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New York Times
21 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Jets training camp observations: Justin Fields' up-and-down practice
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Glenn popped awake at 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, eager. He looked at his phone and saw a text message from his wife an hour earlier: Just be A.G. 'And that's what I'm going to be,' Glenn said after his first training camp practice as Jets head coach on Wednesday. 'Right, wrong or indifferent.' Advertisement He couldn't go back to sleep — call it excitement, or adrenaline, or the stress to make sure everything was ready. This was a moment he's been preparing for ever since his first head coaching interview (with the Jets, coincidentally, when he was the Saints defensive backs coach after the 2020 season). That's when he started to think about how he'd conduct things, how he'd run a practice, and a training camp. He took copious notes when he went to Detroit to be Dan Campbell's defensive coordinator. And at times, Campbell would let Glenn plan out practice and stand in front of the team as head coach. But that was only a trial run. This is the real thing. 'I'm happy to be standing here,' Glenn said. 'This is something I've been waiting on for a long time.' On Tuesday, Glenn stood in front of the entire Jets roster and spoke about expectations — how everyone expects to win the Super Bowl, but there are the steps a team needs to take to get there. 'We break those expectations down into stages,' Glenn said. 'The only thing I want those guys to think about is what we're trying to create in training camp.' That is: a culture of competitiveness, attention to detail and a focus on the fundamentals. Pads won't come on until later, the first few days of camp are more about getting in shape and installing the new playbook. Then, the intensity will pick up. 'He's an intense guy,' said center Joe Tippmann. 'He's somebody that wants to establish a culture and he's definitely doing that, through our meetings, through practice, through OTAs … it's been great to get the ball rolling.' On Wednesday, the Jets got the ball rolling. Here are some observations from the first practice of training camp… Fields looked a lot like he did during OTAs and minicamp in the spring: A mix of impressive throws and some poor decisions. His first pass of 11-on-11 drills was a dump-off to Breece Hall when he probably should have hit an open Garrett Wilson down the field instead. On the next play, Fields was under pressure from defensive end Micheal Clemons — who came close to a sack — and it led to a poorly thrown ball to Wilson for an incompletion; the throw was late and landed nowhere near his star receiver. Advertisement Then, Fields followed it up with probably his best throw of the day: a 50-yard bomb, delivered with timing and patience, to Wilson for what would have been a touchdown in a competitive setting. Fields found a hole in the coverage and nailed it perfectly. In the other run of 11-on-11 it was more up-and-down. Cornerback Brandon Stephens batted Fields' pass down on a blitz on the first play, then Fields tried squeezing a side-arm throw to Wilson in tight coverage that fell incomplete — in Fields' defense, nickel corner Michael Carter II had Wilson draped in coverage and made it difficult to squeeze a pass in. Fields completed a pass to Hall on the next play, though defensive end Will McDonald — battling with rookie tackle Armand Membou — might have sacked him. He then hit Wilson again on a laser in the middle of the field, then dumped it off to running back Braelon Allen as he was being pressured by defensive end Eric Watts. All told, Fields completed 5 of 8 passes during 11-on-11 drills — and also hit Wilson, Josh Reynolds and Arian Smith on nice throws during seven-on-seven drills. It's Day 1 of practice; there is nothing worth celebrating nor fretting over yet. The key is simply seeing progress — Fields was never going to dominate right out of the gate. On that seven-on-seven completion to Wilson: Wilson used some expert, patient route-running to trick Stephens into thinking the ball wasn't coming his way until the very last second, which allowed him to make an impressive catch over Stephens' head for a 30-yard gain on the sideline. Stephens had good coverage but didn't turn his head — which has been a recurring issue for him during his career, though most cornerbacks might have fallen for Wilson's trickery on this one. would you believe us if we told you this was the first play of 7-on-7? — New York Jets (@nyjets) July 23, 2025 Nothing notable yet. Defensive end Jermaine Johnson (Achilles) and wide receiver Irv Charles (ACL) opened training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform List. Johnson is expected to be activated and return to practice at some point before the start of the season — and he posted on X that he's healthy now but the team is just being cautious. Advertisement Maybe Glenn or defensive coordinator Steve Wilks don't want to get into specifics about how the Jets defense is going to look. But it was easy to spot context clues — even easier now that multiple players have confirmed what was expected: This is going to be a blitz-heavy, aggressive defense that uses more man-to-man coverage. None of those things were staples of Robert Saleh's defense the last few years. The Jets showed that throughout the spring, and again on Wednesday in moments like the Stephens play in the backfield. On Tuesday, cornerback Sauce Gardner said the things that excite him most about playing in this defense include traveling with top receivers, blitzing and even getting some reps as a nickel corner. Linebacker Jamien Sherwood alluded to there being more blitzing in this defense too, as did others in the spring. The player who stands to benefit most from the change in defensive play style, in my mind: Linebacker Quincy Williams, an elite athlete that succeeded in blitzes under Saleh on the rare occasion the staff allowed him to do it. He should be in for a bounce-back year in this new scheme. 'I feel like for Quincy and I and all the other linebackers, we get a chance to really showcase who we are,' Sherwood said. 'We get a chance to blitz a little bit more, dropping back in coverage and just (getting) more opportunities to make plays.' Glenn wouldn't acknowledge that Tippmann and Josh Myers were competing to start at center — Glenn went with the typical 'everyone is competing' coachspeak instead — but Tippmann confirmed it. The 2023 second-round pick was viewed as an entrenched starter heading into the offseason, but the Jets also didn't expect Myers (56 career starts with the Packers) to be available at such minimal cost. Tippmann said he was surprised when the Jets signed Myers but that Glenn called him to let him know it was happening. Now he's taking it in stride. 'We brought Josh in so now I have that competition each and every day and it's only going to make me better,' Tippmann said. 'Pressure makes diamonds. Just being able to keep that in my mind and know that it's an open competition and that I'm going to have to keep battling every day.' Advertisement It appears that is the only job on the starting offensive line that's open for competition; Membou appears locked in at right tackle in the early going. • Wide receiver Malachi Corley was back practicing after missing most of the spring. During 11-on-11 drills, he bobbled and dropped a pass from undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook. He also couldn't out-run cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse on a fade from Tyrod Taylor, so the pass fell incomplete. Corley still has a long way to go to prove to this coaching staff that he belongs. • The run-blocking looked solid in the early going, through it's difficult to evaluate the offensive line at this stage (pre-pads). Allen looked especially explosive coming out of the backfield, bursting through the hole for a big gain on one carry and making a play after the catch on another. Expect him to have a bigger role in 2025. • Undrafted rookie Jamaal Pritchett — pushing Xavier Gipson for a role as the team's punt returner — had a nice diving catch from Adrian Martinez in 11-on-11 drills. Gipson muffed a punt during one drill. That will be a competition to watch.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Madden 26 Franchise – Everything You Need to Know
The post Madden 26 Franchise – Everything You Need to Know appeared first on ClutchPoints. Madden 26 Franchise Mode will aim to be even bigger and better than it has ever been. Between the new gameplay and presentational changes, Franchise aims to be bigger and better than ever. Without further ado, let's dive right in! Madden 26 Franchise Mode – Everything You Need To Know Madden 26 aims to improve Franchise Mode in many ways on and off the field. Without further ado, let's see what's new in this year's version of Franchise mode. Coach Creation & Progression – Madden 26 Franchise In Madden 26, players will have 200 new heads to choose from when creating their coach. Furthermore, they added over 50 new shirts, 15 pants, and 40 shoes for you to mix and match with. Overall, this means you can have a total of 30,000 different combinations on the sidelines. Afterwards, you'll be able to select your Coach Archetype, of which the game offers three: Offensive Guru (Similar to Andy Reid) Defensive Genius (Similar to Todd Bowles) Development Wizard (Similar to Dan Campbell) The Archetype you chooses influences the abilities you begin with in your career. All Coaches in the game possess one of these three archetypes based on their real-life skillset. Furthermore, each coach ha a level from 1 to 50. Created Coaches alway begin at level 1, allowing you to unlock many abilities and slots. Complete in-game, season, and milestone goals to Earn XP and upgrade your coach. Coach Abilities Explained Madden 26 introduces new Coach Abilities, which reflect the skills from real coaches in the NFL. Overall, there are two types of abilities; Gameday and Season Abilities. Overall, EA Sports plans to release 46 Gameday Abilities at launch, along with 28 Season Abilities. Expect to see even more throughout the season, as we see coaches adapt and change the game over time. Each ability possesses four tiers, which can be upgraded and become more powerful each time it moves to the next tier. Fortunately, you can upgrade tiers with either Upgrade Goals or Staff Points. For example, Gameday Abilities will have Upgrade Goals, which must be completed to unlock the next tier. However, Each Gameday ability also possesses a Knockout Goal. This is the opposite of an Upgrade Goal, and if completed, your ability will actually drop to a lower tier. You could potentially lose your abilities altogether if you fail to complete your Upgrade Goals. In addition, Madden 26 adds new Mastery Goals, which are essentially the ultimate versions of Upgrade Goals. When you reach the 4th tier of an ability, you can upgrade it via Mastery Goal. With Mastery Goals, each tier becomes permanent, meaning you'll never lose its abilities. There are two types of these goals — Game Goals and Cumulative Goals. The former are achievable in a single game, whereas the latter take time to complete. Progress on the Cumulative Goals carry across weeks & seasons, only resetting when you achieve an Upgrade or Knockout Goal. The Weekly Strategy Madden 26 completely changes The Weekly Strategy in Franchise mode, which is now broken up into three loadouts: Staff Loadout – Offers up to six available slots for you to fill with Gameday or Season Abilities. Playsheet Loadout Trainer Loadout Overall, during the Weekly Strategy, you'll be setting your Coach, Gameday, and Season Abilities while managing player Wear & Tear. When you first begin as a created coach, you'll have access to just three slots in your Staff Loadout. But as you level up (or if you control a coach like Andy Reid), you'll have more. In the Weekly Strategy menu, you can also see how your team compares to theirs. This also includes information on injuries, and how your abilities may impact the game. Updates to Coordinators In Madden 26 Franchise, EA Sports put a greater emphasis on the importance of Coordinators. For example, if you're an Offensive Guru, the only defensive abilities you'll have is from your DC. While you don't technically need their abilities to win games, you can make use of their abilities to help you in key situations. Furthermore, Coordinators possess their own in-game goals, earn XP, and can progress their abilities. However, their abilities may also regress, depending on your team's performance. No Coach possesses every playsheet, making each one unique. Staff Management Throughout your career, you'll need to manage your coaching staff. If a coordinator isn't performing to your expectations, head into the Coaching Carousel. Here, you can find new coordinators. Furthermore, each Coordinator comes with their own Job Security Meter. This provides you with better context how each coach is performing during their time with you. The CPU will also make use of this as they seek new members on their staff. The Coach Central Hub + Approval Rating Coach Central acts as the Overview for your Franchise experience. Here's how it's broken down: Overview Tab Abilities & Playsheets Goals Tab What Are Coach Storylines in Madden 26 Franchise? Madden 26 adds a deeper narrative experience that stays with you throughout your coaching journey. You'll make decisions during your career which may impact your standing with the team, players, staff members, and more. For example, a Coordinator may recommend a gameplan. But if you shut him own and play badly, they may lose respect for you. However, if you play well, people tend to have a more positive outlook on you. Completing these storylines and playing well yields higher XP Gains, and the chance to unlock and upgrade more abilities. Player Traits As mentioned in the Gameplay Deep Dive, Madden 26 features 50 unique player traits at launch. But how do they play a role in Franchise Mode? Whether it's current players or new Draft Prospects, these traits play a role in helping teams win games. However, you also need to look out for players with these traits, who can use them against you in big games. Real Time Coaching AI & Coach DNA EA Sports also mentioned Coach & QB DNA, both of which affect gameplay. Essentially, Coach DNA uses a coach's real philosophy and play style to influence their decisions in-game. For example, Lions' HC Dan Campbell will often go for it on 4th & short. Eagles' HC Nick Sirianni may want to use more RPOs, Zone Reads, and other run-oriented plays that better suits his offense. On the Coach Suggestions Tab, you'll see plays that the real coaches may use in real life in these situations. Pre-snap, you can also see AI coaches use different tactics such as delayed safety rotations, timed blitz packages, and more. A coach's archetype also determines their strategy. Wear & Tear in Madden 26 Franchise Wear & Tear comes to Franchise Mode this year. If you've played College Football 26, you're familiar with the system by now. But the developers want it to feel different than it has in previous years. For newcomers, Wear & Tear works as it sounds. Each hit, each carry, each pass, each play impacts your player's health. If Derrick Henry is running 30+ times a game, he won't be healthy for the playoffs. Players can recover health between weeks, but not completely. Therefore, you need to rotate between players and spread the ball around. Furthermore, injuries now work differently. Instead of seeing a set amount of time for a player to recover, you'll just see a range of weeks now. This adds more suspense to the experience as you wonder when your star player will come back. Additionally, injuries are set to be more realistic this year, according to EA. Player injury conditions may actually worsen before getting better. You can keep them out of practice to prioritize recovery, but you won't earn XP. Wear & Tear adds a new level of strategy to player management. Thankfully, Madden provides you with Trainer Abilities to keep your players healthy. These abilities vary, but they can do things like: Boost weekly player recovery Lower in-game injuries Improve chances of cleared injuries In the Weekly Strategy, you can choose which Trainer Abilities you'd like to use for each game. Broadcast Packages & Halftime Report Maden 26's Franchise Mode also adds a long, awaited feature that improves the presentation of the game. EA Sports covered many of these new details in their Presentation Deep Dive. Firstly, Madden 26 adds four different broadcast packages, representing the different kinds of games you'll play. Whether it's Thursday Night, Monday Night, or your typical Sunday afternoon game, you'll see a different scoreboard and hear a different crew: Thursday Night – Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis Sunday Night – Mike Tirico and Greg Olsen Monday Night – Kate Scott and Brock Huard Non prime-time games will feature a random crew to keep things fresh. Each crew As you make your way through a season, what you hear about a QB taking the field from Greg Olsen's perspective will be different from the games assigned to Brock Huard or Charles Davis. Lastly, Madden 26 is fully revamping the Halftime report, allowing you to see highlights from other. Whether it's your friends or the CPU, Madden 26's Halftime Report will show you highlights from around the league. And best of all, NFL Redzone host Scott Hanson will lead the charge in these reports. You can also see CPU highlights in the Franchise hub menu via the Weekly Recap. Also hosted by Scott Hanson, this recap shows off different insights he'll have about the league. Expect to hear a variety of things as the season unfolds. Weather In Franchise, you'll feel the impacts of weather as you head to different areas. Essentially, 'cold teams' (i.e. Buffalo, Green Bay), thrive in colder conditions. Meanwhile, 'hot teams' (Miami, Tampa Bay) thrive in warmer conditions. Learn about the several other ways Madden 26's Weather really impacts gameplay. Core Improvements to Franchise – Madden 26 There's several other big improvements coming to Madden 26's Franchise Mode. Many of them are general quality of life improvements. They include: Improved Draft Logic for AI teams New Draft Prospect Generators Tuned Retirement Logic to better reflect real-life decisions Player Regression changes – Now Follows real-life aging curves more closely Development Trait Regression: Improved Season Simulation Stats Improved Player Morale system that provides bigger boosts for low OVR players Revamped Player Tags Logic: News Stories – Updates on the Weather Forecast, Draft Prospects, Draft Previews, & Combine Reports Lastly, for more gaming and NFL news, visit ClutchPoints. Furthermore, subscribe to our gaming newsletter for more weekly info. Related: All Active Locker Codes For NBA 2K Mobile Related: College Football 26 Update Fixes Gameplay, RTG, & Dynasty
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Where Detroit Lions' Offense Ranks Among Revamped NFC North in 2025
Where Detroit Lions' Offense Ranks Among Revamped NFC North in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Detroit Lions have won back-to-back NFC North titles under the Dan Campbell regime and now must begin the challenging task of holding off three revamped challengers from the division throne. The Lions are expected to bring back most of their 2024 offense, albeit without star center Frank Ragnow, who chose to retire this offseason. With key changes having been made to their NFC North opponents' rosters, the Lions are in for a whole new challenge this season. New offensive coordinator John Morton received praise from star tight end Sam LaPorta and has been in the system since 2022, when he was hired as a senior offensive assitsant by Campbell. Here is how the NFC North's offenses stack up heading into 2025-26: 4. Chicago Bears- The Bears brought in offensive-minded Ben Johnson as their head coach this season, revamped the offensive line and added first round pick Colston Loveland out of Michigan to form a stacked tight end group alongside Cole Kmet. The Bears are loaded at the skill positions and have an improved offensive line. This ranking is a reflection of how strong the NFC's offenses are this season. If Caleb Williams plays like he did in college, the Bears could vault up this list. 3. Minnesota Vikings- The Vikings get a slight edge over the Bears on this list because of continuity and the presence of Justin Jefferson, who could make life easy on first-year starter JJ McCarthy. If McCarthy outperforms expectations and avoids turnovers, the Vikings will likely stay ahead of the Bears on this list. 2. Green Bay Packers- Jordan Love has gotten playoff experience under his belt and now Green Bay has a chance to ratchet their offense up to the next level. Texas rookie Matthew Golden adds a blazer who can take the top off of a defense and tight end tight ends Tucker Kraft and Luke Musgrave have the talent for big seasons in Green Bay. Lions- Quarterback Jared Goff raised questions about whether he will ever win a Super Bowl in Detroit after a turnover-riddled playoff performance against the Commanders last season. Without a healthy defense, Goff began pressing and made uncharacteristic mistakes that he likely won't make this season. Detroit's Super Bowl chances come down to way more than just Goff as its powerful running game led by Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery will take center stage. Goff, Gibbs, Montgomery, and the rest of the Lions' supporting cast plus a healthy defense should be enough to give the Lions the NFC North's best offense in 2025 with Morton calling the story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
5 Make-or-Break Games on 2025 Detroit Lions Schedule
5 Make-or-Break Games on 2025 Detroit Lions Schedule originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Detroit Lions have gone from the hunter to the hunted in the National Football League on the heels of consecutive NFC North Division championships. Detroit is expected to be a team to watch this season as Dan Campbell's squad will bring back most of its roster, including a bevy of players who missed significant time during the second half of the 2024-25 season. The Detroit Lions' 2025 schedule looks daunting for any team, let alone one of the most talented in the NFL, as it includes games against improved division foes, recent Super Bowl Champions, and NFL MVPs alike. Here are five make-or-break games that could determine whether the Lions finish at or near the top of the NFC or back toward the middle of the pack. 5. Bears at Lions (Sept. 14) Expect Bears head coach Ben Johnson to throw the kitchen sink at his former team in Week 2 of the Lions' season. Johnson knows the Lions' defense inside and out and could pull the upset with the right gameplan and a boatload of weapons on offense. Detroit must bring its A game for this one and the Lions' Ford Field fans will do their best to help them to find it. 4. Lions at Commanders (Nov. 9) The Lions will be out for revenge against the team that knocked them out of the 2025 Playoffs in shocking fashion at home. Detroit can send a message to the rest of the league with a big road win against Jayden Daniels and the Commanders. A win would be a huge boost for Detroit's confidence headed toward a potential 2026 playoff run. 3. Lions at Eagles (Nov. 16) Media and fans have debated whether the Lions' Super Bowl window has "closed" since their playoff loss to the Commanders. A strong performance, and potentially a win, against the Eagles would do wonders for Detroit's confidence in pursuit of its first ever Super Bowl title. 2. Lions at Rams (Dec. 14) Detroit will get another crack at Matthew Stafford and the Rams toward the end of the season in what could be a playoff preview. Lions QB Jared Goff and Stafford are forever linked, and another duel between them could provide the challenge Goff needs to prove he's capable of winning it all at the controls of Detroit's offense. 1. Steelers at Lions (Dec. 21) Pittsburgh is always well coached under Mike Tomlin and this could be a trap game with the Vikings and Bears scheduled for the final two weeks of the regular story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Lions LB Alex Anzalone ‘disappointed' with contract talks
July 22 - Detroit Lions linebacker and team captain Alex Anzalone is at training camp this week, but he's frustrated with how his contract negotiations with the front office are going. Anzalone has reached the final season of his three-year, $18.75 million deal signed in 2023 but believes he is underpaid relative to other linebackers around the league. "I want to retire a Lion. I want that opportunity," Anzalone told reporters Tuesday. "That's how I feel." Anzalone is working through a hamstring injury and has yet to practice at camp. Asked if he believes he will return to the practice field without a new deal, he said he had "no clue." That follows coach Dan Campbell telling reporters Sunday that he did not believe Anzalone was conducting a "hold-in," in which he reports to camp but sits out of team activities. Anzalone, 30, followed Campbell from the New Orleans Saints to the Lions in 2021 and instantly became a starting inside linebacker for Detroit. In 57 games (all starts) with the franchise, he has amassed 395 tackles (22 for loss), 6.5 sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. "I'm disappointed, I'll just say that. I'm disappointed," Anzalone said. --Field Level Media
