From The Archive: Michigan Forever (2023)
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Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Upton Stout looks like the 49ers nickel of the future to start camp
Upton Stout looks like the 49ers nickel of the future to start camp originally appeared on The Sporting News It's been four years since the San Francisco 49ers had a consistent playmaker at nickel in their defense. K'Waun Williams held that title for five years up until 2021, and third-round rookie Upton Stout seems to be next up. Stout put his skills in the slot on display throughout his college career, as well as during last year's Senior Bowl. Through the beginning of training camp, the 23-year-old has continued to have success, with The Athletic's Matt Barrows claiming he's been 'the best looking rookie in camp so far.' With Robert Saleh returning to oversee the defense in 2025, he'll be looking for someone to fill the role that Williams controlled during his first stint as defensive coordinator. There are some obvious similarities between Stout and Williams, with each player measuring in at 5-foot-9, and Stout just four pounds lighter at 181 pounds. Just as Williams did for the 49ers during his playing days, Stout uses his frame and quick-twitch athleticism to stick to receivers and make plays on the ball. Stout has studied what gave Williams so much success in the slot, with ESPN's Nick Wagoner reporting that 'Stout liked watching Williams so much he reached out to him during OTAs. The pair struck up a relationship and Williams sent Stout some cut ups to watch in his down time.' The nickel spot was an open battle entering training camp, with Stout getting closer and closer to locking down the starting job with each practice. Watching extra film and putting in extra work on the field and in the facility has helped to build trust with the coaching staff, as well as sharpen his skills during practice. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has been impressed with how the rookie has begun his time in the NFL, with his vision of Stout taking control of the slot slowly seeming to come true. '[Stout's] made of the right stuff,' Shanahan said. '… He's one of the bigger competitors I've seen coming in as a rookie. Every day he's doing everything he can on and off the field, and that's why he's passing a lot of guys up.'
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Justin Fields says Jets' offense is improving despite recent struggles in training camp
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Justin Fields knows he and the New York Jets' offense are a work in progress. Well, the only way for them to go after 11 training camp practices is up. Especially after the past few underwhelming sessions. 'I think we're improving, especially from the start of training camp to now,' Fields said Tuesday. 'Of course, today wasn't up to our standard in terms of penalties and stuff like that. But like I said, just a base summary for you all, I definitely think we have improved, for sure.' A day after going 4 of 16 in team drills, Fields was unofficially 9 of 16 on Tuesday. There have been bad throws, ugly drops and penalties negating positive plays. But the focus — and of course, the blame — usually sits on the quarterback, especially after the Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract in the offseason to replace Aaron Rodgers. 'Some of it's me, some of it's dropping the ball, some of it's just plain and simple things,' Fields said. 'Stuff that, you know, it's practice.' Fields also dealt with a dislocated toe on his right foot just a few days into camp, but says he's feeling a lot better. 'There's probably still a little bit of swelling,' he said. 'I just have to go from a 12 1/2 (shoe) to a 13. So, I'm all good other than that.' Fields is on his third team while entering his fifth NFL season and learning his fourth offensive system. The Jets think he's a good fit for new coordinator Tanner Engstrand's offense, but it's still early in camp and mistakes have outnumbered the successes. 'There was a number of things, as far as the way his command was of the offense and knowing exactly what to do was outstanding,' coach Aaron Glenn said of Fields' performance Tuesday. "Some of his throws wasn't on point, but again, a lot of them were on point and guys got to make plays for him, too. So that kind of showed up today and we've got to get ready to fix those things. "So, it goes hand in hand with quarterback and receivers. He has to deliver the ball and they have to catch it." Still, the defense has outplayed the offense by far through the first part of camp. But Glenn refuses to sound any alarms about his quarterback and offense. 'It's early right now and I'm looking at Week 1,' Glenn said of the regular-season opener against Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 7. 'We have a long time until we get to that point and the type of men that we have, I know our men are going to pick it up and get it going. So, I'm not worried at all. The thing that I'm more concerned about are things that we have to do to make ourselves ready for Week 1, the things that we're trying to create in training camp, those are the things that I think about on a daily basis.' Glenn hasn't publicly said whether his starters, including Fields, will play against the Packers. But the quarterback appeared in favor of doing so. 'I think we need to at least see the field each and every game,' Fields said. 'I think that will be good for our team, it will be good for Tanner in the in-game stuff, it will be good for me, the guys on offense. I know some guys, they sit out the whole preseason, but I don't think that's the case for us, just because of the new team, new offense, and stuff like that. So, that's kind of how I feel about the situation.' The Jets have a day off followed by a practice Thursday, their last before they head to Green Bay. 'It's inevitable,' Fields said. 'You know you're going to have these days in training camp. ... That's why we're out here working. And defense, they won the day at the end of the day. "So, it's about how we respond on Thursday, and we've got to come out hot.' ___ AP NFL:
Associated Press
30 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Justin Fields says Jets' offense is improving despite recent struggles in training camp
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Justin Fields knows he and the New York Jets' offense are a work in progress. Well, the only way for them to go after 11 training camp practices is up. Especially after the past few underwhelming sessions. 'I think we're improving, especially from the start of training camp to now,' Fields said Tuesday. 'Of course, today wasn't up to our standard in terms of penalties and stuff like that. But like I said, just a base summary for you all, I definitely think we have improved, for sure.' A day after going 4 of 16 in team drills, Fields was unofficially 9 of 16 on Tuesday. There have been bad throws, ugly drops and penalties negating positive plays. But the focus — and of course, the blame — usually sits on the quarterback, especially after the Jets signed Fields to a two-year, $40 million contract in the offseason to replace Aaron Rodgers. 'Some of it's me, some of it's dropping the ball, some of it's just plain and simple things,' Fields said. 'Stuff that, you know, it's practice.' Fields also dealt with a dislocated toe on his right foot just a few days into camp, but says he's feeling a lot better. 'There's probably still a little bit of swelling,' he said. 'I just have to go from a 12 1/2 (shoe) to a 13. So, I'm all good other than that.' Fields is on his third team while entering his fifth NFL season and learning his fourth offensive system. The Jets think he's a good fit for new coordinator Tanner Engstrand's offense, but it's still early in camp and mistakes have outnumbered the successes. 'There was a number of things, as far as the way his command was of the offense and knowing exactly what to do was outstanding,' coach Aaron Glenn said of Fields' performance Tuesday. 'Some of his throws wasn't on point, but again, a lot of them were on point and guys got to make plays for him, too. So that kind of showed up today and we've got to get ready to fix those things. 'So, it goes hand in hand with quarterback and receivers. He has to deliver the ball and they have to catch it.' Still, the defense has outplayed the offense by far through the first part of camp. But Glenn refuses to sound any alarms about his quarterback and offense. 'It's early right now and I'm looking at Week 1,' Glenn said of the regular-season opener against Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 7. 'We have a long time until we get to that point and the type of men that we have, I know our men are going to pick it up and get it going. So, I'm not worried at all. The thing that I'm more concerned about are things that we have to do to make ourselves ready for Week 1, the things that we're trying to create in training camp, those are the things that I think about on a daily basis.' Glenn hasn't publicly said whether his starters, including Fields, will play against the Packers. But the quarterback appeared in favor of doing so. 'I think we need to at least see the field each and every game,' Fields said. 'I think that will be good for our team, it will be good for Tanner in the in-game stuff, it will be good for me, the guys on offense. I know some guys, they sit out the whole preseason, but I don't think that's the case for us, just because of the new team, new offense, and stuff like that. So, that's kind of how I feel about the situation.' The Jets have a day off followed by a practice Thursday, their last before they head to Green Bay. 'It's inevitable,' Fields said. 'You know you're going to have these days in training camp. ... That's why we're out here working. And defense, they won the day at the end of the day. 'So, it's about how we respond on Thursday, and we've got to come out hot.' ___ AP NFL:
