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Miami Herald
29-05-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
‘If you're a leader, it's in you.' Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks expected to step up
Jordyn Brooks had quite the first season in Miami. Not only was Brooks an iron man, starting all 17 games, he led the team in tackles with 143, the third-highest total in Dolphins franchise history since 2005. If it weren't for defensive tackle Zach Sieler's second consecutive double-digit sack season, Brooks likely would have won Dan Marino MVP award. In spite of the success Brooks had on the field, he still believes there's room for improvement. 'Focusing on the weaknesses,' Brooks said of his plan for organized training activities. 'Really dissecting the things that I was good at and the things that I didn't do too good at and focus on those things.' Arguably the biggest area where Brooks will have to grow is in leadership. Defensive tackle Calais Campbell is gone. Offensive tackle Terron Armstead is gone. And cornerback Jalen Ramsey will likely be gone after Sunday, the day that will give the Dolphins some cap flexibility once the deal is done. Although Brooks believes he's ready to step up as a leader, he understands it will take a collective effort. 'I wouldn't call it a challenge — just got to go be the leader that I am,' Brooks said Wednesday. 'I just feel like if you're a leader, it's in you. And it's not just myself — we've got several other guys who will be helping to lead this defense this year.' And he's right. Players such as Sieler and cornerback Kader Kohou will be asked to do more as well. Sieler, specifically, shouted out Brooks when asked about how the team plans to fill the leadership void. 'Total blessing to have [Campbell] here last year and so just to be able to carry off that for me up front and Jordyn [Brooks] and the guys in the back, I'm just really excited to see how this rolls,' Sieler said May 7. Originally drafted in 2020 by the Seattle Seahawks, Brooks had a great mentor in linebacker Bobby Wagner, one of the integral players of the heralded Legion of Boom defense in the early 2010s. The two seasons Brooks spent under the tutelage of Wagner were invaluable. 'He wasn't a guy who talked all the time, but he's very consistent in how he showed up to work,' Brooks said, later adding that 'I definitely took some of his leadership style as far as being the same guy every day.' After Wagner left for the Los Angeles Rams ahead of the 2022 season, Brooks spent the next two seasons in Seattle, putting together back-to-back seasons with at least 16 games played and more than 100 tackles. He joined the Dolphins in 2024 to be 'on a winning team' that 'could use my services.' 'He was like a big brother to me, and I think I got in the perfect situation to be able to learn under him and learn some routine things and how to prepare throughout the week to get myself ready to play an NFL game,' Brooks said of Wagner in March 2024 after signing with the Dolphins. 'And then all the off-the-field type of things. It was great learning under him and playing beside him.' Everything that Brooks learned under Wagner will be put to the test in 2025. Luckily, the Dolphins should have a solid pass rush thanks to the return of edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips to go along with Sieler and 2025 first-round pick Kenneth Grant. His familiarity with Weaver's system as well as the return of Tyrel Dodson, who started three games alongside Brooks in 2024, should also help. 'You got to be able to communicate, you got to know what everyone's doing so so from that standpoint, he's been great,' Brooks said of Dodson. With the host of new faces on defense, Brooks should be one of the guys that can help set the standard in 2025. 'As a leader, you got to be the example and I think the young guys — all the young guys that we got in — they'll follow behind us,' Brooks said.
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Legion of Boom veteran discusses pivotal moment from Super Bowl season
Legion of Boom veteran discusses pivotal moment from Super Bowl season The Seattle Seahawks are slated to face off against the Houston Texans in 2025, and on Monday Night Football no less! Seattle has only faced Houston a grand total of five times since the Texans came into existence, and the Seahawks hold a 4-1 record against them. These teams don't meet often, but when they do, it can be memorable. Take for example the greatest moment in this cross-conference rivalry: Seattle's 23-20 overtime win against Houston during the 2013 season. The Seahawks were 3-0, seeking their first ever 4-0 start in franchise history. Standing between them and a new milestone was a Texans team that was considered an early favorite in the AFC that year. After all, Houston finished 12-4 and made it to the Divisional Round of the playoffs the year prior. This was considered to be Seattle's first real test of the year. Well, it sure looked like the Seahawks were about to flunk said test, as the Texans had built a 20-3 lead at halftime. Seattle appeared to be on the verge of their first loss of the season, and potentially exposed as not quite the contender many had believed them to be. Late in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks did manage to claw their way back into the game, thanks to a touchdown run from Marshawn Lynch to cut Houston's lead to 20-13 with 7:43 left in the game. Still, it was not enough. With a little under three minutes to go, the Texans had made it to Seattle's 40-yard line and were looking to ice the victory... except Richard Sherman had something to say (as he often does) about it. Officially listed as a 58-yard return, Sherman's interception tied the game at 20-20, and sent into overtime. After trading some punts in the extended period, eventually the Seahawks claimed their 23-20 win thanks to a 45-yard field goal from kicker Stephen Hauschka. To the 12th Man - as well as fans and pundits across the country - it was the first sign this Seattle squad was more than legitimate. Turns out the team felt this way as well! Former Seahawks cornerback Walter Thurmond III, who was a member of the 2013 Legion of Boom, spoke about this play on Twitter. The LOB veteran gave some insight on the pick-six and what it meant to the team. The Seahawks may not have been down 20 going into the fourth, but they were still down 20-6. Truly, it wasn't just a remarkable comeback, it was one of the best defensive performances by the LOB all season long! Seattle shut Houston out over the final three quarters (including overtime) in the game.
USA Today
29-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Recapping the Raiders 2025 NFL Draft
Recapping the Raiders 2025 NFL Draft Teams and their fans are still in the phase of admiring the newest players joining the team from the college ranks. The Raiders welcomed 11 new prospects from this year's draft. So, let's look back at how the whole thing went down and just who will be trading in their college jerseys for Silver & Black. So, let's recap! Day 1 Coming into the draft, there were reports that a team in the top ten of the draft was in love with Colorado's Travis Hunter and was eager to trade up for him. That team turned out to the the Jacksonville Jaguars a fifth overall. They traded up with the Browns at pick number two to get Hunter. More on this later... So, about that Jaguars trade up... It was widely assume that had the Jaguars been unable to trade up, Hunter would have went to the Browns and the Jags would then have taken Jeanty at five. But after the trade, the Browns opted for Michigan DT Mason Graham, leaving Jeanty there for the Raiders to take at six. In Jeanty the Raiders got the consensus third overall prospect in this draft. Running back was the Raiders' biggest need, so the fit was natural. And while they got some flak for drafting a running back this high, considering the devaluation of the position, there were few other players in this draft that were more of a need and value combination than Jeanty. Coverage: WATCH: 64 minutes of Ashton Jeanty running the ball Ashton Jeanty NFL Draft scouting report Ashton Jeanty instantly became NFL 2nd highest paid RB Marshawn Lynch was blowing up Pete Carroll's phone following Jeanty pick Ashton Jeanty recalls moment he knew Raiders were going to draft him Raiders brass attended Ashton Jeanty's pro day Day 2 The Raiders were on the clock at 37. But Raiders GM John Spytek saw the value in this draft in the third round. So, when they were on the clock, they received a couple calls, and took the offer they got from Miami. Dolphins receive: pick 37, pick 143 (round 5) Raiders receive: pick 48, pick 98 (round 3), pick 135 (round 4) When pick 48 came up, the Raiders got more calls, so they opted to trade down again. This time to the tail end of round two. Texans receive: pick 48 Raiders receiver: pick 58, pick 99 (round 3) And finally, at pick 58 the Raiders stayed and made the pick The next biggest need for the Raiders was wide receiver. And in Bech they get one of the more intriguing prospects in this draft, right around where he was expected to go. Bech was on my list of the top five best WR fits for Raiders in the 2025 NFL Draft. He's got a lethal combination of great hands and strength after the catch to fight through tackles. Coverage: Senior Bowl risers and fallers He is a former wide receiver, one of the biggest corners in this draft, and easily the most athletic. Including running a scorching 4.30 40. He comes to the Raiders as a perfect fit for Pete Carroll's defense, drawing comparisons to Legion of Boom great Richard. Sherman. As the end of the third came around, the Raiders had back-to-back picks to look forward to thanks to the two trades they made in the second round. There were reports in the days leading up to the draft that the Raiders top choice was Jeanty, but had he not been there, they would have shifted focus to offensive tackle. GM John Spytek likes drafting offensive linemen. And the Raiders could use the help. So, with the two additional picks, they doubled up on the line. Round 3, pick 98: Caleb Rogers, OG, Texas Tech Rogers was a four-year starting tackle at Texas Tech. But he was viewed as a guard at the next level. A lot of teams were looking closely at him as a great tackle-to-guard conversion in the mid-rounds. And so, with the first of their two low third rounders, the Raiders added some talent to the interior offensive line to hopefully open up some holes for Ashton Jeanty to run through. Coverage: Caleb Rogers hung up on Pete Carroll during draft call Round 3, pick 99: Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary And in two picks, the Raiders addressed both of the need positions on the offensive line. They got their center in last year's draft (Jackson Powers-Johnson) along with tackle DJ Glaze. Now they get some competition at right tackle, with the loser taking the swing tackle job. The 49ers had the next pick and word is they were looking to draft one of either Rogers or Grant only to watch as their old NFC West rival Pete Carroll and their old Bay Area rival Raiders stole both of them. The Niners instead moved away from the line, taking CB Upton Stout. Coverage: Pete Carroll details specific roles for Raiders Day 2 picks Updated Raiders depth chart after first two days of NFL Draft Day 3 The Raiders came into the day having addressed each of their top five needs with their five picks on days two and three. That's a good feeling. So, they could start to build depth with their day three picks. After doubling up on the OL to end day two, they got another wideout to begin day three. And like the OL picks, Thornton is a very different type of receiver to round two pick Jack Bech. Bech is a versatile receiver, but he thrives as a big slot. Thornton is an X receiver. He is a deep threat. Also unlike Bech, Thornton is a raw physical talent. He's a towering 6-5 receiver who ran a blazing 4.3 40. He had just 26 catches last season at Tennessee, but averaged over 25 yards per catch. That's the kind of raw ability you take a chance on day three. The final piece to the trades the Raiders made in the second round was a move up from pick 143 in the fifth round to pick 135 in the fourth round. For Spytek, it was time to address the other side of the line. Hemingway is a tweener type of lineman. He played across the line at South Carolina. He was a day three pick mainly because he does several things well, but isn't ideal for any of them. He comes in at 284 pounds and has issues against the run. Which would limit his ability to play early downs. He can play defensive end, but he is a bit big for that role. So, the Raiders will need to find a role for him to make use of his interior pass rush abilities while not exposing his deficiencies against the run. The trade left the Raiders without a pick in round five. So, they had to wait until their original pick atop of round six. This former tight end converted to the defense, making him a work in progress. He is athletic enough that Lane Kiffin would use him as a wildcat quarterback and fullback. And he scored seven touchdowns in that role. But most likely the Raiders would prefer to have him carve out a primary role on the defensive line. He is certainly athletic enough. With the first of two round six compensatory picks, the Raiders grabbed a sleeper pick. Tommy Mellott led Montana State to the FCS National Champion ship game last season, but he wasn't considered a draftable quarterback. Thing is though, he is a supreme athlete with 4.39 speed and all the character traits the Raiders new regime values. Vegas as well as several other teams had Mellott on their radar for a move to receiver and return specialist. Just the type of player you take a chance on late in the draft. Hey, so about that FCS National Championship, the other quarterback in that game was this guy. And he was the winning QB. And in this case, the Raiders do like him as a quarterback prospect. The Raiders acquired Geno Smith in trade with the Seahawks to be their starter, which meant they weren't desperate to find a QB in this draft. But adding a QB in the draft was still a priority. Reports say they had interest in Alabama's Jalen Milroe. But as it happened, it was the pick the Raiders sent to Seattle for Geno Smith that was used to take Milroe six picks ahead of the Raiders late in the third round. So, if that's where the Raiders would have taken Milroe that option was out. They then passed on Will Howard four times because their sights were set on Miller. At this point in the draft, the only need position the Raiders had yet to address was linebacker. And they used their final pick to get LIndberg. Another longtime starter -- which seemed to be a theme with many of the Raiders selections -- he will compete for snaps at both linebacker spots, but most likely be a special teams guy in the short term. Following their final pick at 222, the Raiders immediately began working on signing undrafted free agents. You can see all the Raiders undrafted free agents here.
USA Today
28-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Seahawks S Nick Emmanwori already wants to recapture the \
Seahawks S Nick Emmanwori already wants to recapture the "Legion of Boom" magic The most aggressive move Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider made during the 2025 NFL draft was to trade up 17 spots in the second round. Schneider sent the Nos. 52 and 82 overall selections to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for No. 35. With that pick, the Seahawks drafted former South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori. It's safe to say Emmanwori is excited about his landing spot. In a recent update to his social media, Emmanwori uploaded a photo of Seattle's infamous "Legion of Boom" defense as his header photo, featuring Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, and others. How aggressive Schneider was to acquire Emmanwori signals their overall thoughts on him as a prospect. Head coach Mike Macdonald is a defense-first leader who has coached some terrific safeties throughout his career. Macdonald envisions Emmanwori playing a Kyle Hamilton-like role, who he coached as the defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. Emmanwori was one of the most athletic prospects at this year's NFL Combine. The Gamecocks standout ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing-quick 4.38 seconds at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. Emmanwori also made history by leaping a 43 inch vertical and 11-foot-6 broad jump. Emmanwori's athleticism allows him to play a versatile role. He's joining a talented secondary in Seattle that already featured Devon Witherspoon, Riq Woolen, Julian Love, and Coby Bryant. It might not quite be the "Legion of Boom," but Emmanwori's head is in the right place.
Miami Herald
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Las Vegas Raiders 2025 NFL Draft Analysis: What Went Right, What Went Wrong, Best and Worst Picks
Ehhhhhhh, I guess Ashton Jeanty is a good call, but didn't we already do this? Was 2019 that long ago?The Raiders took Josh Jacobs with the fourth overall pick six years ago, and four Super Bowls later ... nope. He was fantastic, but the team couldn't do much with Pete Carroll rode Marshawn Lynch to greatness up in Seattle, but the Legion of Boom defense and rise of Russell Wilson were the main reasons for the success. Long-winded thing short - too late - you don't take a running back early. There's just no Raiders should've used one of their 11 picks on one of the sliding quarterbacks - Cam Miller of North Dakota State doesn't really count. (I'm a Shedeur guy, and if anyone could deal with that reality show fiasco, it's Carroll.)And it's Pete Carroll, and it's a draft, which means value doesn't matter, and you pick lots and lots of guys and hope for the strength-in-numbers approach to work. CFN Facebook | CFN X | Bluesky Fiu & CFN Las Vegas Raiders 2025 Draft Class 1 (6) Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State2 (58) Jack Bech, WR TCU3 (68) Darien Porter, CB Iowa State3 (98) Caleb Rogers, OG Texas Tech3 (99) Charles Grant, OT William & Mary4 (108) Dont'e Thorton, WR Tennessee4 (135) Tonka Hemingway, DT South Carolina6 (180) JJ Pegues, DT Ole Miss6 (213) Tommy Mellott, WR Montana State6 (215) Cam Miller, QB North Dakota State7 (222) Cody Lindenberg, LB MinnesotaWhat Went Right?The Raiders loaded up with lots of bodies, and getting seven of the top 135 picks helped. They took a slew of super-strong college players who will all come in with different chips on their shoulders. Under Carroll, where you were drafted really and truly doesn't matter. What Went Wrong?Again, NO the exception of Jeanty - again, you don't take a running back early - just about everyone the Raiders took could've been had at least ten slots later, and in a few case, two rounds later. Best Value Pick: Cody Lindenberg, LB MinnesotaBiggest Reach: Dont'e Thornton, WR TennesseeDraft Grade: B-2023 Ranking: 31 | 2024 Ranking: 31 © 2025 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
