Cardinals
Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury has earned a reputation from players like RB Kenyan Drake as a “mad genius” for his ability to draw up plays and schemes for his offense. He was hired for his innovation as a coach at the college level and he says the pandemic has given him a lot more time to study ways to deploy Arizona’s new weapons, like WR DeAndre Hopkins.
“Yeah, it’s definitely allowed me to dive into a lot of the college game a little more,” Kingsbury said, via the Arizona Republic. “I’ve always tried to study some of those top offenses, guys that I’ve had a ton of respect for and liked the way that they operated, but it’s really allowed me to watch a lot more of that. There’s a lot of great minds at that level, so it’s definitely a deeper dive into offensive football this offseason, no question, with all the downtime.”
49ers
- Per NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco, 49ers TE George Kittle‘s agent, Jack Bechta, said his client deserves a unique contract because he’s a unique player: “Right now, there is not a comp for George. He’s unique. He’s a unicorn. He’s one of a kind.”
- Bechta cited Kittle’s unprecedented receiving production at tight end and his blocking ability as why he thinks he deserves to shatter the current tight end market: “George is a very special player. He needs a special contract. And those things take time for both sides. It’s a nice problem for everybody to have.”
- Bechta didn’t have many updates on a timeline for the two sides but did say he trusted the team: “At the end of the day, I trust the Niners will do the right thing and take good care of George, as they should. But I trust the process. I won’t comment where we’re at, or numbers or anything like that. But hopefully it gets done.”
Seahawks
The Seahawks drafted DE L.J. Collier in the first round last year to address one of their biggest needs entering the season — a lack of a pass rush. But a severe ankle sprain in training camp derailed Collier’s rookie year. He missed the entire preseason and the season opener and was a healthy scratch six times while trying to play catch up. In his second season, he’s not only looking to do a lot better than three tackles and zero sacks but also shed the poor first impression he made in 2019.
“I am chomping at the bit to get out there because it’s one of those things where you didn’t have the year everybody wanted you to get, so they just kind of shift you off to the side as if you can’t play,” Collier said via ESPN’s Brady Henderson. “It’s disrespectful and I feel very disrespected, but I’m the type of person there’s no need for talking; just showing. Go out there and you run through a couple people, you run through people’s faces, you make noise, and people, they’ll remember who you are very quickly.
“I’m excited to get back out there and show people who I am. I don’t really care about the first-round-pick stuff. I’m a football player at the end of the day and I can play football at a high level just like everybody else can, and I’m out there to prove that, that I’m one of the best and I can do what I need to do. I can rush the passer; I can stop the run. I’m out there to prove that, that I’m one hell of a football player and I’m going to show that this year.”
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