’s all-time greats. “He’s a freak of an athlete,” said The Man of the Year Chris Harris, the Chargers’ assist- Award recognizes outstanding ant defensive backs coach and a communityservice, as well as excel- former teammate of Davis. “He’s a lence on the field. freak of a human being too. When Davis won his Walter Payton in he committed to coming back after Allen J. Schaben Los Angeles Times 2014 . When he discusses his off-the- the third ACL, I knew he’d be fine.” THOMAS DAVIS,who signed a two-year contract with the Chargers, has torn his anterior cru- field work and his Defending Davis called Harris soon after ciate ligament three times, but he says the injuries have allowed him to extend his career. Dreams Foundation — to encour- the Chargers offered him a free- age the development of students — agent deal in March. It took Harris stature, particularly coming off a true professional. He knows how to Davis and his wife, Kelly, when they he always uses the words “us” and mere seconds to begin selling the season with so many linebacker in- take care of his body. To watch him found out Southern California has “we.” team and the situation, both quite juries that the team was forced to now is quite amazing. I wish I could Chick-fil-A. “Thomas is like that big brother foreign to Davis, who had played try to stop Tom Brady by scattering still do what he’s doing.” And he has never stopped con- that you want to fight, but you his entire career in Carolina. defensive backs all over the field. Davis isn’t Brady when it comes suming football. He is so gifted ath- know you can’t,” linebacker Denzel Harris knew how well his good Harris had no doubt about what to avocado ice cream and organi- letically that as a rookie in 2005, Perryman said. “He has been shar- friend would fit into a locker room Davis — thrice rebuilt knee, 1,111 cally grown legumes. He said he Davis wore No. 47 for the Panthers ing a lot of knowledge. Every day, that Chargers management has tackles and all — still had left to “free eats,” which means he eats and played strong safety. I’m learning something from him, tried so hard to build on a founda- give a team. “pretty much whatever I like.” At 6 feet 1 and 235 pounds, line- whether it’s football or life.” tion of maturity and responsibility. “He has great genes, of course, After Davis’ introductory news backer has long since been woven It has been only one training He also knew the Chargers so he has to thank his mom and conference in March, there was an into his DNA. So toohas been lead- camp. The learning is just begin- could use a linebacker of Davis’ dad,” Harris said. “But he’s also a audible gleeful reaction from both ership, Chargers safety Derwin ning.

FROM ‘GUMPY’ TO GAMER Chargers rookies How these rookies might be contributing this season: Clemson in the semifinals. By Jeff Miller “Outside of him getting it JERRY TILLERY: Long, tall and taped,” Tranquill said, “no one athletic defensive lineman who They met in 2015, and the first could really tell anything was should get plenty of time in the impression made by Jerry Tillery wrong.” team’s rotation up front. Offseason was not the same one Jerry Tillery With Chargers general manager shoulder surgery slowed start to generally makes today. having identified the preseason, but the first-round Now, he’s a 6-foot-6, 295-pound Tillery as their possible top pick, pick appears to be healthy now. looming defensive presence the the scouts and coaching staff be- Chargers probably couldn’t be any gan dissecting film. NASIR ADDERLEY: Expected to more excited about having on their Though his statistics did dip af- compete for the starting job at free roster. ter the Stanford game, Tillery con- safety, the second-round pick But four years ago? tinued to be productive and mask missed much of August because of “I think initially he was just kind the fact that he wasn’t healthy. ahamstring issue that dates to spring. Returned to practice in of gumpy, goofy because he was a “Honestly, I could not see where final days of training camp. big dude,” Chargers teammate it hindered him,” Smith said. “I Isaac Rochell said. “He moves so think that alludes to the toughness TREY PIPKINS: Drafted in the well that when you see a big guy that’s in him.” third round as a raw prospect at moving that well, it just looks Tillery was held out of the Char- left tackle, he showed flashes of weird.” gers’ offseason program and much ability but also struggled mightily Ah, gumpy? Is that a word? of training camp before he made at times in preseason. Chargers “I don’t know,” Rochell said, his debut in the second preseason still like his potential, but he smiling. “If it isn’t, it still describes game. remains more of a project. what Jerry was when I first met Shortly after entering against him. You know, I probably New Orleans, he badly beat offen- : Described as shouldn’t say that. Now the head- sive lineman Nick Easton and being a “backyard” player by one line is: Rochell calls Jerry sacked Taysom Hill, who would go of his teammates, the fourth-round ‘gumpy.’ ” on to win the game in the second pick will be an immediate That won’t be the only headline Allen J. Schaben Los Angeles Times half — largely because of his elu- contributor on special teams. Tillery makes in 2019 if, as proj- ROOKIE Jerry Tillery, at right celebrating a sack against the siveness. Great instincts and understanding ected, he emerges as the most sig- Saints, gives the Chargers a long and athletic . “I think I’m quick off the ball,” of schemes could lead to nificant piece the Chargers added Tillery said. “I have great tech- additional reps on defense. in the draft. During his senior year, Tillery in the postseason. nique, and when I approach the They used their first-round pick had eight sacks, four of which came Tillery already was being proj- lineman, I have a big arsenal of : Another longer- —No. 28 overall — on a long and in one game against Stanford. ected as a top NFL prospect at a tools that I use to my advantage term project, the fifth-round athletic tackle they expect to clog Afterward, Notre Dame coach Bri- time when it’s not unusual for a and I am successful with.” pick had a predictably uneven the run and stalk the quarterback. an Kelly proclaimed, “You can’t player to leave his college team if it After the sack, Tillery stood and training camp and preseason. “We really like the progression block him one-on-one.” is in the best interest of his pro ca- pumped his right fist in an ani- Struggled trying to separate that he’s made,” defensive line “He’s gotten way better,” reer. Even healthy players have mated display that officially himself in battle to be the team’s coach Giff Smith said. “It’s early in Rochell said. “If you’d have asked skipped bowl games. marked his NFL arrival. third quarterback. the process. But, being drafted in me when I was a senior and he was “He was in pain, no doubt,” said Though demonstrative, the the first round, we have a signifi- asophomore was he going to be the fellow Chargers rookie Drue Tran- move was muted compared with : Athletic, cant ceiling that we see him getting 28th overall pick, I would have said, quill, who also played at Notre the one Tillery uncaged after one of versatile linebacker at a position where the Chargers have depth. He to.” ‘Ah, we’ll see. Maybe.’ But now he’s Dame. “But he’s a guy who just his sacks in that Stanford game. received reps with the first team at Rochell, also a defensive line- just come into his body.” loves the game, loves to compete Tranquill remembered Tillery times in training camp, mostly to man, was a junior at Notre Dame Tillery left that Stanford game and contribute. He wasn’t going to double-fist pumping and scream- gauge the sixth-rounder’s when Tillery arrived. Born in last season with more than just a come off the field.” ing toward the South Bend sky in a readiness for a real NFL game. Shreveport, La., Tillery had com- share of the single-game school So Tillery kept playing and manner he called “kind of Hulkish” mitted to the Irish before his junior record for sacks. He also suffered a practicing. He was limited only in as teammates converged on him. : Defensive year of high school. At that point, damaged shoulder, one that even- the amount he could do in the “It was just a massive sack,” lineman who provides depth at a he was playing on the offensive line. tually would require surgery. weight room. Tranquill said. “He got up and did position filled with veterans and But in college, he established It was late September and the He called getting surgery dur- his trademark celebration. From players with more potential. This himself as one of the nation’s top Fighting Irish were 5-0. While that ing the season “a nonstarter.” He then on, it just stuck. I’ll always re- figures to be more of a learning defensive linemen, one whose sounds encouraging, it also meant put off the procedure until after the member the energy of that sack.” year for the seventh-round pick. wingspan grew to nearly two inch- they still had seven more games in Fighting Irish advanced to the Col- It’s an energy the Chargers —Jeff Miller es longer than that of Joey Bosa. the regular season and at least one lege Football Playoff and lost to would welcome this season. V12 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 S LATIMES.COM LATIMES.COM S SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 V13 NFL PREVIEW 100 YEARS OF PRO FOOTBALL IT’S AMERICA’S GAME OF THE CENTURY

Pro football will be commemorat- 1964: The NFL gives home teams ing 10 0 years of existence this the option to wear white uniforms. season. Highlights from the cen- In 1957, the NFL had dictated the tury of play: home team must wear its colored jerseys. THE 1920s 1965: Penalty flags change color, from white to bright gold. In an 1920: Originally called the Ameri- October Harris survey, sports fans can Professional Football Assn., chose professional football (41%) the inaugural season featured 14 as their favorite sport, overtaking teams: , Buffalo All- (38%) for the first time. Americans, , Chicago Cardinals, Chicago Ti- 1966: On June 8, NFL commis- gers, Cleveland Tigers, Columbus sioner announces the Panhandles, , NFL and AFL have reached an Decatur Staleys, Detroit Heralds, agreement to merge into a single , , league by 1970. In the meantime, and Rock the leagues’ champions would Island Independents. The Akron meet each January in a new AFL- Pros were named the inaugural NFL World Championship Game. champions after going 8-0-3. The On Jan. 15,1967, the Green Packers Chicago Cardinals (now Arizona defeat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 Cardinals) and Decatur Staleys before 61,946 fans at the Coliseum. (now ) are founding (The game wasn’t officially named members still in existence. the Super Bowl until Super Bowl 1921: The Green Bay Packers join III.) The game was broadcast by the league, and the Decatur Stan- CBS and NBC, the only time this leys move to Chicago (where they title game would be simulcast across multiple networks. are later renamed the Bears). It is the beginning of the Packers- 1967: The league expands to 16 Bears rivalry. This season, the teams with the addition of the New teams will meet for an NFL-high Orleans Saints. 200th time on Dec. 15. 1968: The Houston Oilers move to 1922: On June 24, the American the and are the first Professional Football Assn. offi- team to play in a domed stadium. cially renames itself the National The Jets, with Joe Na- Football League. math at quarterback, famously Associated Press Associated Press defeat the Baltimore Colts in 1923: The Canton Bulldogs finish Bears fullback is tackled by the Giants’ Mel Hein in the championship game at the . 1958 SEASON Colts fullback scores the overtime touchdown in the NFL championship game against the Giants. with an undefeated record (10-0-2) 1934 SEASON Super Bowl III, becoming the first for a second straight season, the AFL team to win the Super Bowl. only franchise to go undefeated Before the game, Namath boldly more than once. had predicted: “We’re gonna win the game. I guarantee it.” 1924: Before the season, the owner 1969: The 50th season was the last of the defunct Cleveland Indians before the AFL-NFL merger. The buys the league champion Canton Philadelphia Eagles became the Bulldogs. The franchise is moved first team to play its home games to Cleveland and renamed the on artificial turf, which was in- Cleveland Bulldogs, who repeat as stalled at the University of Penn- champions with a 7-1-1 record. The sylvania’s . league has 18 teams. 1925: The Bears sign All-American THE 1970s halfback Harold “Red” Grange and embark on a nationwide tour 1970: The AFL-NFL merger takes that includes a game against a full effect as the NFL assumes its collegiate all-star team in front of modern two-conference structure. 75,000 fans at the Coliseum in The Baltimore Colts, Pittsburgh Steelersand Cleveland Browns January1926. join the AFL teams to form the 1926: Following a dispute with the Conference. NFL regarding his petition for a 1971: The playoffs begin on Dec. 25, franchise, C.C. Pyle the first time games are held on creates the American Football Christmas Day. One of the League, which ceased operations matchups, the ’ the same year. Meanwhile, the double-overtime victory over the NFL grows to 22 teams. Phil Bath Los Angeles Times Chicago Tribune Art Rogers Los Angeles Times Kansas City Chiefs, lasts 82 min- UCLA’s Wo ody Strode, left, and Kenny Wa sh- 1940 SEASON Coach George “Papa Bear” Halas celebrates 1948 SEASON , top, and Jack Banta show off the 1927: Under league president Joe 1946 SEASON utes 40 seconds — the longest in ington visit with Rams coach Adam Wa lsh at the Coliseum. the Chicago Bears’ NFL championship with his players. Rams’ horn-adorned helmets, the NFL’s first helmet emblems. Carr, the NFL eliminates its finan- NFL history. cially weaker franchises and con- tracts from 22 to 12 teams. Only 1972: The Miami Dolphins defeat the Washington Redskins14 –7 to four — the Giants, Cardinals, Bears and Packers — exist today. win Super Bowl VII and cap a17-0 season — the only perfect record in 1928: Before the season, the Cleve- the modern NFL. land Bulldogs and the Duluth 1973: Buffalo Bills running back Eskimos fold, leaving the NFL O.J. Simpson, the No.1 overall pick with10 teams, the smallest num- in the 1969 draft after winning the ber in league history. at USC, becomes 1929: The first NFL night game is the first player to eclipse 2,000 File photo held Nov. 6 between the Chicago yards rushing. His record stood Hall of Fame fullback Joe “The Jet” Perry of the Cardinals and Providence Steam- 1954 SEASON until ’s 2,10 5-yard 49ers was the league’s first back-to-back 1,000-yard rusher. rollers, illuminated by floodlights campaign with the Rams in 19 84. at Kinsley Park Stadium in . The game ball was painted 1974: NFL players hold a strike white to help the players see it and from July 1 to Aug.10 in response to the Rozelle Rule, which allowed the Cardinals won16-0. commissioner Rozelle to award THE 1930s compensation (which included players) to a team losing a free 1930: Brooklyn entrepreneurs agent if the player’s new team William B. Dwyer and John C. could not agree on compensation. Depler purchase the Dayton Tri- Players returned to training camp angles, move them and rename without a new collective bargain- them the Brooklyn Dodgers, after ing agreement, and the Rozelle the longstanding baseball team. Rule was outlawed in court be- The Triangles were the NFL’s last cause it violated the Sherman Act. original franchise at the time. 1975: For the first time, referees 1931: The Green Bay Packers win wear microphones to announce their third straight championship, penalties. The the first of two three-peats in the win their first of six Super Bowls, franchise’s history — an achieve- defeating the , ment no other NFL team has who would lose all four Super accomplished. Bowls they reached in the 1970s. 1932: The Portsmouth Spartans 1976: The NFL expands to 28 (6-1- 4) and the Chicago Bears teams with the (6-1- 6) finish tied for first, accord- and . The ing to league rules. The league Seahawks finish 2-12, and the schedules its first playoff game to Associated Press Associated Press Getty Images Buccaneers become the first NFL decide a champion instead of 1979 SEASON and the Pittsburgh Steelers won 1968 SEASON New Yo rk Jets quarterback sweeps 1966 SEASON The Packers’ Elijah Pitts (22) runs through a pile of bodies during the AFL-NFL Championship Game (aka Super team to go winless, at 0-14 . The going by the best regular-season their fourth Super Bowl title of the decade, beating the Rams. around right end during the infamous “Heidi Game” on Nov. 17. Bowl I). Green Bay beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 on Jan. 15, 1967. The game was played in front of 61,946 at the Coliseum. Buccaneers would lose their first record. Because of poor weather, 26 games before defeating the New the playoff is held indoors at Chi- Orleans Saints in 1977. The Cow- cago Stadium on a field 80 yards is held. Heisman Trophy winner ion at the World’s Fair in New York. years of U.S. involvement with 638 the Milwaukee Brewers’ Christian 19 52: After the first African American to be 1958: The Baltimore Colts defeat Broncos, boys modify their helmets to red, long (60 between the end zones) was selected first NFL players having served and 21 Yelich, is credited with the idea. owner sells his team back to the named the the league’s MVP. The the 23-17in the and Oakland Raiders. The Oilers whiteand blue stripes to honor the and 45 wide. but chooses a career in plastics THE 1940s killed in action. On the field, the league, the team is handed to an Cleveland Browns beat the Detroit league’s first sudden-death over- defeat the Chargers in the inaugu- bicentennial of the . 1949: Eagles running back Steve manufacturing over pro football. Rams win the title in their final ownership group in Dallas. The Lions 56-10in the title game. time game to win the NFL champi- ral AFL Championship. 1933: After years of racially inte- 1940: and the Chi- Van Buren and Packers running 1977: Instead of a traditional season in Cleveland and remain Dallas Texans finish with a league- onship in the so-called Greatest grated rosters, the league does not cago Bears beat the Washington back Tony Canadeo each eclipse Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas, 1937: After one season in the new the only NFL franchise to win a worst 1-11 record and, after that 19 55: The Baltimore Colts need Game Ever Played. Colts fullback 1961: The Chargers relocate to San include any black players after the Redskins 73-0 in the NFL Champi- the 1,000-yard rushing mark, the the league schedules a Miami version of the American Football championship and play in a differ- season, would become the last just an 80-cent phone call to sign Alan Ameche scored on a one-yard Diego, where they would remain owners agree to an unwritten onship Game, the largest margin first season in NFL history with Dolphins at St. Louis Cardinals League, the Cleveland Rams join ent city the following season. NFL team to fold. Dallas didn’t get quarterback , who run with 8:15 remaining in OT. for the next 56 seasons. On Jan. 7, policy of segregation. The league of victory in history. multiple 1,000-yard rushers. game. It was the second time since the NFL and finish last at 1-10 in the another pro franchise until the would go on to lead the franchise the inaugural is held wouldn’t reintegrate until after 1966 the Cowboys did not play on Western Division. Nine years later, 1941: , a former 1946: Upon moving to L.A. and launches of the NFL’s Dallas Cow- to three NFL titles, including a win 1959: is named in Miami between the second- World War II. THE 1950s the holiday, and the last time. the team would relocate to L.A. fullback, and athletic bringing the NFL to the West boys and the AFL’s Dallas Texans in . coach of the Green Bay Packers. place teams from the NFL’s two 1950: The NFL merges with the 1934: In the first title game for the director at Notre Dame, is named Coast for the first time, the Rams in 1960. The Texans went on to Over the next nine years, the Pack- divisions. The game would be held 1978: The NFL extends the regular 1938: L.A. Times sports editor Bill All-America Football Conference 19 56: The NFL implements a rule Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy, the the first commissioner of the NFL. sign UCLA stars Kenny Washing- become the Kansas City Chiefs. ers would win five NFL champi- annually until the NFL and AFL season from 14 games to 16 games Henry and promoter Tom Gallery and renames itself the National- that makes grabbing an oppo- New York Giants defeat the Chi- His tenure would last five years. ton and Woody Strode, who be- onships and two Super Bowls. In merged in 1970. and increases playoff teams from establish the Pro be- for 19 53: Federal judge Allan K. Grim nent’s facemask (other than the cago Bears 30-13 in what would be came the first African Americans 1970, the Super Bowl trophy was eight to 10, adding a second wild- tween the champion and pro all- 1942: Players leaving for military three months before the NFL upholds the NFL’s television ballcarrier) illegal. A brown 1962: Receiver Bobby Mitchell known as the “Sneaker Game.” to play in the NFL in the modern renamed the Vince Lombardi card team from each conference. stars. The champion New York service in World War II depletes name was restored. The merger blackout policy, which prevented leather ball with white stripes signs with the Washington Red- After trailing 10 -3 at halftime, the era. Trophy in his honor. Giants defeat the Pro-All Stars rosters. The Washington Redskins would add the Cleveland Browns, games from being shown in the replaces the black football for skins and becomes the first black 1979: The Pittsburgh Steelers win Giants changed into basketball 13 -10 in a game to raise money for defeat the Chicago Bears in the 1947: The Chicago Cardinals win San Franscisco 49ers and Balti- home team’s market. In 1973, Con- night games. The NFL Players player on the last all-white team in their fourth title of the decade, a sneakers to combat icy conditions the Salvation Army. It stood as the title game and end the Bears’ the NFL Championship Game more Colts to the NFL. The Rams gress would pass a law amending Assn. is founded. THE 1960s the NFL. The league’s segre- feat matched only by the San and ran away with the victory. league’s all-star game until the perfect season. over the Philadelphia Eagles 21-0. become the first NFL team to have the rule to allow the league to gationist era is over. Francisco 49ers in the 1980s. The 19 57: Syrcause running back Jim 1960: The Chicago Cardinals move 1935: The Detroit Lions, who had creation of the Pro Bowl more than The Cardinals, who later moved to all their games televised. black out only games not sold out Steelers also claim their second 1943: For the first time, the league Brown is picked sixth overall in the to St. Louis, and former Rams 1963: The Dallas Texans relocate been the Portsmouth Spartans 10 years later. St. Louis and then Arizona, have at least 72 hours in advance. Since set of back-to-back Super Bowls, requires players to wear helmets. 1951: The Rams defeat the Browns draft by the Cleveland Browns and general manager Pete Rozelle is to Kansas City and are renamed the season before, beat the New not won an NFL title since — the 2015, the league has dropped the something no other NFL franchise 1939: On Oct. 22, NBC broadcasts in the first NFL Championship wins rookie of the year. It was the named NFL commissioner.The the Chiefs. , at that York Giants 26-7 for their first of 1944: The Chicago Cardinals and longest active league drought. policy on a year-by-year basis. has accomplished. the Brooklyn Dodgers’ 23-14 win Game to be broadcast coast to start of Brown’s nine-year, Hall-of- American Football League is point the only coach in Cleveland four pre-Super Bowl champi- Pittsburgh Steelers are permitted over the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1948: The L.A. Rams become the coast. The DuMont Television 1954: San Fransciso 49ers fullback Fame career in which he led the launched in direct competition Browns history, is fired after a onships. Detroit is the oldest to merge for a season. The team THE 1980s league’s first televised game. The first NFL team to wear a helmet Network acquired the broadcast- Joe “The Jet” Perry becomes the league in rushing eight times and with the NFL. The AFL had eight 17-year tenure that included three franchise without a Super Bowl was called “Card-Pitt,” finished broadcast reached an estimated logo, painting Ram horns on their ing rights for $75,000. It is the only first back to record consecutive became the only player to average teams: Boston Patriots, Buffalo NFL championships. In Canton, 1980: becomes the first appearance. 0-10 and dissolved after the season. 500 TV sets in the New York area leather hats. Halfback Fred title the Rams have won while 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Later 10 0 yards rushing per game for his Bills, Houston Oilers, Titans of Ohio, the Pro Football Hall of non-NFL city to host the Pro Bowl 1936: First draft of college players and was shown in the RCA Pavil- 1945: World War II ends after four Gehrke, the great-grandfather of based in California. in the season, Perry becomes the career. New York, Dallas Texans, Denver Fame opens. [See Highlights, V14] V14 SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 LATIMES.COM NFL PREVIEW 100 YEARS OF PRO FOOTBALL

Sylvia Allen NFL Thearon W. Henderson Getty Images 1980 SEASON (63) leads way for Raiders’ Super Bowl XV win. 2016 SEASON 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick begins kneeling during national anthem.

Robert Gauthier Los Angeles Times 2018 SEASON New England’s scores against the Rams in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3, 2019. The Patriots won 13-3 for their sixth Super Bowl title.

[Highlights, from V12] cancellation of Week 3 games. The institutes a salary cap. Super Bowl played in the month. stoppage as owners lock out play- in the 30-year history of the game. NFL uses replacement players for 1995: The Raiders move back to ers in the preseason while sides 2002: The NFL expands to 32 The Oakland Raiders win Super the next three weeks until the Oakland, leaving Los Angeles negotiate a new CBA. The labor teams with the addition of the Bowl XV over the Philadelphia strike ends. For the first time, without an NFL team for the first issue was resolved and the regular Houston Texans, and Eagles, becoming the first wild- NFL games are shown on ESPN. time since 1945. Meanwhile, the season began as scheduled. becomes their first coach. card team to win a title. No wild- league launches expansion fran- 2012: ’ “Boun- card team did so again until the 1988: NFL increases the interval chises in Carolina and Jack- 2003: The NFL Network is an- tygate” rocks the NFL, and com- in 19 97. It’s hap- between plays from 30 to 45 sec- sonville, the first expansion clubs nounced and launches in Novem- missioner Goodell hands out the pened six times, most recently onds. NFL approves the transfer since 1976. ber, becoming the first 24-hour harshest punishments in league with the 2010 Green Bay Packers. of the Cardinals from St. Louis to channel dedicated to the league. Phoenix. A court in New York 1996: Cleveland Browns owner Art history. Coach and 1981: It is made illegal for players to upholds the verdict that awarded Modell attempts to move the 2004: Players can be penalized for assistants and Gregg put adhesive or slippery substan- the United States Football Browns to Baltimore. Under a excessive celebrations. NFL insti- Williamsand G.M. Mickey Loomis ces such as the product “stickum” League $1 in its $1.7-billion an- compromise with the league, tutes rule that would allow wide receive suspensions. Players Jona- on his body, equipment or uni- titrust suit against the NFL. Modell gives up the Browns logo receivers to wear numbers 10 to 19 than Vilma, , form. Rule is known as both the and colors, and the Ravens are in addition to 80 to 89. Will Smith and are 1989: Paul Tagliabue succeeds Pete “ Rule” and the “Fred born as an expansion team in 2005: An NFL record crowd of suspended (then overturned on Rozelle as commissioner. During Biletnikoff Rule” since both Baltimore. The Ravens would use 10 3,467 fills Azteca Stadium in appeal). The Saints also had to Rozelle’s 29-year tenure, the Super Raiders were notorious for using one of their first-round picks to Mexico City to witness the league's forfeit their second-round picks in Bowl was created, the NFL and sticky substances to make it easier draft Ray Lewis, who would lead first regular-season game played 2012 and 2013. AFL merged, and the league grew for them to intercept/catch passes. the Ravens to their first Super on foreign soil, a 31-14 Arizona from 12 to 28 teams and from a12- 2013: Season ends with the Seattle Bowl win four years later. Cardinals win over the San Fran- 1982: The 1982 NFL strike begins to 16-game schedule. Seahawks winning their first cisco 49ers. Sept. 21 and lasts 57 days. The 1997: The Houston Oilers move to Super Bowl, a 43-8 rout of the season is shortened to nine games THE 1990s Tennessee. For the first time since 2006: takes over as Denver Broncos. It was the first the award was created in 1975, the Super Bowl held outdoors in a and a16-team playoff format is 1990: Two teams — the San Fran- commissioner after Tagliabue Pro Football Writers Assn. has a cold-weather city (played in East introduced as a Super Bowl Tour- scico 49ers and the New York announces his retirement. The tie for MVP between Rutherford, N.J.). nament. It is the first time teams Giants — start the season 10 –1 and Super Bowl matchup between the and . It would with losing record make the play- meet in a marquee Monday night and the Chi- 2014 : Missouri defensive lineman happen again in 2003 when the offs — Detroit Lions (4-5) and matchup won by the 49ers . They cago Bears marks the first time becomes the first honor was shared by Peyton Man- Cleveland Browns (4-5). Raiders meet again in the NFC champi- two African American coaches openly gay football player to get ning and Steve McNair. win antitrust lawsuit that allowed onship game, which the Giants (Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith) drafted. Sam was taken by the St. the team to move from Oakland to win 15-13. The Giants also win 1998: Tennessee Oilers owner Bud meet in a Super Bowl. Dungy Louis Rams in the seventh round. Los Angeles. Super Bowl XXV, a game in which Adams announces the team becomes the first African Ameri- can coach to win a Super Bowl 2015: After two decades without a 1983: On Oct. 31, Chicago Bears Buffalo kicker Scott Norwood would change its name to the with the Colts’ 29-17 victory. Los Angeles team, the Chargers, founder George Halas dies. During misses a potential game-winning following the Rams and Raiders all announce his tenure as owner, the Bears won field goal in the final seconds. 19 98 season. The name Oilers 2007: The New England Patriots intentions to return to the city. eight NFL championships. He was would be retired by the NFL, the become the first team to go 16-0 in 1991: The NFL’s World League of The Rams and Chargers are ap- the head coach for six of those, tied first in league history. aregular season. New England American Football (later known proved for a move to the South- for most all-time. Halas was the would lose Super Bowl XLII to the as NFL Europe) launches. The 1999: The Cleveland Browns rejoin land. The Raiders later decide to last surviving member of the New York Giants. league would continue play (with the league as an expansion team relocate to Las Vegas. NFL’s founding meeting. the exception of 1993-94) until and go 2-14 . Since its reboot, the 2008: On March 4, Brett Favre 2016: quarter- 1984: sets records for 2007 and featured future NFL franchise has been to playoffs announces his retirement. Three back Colin Kaepernick begins yards passing in a season (5,084), stars such as Kurt Warner, Adam once, has not won a playoff game, months later, Favre is reinstated sitting, and then kneeling, during touchdowns in a season (48) and Vinatieri, James Harrison and and is in the midst of the league’s and traded to the . the national anthem to protest longest playoff drought, dating to passes completed (362). Eric Jake Delhomme. 2009: The 50th anniversary of the police brutality. Super Bowl LI is Dickerson sets record for yards 2002. the first to go overtime and the 1992: The NFL ceases instant original eight charter members of rushing in a season (2,10 5 yards). largest comeback victory in Super replay despite using it from 1986 to 2000: The NFL implements the the American Football League — Walter Payton breaks ’s Bowl history. The Patriots defeat 19 91. The vote was17-11 in favor of “Bert Emanuel Rule,” stating that Boston Patriots, Buffalo, Bills, career rushing record of 12,312 the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 after continuing replay, but 21 votes when making a catch and falling New York City Titans (Jets), yards, reaching 13,309. The Colts trailing 28-3 in the third quarter. were required. The NFL didn’t to the ground the ball is allowed to Houston Oilers (Tennessee Ti- relocate from Baltimore to India- bring back replay until1999. touch the ground and still be tans), Denver Broncos, Dallas 2017: The Rams have the offensive napolis. considered a catch if the player Texans (Kansas City Chiefs), player of the year (Todd Gurley), 1993: Only season NFL teams were maintains clear control. The rule 1985: The Bears win their only Oakland Raiders and Los Angeles defensive player of the year (Aaron scheduled to play the 16-game was a result of a controversial play Super Bowl behind the league’s top Chargers. Donald) and coach of the year schedule over 18 weeks. Teams felt in the NFC championship game, defense and No. 2 scoring offense. (Sean McVay) — the first time all two weeks off was too disruptive in which Emanuel’s reception was THE 2010s En route to the title, Chicago be- three award-winners come from to weekly routines, however, and overturned and the Tampa Bay comes the first team to record 2010 : Since a new CBA was not the same team. the league reverted to 17 weeks the Buccaneers lost to the St. Louis reached with the NFLPA, this was back-to-back playoff shutouts. 2018: After a13 -3 win over the next season. Rams 11-6. an uncapped season, meaning Rams, Tom Brady and Bill Beli- 1986: Limited instant replay is there was no salary cap or salary 1994: Owner Frontiere chick become the first quarter- adopted. A replay official in a THE 2000s floor for teams. The uncapped announces intentions to move the back-coach duo to win six Super booth decides what plays to review season limited unrestricted free Rams from Los Angeles to St. 2001: In the wake of the 9/11 attacks, Bowls. The Patriots tie the Pitts- and make the final ruling. There agency to players with at least six Louis in 1995. L.A. would be with- the NFL postpones all Week 2 burgh Steelers for most Super are no time limits on replays, years of experience, as opposed to out an NFL team until the Rams games and reschedules them for Bowl victories all-time. which leads to long delays. four under a capped season. returned 21 years later. The two- the end of the season. As a result, 1987: A players’ strike is called in point conversion after a touch- Super Bowl XXXVI is moved to 2011 : For the first time since the —Compiled by Mia Berry late September and leads to the down is adopted and the NFL Feb. 3, 2002, becoming the first 19 87 players’ strike, there is a work and Jack Harris LATIMES.COM SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 V15

TALES FROM THE NFL CLASSIC SKIT AND DEFENSIVE LEGENDS

The NFL is celebrating its 10 0th season, and there are many behind-the-scenes stories still to be told. Over the course of this season, Times NFL writer Sam Farmer will pull back the curtain and tell some of those, through the eyes of the players and coaches who lived them.

Channeling his inner he went for the rest of the game.” The then-Phoenix Cardinals jerk for laughs lost that day 31-14, but White was denied a sack. He had14 that is a funny guy, season. and never funnier than in his fa- Mission accomplished. mous United Way skit on an epi- sode of “Saturday Night Live” in 2007. If you haven’t seen it, John Randle: YouTube it. It’s a parody of a heart- Soul Man warming charity commercial that opens with the five-time NFL MVP During the draft, everyone playing football with a group of makes a big deal out of the rookie young kids in an urban park. class. These young guys are going The spoof ad starts innocently to be game changers. But that’s enough, with the wholesome Man- typically not the case. A select few ning encouraging everyone in the make a splash right away, but huddle to practice teamwork and most of the players who make a have fun. But when he steps back roster and stick around need some into shotgun it’s a different story. time to make the transition to the He starts directing traffic the way pros. They aren’t rock stars right he would in an NFL game, barking away. at his pint-sized teammates, rock- For instance, the Minnesota eting point-blank spirals at them, Vikings selected and angrily scolding them. (It’s State center in actually a Nerf ball that looks like a the opening round this year. He real football.) was a premier interior lineman in He drills a kid in the back with a college football and stands a good pass, knocks him over, then NBC chance of doing very well in the screams at him, “Get your head PEYTON MANNING initially thought his mock United Way commercial for “Saturday NFL. The Vikings like what they out of your …” He tells another, “I Night Live” was too edgy. Manning got so into the skit he did some improvising. see so far. It’s unfair, though, to can’t even look at you,” and gives place early and unrealistic expec- him a 20-minute timeout in the tations on what he’ll be as a rookie. portable toilet. He kneels and Matt Birk played center for the impatiently tells a third scared- Vikings, and wound up having a looking youngster, “OK, I’m sorry, Hall of Fame-caliber career with do you want to lose? I throw. You Minnesota and Baltimore, making catch. It’s not that hard, OK?” six Pro Bowls and winning a Super Later in the ad, Manning Bowl. He was a sixth-round pick teaches them how to break into a from Harvard, and didn’t have car, uses a kid as a prop to pick up anything close to those early ex- awoman and, with a beer in one pectations on him. However, he hand, drops an F-bomb as he tells did have Hall of Fame defensive them about a stint in prison. tackle John Randle weighing The tag line at the end: “Spend plenty heavy on him, and that was time with your kids … so Peyton quite enough. Manning doesn’t.” The way Birk recalls it: It’s a classic skit, but one that “It was my first training camp, almost didn’t happen. Manning and every day, he was just domi- felt uncomfortable with it when he nating me. I’m not exaggerating, read the script. It was too edgy for with Johnny there was no half- him. speed, it was game-day speed all “I remember they showed it to the time — walk-throughs, prac- me, and I kind of had that, ‘Ooh, I tice, all the time. Literally, I never don’t know’ moment,” he said. blocked him. “Because they put those sound “You’re a big, strong football effects with it [of the footballs player. You come from college thumping the kids]. I was just like, where you’re kind of the man, ‘Wow. I will go all the way up to the especially if you’re playing in the edge. Is this too much?’ And they Rick Stewart Getty Images Otto Greule Jr. Getty Images and you get drafted. convinced me. The director said, MARK MAY made it a point to stay on the was an ordained minister You’re used to just dominating ‘You’ve got to understand, you’re a good side of Reggie White when they met. who put the fear of God in opponents. people. And this was the opposite. charitable guy. That’s why we’re Iwas totally powerless. I felt like I’d going to go to the extreme and never played football before, never make it funny.’ ” did anything right. You almost feel Manning didn’t have a difficult like giving up. If there were 10 0 time finding his inspiration. points awarded every play, he was “I remember the [director] getting all10 0. There was no 70-30, saying, ‘I want you to treat these or 80-20. It was10 0-0 on every play. kids like they’re rookie wide receiv- “So it takes its toll. You’re won- ers with bad attitudes.’ I said, ‘I dering, ‘Why am I here? I can’t do can channel that. I know what that this.’ You’re in a bad spot, men- is.’ It’s one thing if they’re a rookie, tally. And Johnny was just Johnny. you kind of have some compassion. He never let up on you, never let up But if he had a bad attitude or was on anybody. lazy or whatnot, you kind of lost “Weeks into it, and lunch is the your patience with him. only time you feel like a human “So that’s what I was trying to being. Because you don’t have to channel. But there was some im- talk about football or watch foot- prov. I told the kid to go sit in the ball. You just get that half-hour to port-o-let; that was an improv.” yourself. So I was looking forward Then there were the stage to that little mental break before parents. we went out to practice and the “Some of the kids, their parents domination would ensue. were there watching,” he said. “I was walking through the food “And I heard one of the parents tell line, scooping food up, and he the director, ‘I want him to hit MY comes in — just a bounce in his kid in the face.’ That kind of freed step. He’s always kind of loud and me up. I was like, ‘OK, if you want boisterous. Guy just radiated your kid to get a little more air time energy. He comes over and puts and take one in the head from me, Joe Robbins Getty Images Chris Graythen Getty Images his face right down in my food. I’ll do it. I’ll knock your kid out.’ ” JOHN RANDLE always played at full MATT BIRK had a stellar career, but he’ll Then he goes to the other side of Turns out, the skit was a clas- speed, even in training camp against rookies. never forget his rookie indoctrination. me and sticks his face down in sic. Manning still hears about it. food. It was like a power move, like He was at an event in New York I’m going to embarrass you. recently and a distinguished sive end had forklift strength, so from the Washington Redskins the switch. “It was sort of funny, but then gentleman approached him. he could put a 320-pound tackle on and had been a Hog [a member of “We go out for the first snap and he looks up with me with just laser “He walked up to me and said, roller skates, move him briskly their legendary offensive line] and there’s a TV timeout. Mark walks focus. His whole demeanor ‘You hit my kid in the face with a backward, casually toss him aside had played against Reggie all the over to the Eagles and starts say- changed. He looked me right in the football back in 2007,’”Manning and swoop in on a quarterback like time, was playing as a guard. ing hi to all the guys. He tells me, eyes and said, ‘Today at practice, said. “I said, ‘Excuse me?’ abird of prey. “Our right tackle gets hurt, and ‘Yeah, we know each other from I’m going to take your soul.’ He “He said, ‘You pegged him in So the really smart offensive Mark May, a late-career guard the Pro Bowl. We’re all pals.’ I’m just let it hang there. He kept the face on Saturday Night Live. linemen would do anything to whose feet weren’t moving quite as like, ‘Mark, you’ve never done this looking at me, and I was like, My kid goes around and shows it to avoid angering the 300-pound quick, had to move to right tackle. before. Come on, man.’ And he’s ‘Uhhh.’ I believed him. He was girls. Shows it to them on YouTube White, an ordained minister, who That means against the Eagles he real nervous. capable of doing whatever he and it works for him. He’s in his played 15 seasons with the Phila- drew Reggie White. And the whole “So the game goes on and we’ve wanted to me. That was just about mid-20s and he’s working in New delphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers week Mark was in a funk. He was got this new tight end-slash-full- my entire rookie year.” York.’ ” and — for a final season — the working so hard in practice, lifting back named Butch Rolle. He was Eventually, Birk would go on to Not everyone was so tickled by Carolina Panthers. extra weights. He was pretty one of these guys who could only become a fixture on the offensive the skit. Former Arizona Cardinals freaked out. play angry. So he was always in line, and one of the better centers “I got a little blowback,” Man- center Ed Cunningham recalls a “So we go out for warmups people’s face, talking smack from to play the game. Oh, and he did ning said. “I got some fan mail from home game against the Eagles in before the game, and Mark walks the minute he walked on the field. reclaim his soul from Randle. people. I remember one person 1992, when teammate Mark May all the way across the field to Reg- He comes in, and the very first “I remember there was a play at saying, ‘I was watching Saturday went to extremes to make sure gie, puts out his hand, and about play, the fullback was supposed to practice where I got him, and I got Night Live with my10 -year-old and White had a pleasant, not-too- three hours before the game starts go over and help block Reggie with him good,” Birk said. didn’t really appreciate that.’ I agitating game — even if it meant politicking him. ‘Hey, Reg, how ya Mark, so we could run an outside “On the next play, there was didn’t write her back, but I was May delivering a beatdown to doing, man? How’s the church run play. going to be a double-team on him, like, ‘Why was your10 -year-old someone on his own team. going? Should I send a donation “Butch gets over there, dives at and I think he knew it. watching Saturday Night Live?’ How Cunningham remembers directly to you, or the church?’ Reggie’s kneecap, cuts him to the “He was so mad about the play Before you check me, let’s check it: “He comes back and I said, ground, and jumps up and starts before that he was like a bull, kick- everything here.” “Mark May is one of the most ‘Mark, what are you doing?’ He cussing at Reggie White who is ing his back leg up and spitting on headstrong, opinionated humans said, ‘Ed, if you’re going to play grabbing at his knee. You don’t cut my hand. Grunting like a bull. I —not just teammates — I’ve ever Reggie White, and he’s happy, it’s a Reggie. You don’t cuss at him. remember we came off on him as Don’t tug on known. He has an opinion, and whole different day than if he’s “Mark grabbed Butch by the hard as we could. … We didn’t move Superman’s cape he’s going to tell it right to your angry.’ So Mark knew. If Reggie’s collar, dragged him into the hud- him.” face. So we were getting ready to having a good time, he’s just hard dle, and I’ve never heard someone Randle was the proverbial Even to seasoned NFL block- play the Eagles, and Reggie was to block. If he’s angry, he’s going to get berated like that in my life. He example of the guy you’d hate to ers, the late Reggie White was still Reggie. He was right in his make you look like a fool. That’s said, ‘If you do that again, I will play against, but would love to terrifying. The Hall of Fame defen- prime. And Mark May, who came the difference when Reggie turned kick your [butt] on live TV.’ And off have on your team. V16 SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 LATIMES.COM NFL PREVIEW NEW PIECES IN NFC WEST ALL IN ON GOLD RUSH 49ers hope new ends Ford, Bosa can rejuvenate defense

our ability to do that.” SAM FARMER Ford and Bosa look as if they ON THE NFL could be dominant, even though each was hampered by injuries The San Francisco 49ers are in training camp. Bosa is hob- acrown-jewel NFL organization bling on a bum ankle, and Ford with more than two dozen Hall is slowed by knee tendinitis that of Famers, five Lombardi Tro- the 49ers say he has managed phies and a rich lore spanning through the years. eight decades. The closest comparison to But last season, the 49ers the current duo is when the made history in a humiliating 49ers had and way. during the brief They finished the year with Jim Harbaugh glory days, but two interceptions — count ’em, the most sacks Brooks had in a 1 two — the fewest for an NFL season was 8 ⁄2. team over the course of a season. Bosa and Ford look capable The previous record of 11 was set of being double-digit sack guys. by the Baltimore Colts in the Toss in defensive tackle DeFor- strike-shortened 1982 season. est Buckner, and, as Bosa said, It was an embarrassing defi- “It’s pretty impossible to double- ciency that absolutely had to be team all of us.” addressed in the offseason, and The Rams also have some the team did. significant defensive additions, Instead of overhauling the including Pro Bowl veterans secondary, however, the 49ers Clay Matthews at linebacker worked on the root problem: and Eric Weddle at safety. It They weren’t generating a pass remains to be seen how much rush, and opposing quarter- those players have left in the backs had far too much time to tank, but clearly the Rams be- sit back and dissect the defense. lieve they can be helpful both on So the 49ers picked up a the field and in the locker room. couple of elite defensive ends The team also added safety who could rip around the edges Taylor Rapp, a hard-hitting and wreak havoc. second-round pick from the They traded a second-round University of Washington. pick to Kansas City for Dee The defenses Pete Carroll Ford, who in 2018 had 13 sacks built in Seattle have been some and forced a league-high seven of the best in the league, but the , and used the No. 2 Seahawks are in rebuilding overall selection on Ohio State’s mode, especially after trading , younger brother of defensive end Frank Clark to the Chargers defensive star Joey Chiefs. Bosa. In comes Ziggy Ansah from Such is the symbiotic rela- Detroit, who is recovering from tionship of the front and back offseason shoulder surgery, and ends of a defense. If quarter- fellow defensive end Cassius backs have less time, they tend Marsh, a former UCLA standout to make more mistakes. If the who was drafted by Seattle in secondary blankets the receiv- 2014 and spent three seasons ers, that gives the rushers more there before landing in New time to get to the quarterback. England (briefly) and San Fran- Jeff Chiu Associated Press “It’s something that [coach cisco. DEFENSIVE ENDS (55) and Nick Bosa will be counted on to put pressure on quarterbacks Kyle Shanahan] and I had as a Arizona’s defense figures to and improve the 49ers’ chances at interceptions. San Francisco had just two interceptions in 2018. priority when we got here,” 49ers be lousy, at or near the bottom of general manager John Lynch the league, but new coach Kliff said after drafting Bosa. “Two of Kingsbury and top-pick From 2008 LAR ARI SF SEA the first things we talked about quarterback Kyler Murray to the present is finding our quarterback and should make for an entertaining PLAYOFF APPEARANCES 2437finding the guys to knock them offense. Murray is ultra-mobile How the teams in PLAYOFF RECORD 2-2 5-4 5-39-6 down. and elusive. the NFC We st have DIVISION TITLES 2324“Both in quality and quantity How elusive? We’ll find out on fared since 2008: we have improved drastically in Halloween, when the Cardinals NFC TITLES 1112 that respect. Now we have to go play host to the 49ers in a Thurs- SUPER BOWL WINS 0001deliver. Nick really helps us in day night game.

SAM FARMER’S OUTLOOK TEAMS LISTED IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1|RAMS 2|SEATTLE 3|SAN FRANCISCO 4|ARIZONA 2018 | 13-3, first in division 2018 | 10-6, second in division 2018 | 4-12, third in division 2018 | 3-13, fourth in division Last year in playoffs | 2018 Last year in playoffs | 2018 Last year in playoffs | 2013 Last year in playoffs | 2015

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH QB Jared Goff: With a contract extension RB : Even though the Sea- QB Jimmy Garoppolo: He’s the face of the QB Kyler Murray: The rookie No.1 pick looming, Goff needs to continue to make hawks used a first-round pick on Rashaad franchise and has a huge contract, although already looks comfortable in rookie coach strides, showing he can bounce back from a Penny, Carson was solid enough to hang on he has played only eight games for the 49ers. Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, directing traffic disappointing Super Bowl. Big third year in to his job as the No.1 running back. Carson He was 5-0 in his starts two years ago, and and changing plays at the line of scrimmage. Sean McVay’s offensive system. and Penny are going to be big factors in the 1- 2 last season before tearing his left anteri- He’s running basically the same offense CBrian Allen: Gone is the seasoned John Seattle offense this season. or cruciate ligament. Where is he in Kyle Murray ran at Oklahoma … but will it work Sullivan and in moves the second-year WR D.K. Metcalf: With Doug Baldwin’s Shanahan’s offensive system, and how will in the NFL? Allen, who was never activated for a game as retirement, the Seahawks will turn to this Garoppolo’s restructured knee hold up? WR Christian Kirk: After a solid rookie arookie. First up: an opener at raucous second-round pick, a specimen at 6 feet 4, DE Dee Ford: The 49ers haven’t generated season, Kirk needs to take the next step to Carolina. The first Rams player to touch the 225 pounds. Unlike Baldwin, Metcalf isn’t a any heat off the edge in recent years, and take more pressure off future Hall of Famer ball on every snap is essentially a rookie. slot receiver but should get plenty of atten- Ford should help that if he can do what he . Kirk was starting to DT Sebastian Joseph-Day: He’s on track to tion from quarterback Russell Wilson. did during his best years in Kansas City. emerge in 2018 when he suffered a broken start at nose tackle, replacing Ndamukong LB : He might be the best Statswise, he had two big seasons with the foot. Suh. The Rams were bad against the run linebacker in the league, and he’s the Chiefs and three modest ones. LB : Inside linebacker is a last season, in part because Suh would quarterback of a young and rebuilt defense. CB Richard Sherman: It’s stunning, but position of need for this team with a history freelance and sometimes leave his assign- Plays alongside talented fellow San Francisco had just two interceptions of injuries and an inability to stop the run. ment. Joseph-Day will need to stay home and K.J. Wright. Still, this last season, a league record for futility. Sher- The patchwork job last year didn’t work. and let plays come to him. is not the elite Seahawks defense we’ve man was shut out for the first time in his Now, new defensive coordinator Vance come to know. career. The ramped-up pass rush should Joseph needs Hicks to be a stopper, al- THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH help the secondary. though he also had trouble staying healthy LG Joe Noteboom: A swing tackle last THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH when with the Philadelphia Eagles. season who is likely to eventually replace TE : His rookie season was cut THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH Andrew Whitworth at left tackle, Noteboom short by a knee injury, but Dissly caught two TE : Tight end is the focal THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH replaces Rodger Saffold and will have 14 - touchdown passes in his first four games. point of this offense, and Kittle is a prolific CB Byron Murphy: This rookie from Wash- year veteran Whitworth on one side and Tight end plays a significant role, and he one. He set the single-season yardage ington might not start but likely will line up fellow second-year lineman Allen on other. should make a sizable contribution. record at the position last season, establish- in the slot for a secondary that will miss OLB Dante Fowler: Although he had op- DE L.J. Collier: The Seahawks envision this ing that new standard in Los Angeles in All-Pro for the first six portunities for longer-term deals elsewhere, year’s first-round pick in a Michael Bennett December. games because of a suspension. Fowler opted to re-sign a one-year agree- role, lining up inside and outside. The de- DE Nick Bosa: He has looked great for DE Zach Allen: With the Cardinals parting ment. He essentially gambled on himself, fense is missing pass rushers Frank Clark much of the summer, like someone worthy ways with defensive linemen and he’s coming off a strong finish. and from last season and won’t of the No. 2 pick. But Bosa missed all of and , this rookie likely SEric Weddle: In essence, Weddle is a de- have for the first six games spring workouts with a hamstring injury will be pressed into a starting role. fensive coordinator on the field. He’ll line up because of a suspension. and rolled his ankle in camp. Can he stay LT D.J. Humphries: Left tackle Humphries all over, direct trafficand lend his wealth of SMarquise Blair: Seattle’s tradition of healthy? has a lot of talent, but he hasn’t been able to experience. The Rams are giving up some- hard-hitting safeties lives on in Blair, who WR Dante Pettis: Shanahan thinks Pettis is stay healthy. This is a contract year for him, thing in going with a 34-year-old safety (as twice was ejected for targeting in his senior the most talented receiver on the team and and this offense — with its many multire- opposed to 28-year-old Lamarcus Joyner), season at Utah last fall. The second-round is pushing him this summer to step into that ceiver sets — demands that tackles work but the experience could be worth it. pick has been studying film of Earl Thomas No.1 role. Pettis needs to be more consistent without much help. and Kam Chancellor to figure how to be a and avoid injury. BURNING QUESTION relentless (but clean) enforcer. BURNING QUESTION Is Todd Gurley still Todd Gurley? His disap- BURNING QUESTION Kingsbury had a losing record as a college pointing showings in the NFC title game BURNING QUESTION The 49ers have been torpedoed by a slew of coach and failed to win more than seven and Super Bowl fueled speculation that he’s Can Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson redis- big injuries in recent years. Can they stay games with at quarter- dealing with residual knee issues, but the cover the success of earlier years with all the healthy enough to put a strong season to- back. Can he get traction with this offense in Rams insist he isn’t nursing an injury. changes on both sides of the ball? gether? the NFL? LATIMES.COM SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 V17 NFL PREVIEW NEW PIECES IN NFC NORTH FIELD GOAL OF DREAMS After their kicking nightmare of 2018, Bears’ hopes ride on novice

takes over a defense led by out- SAM FARMER side linebacker Khalil Mack, who ON THE NFL had12½sacks last season de- spite missing training camp. He The Chicago Bears are deter- was a contract holdout for the mined to get this season off on Raiders, who wound up trading the right foot. him to Chicago just before the And they’re hoping that’s the start of the season. right foot of Eddy Pineiro. Quarterback Mitch Trubisky Eight months removed from helms an offense that won’t have the devastation of ’s running back “” — a field goal (traded to Philadelphia) but has miss so painful it got its own added running backs Mike Davis nickname — the Bears are mov- and rookie David Montgomery, ing forward with Pineiro, who as well as receiver Cordarrelle has no NFL experience beyond Patterson. exhibitions. Trubisky is the only starting Don’t blame the Bears if they quarterback in the NFC North want to cover their eyes and peek who isn’t coming off a disap- through their fingers. It was a pointing season. Green Bay’s comically errant kick that ended Aaron Rodgers, Detroit’s their promising 2018 season with a and Minneso- home playoff loss to Philadelphia. ta’s had forgettable There were 10 seconds left when 2018 seasons. Parkey lined up for a 43-yard None was abysmal, but none attempt with the Bears trailing guided his team to the playoffs. 16-15. He hooked his kick and the “There were high expecta- ball plunked the left upright, then tions and we didn’t deliver,” said caromed off the crossbar on the Cousins, referring to the Vikings, way down for good measure — “and so I’ve been frustrated hence the double-doink. since the season ended.” Unbelievably, it was the sixth Minnesota used its opening time Parkey had hit the upright pick on the player who touches that season. the ball first, drafting North Believably, Parkey hit the Carolina State center Garrett bricks. The Bears absorbed $4.1 Bradbury. The team also million in dead-cap money to get brought in Gary Kubiak as as- rid of him. sistant head coach/offensive Eight rookies tried out for the advisor as Cousin enters the job in a spring minicamp, but the critical second season of his Bears ultimately went in another guaranteed $84-million contract. direction. They traded a condi- Green Bay has a new head tional 2021 draft pick to Oakland coach in former Rams offensive for the rights to Pineiro, a former coordinator Matt LaFleur, and a standout trio of high-octane outside line- who was on track to win the backers in Za’Darious Smith, Raiders’ job last season before a Preston Smith and first-round groin injury. pick . Pineiro, 23, beat out South Under first-year coach Matt Carolina’s Elliott Fry in training Patricia, Detroit lost seven of its camp but understands the ten- final 10 games and finished with uous nature of the job. double-digit losses for the first “I’ve just got to make all my time since 2012. kicks,” Pineiro said. “With the The Lions added defensive whole kicking struggle from last end and receiver Chris Sweda Chicago Tribune year, they’ve got us on thin ice as well as EDDY PINEIRO takes over Chicago’s kicking chores despite no regular-season experience. “With here.” running back C.J. Anderson, the the whole kicking struggle from last year, they’ve got us on thin ice here,” Pineiro says. The Bears have the ingredi- outstanding fill-in for the Rams ents of a Super Bowl contender. last season, and rookie T.J. They had the league’s No.1 Hockenson, the best tight end in From 2008 CHI DET GB MIN defense last season and were this year’s draft class. to the present ranked ninth on offense, with the The Lions have a new offen- PLAYOFF APPEARANCES 2385creative winning sive coordinator in Darrell Bev- How the teams in PLAYOFF RECORD 1-20-3 9-72-5 coach-of-the-year honors. ell, having parted ways with Jim the NFC North have DIVISION TITLES 2054Chicago is aiming to make the Bob Cooter after a disappointing fared since 2008: playoffs in consecutive seasons 2018. Detroit finished 24th in NFC TITLES 0010 for the first time since 2005-06. total offense last season and SUPER BOWL WINS 0010Coordinator 25th in points per game.

SAM FARMER’S OUTLOOK TEAMS LISTED IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1|CHICAGO 2|MINNESOTA 3|GREEN BAY 4|DETROIT 2018 | 12-4, first in division 2018 | 8-7-1, second in division 2018 | 6-9-1, third in division 2018 | 6-10, fourth in division Last year in playoffs | 2018 Last year in playoffs | 2017 Last year in playoffs | 2016 Last year in playoffs | 2016

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH QB Mitch Trubisky: Entering his third QB Kirk Cousins: Almost every move the QB Aaron Rodgers: Considered by many QB Matthew Stafford: Last season was not season, Trubisky has worked on diagnosing Vikings made this offseason was directed the league’s top quarterback, Rodgers was agood one for Stafford, who had his lowest defenses before and immediately after the toward making life better for Cousins, in- hurt the last two seasons. Last season, he passing totals since 2010. He has a new offen- snap. Coaches say he’s made huge strides in cluding bringing in quarterback guru Gary was atypically inconsistent, missing some sive coordinator in and will that department, but observers notice his Kubiak. Cousins needs to prove he can show throws he usually completes. Looks good in look to improve on his sporadically accurate accuracy has wavered this summer. up when it matters most. camp so far. deep passes. OLB : A first-round pick in DE : The former USC star OLB Za’Darius Smith: A rising star in RB : The Lions need to 2016, Floyd has not put up great numbers. missed five games because of a mental- Baltimore, he signed a four-year, $66-million get back to running the ball, and Bevell He went without a sack for the first half of health issue last season and wasn’t the deal with the Packers, the most lucrative plans to do that. Johnson is the team’s best the 2018 season before rallying in the second same player when he returned. The Vikings deal among Green Bay’s big four free-agent back and was off to a good start last season half. Being a bookend to Khalil Mack should need him back at his dominant 2017 level. signings. The team needs a double-digit- before suffering a sprained ligament just create opportunities. CB : A Pro Bowl player in sack season from him. past the midway point. ILB : The eighth overall pick 2017, Rhodes was building a case as one of WR : Trust is a huge factor DE Trey Flowers: For a team looking to in 2018 is starting to shine. He’s got great the league’s top shutdown corners. He with Rodgers, and Adams is his most- become Patriots West, Flowers is a logical instincts and range. Smith missed training dropped off last season, however, and com- trusted receiver by far. He already was the addition. Even though the former New camp last year because of a contract hold- mitted a lot of pass-interference penalties. target on 28% of the team’s passing plays, England standout had shoulder surgery out, so it took a while to catch up. Now, he’s Prove-it time. and now Randall Cobb is in Dallas. after the Super Bowl, the Lions made him already in fifth gear. the NFL’s third-highest-paid defensive THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH player. THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH TE Irv Smith Jr.: The Vikings selected CB Kevin King: Wiry and wildly athletic, TE Adam Shaheen: The Bears don’t have a Smith in the second round with an eye King has had serious difficulties getting THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH proven in-line tight end, so if he plays well, toward him stretching the field. At 21, he’s onto the field because of injuries. Now in his STracy Walker: A second-year player and Shaheen could be a key to unlocking some raw, and Kubiak said the rookie’s mind is third year, he’s finally healthy and starting backup last season, the solid-tackling elements of Matt Nagy’s offense. Shaheen “swimming” because “we’re asking a lot of to make the plays the Packers envisioned Walker takes over for the retired Glover needs to stay healthy and block better. him right now.” when they drafted him. Quin, a longtime leader in the secondary. RB David Montgomery: This rookie from WR : The son of former NFL FB Danny Vitale: A tight end in college, Walker looks the part, but can he play it? State brings flexibility and versatility receiver Don Beebe, Chad made the most of Vitale is a key fixture in this fullback-friendly CFrank Ragnow: The second-year Ragnow to the offense. He’s not super-fast, but he’s a his free-agent tryout and has worked his offense. The Packers will use two backs was moved to center this year — his college fluid runner with elusiveness. The Bears way into a third-receiver role. He’s a situa- frequently, and Vitale is particularly tal- position — after playing guard his first NFL want to use him the way the Chiefs, Nagy’s tional guy who can line up in the slot and get ented when it comes to catching balls out of season. He bumped an established veteran old team, used Kareem Hunt. open. the backfield. and is key to getting Bevell’s running game WR Anthony Miller: As a rookie last season, CGarrett Bradbury: A first-round pick WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling: Great size rolling. Miller led the Bears with seven touchdown from North Carolina State, Bradbury fits at nearly 6 feet 5 inches, Valdes-Scantling TE T.J. Hockenson: Selected eighth overall catches. He wasn’t as detailed on his routes Minnesota’s zone-blocking scheme beauti- has scorching speed and looks a lot better in in this year’s draft, Hockenson was taken as he could have been, however. Now, he’s fully. The Vikings feel so good about him camp this year than last. With his stature the highest of any tight end since Vernon coming off labrum surgery that kept him out that they already have moved and speed, he reminds some people of Davis (sixth by San Francisco in 2006). of offseason workouts. from center to guard. Plaxico Burress. Hockenson is a rare talent who’s good at blocking and catching. BURNING QUESTION BURNING QUESTION BURNING QUESTION Can the Bears make a kick? That used to be Can Cousins prove he was worth the money Will Rodgers click with new coach Matt BURNING QUESTION automatic back in the days, and get the team back to its 2017 level? The LaFleur? The former Rams assistant coach How will players respond to coach Matt but it was the team’s undoing with Cody club’s future rests on his shoulders, and the wants to run the ball more after Green Bay Patricia in his second year? They didn’t like Parkey last season. There were nine kickers first month of the season will be a signifi- dropped back more than any team in the him much last season, but he seems to be a trying out at rookie mini-camp. It’s essential cant test, including games at Green Bay and NFC. Everyone is breathing easier after little more flexible this year. Patricia has that the Bears get that right. at Chicago. some tense years with Mike McCarthy. brought in a lot of his old Patriots. V18 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 LATIMES.COM NFL PREVIEW NEW PIECES IN NFC SOUTH BANKING ON THE BIG EASY looks for staying power as a Saints tight end

“We’re different, but yet SAM FARMER there’s some similarities. We’ll ON THE NFL watch and study [the Raiders’] film and look for ideas.” Jared Cook is a tight end out Next, Cook has at of central casting. Perfect for the quarterback, a future first-ballot part. Hall of Famer who is at his best He’s 6 feet 5 and 254 pounds, throwing intermediate routes, with a grip sticky as flypaper. He precisely the type Cook will be knows how to get open and wrap running. his hands around the football, as “It’s all about the prepara- he did with Oakland last season, tion,” Cook said. “The more you where he made 68 receptions and go into a game plan knowing scored six touchdowns — both what to do, knowing what your career highs. quarterback is going to check to But Cook, who signed in or tell you before he even says it, I March with New Orleans, has think the preparation in that had his share of disappointing aspect gives you a step above the seasons as well, bouncing from competition.” Tennessee to St. Louis to Green And finally, the Saints have Bay to Oakland. receiver Michael Thomas and Not surprisingly, Saints coach running back , who Sean Payton is taking a bit of will attract much of the defensive I’ll-believe-it-when-I-see-it ap- attention, so Cook can be a bit proach to his new tight end, all more inconspicuous than he was the while encouraged that his in undermanned Oakland. team has successfully addressed “At the end of the day, you its biggest offensive need. can’t double all those guys,” In discussing Cook during a Brees said. “Defenses are going recent radio interview, Payton to try to mix it up and at times told a story about his parents, are going to take some chances. their love of garage sales, and And when they do, you’re ready how it helped foster a bit of buy- for it and you try to take advan- er-beware skepticism in his tage.” approach. The Saints also have added “That was their hobby to- running back Latavius Murray gether,” he said on Sirius/XM and rookie center Erik McCoy, a NFL Radio, conceding that he second-round pick from Texas too was circumspect about A&M who is penciled in to re- Cook’s inconsistency over the place Max Unger. course of 10 seasons. “So we Elsewhere in the division, probably had about 10 different Atlanta fortified the interior of sofas — and each one was met its offensive line by adding with the same enthusiasm when guards James Carpenter and it arrived. Then every once in a , as well as defen- while, you’d lean back and sive ends Chris Odom and Adri- there’d be a leg off. an Clayborn. “And you’d be like, ‘Oh, this is Carolina and Tampa Bay why it was for sale.’ ” used their top draft pick on There are reasons to believe defensive stars, with the Pan- this could be a big season for thers taking Florida State edge Cook. First, he thrived in Jon rusher Brian Burns, and the Gerald Herbert Associated Press Gruden’s offense in Oakland, one Buccaneers going with Louisi- SAINTS TIGHT END Jared Cook caught 68 passes and scored six touchdowns — both career highs that’s similar to what Payton ana State linebacker Devin — with the Raiders last season. He has been plagued by inconsistency during his 10 seasons in NFL. runs in New Orleans. They White. coached together as Carolina further fortified its young assistants in Philadelphia. defensive line with tackle Gerald From 2008 ATL CAR NO TB “I cut my teeth a little bit McCoy and end . to the present offensively in his system,” Payton , the new coach PLAYOFF APPEARANCES 6560told reporters recently. “Jon is at Tampa Bay, brought in safety- How the teams in PLAYOFF RECORD 4-6 3-5 7-50-0 extremely talented in putting linebacker the NFC South have DIVISION TITLES 3440together a plan. Just the installa- from his Arizona days, as well as fared since 2008: tion, the consistency with how defensive tackle Ndamukong NFC TITLES 1110 you teach and what you do with Suh, most recently with the SUPER BOWL WINS 0010your players. Rams.

SAM FARMER’S OUTLOOK TEAMS LISTED IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1|NEW ORLEANS 2|ATLANTA 3|CAROLINA 4|TAMPA BAY 2018 | 13-3, first in division 2018 | 7-9, second in division 2018 | 7-9, third in division 2018 | 5-11, fourth in division Last year in playoffs | 2018 Last year in playoffs | 2017 Last year in playoffs | 2017 Last year in playoffs | 2007

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH DE : The Saints traded QB Matt Ryan: After a down year in 2017, QB : He had arthroscopic QB : New coach Bruce up to grab Davenport a year ago, and now Ryan finished last season with 35 touch- shoulder surgery in January but was throw- Arians has deemed this “Winston’s team,” they’re expecting to reap the rewards. He’ll downs and seven interceptions. He’s playing ing ahead of schedule in the spring. He has so there’s no doubt about who’s at the helm. need to take more of a commanding role as a under his third in four been working on a more compact delivery There should be more balance between the pass rusher opposite Cam Jordan because seasons, but at least it’s someone he has and on looking for safer check-down throws passing and running games this season, (torn Achilles tendon) is played for in Dirk Koetter. and underneath routes. which will take some weight off the shoul- expected to sit out half the season. WR : The standards are lofty for LB : The Panthers are switch- ders of the former No.1 pick. RB Alvin Kamara: The team let Mark In- one of the league’s top receivers, but he ing to a 3-4 defense, a first for Kuechly. He’s TE O.J. Howard: Ankle injuries cut short gram go, so there’s no more Boom (Ingram) undeniably has suffered a dip the last two likely to excel in that scheme, but the All- Howard’s first two seasons in the league, and Zoom (Kamara) duo. Kamara has years. He had three touchdowns in 2017 and Pro has a history of concussions and the but he also showed a lot of potential, averag- bulked up a bit in the offseason in prepara- zero in the first seven games last year. Needs coaches have been cautious with him in ing 16.6 yards per catch in his 24 games. He tion for a heavier workload in the abetter start. training camp. They need his veteran pres- should be a big factor in the Arians offense, offense. DE : After All-Pro honors and ence. and a set of sure hands for Winston. TE Jared Cook: All expectations are that leading the league in sacks in 2016, Beasley RB Christian McCaffrey: Not only was he LB : A defensive stalwart, this veteran will be the third cog in a Drew had only five sacks in each of the last two the team’s most-targeted pass catcher last David had a knee procedure for torn menis- Brees offense featuring Kamara and receiver seasons. Now, he’s in a contract year and is season, but also McCaffrey’s per-game carry cus this summer but sat out only three days Mike Thomas. Watch for the Saints to put expected to step up, despite skipping the total nearly doubled his per-game carry of practice. He forced five fumbles and Cook on one side, and Kamara and Thomas team’s offseason program. total from his rookie year — 7.3 to 13.7 recovered five in 2017, and last season had a on the other, and make defenses choose. carries. He’s aiming for 1,000 yards on the career-high 120 tackles in 14 games. THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH ground and in the air this season. THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH GChris Lindstrom: Atlanta selected two THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH CErik McCoy: The second-round pick from offensive linemen in the first round, and No. THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH LB : If his NFL career is any- Texas A&M will be the first rookie center to 14 pick Lindstrom was the first. A dream for WR DJ Moore: A first-round pick last sea- thing like the one he had in college, White start the opener in Saints history. He’s got the Falcons would be if he pans out as well as son, Moore was inserted into the starting will become a star. In his final two seasons at big cleats to fill, those of Max Unger, but he’s Notre Dame guard (sixth lineup in Week 8 and proved to be outstand- State, the linebacker had 256 1 1 got veteran help all around him. pick) did for the Indianapolis Colts last ing after the catch. Newton might not throw tackles (25 ⁄2 for a loss), 7 ⁄2 sacks and nine WR Emmanuel Butler: This 6-foot-4 rookie season. deep as much, but a short catch and long pass deflections. is the carbon copy of , the WR : Showed a lot of promise run by Moore is just as good. WR : Arians, who last all-time franchise leader in virtually every as a rookie last season, especially early. In OLB Brian Burns: The Panthers’ top selec- coached the Arizona Cardinals, has com- receiving category. Butler isn’t super-fast, Koetter’s system, he’ll frequently line up tion in this year’s draft figures to be a situa- pared Godwin’s role to that of future Hall of but he’s a big target and could round into an outside, opposite Jones, with Mohamed tional starter who can get after the quarter- Fame receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Godwin ideal receiving complement for Thomas. Sanu in the slot. back. In a division with quarterbacks Drew was targeted in the red zone more than DT : The fourth-year LB Takk McKinley: The former UCLA Brees, Matt Ryan and Jameis Winston, anyone on the Buccaneers last season. player from Canada will see his responsibili- standout is heading into a season feeling that’s especially important. RB Ronald Jones: The former USC stand- ties increase with Rankins out. It won’t healthy after shoulder injuries led to sur- WR Curtis Samuel: He had leg injuries as a out was selected in the second round last happen right away, however, because Onye- geries in his first and second seasons. As a rookie in 2017 and an irregular heartbeat year, but his performance didn’t justify that mata is suspended for the opener for violat- 3-4 linebacker, he’ll be expected to step up that required a surgical procedure last draft status. He’s competing with Peyton ing the league’s drug policy. his pass rush and justify the Falcons’ consid- season, but the team likes the boundless Barber, who got 60% of the carries last sea- erable investment in him. potential it sees in him. son. BURNING QUESTION Can the Saints recover from the hangover of BURNING QUESTION BURNING QUESTION BURNING QUESTION consecutive heartbreaking playoff losses to The Falcons tend to put up solid fantasy With all their one-year deals, the Panthers Can quarterback guru Arians do what he Minnesota and the Rams? The clock is football numbers, but can they translate clearly feel they are in win-now mode. Can did with , Andrew Luck, ticking, with future Hall of Fame quarter- that into a playoff run or do they just have they do that, and what’s the shakeup if they and many others, and finally back Brees at 40. warning-track power? don’t? get the most out of Winston? LATIMES.COM SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 V19 NFL PREVIEW NEW PIECES IN NFC EAST LOOK WHO’S BACK Jackson doesn’t think he’s lost a step as he rejoins Philadelphia

“He can do anything he wants. SAM FARMER As a coach, it’s really exciting ON THE NFL because you can just say, ‘Hey, can you run this route, or can Receiver DeSean Jackson is you do it like this?’ and he can back with the Philadelphia do it. Eagles, and the NFL world is “So from a coaching stand- back on its axis. point, that makes it really easy. At least that’s how his We’re just trying to move him brother sees it. around and have him do a whole “Going to the Redskins, then bunch of things because he is going to Tampa Bay, growing up such a weapon.” and maturing and now having Other new additions should another opportunity to go back help Philadelphia’s offense too, to the team that drafted him, all among them running backs of that helped revitalize his Jordan Howard and rookie Miles spirit,” said Byron Jackson, who Sanders, who are looking to lives in Los Angeles and helps bolster a 28th-ranked ground train his younger brother in the game. offseason. “I think DeSean’s on a Meanwhile, Washington used mission this year.” afirst-round pick on Ohio State The Buccaneers traded the quarterback , blistering-fast receiver in March the potential long-term answer back to Philadelphia, where the for a franchise that lost Alex former Long Beach Poly stand- Smith to a gruesome leg injury out played from 2008 through ’13. last season. He made three Pro Bowls in six The New York Giants also seasons with the Eagles before spent a first-round selection on then-coach showed aquarterback, Duke’s Daniel him the door. Jones, the heir apparent — and So Jackson returns, theoreti- air apparent — to . cally giving the Eagles the kind Tight end left of deep threat they haven’t had the “” since he left. booth and came out of retire- Of course, at 32 and playing a ment to return to the Dallas position in which it’s almost Cowboys, who have a new receiv- impossible to age gracefully, ing weapon in former Green Bay there are questions about star Randall Cobb. whether he still has — and can But all the buzz in Philadel- maintain — the speed that so phia is the comeback pattern long has defined him. run by Jackson. “I’d like to say so,” he told the “Philadelphia was the place Philadelphia Inquirer’s Bob that our dad last saw him play,” Ford this summer. “I don’t think Byron Jackson said. I’ve lost a step. I’ve still got the “DeSean was successful, and speed that has kept me in this our father got to actually see league, but they haven’t timed that with his eyes.” me in a long time. I’m good with Bill Jackson, the patriarch of Matt Slocum Associated Press where I’m at right now.” the family and a bus driver in DeSEAN JACKSON returns to Philadelphia, where he played six seasons and made three Pro Bowls Jackson, entering his 12th Los Angeles who lived to see his at the height of his career. Now 32, Jackson still considers himself a deep threat for the Eagles. season, has 589 catches for 10,261 sons play football, died in 2009. yards with 53 touchdowns. He “I just picture DeSean back joins a pass-catching group that in that Eagles jersey,” Byron From 2008 DAL NYG PHI WAS includes tight end said. “My dad got to see him play to the present and receivers and in that jersey. … I remember him PLAYOFF APPEARANCES 4362Nelson Agholor, a better-than- being a little kid and flying like How the teams in PLAYOFF RECORD 3-4 4-26-5 0-2 capable cluster of targets for an eagle, my dad behind him. It’s the NFC East have DIVISION TITLES 4232quarterback . like, ‘Man, he’s back with the fared since 2008: “DeSean is a complete play- Eagles.’ NFC TITLES 0110 er,” said Mike Groh, Philadel- “It’s almost like heavenly SUPER BOWL WINS 0110phia’s offensive coordinator. sent.”

SAM FARMER’S OUTLOOK TEAMS LISTED IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1|PHILADELPHIA 2|DALLAS 3|N.Y. GIANTS 4|WASHINGTON 2018 | 9-7, second in division 2018 | 10-6, first in division 2018 | 5-11, fourth in division 2018 | 7-9, third in division Last year in playoffs | 2018 Last year in playoffs | 2018 Last year in playoffs | 2016 Last year in playoffs | 2015

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH QB Carson Wentz: Book the playoffs if QB : Without Ezekiel Elliott, QB Eli Manning: This is Manning’s last QB : America’s Fill-In has Wentz can stay healthy, but he has been out Precott is a vastly different player. He has stand after fans and the media tried to run made stops with Houston, the Rams, Min- in December and January in each of the last only five games with at least 300 yards pass- him out of town last year. He has an im- nesota, Denver and now Washington, where two seasons. Trusty backup Nick Foles is ing, so he’s not going to rip up the record proved offensive line and some playmakers he aims to pick up the slack for the injured gone and untested has a bro- books. He needs his running back. —even without Odell Beckham Jr. By many . Keenum was named the Week 1 ken wrist. DE DeMarcus Lawrence: Coming off shoul- accounts, Manning’s arm is stronger than starter vs. Philadelphia. DE Derek Barnett: Jim Schwartz’s defense der surgery, he is the highest-paid player in ever. TE Jordan Reed: If Reed is healthy — and is predicated on getting pressure with four franchise history. He’s on the cusp of becom- RB : Last season’s offen- that’s a big if — Washington has a different rushers, and two of last season’s standouts ing a dominant player in the NFL. He leads sive rookie of the year, Barkley unquestion- offense. He has had toe issues each of the are gone in Michael Bennett and Chris aCowboys defense that has been good but ably is the team’s most talented player on last two seasons and saw his productivity Long. That ramps up the responsibilities of not great. that side of the ball. With Beckham gone, drop with the departure of Kirk Cousins. Barnett, who has a rebuilt shoulder. WR : Although he was out- Barkley figures to see a lot more eight-man Still, he’s the key to the passing game. WE DeSean Jackson: The Eagles are hop- standing last year, including huge games boxes, which will make running tougher. RB Derrius Guice: The team liked what it ing Jackson brings a down-the-field, explo- against division rivals Washington and SJabrill Peppers: Fast and dynamic, Pep- saw in Guice last year, but the former Loui- sive element they haven’t had since he left, Philadelphia, Cooper still needs to prove he pers figures to be the leader of an otherwise siana State standout was around for only a although it’s difficult to age gracefully at can be consistent. He’s like a home run weak secondary. He replaces the playmak- blink. He ran just six times in the first exhib- that position and Jackson is in the career hitter who strikes out a lot. ing Landon Collins, who got too expensive. ition game before he was felled by a torn twilight at 32. Peppers came from Cleveland as part of the anterior cruciate ligament. THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH Beckham trade. THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH LB : The Cowboys THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH RB Miles Sanders: It’s early, but with his had high expectations for him, and Vander THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH SMontae Nicholson: There has been lots of penchant for jump cuts, Sanders has drawn Esch exceeded them. The Brian Urlacher TNate Solder: A onetime stalwart in New attention paid to newly acquired safety comparisons to LeSean McCoy. The sec- comparisons are legit. Bigger and stronger England, Solder was signed to a massive Landon Collins, but Nicholson figures to be ond-round pick from Penn State should be this year, this replacement figures contract but was a disappointing turnstile the quarterback of that secondary. He has an exciting complement to workhorse Jor- to be a household name. last season. He needs to step up at left good size and great sideline-to-sideline dan Howard. LB : An outstanding blitzing tackle and protect Manning the way he did range. TE : Even though the linebacker, Smith is poised to go from a Tom Brady. TDonald Penn: The holdout of seven-time Eagles already have a star in Zach Ertz, they feel-good story to simply a great defensive WR Sterling Shepard: A classic No.2re- Pro Bowl tackle has rocked are planning to deploy a lot of two-tight-end player. In terms of athleticism, he tops the ceiver, Shepard moves into the top spot with the Redskins, and it’s looking as if Penn will sets, which, with Jackson going deep, will charts. He had 121 tackles and four sacks Beckham gone. He’s more than a slot re- have to step up at left tackle. That whole create opportunities underneath for the last season. ceiver, but Shepard has never caught more side of the offensive line is a liability. second-year Goedert. RB Tony Pollard: For a team that wants to than 66 balls in a season. Expect an uptick. WR : It’s hard to classify Doct- CB : The Eagles used 10 diversify its offense, Pollard is a godsend. CB : Penciled in as the son as anything but a disappointment since last season and resorted to The fourth-round pick from Memphis has starter opposite , this first- he was taken 22nd overall in 2016. The team pulling guys off the street. Douglas was a some Alvin Kamara-like qualities. He can round pick from Georgia will be under pres- didn’t pick up his 2020 contract option, so bright spot, improving after a bumpy rookie catch the ball out of the backfield and re- sure right away. It doesn’t help that he has the pressure will be on him to perform for a season. Now, it’s time for Douglas and/or turn kickoffs. been dealing with a sprained knee at train- new deal with someone. Sidney Jones to excel. ing camp. BURNING QUESTION BURNING QUESTION BURNING QUESTION It has been almost 24 years since the Cow- BURNING QUESTION Jay Gruden is the longest-tenured coach in Can Wentz stay healthy? The season hinges boys have gotten beyond the second round How long will it take for first-round quarter- owner ’s history with the on him. Two years ago, it was his knee. Last of the playoffs, but can this be the team that back Daniel Jones to take over for Manning? team, but how long will Gruden be around? year, his back. This season, with Foles in does that? The throwback offense needs to Jones, initially derided by fans who thought Some of that hinges on when first-round Jacksonville, the Eagles are working with- step up and catch up with the rest of the he was selected too early, has looked great in quarterback Dwayne Haskins will be ready out a safety net. good teams in the NFL. training camp. to step in and contribute. V20 SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 LATIMES.COM NFL PREVIEW NEW PIECES IN AFC WEST MILE HIGH RESET Broncos hope Flacco reverses weak play at quarterback

lineman in the SAM FARMER second round. ON THE NFL Risner should help spring open holes for running back Quarterback Joe Flacco Phillip Lindsay, the first un- might not have the job for long — drafted offensive rookie to reach the Denver Broncos are already the Pro Bowl. making plans for their Flacco- Kansas City won last year less future — but he’s up for the despite a lousy defense, so the daunting challenge. Chiefs worked hard this off- He’s tasked with helping a season to retool on that side of proud NFL franchise get back on the ball. They lost outside line- its feet. backers Justin Houston and Dee With rookie second-round Ford but added defensive ends pick watching over Frank Clark, Alex Okaforand his shoulder (although he has a . badly sprained thumb), Flacco Also, their new is safety aims to guide the Broncos back , who lines up all to relevance after the club’s first over the field, and second-round consecutive losing seasons since safety is getting 1971-72. rave reviews in practice. The signing of Flacco, 34, The Chargers made the play- didn’t have the splashy appeal of offs last season for the first time Peyton Manning’s arrival in 2012, since 2013 and beat Baltimore in but it generated more hope than the opening round before losing the four starters who held the at New England in an AFC divi- job in the wake of Manning’s sional game. retirement: , The Chargers could have the , Brock Osweiler league’s most complete team, and Case Keenum. although they suffered a big In his 11-season career, Flacco setback in training camp when has thrown 212 touchdown they lost All-Pro safety Derwin passes, is 10 -15 in postseason James for three to four months games, and was named most because of a foot injury. valuable player of Super Bowl But the team has made sig- XLVII. He’s no slouch. nificant additions too, drafting “The biggest advantage is Notre Dame defensive tackle you’ve seen so many things,” Jerry Tillery in the first round Flacco told reporters this sum- and safety Nasir mer. “It’s not that you’ve seen Adderley in the second, and everything in this game, because signing seasoned linebacker NFL defenses are always chang- Thomas Davis. ing. But the fact you’ve seen so Oakland is coming off its first much in game situations allows last-place finish in the division you to adapt to those changes at since 2014 . The Raiders went 4-12 aquicker pace. in coach ’s first sea- “And maybe more impor- son back, trading edge rusher tantly, it allows you to realize: Khalil Mack to Chicago, where 1 ‘Hey, at any point there’s going he had 12 ⁄ 2 sacks and forced six David Zalubowski Associated Press to be something I was not ex- fumbles. THE BRONCOS want Joe Flacco to show the same skills at quarterback as he did in leading the pecting. But I have the tools to With at general Ravens to an upset in Denver in the 2012 playoffs. Flacco was Super Bowl MVP that season. adapt on the fly.’” manager, the Raiders made a Flacco will benefit from the slew of big acquisitions in the addition of Mike Munchak, a offseason, the biggest being From 2008 SD/LAC DEN KC OAK premier offensive line coach former Pittsburgh All-Pro wide to the present determined to get the best out of receiver . PLAYOFF APPEARANCES 4561left tackle Garrett Bolles, who Oakland also added offensive How the teams in PLAYOFF RECORD 3-4 6-4 2-60-1 was among the most penalized lineman and the AFC We st have DIVISION TITLES 2540offensive linemen in the league. linebacker , and fared since 2008: The Broncos used their top drafted Clemson defensive end AFC TITLES 0200 pick on tight end and and SUPER BOWL TITLES 0100selected Kansas State offensive running back .

SAM FARMER’S OUTLOOK TEAMS LISTED IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1|CHARGERS 2|KANSAS CITY 3|DENVER 4|OAKLAND 2018 | 12-4, second in division 2018 | 12-4, first in division 2018 | 6-10, third in division 2018 | 4-12, fourth in division Last year in playoffs | 2018 Last year in playoffs | 2018 Last year in playoffs | 2015 Last year in playoffs | 2016

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH RB Austin Ekeler: With Melvin Gordon’s QB Patrick Mahomes: He doesn’t have to QB Joe Flacco: The Broncos have cycled QB : The bulk of his starts last status in limbo, Ekeler’s role grows and put up the absurd passing numbers he had through four starting quarterbacks since year came with rookies starting at both becomes increasingly important. Ekeler last season — 50 touchdowns with 12 inter- Peyton Manning. Flacco played in a version tackles, his best receiver was traded at was beat up at the end of last season, but ceptions — but the reigning most valuable of this offense in 2014 , so he knows it. His big midseason, and he was in the first year of a he’s back to health now and at the top of his player needs to make the same kind of im- challenge is protecting the football. new offense. Now, he has a familiar scheme game. pact. Teams now know what they’re facing. and an improved supporting cast. WR : A 32-year-old DE Frank Clark: Dee Ford (San Francisco) DE : A third-round pick in 2018 , TTrent Scott: With Scott at tackle and receiver coming off Achilles and ankle sur- and Justin Houston (Indianapolis) are Key was set to be a situational pass rusher either Forrest Lamp or Dan Feeney at geries doesn’t sound too appealing, but gone, so it’s up to Clark to turn up the heat last season but was pressed into more ac- guard, the left side of the line is young and when Sanders is on the field, the Broncos on quarterbacks. He’s had a bit of a wrist tion after the Raiders traded All-Pro Khalil lightly experienced. Scott, stepping in at left are different and clearly better. His deep issue in camp but otherwise looks good. Mack. Key played about 40 defensive snaps tackle in place of sidelined Russell Okung, threat is essential. started one game at right tackle last season. STyrann Mathieu: The Chiefs plan to move agame; the team hopes to cut that in half. LB : Vic Fangio has challenged LB Denzel Perryman: When Perryman was Mathieu all over the defense. He’ll be in an LB Vontaze Burfict: He signed a one-year Miller to be more of a leader and to have injured last year, the Chargers saw a big role, but that star safety was contract, and at this stage in his career it’s another stellar season. He’s focusing on drop-off in their ability to stop the run. He’s injured so much over the last two seasons fair to speculate how much he has left in the being more controlled and getting fewer back and healthy now, alongside the sea- that he wasn’t really effective. The team just tank. But if he’s going to perform for anyone, penalties. He’s capable of a 20-sack season soned Thomas Davis. That’s good news for got by with journeyman replacements. it’s defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, for …if the offense could ever get a lead or force the defense. whom he played in Cincinnati. The Raiders THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH opponents to throw. are putting a lot on Burfict’s plate. THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH WR : The Chiefs used a second-round pick on the speedy Hardman THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH GForrest Lamp: A second-round pick in when they weren’t sure whether they would TKolton Miller: A first-round pick out of 2017, Lamp suffered a torn ACL as a rookie have this season. This team is RB Phillip Lindsay: He became the first UCLA last year, Miller suffered a sprained and needed two surgeries to repair it. He going to be blistering fast on the outside. undrafted offensive rookie to make a Pro right knee three times last season yet didn’t looks like he’s ready to justify why the Char- Bowl. He’ll be more of a receiver this year miss a game. Healthier, stronger and more gers made such a significant investment in SJuan Thornhill: Another second-round than in 2018 and should continue his upward confident, Miller is the most promising of him. selection who plays deep safety when Math- trend. ieu patrols underneath. Should Thornhill last year’s rookie class. DT Jerry Tillery: The Chargers have high come through, the Chiefs would go from CB Chris Harris Jr.: He’s in the last year of WR Antonio Brown: As great a player as he expectations for their first-round pick, who some of the league’s worst safety play to his deal, so he’s motivated to have a big is, Brown so far has been a distraction from is recovering from a shoulder injury last something that’s better than respectable. season. If he’s playing well, he can basically head to toe — from a helmet grievance to season and subsequent surgery. The stand- This has been a sore spot for years. shut down half of the field. He had three frostbitten feet. There’s no doubting his out from Notre Dame should help shore up interceptions last season. RB : This former Miami work ethic or his playing skills, but every- the run defense and get to the passer. thing else is fair game to watch this year. Dolphins back took over last season when TGarett Bolles: This left tackle is at a RB Justin Jackson: Northwestern’s all-time Kareem Hunt was released. A career crossroads season. It’s his last best chance PA.J. Cole: An undrafted rookie from North rushing leader is bigger than Ekeler and will backup, Williams played well as a featured to lock down this position, and he seems to Carolina State, Cole earned a roster spot in push for the bulk of the carries if Gordon back. But how is he going to handle that have taken to Mike Munchak’s coaching. May at a rookie minicamp tryout. In camp, isn’t around. He had eight carries for 63 full-time responsibility? In his rearview But penalty-prone Bolles has a problem he outperformed incumbent Johnny Town- yards and a touchdown in a prime-time mirror are and capable rookie with losing his cool, and one bad play send. Now, it’s his job to help a team that victory at Pittsburgh last season. . quickly becomes a bad series of plays. finished 30th in net punting last season.

BURNING QUESTION BURNING QUESTION BURNING QUESTION BURNING QUESTION The clock is ticking on Philip Rivers, who’s The Chiefs will score a lot, but their defense Can the Raiders get after the quarterback? likely to play two or three more seasons if all is retooled: new staff, new system, as many Can Fangio restore some normality to a The other 31 NFL teams recorded at least 30 goes well. Can the Chargers make a success- as seven new players asked to make big franchise that’s had back-to-back losing sacks last season. The Raiders were the ful Super Bowl run before he retires? contributions. Is this going to work? seasons for the first time since 1972? exception. They had 13. LATIMES.COM SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 V21 NFL PREVIEW NEW PIECES IN AFC NORTH NOT BASIC BROWNS Influx of talent has Cleveland dreaming of a playoff spot

Myles Garrett — as well as safety SAM FARMER . ON THE NFL “Expectations are just expec- tations,” Beckham told reporters The way Odell Beckham Jr. this summer. “I’m excited to be a sees it, there was insidious part of the excitement. I’ve scheming behind the New York watched from afar the struggles Giants’ decision to ship him to where they didn’t win a game the the Cleveland Browns. one year and another won a game “This wasn’t no business and now they’re 7-[8-1]. move,” Beckham told Sports “I feel like it’s just been on the Illustrated for an August cover come up. It’s just that time, and I story. “This was personal. They want to be able to give absolutely thought they’d send me here to everything I have and see where die.” we land.” Last year, , Other AFC North teams also Beckham’s pal and a fellow star made major changes. wide receiver for the Browns, Baltimore, which ended a said the same thing about Adam three-year playoff drought last Gase, then Miami’s coach, trad- season, added running back ing him: “I just felt like, for some Mark Ingram from New Orleans, reason, Adam sent me here to safety Earl Thomas from Seattle die.” and others. The Browns, for some a vogue Speedy rookie receiver Mar- Super Bowl pick, are hoping they quise “Hollywood” Brown will have a heavenly tandem in the stretch the field for mobile dynamic receiving duo from quarterback . Louisiana State. Eric DeCosta has taken over The blockbuster trade of for longtime general manager Beckham shook the NFL and , and the mighty thrust the Browns further into Ravens defense no longer has the spotlight with four prime- fixtures Terrell Suggs, C.J. time games this season. Mosley and Za’Darius Smith. It’s a heady change for a fran- The roster changes are even chise that hasn’t made the play- more dramatic in Pittsburgh, offs since 2002, the NFL’s longest where the Steelers parted ways active drought. with a couple of All-Pro players. No team has undergone a Receiver Antonio Brown is in more dramatic overhaul during Oakland, and running back the last two seasons than Cleve- Le’Veon Bell — who sat out last land, with No.1pick Baker May- season in a contract dispute — is field setting an NFL rookie playing for the New York Jets. record last season by throwing 27 For the first time since 2003, touchdown passes. the Steelers traded up in the first After the Patriots-Rams round, selecting inside lineback- Super Bowl, the Browns made er Devin Bush. He will step in for headlines by signing Kareem , who had a devas- Hunt, who had been cut by Kan- tating spinal injury in late 2017. sas City in November after video The Steelers also added for- surfaced of the star running back mer Rams linebacker Mark shoving and kicking a woman in a Barron, as well as cornerbacks scuffle in a Cleveland hotel. and . In early August, the Browns Meanwhile, Cincinnati re- traded disgruntled running back placed longtime coach Marvin Jason Miller Getty Images Duke Johnson to Houston, clear- Lewis with the youthful Zac ODELL BECKHAM JR. wants to show the Giants they made a mistake when they traded him to the ing the way for Hunt, who must Taylor, the quarterback coach Browns. He joins fellow Louisiana State alum Jarvis Landry to form a talented receiving corps. serve an eight-game ban before for the Rams last season. resuming his career. The Bengals are on their third Freddie Kitchens, promoted offensive system in three years — From 2008 BAL CIN CLE PIT from offensive coordinator to and fourth defensive coordinator to the present become the Browns’ sixth head in that same span. PLAYOFF APPEARANCES 7607coach since 2010, has made It has been a bumpy start, How the teams in PLAYOFF RECORD 10-6 0-6 0-0 8-6 changes on defense too. Cleve- with No.11 pick , the AFC North have DIVISION TITLES 3305land has added defensive line- projected to start at left tackle, fared since 2008: men Olivier Vernon and Sheldon suffering an offseason shoulder AFC TITLES 1002 Richardson — both should bleed injury that required surgery and SUPER BOWL WINS 1001pressure off former No.1pick put his rookie season in jeopardy.

SAM FARMER’S OUTLOOK TEAMS LISTED IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1|PITTSBURGH 2|BALTIMORE 3|CLEVELAND 4|CINCINNATI 2018 | 9-6-1, second in division 2018 | 10-6, first in division 2018 | 7-8-1, third in division 2018 | 6-10, fourth in division Last year in playoffs | 2017 Last year in playoffs | 2018 Last year in playoffs | 2002 Last year in playoffs | 2015

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH LB : The Steelers’ first-round QB Lamar Jackson: He worked on his QB Baker Mayfield: Having established QB : Will Dalton ever return to pick in 2015 has underperformed so far, yet mechanics this offseason, including widen- himself as the leader of a revival last season, that spectacular form he showed in 2015? he could be a dangerous bookend to T.J. ing his base, throwing more over the top, Mayfield has rounded into a coach on the He’s shown flashes of that — he had four Watt. Dupree has great speed but often gets and stepping into his throws. He’s much field in his second season. The Browns were touchdown passes in last year’s home ridden outside by offensive tackles. more consistent but still uncorks a head- 6-7 in his starts as a rookie but 5-2 over their opener versus Baltimore — but also plenty CB Steven Nelson: He and can scratcher throw every so often. last seven games. of disappointments and injuries. give the Steelers two good corners, some- OLB Matt Judon: With Terrell Suggs and WR Odell Beckham Jr.: The biggest trans- WR A.J. Green: Green has missed 15 games thing the club hasn’t had in years. The team Za’Darius Smith gone, Judon is the top action of the offseason sent the NFL’s most with injuries in the past three seasons and is had eight interceptions last season, tied for returning pass rusher, and he’s in a contract dynamic receiver to Cleveland, where he has starting this one on a tender ankle. It’s a the fewest in franchise history. (The last year. He has a lot of sacks and pressures to been reunited with pal Jarvis Landry and marked difference from his first five years, time the Steelers had eight, they played an replace, but the Ravens are excited about receiving coach Adam Henry, who men- when he was especially durable. When heal- 11-game schedule.) his potential to do so. tored him at Louisiana State and with the thy, he’s one of the league’s best receivers. LB Devin Bush: Since the career-ending SEarl Thomas: This former Seattle star is Giants. DT Geno Atkins: He could be the best inte- injury to Ryan Shazier, the team has been going to be the quarterback of the defense, DE : A year ago, in his first rior lineman in the game behind the Rams’ 1 weak at interior linebacker. It made an un- stepping into the role vacated by Eric Wed- 16 -game season, Garrett had 13 ⁄ 2 sacks. Now Aaron Donald, and budging him is like characteristically bold move, trading up dle. If Thomas can stay healthy, and that’s that the Browns have added Olivier Vernon moving a grand piano. If Atkins and Carlos from 20 to 10 to draft Bush. He’ll step right been a chore of late, he can be a sideline-to- and , opponents can Dunlap are getting to the quarterback, the into a starting job. sideline ballhawk. devote less time to stopping Garrett, which Bengals are rolling. will create opportunities for him. THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH TE Vance McDonald: This guy is a brute. WR : The Ravens have THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH DE Carl Lawson: Despite suffering a torn He’s not as tall as , but he suffered such a lack of offensive speed in RB Kareem Hunt: He’s a phenomenal ACL in his second season, Lawson has has Gronk-like tendencies with the way he recent years that “Hollywood” is a welcome talent who is suspended for the first half of returned stronger and faster than before. 1 1 wrestles the ball away from people. Check addition. With Jackson at quarterback and the season because of two physical alterca- He had 8 ⁄2 sacks as a rookie, 2 ⁄2 of which out his instant-classic stiff-arm from a 2018 Brown on the outside, that could be a dan- tions. Hunt has no margin for error. If the came against Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers. game against Tampa Bay. gerous tandem for opponents. gamble works for the Browns, they’ll get an RB Joe Mixon: Surrounded by injured WR James Washington: The second-round MLB Patrick Onwuasor: A converted safe- elite back with fresh legs for a stretch run. teammates last season, Mixon led the AFC pick last year was overshadowed by offensive ty who went undrafted, Onwuasor came on CB : Coupled with second- in rushing. New Bengals coach Zac Taylor is stars. With Antonio Brown gone, Washing- strong last year and steps into a glamour year standout , Williams gives committed to the run — just as he was with ton’s responsibilities grow. position for the Ravens, replacing C.J. the Browns a young and dynamic tandem. the Rams — and Mixon is an essential part LB T.J. Watt: Watt isn’t a carbon copy of his Mosley. Before Mosley, there was Hall of Williams still needs to work on his tackling, of that. older brother, J.J., but has that same inten- Famer Ray Lewis. but his coverage skills are impressive. DE Sam Hubbard: The starting right end, sity. He flourished last season after the CB : The son of former LB : A third-round pick from Hubbard is a blue-collar talent who had six Steelers moved him from right outside line- NFL running back Bobby Humphrey could Brigham Young, Takitaki is a big hitter who sacks and forced a fumble as a rookie last backer to the left side (typically where the round into a top-10 cornerback this season. figures to learn at middle linebacker behind season. He was a rotational starter in 2018 opposing tight end lines up). The Ravens certainly have made an invest- starter . Takitaki can be an but now has a regular spot on a talented ment at the position, spending more money enforcer who works his way onto the field in front. BURNING QUESTION on the secondary than any other team in the short order. Can the Steelers bounce back from losing NFL. BURNING QUESTION All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown and running BURNING QUESTION Can the Bengals rediscover that magic that back Le’Veon Bell (even though he didn’t BURNING QUESTION Can the Browns do what a lot of clubs led to five consecutive playoff appearances? play last year)? So far, so good. This is the Has Jackson improved enough as a passer haven’t and turn an all-star team into a The team is going back to its West Coast summer of togetherness for a franchise that to take him and the Ravens to the next winning organization? They certainly will be offense roots and is back to an offensive has dealt with a lot of drama the last two level? We know he can run, and behind that in the spotlight, with three prime-time head coach after defense-minded Dick years. patchwork line, he’ll have to. appearances in their first five games. LeBeau and . V22 SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 LATIMES.COM NFL PREVIEW NEW PIECES IN AFC SOUTH HE’S NOT JUST A FILL-IN After subbing for We ntz, Foles takes the reins in Jacksonville

making them the immediate SAM FARMER starter. Of those, Peyton Man- ON THE NFL ning (Denver), Brett Favre (Min- nesota) and Drew Brees (New Have magic, will travel. Orleans) were smashing suc- But now that he’s the unques- cesses. tioned starter in Jacksonville, can But, DiRocco notes, seven of quarterback Nick Foles replicate the other 10 free-agent quarter- what he did in Philadelphia? backs signed to multiyear deals There, he stepped in for the failed to get their teams to the injured Carson Wentz and, playoffs. against long odds, helped guide The remaining two quarter- the Eagles to their first Super backs never made it past the first Bowl victory. month as the starter. When Foles left Philadelphia “I feel like I’m trying to get a the first time, playing a season little better every day, trying to each in St. Louis and Kansas City, get closer with the guys,” Foles he was nowhere near the player told the Washington Post. “You he was with the Eagles. develop those relationships to But this could be different. where when they come on the He’s a seasoned player nowand field and we play against some- reunited with Jaguars offensive one, when we need to make coordinator John DiFilippo, his checks or route adjustments or former quarterbacks coach in different line calls, everything is Philadelphia. smooth. What’s more, Foles has the “I feel good where we’re at. solid running of Leonard Four- We’ve just got to keep progress- nette in his offensive arsenal, and ing.” astout defense that lost some There’s no question the divi- critical players in Malik Jackson sion rival Indianapolis Colts are and but is still progressing, although losing loaded with talent, including Andrew Luck to retirement is no first-round pick . minor setback. They were a sur- In 2017, the season the Eagles prise playoff team last season, won the Super Bowl, they nearly improving their regular-season faced the Blake Bortles-quarter- win total by six in one year. backed Jaguars. Jacksonville fell They have added receivers just short in the AFC champi- and rookie Parris onship game, however, suffering a Campbell, who should draw some 24-20 defeat at New England. of the double teams away from Jacksonville took a big step T.Y. Hilton, and bolstered the backward last season, going 5-11 defense with end Justin Houston and finishing last in the AFC and potential rising-star rookie South. Bortles tumbled back to cornerback Rock Ya-Sin. earth, finishing with 13 touch- Houston was the first team downs and 11 interceptions and since 1998 to reach the playoffs sealing his fate with the team. He after an 0-3 start, but the Texans was released and the Jaguars didn’t do a good job of protecting signed Foles. quarterback . “We really think his best days He was sacked an NFL-high 62 are ahead of him,” coach Doug times last season, so it was no Marrone said when the Jaguars surprise when the Texans used signed Foles in March. “He’s their first-round draft pick on Todd Olszewski Getty Images really played well of late and we’re Alabama State tackle Tytus NICK FOLES,who helped bring a Super Bowl title to Philadelphia as a backup, is the clear starter excited to have him part of our Howard. They also added tackles for the Jaguars. “We really think his best days are ahead of him,” coach says. team.” and Max Scharping. Once again, though, the odds Keeping scrambling Tennes- are not in Foles’ favor. ESPN’s see quarterback From 2008 HOU IND JAC TEN Michael DiRocco crunched the upright has been a challenge too, to the present numbers and determined that it’s so the Titans signed guard PLAYOFF APPEARANCES 5712more likely that free-agent Rodger Saffold, formerly of the How the teams in PLAYOFF RECORD 3-5 6-72-1 1-2 quarterbacks brought in to be the Rams, as well as , the AFC South have DIVISION TITLES 5411starter wind up flopping. who gives Tennessee something fared since 2008: Since 2000,13 other teams closer to a prototypical quarter- AFC TITLES 0100 have signed a quarterback to back if the franchise opts to head SUPER BOWL WINS 0000multiyear deals with the intent of in that direction.

SAM FARMER’S OUTLOOK TEAMS LISTED IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1|INDIANAPOLIS 2|HOUSTON 3|TENNESSEE 4|JACKSONVILLE 2018 | 10-6, second in division 2018 | 11-5, first in division 2018 | 9-7, third in division 2018 | 5-11, fourth in division Last year in playoffs | 2018 Last year in playoffs | 2018 Last year in playoffs | 2017 Last year in playoffs | 2017

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH RB : Consistency is the key for QB Deshaun Watson: It’s no wonder why QB Marcus Mariota: At his best, Mariota is QB Nick Foles: He was the answer in Phila- Mack, who was very up and down last sea- the Texans used two of their top three picks fantastic and has a slew of big plays on his delphia, but can he be the same in Jack- son. When he’s rolling, he takes a lot of pres- on offensive tackles. Watson was sacked a resume. He also has been injured every year, sonville, where the Jaguars have struggled sure off quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who is league-high 62 times last season, and the however, and that’s why the Titans acquired for years to find the right player at that crucial position? At least he should have a now the starter. Mack needs to be more of a team needed to beef up the protection. Still, former Miami starter Ryan Tannehill. receiver out of the backfield. he turned an 0-3 start into a division title. strong ground game to help. RB : In the last month of the SMalik Hooker: At Ohio State, Hooker was RB Duke Johnson: With Pro Bowl player RB : When he’s healthy, 2018 season, Henry ran for 585 yards and Fournette is a force. But he has been banged abig-play ballhawk. The Colts need him to Lamar Miller sidelined for the season be- seven touchdowns. His first 12 games under- up, playing in only 21 of 32 possible games. assume that role in their Tampa 2 scheme cause of a torn ACL, it’s a good thing the score his inconsistency, though, as he had The Jaguars plan to move him around a bit and create some turnovers. He has five Texans had acquired versatile Johnson 474 yards and five touchdowns. So which this season so opponents can’t just load up interceptions in two seasons. from the Cleveland Browns. He’s never been Henry will start the season? with an extra defender in the box. WR Devin Funchess: The Colts cannot the top guy before, however, and there are LB : This is a contract year for survive on T.Y. Hilton alone. He didn’t prac- currently no reliable veterans behind him. DT : For six seasons in a row, Jack, the former UCLA star who calls the tice for the final month last season, hobbling Casey has had at least five sacks. That’s WR DeAndre Hopkins: If he’s not the best defense through the middle linebacker spot. on a bum ankle, and ran out of gas in the through a lot of coaching and scheme receiver in the league, he’s definitely in the He’s got a sideline-to-sideline role, and it’s playoffs. So Funchess provides another changes, and it’s not easy to do from the conversation. His 528receptions are the time for him to be Jacksonville’s Bobby sure-handed target for Brissett. most by any players in his first six seasons in tackle position. The Titans are counting on Wagner. the league. him to keep it up. THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH LB : Drafted as a linebacker, THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH DE Josh Allen: Defense wasn’t Jack- Banogu likely will be used as a pass rusher, WR Corey Davis: He made a drastic im- sonville’s top priority heading into the draft, WR : Getting deep and catching especially while defensive end Jabaal provement from his first to second year, and but Allen was too enticing to ignore. A knee passes is no problem for Fuller, but staying Sheard is recovering from offseason knee contusion kept him out of most offseason on the field is. He has 11 touchdown catches coaches are expecting a similar step for- surgery. ward. Zero touchdowns as a rookie, four in workouts, although coaches like what they in 11 games with Watson, but is coming off a see in him now. CB Rock Ya-Sin: The team’s top pick in this torn ligament in his right knee. his second season, and this year … DL : Once known as the “Wyo- year’s draft, Ya-Sin has looked terrific in SAmani Hooker: A fourth-round pick from CB Lonnie Johnson: Texans are rebuilding ming Wildman,” Bryan was pretty tame as a training camp and at some point has domi- Iowa, Hooker is versatile enough to play all nated every receiver but Hilton. He could their secondary and Johnson figures to play heralded rookie last season, finishing with over the field, whether it’s dropping into the wind up being a star. asignificant role in that. He’s young and raw 13 tackles, seven assists and one sack. but has shown potential in camp. Houston deep third of the field, or coming up to sup- Coaches are expecting more from the first- DT Denico Autry: He has had the best didn’t spend a second-round pick on the port the run. He’s not a typical rookie. rounder this year. camp of anyone on the team. He had nine standout for kicks. TE Josh Oliver: A third-round pick from sacks in 12 games last season — and that TJack Conklin: Had an All-Pro rookie San Jose State, Oliver could be a big help was from the difficult defensive tackle spot. DE Charles Omenihu: A fifth-round pick season in 2016 but sat out offseason work- catching passes from Foles, especially down The Oakland Raiders moved him around from Texas, Omenihu has been shadowing outs while recovering from a torn ligament the field. Now he just has to work on his the line; the Colts are keeping him at tackle. J.J. Watt’s every move. He could work his in his left knee. He’s ready to lock down the way into a situational rotation and be a right side of the line. blocking. fixture down the road. BURNING QUESTION BURNING QUESTION BURNING QUESTION made a splash in his first sea- BURNING QUESTION As great as he was as a Philadelphia fill-in, son as head coach, but his quarterback- Can the Titans harness their considerable Foles flopped with the Rams. Can he take coaching abilities will be put to the test with Can Watson stay healthy enough to put talent on offense and put together an effort his skills on the road and turn defense- the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck and together a full season and lift the Texans that tops last season’s lackluster 25th rank- minded Jacksonville into a contender evelation of Brissett to starter. back into the ranks of playoff contenders? ing? again? LATIMES.COM SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 V23 NFL PREVIEW NEW PIECES IN AFC EAST TRYING TO TOP BRADY The Jets, Bills and Dolphins again have their work cut out

trend of squeezing extra years SAM FARMER out of players who were stars ON THE NFL elsewhere. They also signed linebacker The New York Jets don’t Jamie Collins and tight end Ben know precisely what they Watson, both of whom previ- have in All-Pro running back ously played for New England. Le’Veon Bell — no one does for The Patriots used their top sure — but coach is pick on Arizona State receiver sure excited to see. N’Keal Harryand are giving him “I can’t wait to see what he time to learn their system. does on a Sunday,” Gase said, “Like any rookie, I think according to the New York Daily there’s a lot to learn, there’s a lot News. “Watching him in practice, of things happening,” quarter- that’s fun enough. You can tell back Tom Brady said of Harry. the guy’s a special, special play- “Like all of us, we’re just working er. To see him on Sunday, that’s every day to try to get better. going to be fun.” And he’s going to, I’m going to, Because Bell didn’t play in Jules [] is going the preseason, he will have been to — he’s got a lot of good people on ice for 603 days by the time he in his room, lot of veterans that gets his hands on a football in he can depend. that Sept. 8 opener against “We still have a long way to go, Buffalo. and he’s going to learn every day, For his part, Bell didn’t mind so the more we do the better.” exercising some patience this This division is Brady and summer after sitting out last three quarterbacks selected season with the Pittsburgh among the top10 in the 2018 draft Steelers because of a contract —the Jets’ , Buffa- dispute. lo’s Josh Allen and Miami’s Josh “I’m completely fine with it,” Rosen. Bell said of not playing in the Allen showed promise last exhibition season. “I don’t think season, going 2-3 as a starter getting four plays in the pre- before missing four games with a season is going to help me for sprained throwing arm. The Bills Week1. It’s going to be me just were 3-3 down the stretch with getting prepared and practicing. Allen as the starter. When the regular-season game Most everything Buffalo did comes, I’ll be ready.” in the offseason was aimed at Bell, a two-time All-Pro, is making life better for Allen, among the NFL’s most danger- getting him a new center in ous players as a runner and , new receivers in receiver out of the backfield. He and John Brown, has run for 5,336 yards and 35 and a seasoned running back in touchdowns, and has 312 catches Frank Gore. for 2,660 yards and seven touch- As for the Dolphins, they downs. acquired Rosen in a trade with His average of128.9 yards Arizona and brought in journey- from scrimmage is the league’s man , who best since the 1970 merger. He has won a lot of games in his Seth Wenig Associated Press signed a four-year, $52.5-million career, which is entering a15th Le’VEON BELL,shown at practice in July, will make his New Yo rk Jets debut Sept. 8 against division deal with $35 million guaranteed. season. rival Buffalo. It will mark the former Steelers running back’s first meaningful game in 603 days. Of course, everyone in the The Dolphins parted ways NFL is chasing the New England with a lot of big-name players — Patriots, who are coming off Ryan Tannehill, Cameron Wake, From 2008 BUF MIA NE NYJ their sixth Super Bowl victory William Hayes, Robert Quinn, to the present and have won10 consecutive Danny Amendola and Gore PLAYOFF APPEARANCES 1210 2 AFC East crowns. among them — and have gotten How the teams in PLAYOFF RECORD 0-10-2 16-7 4-2 The rich get richer. younger. the AFC East have DIVISION TITLES 0110 0 The Patriots picked up defen- That doesn’t necessarily fared since 2008: sive lineman Michael Bennett mean better, though. At 500to1, AFC TITLES 0050 and wide receiver Demaryius they’re the league’s longest shot SUPER BOWL WINS 0030Thomas, who fit right into their to win the Super Bowl.

SAM FARMER’S OUTLOOK TEAMS LISTED IN PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1|NEW ENGLAND 2|BUFFALO 3|NEW YORK JETS 4|MIAMI 2018 | 11-5, first in division 2018 | 6-10, third in division 2018 | 4-12, fourth in division 2018 | 7-9, second in division Last year in playoffs | 2018 Last year in playoffs | 2017 Last year in playoffs | 2010 Last year in playoffs | 2016

THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST THREE PLAYERS WHO MUST COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH COME THROUGH WR N’Keal Harry: Never before with the QB Josh Allen: The Bills have built their QB Sam Darnold: The former USC star has QB : The former UCLA star Patriots has used a first- offense around Allen, revamping their line looked great in his second training camp never had a chance to get his footing in round pick on a receiver, so the expectations and adding talent such as Frank Gore, John and seems to be making a solid connection Arizona and moves to a franchise that has are high for the 6-foot-4 Harry. Having lost Brown and Cole Beasley. No excuses this with new coach Adam Gase, a quarterback won one playoff game in the 2000s. He’s a Rob Gronkowski, New England needs re- year. whisperer of sorts. Darnold showed excel- pure passer, no question, but can he gain his ceiving threats. Harry is physically domi- lent poise as a rookie and did a good job of teammates’ confidence and lift them? nant but has been dropping some easy ones. CMitch Morse: Buffalo made Morse the improvising when plays broke down. highest-paid center in NFL history, then DE Michael Bennett: The Patriots let Trey DE Charles Harris: Harris has been a dis- watched him suffer his fourth concussion in RB Le’Veon Bell: The big question on this Flowers walk and anticipate Bennett pick- appointment since being drafted in the first 44 months. This one happened on the first All-Pro back: Will he be rusty after sitting ing up the slack. There’s a risk involved in round in 2017. He had 19 tackles and one sack day of contact drills and put Morse on the out last season or reap the benefits of fresh replacing someone who’s 25 (Flowers) with in 11 games last season. The door is open for shelf. His understudies have been bad. Uh legs? The Jets have an improved offensive someone who’s 33, but the Patriots have a him now that the four defensive ends ahead oh. line, one that will have to get used to Bell’s way of wringing an extra year or two out of deliberate style. of him on last year’s roster are elsewhere. players who were stars elsewhere. CB Tre’Davious White: For the Bills to have WR DeVante Parker: The Dolphins’ 2015 an effective secondary, White needs to have DL Leonard Williams: Although he’s been TIsaiah Wynn: With Trent Brown in Oak- first-round pick has been injury prone and abig year. He’s on the cusp of being elitebut solid, Williams has never played up to the land, the Patriots needed to replace their ineffective but the team is convinced he’s on doesn’t have overwhelming talent around hype surrounding him when he was picked left tackle and Wynn is that player. He’s sixth overall in 2015. He’s had a combined 17 the verge of a breakout season. New offen- him. The other cornerback spot is unset- coming off a torn Achilles tendon and joins a sacks in four seasons. Having rookie Quin- sive coordinator Chad O’Shea is hoping to tled. line with four returning starters. nen Williams on the line should help — fewer tap into that potential. double teams. THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH RB : Drafted in the third WR Cole Beasley: This franchise hasn’t had THREE PLAYERS TO WATCH TLaremy Tunsil: He has quietly emerged round out of Alabama, Harris is a comple- atrue slot receiver for years. One of the DT : The No. 3 overall as one of the best left tackles in the game. ment to Sony Michel and perhaps a better biggest questions surrounding Allen when pick is hardworking, highly talented and has inside runner. What do you do when you He surrendered just one sack last season. he came out of was his short- an effervescent personality. He helps in a big don’t have a clear alpha back? Running He fell in the draft when video of him ap- range accuracy. This longtime Cowboys way for a team that was once stacked along back by committee. receiver should help. pearing to use a gas mask to smoke marijua- the defensive line but since has gotten thin na surfaced just before the start of the open- TE Matt LaCosse: Ben Watson is sus- RB : The 5-foot-7, 203- at that position. ing round. pended for the first four weeks, and pound Singletary is small, but he’s shifty Gronkowski has retired, which means La- SJamal Adams: The best player on the Jets CB Xavien Howard: The Dolphins re- and instinctive. Everyone is talking about defense, Adams is a budding superstar. He’s Cosse, who had 24 catches for Denver last warded Howard with a huge contract, rec- LeSean McCoy and Gore, but don’t overlook hard hitting, passionate and is the unques- season, is the top player at the position. He ognizing him as one of the best corners in this guy. tioned quarterback on defense. has made some Gronk-like catches in camp. football. He had four interceptions in a LB : Although he’s in CB J.C. Jackson: The undrafted corner in TE : This group of wide recent practice at training camp. his second year could be the next Malcolm his second season, Edmunds is only 21. The receivers is decent, but the Jets need targets WR : A rookie from Col- Butler. Jackson got his share of playing time Bills are really high on him and his skills as a for Darnold. Herndon provides a reliable orado State, Williams went undrafted be- last season, including five starts, picking off middle linebacker. He’ll be making the one. He’s got excellent hands and creates cause of off-the-field concerns, but he’s a three passes and looking talented but raw. defensive calls, so he’s a special young tal- mismatches. ent. talented player who some teammates be- BURNING QUESTION BURNING QUESTION lieve has potential to be a No.1 receiver. BURNING QUESTION It’s all about the offense. Can the Patriots What will come of the potentially combus- BURNING QUESTION replace Gronkowski, and do they have The defense is pretty much settled, but is tible relationship between Gase and defen- enough talent around Tom Brady? Regard- Allen the right quarterback to help the Bills sive coordinator if things Are the Dolphins tanking? They’re set up to less, they should still win the division and be take the next step and finally have an influ- start to go sideways? The Jets have lots of have 12 draft picks and about $100 million in in good position for the playoffs. ence in the division and beyond? dysfunction in their history. salary-cap space next year. V24 SUNDAY,SEPTEMBER 1, 2019 LATIMES.COM NFL PREVIEW AN AIR RAID WA RNING With focus on passing, ex-quarterbacks take center stage as head coaches

SAM FARMER ON THE NFL

Five quarterbacks adjusting to unfamiliar NFL cities are in the spotlight this season. They’re young and old, from big schools and small. And they won’t take a single snap. They are five of this season’s eight new coaches, and they all played quarterback in college: Tampa Bay’s Bruce Arians (Vir- ginia Tech), Cleveland’s Freddie Kitchens (Alabama), Arizona’s Peter Aiken Getty Images Kliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech), ZAC TAYLOR was the Rams’ Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur (Sagi- quarterbacks coach last season naw Valley State) and Cincinnati’s and is Cincinnati’s head man. Zac Taylor (). That so many struggling teams reached for a head coach who knows the quarterback position —and that’s not counting quarterback specialist Adam Gase, a receiver in high school — is more evidence of the impor- tance of the position in a league increasingly infatuated by pass- ing. The lone defense-minded coaches among this season’s eight new ones: Miami’s and Denver’s Vic Fangio. The most seasoned head coach in this group is Arians, 66, twice named NFL coach of the year — in David Richard Associated Press Indianapolis as an interim, and in FREDDIE KITCHENS, in his Arizona — after an illustrious first year as Cleveland coach, career as an assistant. says he’s feeling no pressure. But he contends that Kings- bury, having come straight from college football, actually has an edge over the competition be- cause of the mystery factor. “I don’t think there’s any doubt, especially if it’s Septem- ber,” Arians said. “It definitely gives them the advantage. The unknown is the best thing you can have.” But this spring, Kingsbury said coming to the NFL requires a major shift in thinking after six seasons as Texas Tech’s coach. “It’s been a challenge,” he said. “When you’ve been in one place for six years, some of the terminology Adam Hunger Associated Press can run together and some things Ralph Freso Associated Press ADAM GASE moves inside can start to not make sense to KLIFF KINGSBURY takes over at Arizona after six seasons at Texas Tech. The transition has AFC East, leaving Miami to anybody outside of that building. been a challenge, he says, as he must groom top pick Kyler Murray. coach Jets and Sam Darnold. “To get back and break it down and try to simplify it as much as we can and make it all make sense and add new wrinkles, that’s been one of the more challenging parts of the job. “We didn’t have a playbook in college. It was all video playbook. So, that’s different. We’re actually putting it together on paper and we’ll have something to hand out. In college, we went all video only.” There’s also a significant gen- eration gap among the coaches. Thereare Arians and Fangio, 61, and then the much younger Kitchens, 44; Gase, 41; Kingsbury, 40, LaFleur, 39; Flores, 38 and Todd Olszewski Getty Images Wilfredo Lee Associated Press Jack Dempsey Associated Press Keith Srakocic Associated Press Taylor, 36. MATT LaFLEUR of Green BRIAN FLORES moves to VIC FANGIO takes over in BRUCE ARIANS came out of What’s more, there are definite Bay is a former Rams offensive Miami after being a New Denver after a long career as a retirement to take control in Sean McVay overtones in this coordinator. England assistant. defensive coordinator. Tampa. group, with both LaFleur and Taylor having worked for the New coaches: Changing faces on the sidelines 33-year-old Rams wunderkind. Fangio has spent more than TEAM NEW COACH LAST COACH (W-L) TEAM NEW COACH LAST COACH (W-L) half his life coaching, including 19 years as a defensive coordinator N.Y. Jets Adam GaseTodd Bowles (24-40), firedArizona Kliff Kingsbury (3-13), fired for five teams. His most recent, Cleveland Freddie Kitchens (3-36-1), firedGreen BayMatt LaFleur Mike McCarthy (125-77-2), fired the Chicago Bears, surrendered DenverVic Fangio (11-21), firedCincinnati Zac Taylor Marvin Lewis (131-122-3), fired the fewest points in 2018. Did he ever give up hope he’d Ta mpa BayBruce Arians Dirk Koetter (19-29), firedMiami Brian Flores Adam Gase (23-25), fired be hired as a head coach? “I never gave it much thought one way or another,” Fangio said. in Denver. Every day I’m happier Taylor has Andy Dalton, for in- Expectations are especially home to feed, your wife just left “I was very happy being a defen- than I was the day before being stance — moving up from an high in Cleveland, which acquired you and you have no money in sive coordinator in the NFL, espe- here.” assistant’s role is difficult. All-Pro receiver Odell Beckham your pocket,” he said. “So that’s cially with Chicago the past four Facing the challenge of bring- “Everybody understands that Jr. this offseason, and will get pressure. I don’t think what we do years. We finally had gotten that ing along young quarterbacks are as a new coach, there’s a lot com- running back Kareem Hunt after is pressure.” thing to where we were good. I Kitchens (Baker Mayfield), Gase ing at you,” said Taylor, the Rams’ he serves an eight-game suspen- When informed that sounds would have been fine staying there (Sam Darnold), Flores (Josh quarterbacks coach last season. sion. like a country song, he said: “Yeah, too. I didn’t stress about becom- Rosen) and Kingsbury (Kyler “It never feels like you have But Kitchens said he’s not Ilisten to country music for a ing a head coach.” Murray). enough time. But there is enough feeling undue pressure. reason. Most of those songs it But he was quick to add: “I’m But even for those with a veter- time, you just have to slow down “To me pressure is waking up seems like was written for me.” glad it happened. I’m thrilled to be an quarterback at the helm — and do one task at a time.” without a job, having a baby at He’s just hoping this one’s a hit.

WEEK-BY-WEEK SCHEDULE

WEEK 1 WEEK 3 WEEK 5 WEEK 7 WEEK 9 WEEK 11 WEEK 13 WEEK 15 WEEK 17 Strength of schedule Thursday, Sept. 5 Thursday, Sept. 19 Thursday, Oct. 3 Thursday, Oct. 17 Thursday, Oct. 31 Thursday, Nov. 14 Thursday, Nov. 28 Thursday, Dec. 12 Sunday, Dec. 29 GB at CHI ...... 5:15 p.m. TEN at JAC...... 5:15 p.m. LAR at SEA ...... 5:15 p.m. KC at DEN ...... 5:15 p.m. SF at ARI...... 5:15 p.m. PIT at CLE...... 5:15 p.m. CHI at DET...... 9:30 a.m. NYJ at BAL...... 5:15 p.m. PIT at BAL...... 10 a.m. Team-by-team strength of schedule, Sunday, Sept. 8 Sunday, Sept. 22 Sunday, Oct. 6 Sunday, Oct. 20 Sunday, Nov. 3 Sunday, Nov. 17 BUF at Dallas...1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15 NYJ at BUF...... 10 a.m. NO at ATL...... 5:15 p.m. NO at CAR...... 10 a.m. determined by their opponents’ winning LAR at CAR...... 10 a.m. CIN at BUF ...... 10 a.m. JAC at CAR ...... 10 a.m. LAR at ATL...... 10 a.m. HOU at JAC (L) .6:30 a.m. HOU at BAL...... 10 a.m. SEA at CAR...... 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 1 CLE at CIN...... 10 a.m. percentage from the 2018 season: TEN at CLE...... 10 a.m. MIA at Dallas ...... 10 a.m. ARI at CIN ...... 10 a.m. MIA at BUF ...... 10 a.m. WAS at BUF ...... 10 a.m. ATL at CAR...... 10 a.m. NE at CIN ...... 10 a.m. WAS at Dallas .....10 a.m. KC at JAC...... 10 a.m. DEN at GB...... 10 a.m. ATL at HOU ...... 10 a.m. JAC at CIN ...... 10 a.m. TEN at CAR...... 10 a.m. DAL at DET...... 10 a.m. SF at BAL...... 10 a.m. TB at DET...... 10 a.m. GB at DET...... 10 a.m. BAL at MIA ...... 10 a.m. ATL at IND ...... 10 a.m. TB at NO ...... 10 a.m. MIN at DET...... 10 a.m. MIN at KC...... 10 a.m. JAC at IND ...... 10 a.m. WAS at CAR...... 10 a.m. CHI at GB...... 10 a.m. TEN at HOU...... 10 a.m. 1. Oakland .539 16. CHARGERS .502 ATL at MIN...... 10 a.m. BAL at KC...... 10 a.m. MIN at NYG...... 10 a.m. OAK at GB ...... 10 a.m. NYJ at MIA...... 10 a.m. BUF at MIA ...... 10 a.m. NYJ at CIN ...... 10 a.m. DEN at KC ...... 10 a.m. IND at JAC...... 10 a.m. BUF at NYJ...... 10 a.m. OAK at MIN...... 10 a.m. CHI at OAK (L).....10 a.m. HOU at IND...... 10 a.m. CHI at PHI ...... 10 a.m. DEN at MIN ...... 10 a.m. TEN at IND...... 10 a.m. MIA at NYG...... 10 a.m. LAC at KC...... 10 a.m. 2. Denver.537 18. Miami .500 WAS at PHI...... 10 a.m. NYJ at NE ...... 10 a.m. NYJ at PHI ...... 10 a.m. ARI at NYG...... 10 a.m. IND at PIT...... 10 a.m. NO at TB ...... 10 a.m. TB at JAC...... 10 a.m. BUF at PIT ...... 10 a.m. CHI at MIN...... 10 a.m. IND at LAC ...... 1 p.m. DET at PHI...... 10 a.m. BAL at PIT...... 10 a.m. SF at WAS...... 10 a.m. DET at OAK...... 1 p.m. NYJ at WAS...... 10 a.m. OAK at KC ...... 10 a.m. HOU at TEN...... 10 a.m. MIA at NE...... 10 a.m. 3. Jacksonville .531 19. Pittsburgh .496 CIN at SEA ...... 1 p.m. CAR at ARI ...... 1 p.m. BUF at TEN ...... 10 a.m. LAC at TEN ...... 1 p.m. TB at SEA...... 1 p.m. ARI at SF...... 1 p.m. PHI at MIA...... 10 a.m. PHI at WAS...... 10 a.m. PHI at NYG...... 10 a.m. DET at ARI...... 1:15 p.m. NYG at TB...... 1 p.m. NE at WAS...... 10 a.m. NO at CHI ...... 1:15 p.m. CLE at DEN ...... 1:15 p.m. CIN at OAK...... 1:15 p.m. GB at NYG ...... 10 a.m. CLE at ARI...... 1 p.m. ATL at TB...... 10 a.m. NYG at Dallas ...1:15 p.m. HOU at LAC...... 1:15 p.m. DEN at LAC...... 1 p.m. BAL at SEA...... 1:15 p.m. GB at LAC...... 1:15 p.m. NE at PHI...... 1:15 p.m. LAR at ARI...... 1 p.m. JAC at OAK...... 1 p.m. OAK at DEN...... 1:15 p.m. 4. Houston.527 Detroit .496 SF at TB...... 1:15 p.m. NO at SEA...... 1:15 p.m. GB at Dallas.....1:15 p.m. PHI at Dallas....5:15 p.m. NE at BAL...... 5:15 p.m. CHI at LAR...... 5:15 p.m. LAC at DEN ...... 1:15 p.m. LAR at Dallas....1:15 p.m. ARI at LAR...... 1:15 p.m. PIT at NE ...... 5:15 p.m. PIT at SF...... 1:15 p.m. IND at KC ...... 5:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 21 Monday, Nov. 4 Monday, Nov. 18 CLE at PIT ...... 1:15 p.m. ATL at SF ...... 1:15 p.m. SF at SEA ...... 1:15 p.m. 5. Chicago .520 Baltimore .496 LAR at CLE...... 5:15 p.m. NE at HOU...... 5:15 p.m. MIN at LAC...... 5:15 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9 Monday, Oct. 7 NE at NYJ ...... 5:15 p.m. DAL at NYG ...... 5:15 p.m. KC at LAC (M) ..5:15 p.m. NOTE: (L) London. Monday, Sept. 23 Monday, Dec. 2 Monday, Dec. 16 Kansas City.520 22.New Orleans .488 HOU at NO...... 4:10 p.m. CLE at SF ...... 5:15 p.m. Off: CAR, CLE, PIT, TB Off: ATL, CIN, LAR, NO (M) Mexico City. DEN at OAK.....7:15 p.m. CHI at WAS...... 5:15 p.m. Off: DET, MIA Off: GB, NYG, SEA, TEN MIN at SEA ...... 5:15 p.m. IND at NO...... 5:15 p.m. All times Pacific. WEEK 8 7. Atlanta .518 23. Cleveland .484 WEEK 2 WEEK 4 WEEK 6 WEEK 10 Thursday, Oct. 24 WEEK 12 WEEK 14 WEEK 16 Thursday, Sept. 12 Thursday, Sept. 26 Thursday, Oct. 10 Thursday, Nov. 7 Thursday, Nov. 21 Thursday, Dec. 5 Dec. 21 or Dec. 22 POSTSEASON WAS at MIN .....5:15 p.m. Indianapolis .518 24.Buffalo .480 TB at CAR...... 5:15 p.m. PHI at GB ...... 5:15 p.m. NYG at NE...... 5:15 p.m. LAC at OAK...... 5:15 p.m. IND at HOU...... 5:15 p.m. DAL at CHI...... 5:15 p.m. DET at DEN...... TBD Saturday, Jan. 4 Sunday, Oct. 27 OAK at LAC...... TBD Sunday, Sept. 15 Sunday, Sept. 29 Sunday, Oct. 13 Sunday, Nov. 10 Sunday, Nov. 24 Sunday, Dec. 8 AFC, NFC 9. Tennessee .514 25. Seattle .479 SEA at ATL...... 10 a.m. BUF at NE...... TBD ARI at BAL...... 10 a.m. TEN at ATL...... 10 a.m. CAR at TB (L)...6:30 a.m. DET at CHI...... 10 a.m. PHI at BUF...... 10 a.m. TB at ATL...... 10 a.m. CAR at ATL...... 10 a.m. LAR at SF ...... TBD Sunday, Jan. 5 SF at CIN...... 10 a.m. CLE at BAL...... 10 a.m. CIN at BAL...... 10 a.m. BAL at CIN...... 10 a.m. LAC at CHI...... 10 a.m. DEN at BUF ...... 10 a.m. BAL at BUF ...... 10 a.m. HOU at TB ...... TBD 10.Minnesota.512 26.Philadelphia .477 LAC at DET...... 10 a.m. NE at BUF ...... 10 a.m. SEA at CLE ...... 10 a.m. BUF at CLE ...... 10 a.m. AFC, NFC wild card NYG at DET...... 10 a.m. NYG at CHI ...... 10 a.m. CIN at CLE...... 10 a.m. MIN at GB ...... 10 a.m. KC at DET...... 10 a.m. NO at JAC...... 10 a.m. CAR at GB ...... 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 22 OAK at HOU...... 10 a.m. PIT at CIN ...... 10 a.m. WAS at GB ...... 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11 11. San Francisco .510 27. RAMS .473 JAC at HOU...... 10 a.m. CAR at HOU...... 10 a.m. HOU at KC...... 10 a.m. ATL at NO ...... 10 a.m. NYJ at JAC...... 10 a.m. MIA at CLE...... 10 a.m. DEN at HOU...... 10 a.m. JAC at ATL...... 10 a.m. NE at MIA...... 10 a.m. OAK at IND ...... 10 a.m. WAS at MIA ...... 10 a.m. NYG at NYJ...... 10 a.m. AFC, NFC Divisional CIN at LAR (L) .....10 a.m. CAR at NO...... 10 a.m. DET at MIN ...... 10 a.m. BAL at CLE...... 10 a.m. BUF at NYG...... 10 a.m. LAC at MIA ...... 10 a.m. PHI at MIN...... 10 a.m. ARI at TB...... 10 a.m. 12. Arizona .508 N.Y. Giants .473 ARI at NO...... 10 a.m. OAK at NYJ ...... 10 a.m. SF at NO ...... 10 a.m. CAR at IND ...... 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 12 SEA at PIT ...... 10 a.m. WAS at NYG...... 10 a.m. ATL at ARI...... 1 p.m. KC at TEN...... 10 a.m. TB at TEN ...... 10 a.m. DET at WAS...... 10 a.m. MIA at NYJ...... 10 a.m. CIN at MIA...... 10 a.m. IND at TEN...... 10 a.m. SEA at ARI...... 1 p.m. SF at LAR...... 1 p.m. MIA at IND ...... 1 p.m. AFC, NFC Divisional Tampa Bay .508 N.Y. Jets .473 CAR at SF...... 1 p.m. JAC at TEN...... 1 p.m. IND at TB ...... 10 a.m. PIT at NYJ ...... 10 a.m. DAL at WAS...... 10 a.m. TB at LAR ...... 1 p.m. TEN at DEN ...... 1:15 p.m. LAR at PIT ...... 1:15 p.m. LAC at JAC...... 1 p.m. NO at TEN ...... 10 a.m. DEN at IND ...... 1:15 p.m. DAL at NE ...... 1:15 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19 KC at OAK...... 1 p.m. MIN at CHI ...... 1:15 p.m. DAL at NYJ ...... 1:15 p.m. MIN at Dallas ...5:15 p.m. CLE at NE ...... 1:15 p.m. GB at SF...... 1:15 p.m. PIT at ARI...... 1:15 p.m. NYG at WAS...... 10 a.m. 14. Dallas .504 Cincinnati .473 CHI at DEN...... 1:15 p.m. JAC at DEN...... 1:15 p.m. PIT at LAC...... 5:15 p.m. GB at KC ...... 5:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 11 SEA at PHI...... 5:15 p.m. KC at NE...... 1:15 p.m. DAL at PHI...... 1:15 p.m. AFC, NFC title games NO at LAR...... 1:15 p.m. DAL at NO...... 5:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14 TEN at OAK...... 1:15 p.m. ARI at SEA ...... 1:15 p.m. PHI at ATL...... 5:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28 SEA at SF ...... 5:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 25 SEA at LAR ...... 5:15 p.m. KC at CHI ...... 5:15 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2 Green Bay .504 New England .473 Monday, Sept. 30 DET at GB...... 5:15 p.m. MIA at PIT...... 5:15 p.m. Off: DEN, HOU, JAC, NE, BAL at LAR...... 5:15 p.m. Super Bowl LIV Monday, Sept. 16 CIN at PIT ...... 5:15 p.m. Monday, Dec. 9 Monday, Dec. 23 Off: BUF, CHI, IND, OAK Off: BAL, Dallas PHI, WAS at Miami 16.Carolina .502 32. Washington .469 CLE at NYJ ...... 5:15 p.m. Off: NYJ, SF Off: ARI, KC, LAC, MIN NYG at PHI...... 5:15 p.m. GB at MIN ...... 5:15 p.m.