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4 days ago
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Packers believe weekend film studies at Kenny Clark's home may produce more consistent pass rush
FILE - Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark (97) walks on the field before a NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints Monday, Dec. 23, 2024, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps, File) GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Kenny Clark is hosting his fellow Green Bay Packers pass rushers for weekend offseason gatherings in hopes of producing more frequent get-togethers in opposing backfields each Sunday this fall. The three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman realizes Green Bay's pass rush can't afford a repeat of its inconsistent 2024 performance. Advertisement 'It was on and off,' the three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman said during organized team activities this week. 'Honestly, not good enough. Not good enough. Not good enough to win a championship, so we've got to be better.' That's why Green Bay's pass rushers have been conducting regular offseason film sessions at Clark's home. Rashan Gary, a Pro Bowl defensive lineman entering his seventh season in Green Bay, says this marks the first time they've had these types of weekend film studies at somebody's house this early in the year. 'KC's is the spot,' Gary said. 'KC's is the film study house. Everybody pulls up (to) KC. We might have pizza, wings, things like that, but we're getting together and we're locking in on details.' Advertisement Green Bay collected 45 sacks last season to tie for eighth place among all NFL teams, but more than half of those sacks came in just four games. The Packers had eight sacks against Tennessee, seven against Seattle, five against Miami and four against Houston. In seven of their 17 games, the Packers had no more than one sack. They sacked Jalen Hurts twice in their 22-10 wild-card playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Green Bay ranked 16th in pressure rate, which calculates the number of hurries, knockdowns and sacks for each team divided by an opponent's dropback attempts. The Packers must find creative ways to improve because they didn't add proven pass rushers in the offseason. Their main free-agent move involving a player on the front seven was allowing T.J. Slaton to sign with the Cincinnati Bengals. Advertisement Green Bay did add three defensive linemen in the final day of the draft by selecting Texas' Barryn Sorrell in the fourth round, Oklahoma State's Collin Oliver in the fifth and Georgia's Warren Brinson in the sixth. Perhaps their biggest offseason move to address the pass rush was the hiring of defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington to replace the fired Jason Rebrovich, who now is an assistant defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills. Covington spent the last eight seasons in New England and was the Patriots' defensive coordinator in 2024. 'He's just a leader of men,' defensive lineman Lukas Van Ness said. 'We've started doing handshakes at the beginning of every meeting, just building that camaraderie. I think when you want to play for the guy next to you on the field, it's a brotherhood. Together when we're one, that's when we're the best.' The Packers believe they can get more production from their returning players. Advertisement 'There's a number of young players that are coming into their own and should play their best football in front of them,' general manager Brian Gutekunst said after the draft. A couple of them were playing through injuries last year. Clark injured his right foot during the Packers' season-opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil — he complained about the Corinthians Arena turf after the game — and underwent surgery in the offseason. Clark went from having a career-high 7 ½ sacks in 2023 to a career-low one in 2024. 'You're taking every step and the toe is busting,' Clark said. 'It's something you've got to deal with, but it is what it is. That's done. I got the surgery done, and yeah, we're moving forward.' Advertisement Van Ness, the 13th overall pick in the 2023 draft, said he wore a cast on his broken right thumb until about the 10th or 11th week of the 2024 season. Van Ness recorded three sacks last season, none after Thanksgiving. 'I don't know if any of you guys have ever broken a thumb or hand or anything, you kind of get a little bit of a mental block, and it's kind of taken me a little bit of time to gain some confidence again in utilizing my hand to its fullest extent,' Van Ness said. The Packers expect to be healthier this year. They also should be more comfortable now that they've had time to adapt to second-year defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley and his 4-3 scheme. They just need to be more dynamic on a week-in, week-out basis. They're hoping that improvement starts in Clark's home. Advertisement 'The main thing is just getting the bonding. Just building as a team,' Clark said. 'We're going to need everybody, and need everybody to be playing at a high level to start the season, and so forth. So (we're) just make sure we're hitting on all cylinders.' ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Orioles-Red Sox series opener postponed by rain. Doubleheader scheduled for Friday
Boston Red Sox's Trevor Story tosses his bat after flying out against the New York Mets during the ninth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Baltimore Orioles' Emmanuel Rivera breaks his bat during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Baltimore Orioles' Emmanuel Rivera breaks his bat during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Boston Red Sox's Trevor Story tosses his bat after flying out against the New York Mets during the ninth inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Baltimore Orioles' Emmanuel Rivera breaks his bat during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) BOSTON (AP) — The opener of a four-game series between the AL East rival Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox was postponed because of steady rainfall expected to continue throughout Thursday evening. It will be made up as the first half of a split doubleheader on Friday. The first game is set for 1:35 p.m., with Friday's regularly scheduled game remaining at 7:10 p.m. Tickets for Thursday's game will still be valid for the Friday's first game. Advertisement The Orioles enter the series coming off snapping an eight-game losing streak via an 8-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. The Red Sox are coming off a 5-1 loss on Wednesday to the New York Mets, which was the final game of a three-game series in which Boston won the first two games. It's unclear whether the teams will stick with their planned starters. Orioles left-hander Cade Povich (1-3, 5.23 ERA) was set to be on the mound for Baltimore. Boston right-hander Lucas Giolito (1-1, 7.08) was scheduled to start for the Red Sox. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Twins' 13-game win streak ends as Jackson Chourio's big catch preserves 5-2 victory for Brewers
Minnesota Twins' Ty France is hit by a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta throws to the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Brewers' Isaac Collins watches his two-RBI single against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Brewers' Sal Frelick reacts after his RBI single against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio (11) catches a ball hit by Minnesota Twins' Royce Lewis during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio (11) catches a ball hit by Minnesota Twins' Royce Lewis during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Minnesota Twins' Ty France is hit by a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Freddy Peralta throws to the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Brewers' Isaac Collins watches his two-RBI single against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Brewers' Sal Frelick reacts after his RBI single against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio (11) catches a ball hit by Minnesota Twins' Royce Lewis during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, May 18, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) MILWAUKEE (AP) — Jackson Chourio robbed Royce Lewis of a potential tying homer in the eighth inning, and the Milwaukee Brewers ended the Minnesota Twins' 13-game winning streak with a 5-2 victory on Sunday. Isaac Collins and Sal Frelick each drove in two runs to help the Brewers end the second-longest win streak in Twins history. The Twins won 15 straight in 1991, a season that ended with a World Series title. Advertisement Minnesota trailed 4-2 when Lewis, who already had hit his first homer of the season in the fourth inning, sent a long drive to left-center against Nick Mears with a runner on second. Chourio timed his jump perfectly and reached his gloved hand over the wall to make the catch. Rhys Hoskins had a sacrifice fly in the bottom half, and Trevor Megill worked the ninth for his sixth save. Frelick singled home Christian Yelich in the second. That snapped Minnesota's string of 34 straight shutout innings, a Twins record. Milwaukee extended the lead to 4-0 in the third. Collins hit a bases-loaded, two-out single and Frelick added an RBI single. Advertisement Twins starter Zebby Matthews (0-1) came up from the minors and gave up four runs and five hits in three innings. Milwaukee's Freddy Peralta (5-3) allowed one run over five innings. Key moment After cutting Milwaukee's lead to 4-1 in the fourth, the Twins loaded the bases with two outs. Peralta ended the threat by retiring Ryan Jeffers on a fly to right. Key stat The Brewers have never gone scoreless in a three-game series, though they've been shut out in the first two games of each of their last two. They won 9-5 at Cleveland after falling 5-0 and 2-0 Up next The Twins start a three-game home series against Cleveland. Monday's scheduled starters are Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (4-1, 3.72 ERA) and Guardians lefty Logan Allen (2-2, 3.70). Advertisement The Brewers begin a three-game home series against Baltimore. Monday's pitchers are Brewers right-hander Quinn Priester (1-2, 4.59) and Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer (3-5, 5.36). ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brewers send pitcher Tobias Myers back to the minors as he tries to regain his 2024 form
Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Tobias Myers throws to the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 5, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Tobias Myers delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 10, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Tobias Myers throws to the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday May 17, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Tobias Myers throws to the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday May 17, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Tobias Myers throws to the Houston Astros during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 5, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Tobias Myers delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, May 10, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Tobias Myers throws to the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday May 17, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Tobias Myers is going back to the minors as he continues to struggle to match the success he enjoyed as a rookie last year. The Brewers optioned Myers to Triple-A Nashville on Sunday while selecting right-handed pitcher Easton McGee from Triple-A and transferring left-handed pitcher Connor Thomas to the 60-day injured list. Advertisement Myers is 1-1 with a 4.95 ERA in six appearances, including five starts. He allowed four runs over 3 2/3 innings in a 7-0 loss to the Minnesota Twins on Saturday. The right-hander had gone 9-6 with a 3.00 ERA last season and was selected the Brewers' most valuable pitcher by the Milwaukee chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America. He closed that season by pitching five scoreless innings in the decisive Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series against the New York Mets, a game the Brewers lost 4-2 by allowing four runs in the ninth. 'I love the kid, man,' Brewers manager Pat Murphy said after Saturday's game. 'You saw it in Game 3, that's in there. So we've got to get back to that.' The Brewers had optioned Myers to Nashville a week ago, but he didn't actually pitch there before rejoining the big-league club after left-hander José Quintana went on the injured list with a left shoulder issue. Now he's heading back to Nashville. Advertisement Myers entered Saturday having walked 10 batters over 16 1/3 innings. He didn't walk anyone Saturday, but gave up a career-high 11 hits. 'My goal was to fill the zone up and kind of get away from the walks I've been dealing with,' Myers said after the game. 'I think I just filled it up a little too much.' McGee went 1-0 with a 3.44 ERA and 20 strikeouts over 18 1/3 innings in 13 relief appearances with Nashville. McGee appeared in one game for Tampa Bay in 2022 and one game for Seattle in 2023. In the only two games he has pitched in the big leagues, McGee has allowed just one unearned run over 9 2/3 innings while striking out three and allowing five hits and one walk. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Celtics' Jayson Tatum is the latest of many star athletes who've torn an Achilles tendon
Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard grimaces as he falls to the floor against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) Milwaukee Bucks' Damian Lillard grimaces as he falls to the floor against the Indiana Pacers during the first half of Game 4 of a first-round NBA basketball playoff series Sunday, April 27, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps) The diagnosis of a torn Achilles tendon for All-Star forward Jayson Tatum is a devastating blow to the defending champion Boston Celtics and the second injury of its kind during the NBA playoffs. Seven-time all-NBA guard Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks tore his left Achilles tendon during a loss to the Indiana Pacers on April 28. Advertisement The 27-year-old Tatum tore his right Achilles tendon on Monday night against the New York Knicks when he lunged toward a loose ball and his leg gave out. He buried his face in a towel in obvious pain while grabbing at his leg above the ankle after the non-contact injury. The Knicks won 121-113 to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals. The series resumes Wednesday in Boston with the Celtics needing to win to stay alive in the playoffs. Other notable athletes who have come back from a torn Achilles tendon: Aaron Rodgers The four-time NFL MVP tore his left Achilles tendon on Sept. 11, 2023, four snaps into his first year with the New York Jets. He was hurt as he tried to avoid a rushing Leonard Floyd, who wrapped up the quarterback and spun him down to the MetLife Stadium turf. Rodgers, 39 at the time, returned to practice in an astonishing 77 days after surgery but did not play again until Sept. 9, 2024. The Jets released him in March, and he's undecided on playing in 2025. Advertisement Kobe Bryant The late Basketball Hall of Famer tore an Achilles tendon on April 12, 2013, had surgery the next day and returned to the court with the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec. 8, 2013, at age 35. Bryant played only six games before a knee injury forced him to miss the rest of the season. Bryant averaged 22.3 points in only 35 games in 2014-15 and 17.6 points in 66 games in his last season in 2015-16. Kevin Durant The two-time NBA Finals MVP tore an Achilles tendon on June 13, 2019, playing for Golden State in Game 4 of the championship round. He missed a full season and came back with the Brooklyn Nets on Dec. 22, 2020, at age 32. Durant hasn't played more than 55 games in any season since his return but he's been elite, averaging 28.8 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.7 assists in three seasons since the injury. Advertisement Dominique Wilkins The Basketball Hall of Famer tore an Achilles tendon on Jan. 28, 1992. He returned to the court with the Atlanta Hawks on Nov. 6, 1992, just two months shy of turning 33. Wilkins averaged 29.9 points in his first season back and played seven more years, including two stints overseas. Brandon Graham The Philadelphia Eagles defensive end tore an Achilles tendon on Sept. 19, 2021, and returned for the season opener Sept. 11, 2022, at age 34. Graham had his best season as a pro last year, posting a career-high 11 sacks. Ryan Howard The 2006 NL MVP tore an Achilles tendon on the final swing of a postseason series on Oct. 7, 2011. Howard returned to the lineup with the Philadelphia Phillies on July 6, 2012, at age 32. The big slugger was never the same, however. Howard averaged 44 homers and 133 RBIs in a six-year span before the injury. He averaged 19/66 over the next five. ___ AP NBA:
