Month: January 2025

others club

After losing the College Football National Championship to the Ohio State Buckeyes, Notre Dame lost more than just the game. Top players such as Riley Leonard and Xavier Watts will move on to pursue careers in the NFL, but the Irish also suffered the departure of a key coach as well.  Veteran defensive coordinator Al Golden has joined the Cincinnati Bengals in the same position, as he looks to rebuild their defense and help them get back to the Super Bowl. As Marcus Freeman and Notre Dame look to prepare themselves for spring football, they’ve finally landed on their replacement for Golden. Coming in with a lengthy resume of coaching stops between the NFL and College, including five different defensive coordinator stops, former Texas Longhorns defensive coordinator, and most recently a scout for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Chris Ash is joining the Irish to lead their top-five scoring defense from this past season.  Ash returns to college for the first time since 2020 when he was the Longhorns’ defensive coordinator, leading the team to the 61st-best unit in the country allowing 28.5 points per game. Ash’s most recent collegiate success was with the Ohio State Buckeyes as their co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach from 2014 to 2015. With the Buckeyes in 2015, he helped coach the second-best scoring defense in the nation and worked with several future NFL safeties. Now joining the Irish, Ash will be tasked to deal with retooling a secondary unit that will be without top players like Watts and Benjamin Morrison as they move on to the NFL. Ash’s first assignment to begin the 2025 season will be to slow down the Miami Hurricanes and Carson Beck when the Irish travel down to Florida for a Week 1 Sunday night matchup on ABC in what’s expected to be two ranked teams. Ash will have time between now and then to evaluate the defense and determine any holes that need to be addressed in the Spring transfer window.

31 January 2025
footballzones.online

others club

Here’s What Notre Dame QB Riley Leonard’s Arm Band Says at National Championship Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard points to a bible verse on his arm band after a touchdown at the national championship vs. Ohio State. | via ESPN Leonard capped an incredible opening drive for the Fighting Irish with a touchdown run. If Notre Dame beats Ohio State in Monday night’s national championship, it will do so on the arm and legs of quarterback Riley Leonard. That much became very clear during the epic opening drive for the Fighting Irish. Leonard completed 3-of-5 passes for 31 yards and ran the ball an incredible nine times for 34 yards, capping the drive with a one-yard touchdown run. After the score, Leonard found a camera in the end zone and pointed to an arm band that reads “Matthew 23:12.” That bible passage reads, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” The senior quarterback, who transferred in from Duke ahead of the season, will put himself in the Notre Dame history books if he continues to carry the team like this. Leonard and the Irish have plenty of work in front of them, however. Ohio State answered with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive capped by a Will Howard pass to Jeremiah Smith. The College Football Playoff national championship game is tied 7–7 early in the second quarter. More of the Latest Around College Football

26 January 2025
footballzones.online

others club

Chicago Bears hire Detroit Lions coordinator Ben Johnson as head coach Johnson has been credited with helping revive quarterback Jared Goff’s career. Goff threw for 96 touchdowns in the three seasons Johnson was in charge of Detroit’s offense. The Chicago Bears are hiring Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as their new head coach, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Johnson, 38, had been the Lions’ offensive coordinator since 2022. The Bears finished the 2024 season 5-12 and in last place in the NFC North, the only team in the division with a record under .500. Chicago fired head coach Matt Eberflus after a 4-8 start to the season — the first time the franchise fired a head coach midseason. Johnson began his NFL coaching career in 2012 as an offensive assistant with the Miami Dolphins. He remained with the Dolphins in a variety of offensive roles through 2018, then joined Detroit as an offensive quality control coach in 2019. In 2022, in Dan Campbell’s second year as head coach, the Lions promoted Johnson to offensive coordinator. Johnson has been credited with helping revive the career of quarterback Jared Goff, who threw for 96 touchdowns in the three seasons Johnson was in charge of Detroit’s offense. Johnson is also known for his use of trick plays, such as the toss-turned-shovel pass the Lions used during their Divisional Round playoff game against the Washington Commanders. In the last two offseasons, Johnson has been a coveted name on the coaching market. The Carolina Panthers reportedly tried to interview him before the 2023 season, but Johnson declined. He also reportedly turned down opportunities to interview with the Commanders and Seattle Seahawks before the 2024 season. The Bears have struggled for much of the last two decades. Since appearing in Super Bowl XLI after the 2006 season, Chicago has won only one playoff game, and none since after the 2010 season. The Bears’ most recent playoff appearance came after the 2020 season, but they have not finished with a winning record since 2018. Johnson’s biggest priority in Chicago will be to get more out of quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in last year’s NFL Draft. In Williams’s rookie season, he threw for 3,541 yards, with 20 touchdowns and six interceptions. Williams was ranked 17th in passing yards and tied for 15th in passing touchdowns. The Bears will have the 10th pick in the upcoming draft. Chicago will also have slightly more than $66 million in cap space this offseason, per Over The Cap. 

20 January 2025
footballzones.online

others club

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels became more than a superstar rookie in the Divisional Round against the Detroit Lions. No matter how the Divisional Round clash between the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lionsended, quarterback Jayden Daniels’season would be seen as a rousing success. Saturday night in Detroit was more than just a reward for Washington’s playoff berth and Wild Card win; more than a victory lap for Daniels’ eventual Offensive Rookie of the Year. Washington won, 45-31, for the right to visit the Philadelphia Eagles or Los Angeles Rams. In front of the football world, the best player on the field became something more. Daniels revealed the Commanders new identity: kingslayers. By the end of the first quarter, Washington’s transition was brewing. By halftime, it was inevitable. Daniels led three scoring drives in the second quarter. On the first, a 42-yard laser capitalized on a Jared Goff fumble. The next drive, receiver Terry McLaurin took a screen 58 yards to the house. Moments later, Goff threw a pick-six, and after Detroit punched back with a field-flipping touchdown, the Commanders led by just a field goal—an errant play away from wasting a half of excellence. The scene was set for the rookie to crack, for a dent in a bulletproof season to send the Lions into halftime with a lead and momentum. But Daniels is hardly a rookie, and Washington is no Cinderella story.  On the ensuing drive, he delivered the best throw of the night, a 38-yard dime to Dyami Brown. Three plays later, the Commanders led 31-21. Washington finished the job in the second half. No longer were the Commanders keeping pace with the NFC’s best team. They were ahead, and every time Detroit had a season-saving play within its grasp—including back-to-back drives with a 4th-and-2 in the red zone—it was Daniels who ripped its heart out. First with a scamper past fellow rookie Terrion Arnold, then with a short pass to McLaurin. Daniels finished his night with 299 passing yards, a crucial 51 more on the ground, and two scores. He sent the 15-win Lions home without a playoff win. He took a franchise months removed from controversy and irrelevance to the championship round. In the process, he removed any reason to fear whoever wins Sunday’s contest. He’s earned the right to be feared, and in Detroit, he made himself a villain. Maybe the Commanders’ season comes to a close in a week’s time; or three. But tonight, in Washington, there’s no such thing as an overreaction. The city has one man to thank. Anthony Licciardi is an experienced writer and editor who loves scouting and analytics. He graduated from Rutgers University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies.

20 January 2025
footballzones.online

others club

UNC GM Forcefully Responds to Report of Bill Belichick’s Unsigned Contract The Tar Heels coach is out on the recruiting trail. Michael Lombardi, who serves as GM of North Carolina football, has responded to a report from CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones revealing that Bill Belichick and the university do not have a fully executed and signed contract. His plea? Stop making an issue because the Tar Heels coach is currently hitting the recruiting trail with ferocity and the NFL is not an option. Belichick signed a term sheet with North Carolina back on Dec. 11 and almost immediately questions were asked about the possibility of him leaving for the NFL. The agreement comes with a $10 million buyout if Belichick leaves before June 1, 2025 and $1 million if he departs after that. Obviously there’s a big difference in paying these sums out of one’s pocket. And conceivably an NFL offer could manifest—both the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders have open gigs that could be attractive. The former New England Patriots coach has been pretty forceful in answering that question, saying that he didn’t come to Chapel Hill to leave. Lombardi’s rebuttal sends the same message. It’s not the first time the GM has weighed in on the process of Belichick acclimating to the college world and it likely won’t be the last.

19 January 2025
footballzones.online

others club

Sam Darnold’s career-best season ends with a thud as he takes 9 sacks in playoff loss GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Sam Darnold’s renaissance pushed Minnesota to one of the NFL’s best records, offering the hope of a deep playoff run. A disappointing night in the desert rammed Darnold and the Vikings right out of the postseason. Darnold was ineffective for most of of his first playoff start, losing two turnovers while matching an NFL record by taking nine sacks in the Vikings’ 27-9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. Steady for most of his turnaround season, Darnold finished 25 of 39 for 245 yards with a touchdown and an interception. This is not what the Vikings had in mind. Coach Kevin O’Connell garnered plenty of praise in his third season, using creative play-calling to lead Minnesota (14-4) back into the playoffs after going 7-10 a year ago. Darnold was the catalyst for O’Connell’s offense after being cast into a backup role. The third overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft spent three mediocre seasons as the New York Jets’ starter, played two seasons with Carolina and was the backup to Brock Purdy in San Francisco last year. Not surprisingly, Darnold arrived in the Twin Cities without a lot of fanfare, but he quickly pulled Vikings fans onto his bandwagon after rookie J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason. He set career highs in every key statistical category to earn his first Pro Bowl nod and became the first quarterback to win 14 games his first season with a team. The veteran hit a roadblock late in the season. A week ago, Minnesota had a chance to lock up the top seed in the NFC against Detroit. Darnold labored, often holding the ball too long while finishing 18 of 41 for 166 yards passing and no touchdowns. The Vikings lost 31-9 and were forced to play on the road instead of at home, facing the Rams in a game that was moved to Arizona because of devastating wildfires in Southern California. Another dismal day doomed Darnold — and the Vikings — in the desert. Darnold again held the ball too long and became the first quarterback this century to be sacked six times in the first half of a playoff game. Two came at critical moments. With Minnesota trailing 10-3 in the second quarter, Darnold fumbled on a sack and Jared Verse scooped it up, racing 57 yards for a touchdown. Hoping for a spark just before halftime, O’Connell opted to go for it on fourth-and-2 from midfield on the next drive. Minnesota instead gave the spark to the Rams, turning it over on downs when Darnold was sacked. Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford followed with a 13-yard touchdown pass to backup tight end Davis Allen for a 24-3 halftime lead. After missing badly on several throws, Darnold finally threw a touchdown pass in the third quarter, finding T.J. Hockenson for a 26-yard score. The Vikings’ 2-point attempt failed, leaving them in a 27-9 hole — and on their way out of the playoffs.

14 January 2025
footballzones.online

others club

Kirby Smart Urged to Make Massive Decision at Georgia

13 January 2025
footballzones.online

others club

Carson Beck Transfers to Miami After Leaving Georgia, Declaring for 2025 NFL Draft The Miami Hurricanes have found their replacement for quarterback Cam Ward. Former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck announced on X that he had committed to Miami to continue his collegiate career. Beck had declared for the 2025 NFL draft but instead entered the transfer portal on Thursday. One day later, he is heading to Miami to replace Ward, who will be in the 2025 draft. Beck spent the past five seasons at Georgia, where he won two national championships and was a two-year starter. He assumed the role in the 2023 season and compiled an overall record of 23-3 as a starter. His 2023 season was better than his 2024 one, but he remained an impact player for the Bulldogs. He threw for 3,485 yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in 2024. He suffered a UCL injury in his elbow during the SEC Championship Game against Texas and missed the team’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to Notre Dame after  Miami went 10-3 after a sensational season from Ward in which he finished fourth in the race for the Heisman Trophy. Beck will hope to pick up where Ward left off and revitalize his draft stock for 2026.

12 January 2025
footballzones.online

others club

Tennessee in 4-team battle for in-state OT who will announce commitment soon Will the Vols land the 6-7, 320-pounder? If you’re looking for another reason to watch the Navy All-American Bowl this weekend, we’ve got it for you. Come Saturday, it will be decision time for standout offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda, who is down to four schools. This weekend during the All-American showdown, Osenda is all set to announce his commitment. The Chattanooga product is down to Tennessee football, South Carolina, Florida and Minnesota. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel would obviously love nothing more than to keep the in-stater home. Will he be successful in trying to make that happen? Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School 2026 offensive tackle Gabriel Osenda will choose from four schools during Saturday’s Navy All-American Bowl  — Brandon Huffman (@BrandonHuffman) January 8, 2025 In-state OT Gabriel Osenda will announce his commitment during the Navy All-American Bowl Checking in at 6-7, 320 pounds, Osenda already has tremendous size – and he’s only a high school junior. Throughout his recruitment, he has picked up offers from 27 programs, but he indeed has a final four in mind. Osenda is coming off a tremendous season for the Baylor School in Tennessee in 2024. He saw his recruitment take off, but the Vols, Gophers, Gators and Gamecocks are the ones who have made the biggest impact on him. Heupel has been busy this offseason adding commitments via the portal, while he also made a splash with the 2025 high school class too. Things were of course highlighted by offensive tackle David Sanders Jr.sticking with his commitment. There were rumors flying all over the place that Sanders was having a change of heart and that he was potentially going to flip to Ohio State. Luckily for Heupel, things didn’t go down that way. Keeping Sanders in the fold is massive and now Heupel is focused on adding even more big fellas for the future. Osenda would be a solid get, as he’s ranked the No. 31 OT in the country per 247Sports and the No. 11 player overall from Tennessee. Come Saturday we’ll know whether or not he’ll be Knoxville-bound.

11 January 2025
footballzones.online

others club

Joe Flacco Eyeing Roster Spot, Not Retirement: ‘I Can Still Play’ The veteran free-agent quarterback is keeping his options open as the 2023 NFL regular season begins. With Thursday marking the start of the 2023 NFL regular season, free-agent quarterback Joe Flacco stands in unfamiliar territory for the first time in his career. Flacco, a 15-year veteran, isn’t on an NFL roster for the first time since his senior season at Delaware in 2007. Now, the 38-year-old finds himself sitting at home awaiting his next opportunity. But, despite his current lack of options, the Super Bowl XLVII MVP spoke adamantly Thursday about the fact that he’s still eyeing an NFL return, not retirement. “Listen, I can still play,” Flacco told ESPN. “That’s me talking, obviously. I’m hoping that there’s the silver lining that I’m not anywhere right now and that I can be available to anybody. I’m not saying it’s going to be the truth, but if I was tied up with somebody as a backup and just didn’t play at all when all of a sudden three guys go down, well, I’d probably be in the back of my head be thinking, ‘Oh, man, would I have had an opportunity to go there?’” As one of the league’s most seasoned signal-callers, Flacco, who’s started 180 of his 183 career games, also noted that his availability may be his best asset, given the need for QB depth as the year progresses. “I do think that at the point that my career is in,” Flacco continued, ”it is a positive thing in a lot of ways that I’m not anywhere right now, because if somebody does need somebody, at least I’m available.” While it remains to be seen whether Flacco will land another NFL gig, the veteran QB showed he still has some gas left in the tank in 2022, tallying 1,051 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions in five games (four starts) for the Jets. The No. 18 pick in 2008 by the Ravens, Flacco ranks in the top 20 in career passing yards (42,320) and victories (99). He’s thrown 232 career touchdowns to 147 interceptions.

8 January 2025
footballzones.online