Latest news with #PFF
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Where Wisconsin falls on PFF's ranking of college football's 10 toughest schedules
Wisconsin is one of four Big Ten teams on PFF's ranking of the 10 toughest schedules, along with the UCLA Bruins, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, and Northwestern Wildcats. The Big Ten has the second-most teams listed, trailing the SEC, which has five teams, by one. Wisconsin fans are well aware of how tough the Badgers' 2025 regular season schedule is. Many media outlets agree, including ProFootballFocus, which ranked Wisconsin's slate as the single toughest in all of the Football Bowl Subdivision for 2025. Wisconsin's difficult schedule makes 2025 an interesting year for the program. The campaign will also be head coach Luke Fickell's third at the helm. Typically, third seasons are the make or break year for coaches who haven't quite met expectations through two seasons. However, Fickell and Wisconsin find themselves in an interesting spot due to the difficulty of their schedule. Winning anywhere from five to seven games would be considered a fairly successful year for the Badgers program, which has been consistently bowl-eligible for many decades, up until last season. 2025 will be a critical year for both Fickell and Wisconsin. Depending on the team's trajectory throughout, it could be a season that determines the future of the program. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
USA Today
21 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Keisean Nixon keeps defying the odds, looks to hit new heights at outside corner in 2025
Keisean Nixon's journey has been something to behold. A former undrafted free agent who spent three years with the Raiders, playing just 274 snaps of defense before being picked up by the Packers on a veteran minimum deal, he has continued to defy the odds and carve out a role. First as a kick returner, Nixon was a surprising sensation, earning All-Pro honors in 2022 and 2023. But his ascent to becoming a staple of Green Bay's defense has been even more impressive. Nixon has taken every opportunity he has been given since signing with the Packers and ran with it. As GM Brian Gutekunst put it: 'Any time we've given Keisean any different role, whether it's as a kick returner, whether it was on defense, he's answered the bell and been really productive for us." There have been multiple times when it would have been easy to assume Nixon had hit his peak, but he keeps finding another level. Now in his fourth year with the Packers, Nixon is slated to be a starting outside cornerback in 2025 after making the transition from the slot position during last season. The numbers back up the consistent progress he has made as a pro. Nixon has improved as a corner in almost every 'under the hood' statistical category year on year, earning and making the most of his increased snap count from scrimmage. Nixon's athletic profile would appear to project better on the boundary than inside, as he has plenty of speed to run with receivers but lacks the wiggle to avoid them shaking him in situations where they have more space to work with, like in the slot. Nixon improved in the slot as time went on, but was a better perimeter corner in 2024 than he was inside. He averaged a 63.8 PFF grade when playing the majority of his snaps outside as opposed to 58 in the slot. While neither of those numbers are extraordinary, and no one would mistake Nixon for an elite corner, he also showed real progress the more he was allowed to play as an outside corner, posting a 67.6 grade in the final six games in which he played primarily on the boundary. He was still never allowed to fully commit to the task of playing on the perimeter last season though, often splitting time during games or being asked to move back to the slot based on what the team needed. With some experience under his belt, and his sole attention now on the outside, Nixon feels he can hit the ground running in 2025. He told the Green Bay media: 'Second year naturally playing corner, I'm just more comfortable now and I don't really have to worry about going inside, outside, I can just focus on one position now and it's going really good for me. 'Now I know who I'm going to guard coming into the game and I can just lock in on my technique and my mindset's just a little different. I can really use my athletic ability and just get better." The signs from early training camp practices have been very encouraging, as Nixon has rarely been beaten. Even when he gave up a reception to first-round rookie Matthew Golden on Monday, the receiver had to pull off an incredible catch over Nixon, who was in tight coverage. Nixon has made a routine of being the first player out to the practice field, and is clearly a respected figure within the organization. Gutekunst was full of praise for him when speaking to the media Tuesday. He said: 'When we brought him in we knew he could play nickel and obviously the special teams stuff, and then when he got his opportunities outside he just kept making plays. He was comfortable out there, he made good decisions, and was physical in the run game. 'I'm excited to see as he continues to gain more experience outside what he does for us." Head coach Matt LaFleur said of Nixon: 'I love how he competes. I got a lot of confidence in Keisean and it all starts with the mindset to go out there and compete." On locker cleanout day at the end of the 2024 season, Nixon said he was focused on becoming 'CB1' going forward. It was easy to scoff at that notion, but given how Nixon has time and time again gone above and beyond what his ceiling was previously perceived to be, betting against him to hit new heights in 2025 may be ill-advised.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rashawn Slater's 4-year, $114M deal with Chargers further enriches Howie Roseman's genius
Lane Johnson is now the 7th highest-paid offensive tackle in the NFL, and Jordan Mailata is No. 8 after Rashawn Slater's 4-year, $114M Deal with the Chargers The #Chargers are finalizing a blockbuster extension with standout OT Rashawn Slater, per The Insiders, locking in one of their best young gets a 4-year, $114M deal to make him the highest-paid tackle in a deal done by Patrick Collins and Tommy Condon of CAA. Howie Roseman stays ahead of the curve, so that his star players won't feel left behind when their peers around the NFL sign new deals. Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson are All-Pros and two of the league's most dominant players. Still, Johnson is now the 7th highest-paid offensive tackle in the NFL, and Jordan Mailata is No. 8 after Rashawn Slater's 4-year, $114 million Deal with the Chargers. The $28.5 million per year makes Slater the highest-paid offensive lineman by average annual pay in a contract in NFL history. Slater has been extension-eligible since last offseason, but general manager Joe Hortiz and the Chargers chose to wait. In contrast, others at his position in his 2021 draft class signed lucrative extensions, including the Detroit Lions' Penei Sewell (4 years, $112 million, $85 million guaranteed) and Minnesota Vikings' Christian Darrisaw (4 years, $104 million, $67 million guaranteed). Left Tackles Right Tackles Since being selected by Los Angeles in the first round (13th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft, Slater has started all 52 career appearances at left tackle, serving as the blind-side protector for quarterback Justin Herbert. In 2024, he started 16 games, including the postseason, helping keep Herbert upright for the offense to commit just eight turnovers, setting a franchise record and tying for the second-fewest offensive turnovers in a single season in NFL history. As a rookie in 2021, Slater started all 16 appearances at left tackle, earning second-team All-Pro status from The Associated Press. Slater was also named the starting left tackle for the AFC in the Pro Bowl, becoming the first rookie tackle to be named an all-star since 2012. Philadelphia got its stars under contract for the foreseeable future, and at a bargain. Mailata's 85.5 PFF overall grade in Week 17 led all offensive tackles, and he's the highest-graded offensive tackle in the NFL (95.8). Mailata leads the NFL in run blocking grade (94.9), and he's second in pass blocking (91.7), according to PFF. Last season, Johnson ranked 1st among NFL right tackles in PFF pass-blocking grade (88.1), pressure percentage (2.2%), and knockdown percentage (0.2%). He allowed zero sacks and one quarterback hit in 451 pass-blocking snaps.
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Rashawn Slater, Los Angeles Chargers agree to record contract extension
The Los Angeles Chargers were one of the surprises of the AFC in 2024. The team had its first 11-win season in six years and made the wild-card round of the playoffs in its first year under coach Jim Harbaugh. As they head into year two under the new regime, the franchise is handsomely rewarding one of its top young players. The Chargers announced they have agreed to a four-year, $114 million extension that includes $92 million guaranteed with left tackle Rashawn Slater. This makes Slater the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history. Slater was entering the final year of his rookie contract and this keeps him with the team through the 2029 NFL season. Los Angeles drafted Slater in the first round, No. 13 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. He was the second offensive lineman selected in the draft after the Detroit Lions selected Penei Sewell at No. 7 overall. Slater was one of the best tackles in the NFL as a rookie. He started 16 games, made the Pro Bowl and earned second-team All-Pro honors. A biceps injury ended his 2022 season in Week 3. He returned for a full year of action in 2023 and, in 2024, was one of the top tackles in the NFL, making the Pro Bowl once again. Pro Football Focus (PFF) graded Slater as the No. 2 offensive tackle in the NFL in 2024 with a 91.1 overall grade. He was effective in both run and pass blocking; PFF ranked him third league-wide in pass blocking and fifth in run blocking.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- General
- Express Tribune
Bodies of four missing fishermen recovered off Gwadar coast
Listen to article Authorities on Sunday recovered four more bodies from a fishing boat that capsized near Gwadar, bringing the total death toll to five. The boat, carrying six fishermen from Karachi, sank due to strong winds and rough waves in the Arabian Sea earlier this week. The deceased include Ayub, a resident of Ibrahim Hyderi, whose body was recovered a day earlier and laid to rest on Sunday. His son Zeeshan, also among the victims, is expected to be brought to Karachi from Gwadar by Monday night. The remaining three victims, identified as residents of Machar Colony, were also transported to the city for burial. One fisherman miraculously survived the incident. Read More: One dead, several missing as boat sinks near Gwadar Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) media coordinator Kamal Shah confirmed that six fishermen were on board at the time of the accident. 'Five have died while one survived,' he said. PFF Chairman Mehran Ali Shah, speaking to media at Ayub's funeral, said the fishing community faces daily risks at sea to provide for their families. 'When they are unable to fish, they are left with hunger and poverty,' he added. He demanded the Sindh government set up rescue centres along the coast and provide speedboats to ensure timely responses during maritime emergencies. Shah also urged the Fishermen Cooperative Society and relevant authorities to offer immediate financial aid to the victims' families. 'Sindh's fishermen contribute over Rs24 billion in taxes annually. It's time the government invests in their safety,' he said.
