The new canine are out of my home. One thing about the way in which Mike Tomlin emphasised how we don’t wish to know what’s in them pressured me to chuck them … perhaps endlessly.

Mike Tomlin simply in contrast the Steelers locker room to a scorching canine. pic.twitter.com/Fxsl12h1nv

— Terrible Saying (@awfulannouncing) September 17, 2024

Tomin’s 2-0 Steelers are beginning Justin Fields of their dwelling opener and hoping the components on this offense begin cooking up one thing scrumptious. I’m listening to they really feel that they’re near it, too. Fields is getting extra assured and comfy in Arthur Smith’s offense. Russell Wilson continues to rehab his calf pressure, however he’s nonetheless not at 100% well being. Whereas the offense continues to be reasonably conservative, they’ll attempt to take off towards the Chargers.

Jim Harbaugh and firm, on a mission to go 3-0 for the primary time in 22 years, have their very own QB issues. Justin Herbert has a excessive ankle sprain however is attempting to play in Pittsburgh. (Context: Former Titans QB Ryan Tannehill had this harm final season; he missed two video games.) For Herbert to play, I’m informed the staff goes to wish to see that he can plant his foot and even stand up on his toes.

That’s two accidents in two months to the identical facet for Herbert. He missed most of coaching camp with a plantar fascia harm in his proper foot. I’m informed the QB, who is understood within the constructing for his toughness, is attempting to play. L.A. is already planning a run-heavy sport towards a really stingy Pittsburgh protection with or with out Herbert beneath middle.

That is what I’m listening to this week:

• The Packers and Jordan Love made their resolution on his standing Friday however don’t need the Titans to know their last name.

• Bryce Young was shocked when informed he’d been benched, and the offense is pissed off. One Panthers participant mentioned, “Younger was making the identical errors time and again.”

• The Vikings are the exact opposite facet of the coin from the Panthers in terms of quarterback improvement buildings.

• Earlier than the Jets acquired Aaron Rodgers, the staff’s best choice for a veteran QB was Derek Carr.

• Kickers are the brand new star of the NFL.

• And the determined Colts will attempt to be extra bodily on protection this week.

Love is a thriller (when it comes to his Sunday availability)

Jordan Love has been conserving followers (and reporters) on their toes. The quarterback missed final week’s sport towards the Colts however was at observe all week. He was restricted, however I’m informed he’s getting higher by the day. The staff and Love made their resolution on his standing Friday afternoon however don’t need the Titans to know their last name. Matt LaFleur informed reporters they may take a look at the harm all the way in which up till kickoff however a veteran NFL coach mentioned, “this isn’t a kind of harm you ‘take a look at’ on the sector; it’s been determined.”

In different phrases: the Packers are all in on conserving the aggressive edge!

Underneath the unique restoration timeline, the Week 3 sport towards the Titans was categorized as “a protracted shot,” however Love is rebounding faster than anticipated. He’s carrying a metallic brace on his left knee and a black leg sleeve for added help. This wouldn’t be his first time enjoying with a brace; at Utah State, he wore one after tearing the meniscus in his proper knee.

It’s over for Bryce Younger in Carolina

The NFC South is spicy proper now and will have probably the most wins of any division after three weeks. Additionally they have the Panthers…

Issues are dangerous in Carolina proper now. After simply two video games in a brand new offensive system with a brand new head coach, the Panthers made a daring resolution and pulled the plug on 2023 No. 1 total decide Bryce Younger.

It’s over. It doesn’t matter what Carolina says, relaxation assured: It’s over.

This isn’t an experiment.

This isn’t a Ross and Rachel break.

That is Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston over.

Bryce Younger heads to the bench 18 video games into his NFL profession, with Andy Dalton (left) stepping in. (Grant Halverson / Getty Pictures)

The quarterback was shocked when informed he’d been benched. On the sector, the offense is pissed off. One Panthers participant mentioned, “Younger was making the identical errors time and again.”

Younger was absolutely conscious that he wanted to enhance, however he was reassured that he was nonetheless the man. The teaching employees informed him they had been on this collectively. They informed him that “he was high quality,” and that they had been all on board to achieve their objectives.

On Monday, it modified.

It’s why Younger admitted he was stunned by the transfer — he thought he had extra time. First-year head coach David Canales informed the world it was his name, but it surely was arduous to search out anybody within the league who believed that proprietor David Tepper had nothing to do with this resolution.

History in Carolina tells us that whereas Tepper has tried to be extra hands-off and permit the soccer folks to make the soccer choices, it’s by no means that straightforward. Even folks on the Panthers consider possession mentioned, sufficient. “An excessive amount of modified from Sunday to Monday,” one supply added. Now, veteran Andy Dalton will get a shot at attempting to provide the offense some life.

Eighteen months in the past, Tepper and the Panthers had a alternative: Younger or C.J. Stroud with the No. 1 total decide. Tepper and firm informed folks and had been satisfied that they discovered their Drew Brees in Younger. The peak and weight had been all the time a difficulty for the staff, however they had been prepared to select exterior the prototype quarterback in hopes of hitting the jackpot.

GO DEEPER

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In the meantime, in Minnesota

When the Panthers benched Bryce Younger, I texted the information to a trusted league supply. He rapidly responded: “They need to bench their program.”

I often consider school soccer after I hear “program,” however taking a look at quarterback improvement buildings by way of that lens is informative. A program encompasses the whole lot: Surroundings, help employees, planning, instructing philosophy, and the listing goes on. Converse to people across the league about QB improvement, they usually’ll usually point out all of those layers as being important. Carolina is one facet of the coin — Minnesota is the opposite.

Kevin O’Connell, who’s presently in his third season because the Vikings’ head coach, has created an organizational surroundings constructed on intentionality. Circumstances haven’t all the time been optimum, however the various components haven’t pulled O’Connell away from his perception that development and improvement require consistency over time.

Across the NFL, numerous coaches and execs have paid consideration to what O’Connell has achieved. One opposing defensive coach mentioned, “I’d belief KOC greater than anybody in our league to get probably the most out of his quarterback.”

Sam Darnold’s first two video games beneath Kevin O’Connell had been two of the most effective video games of his profession thus far. (Brad Rempel / Imagn Pictures)

Final yr, veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles in Week 7. A revolving door of types occurred, with Nick Mullens, Jaren Hall and Josh Dobbs all beginning in some unspecified time in the future. Keep in mind the run the Vikings had with Dobbs after buying him on a whim? This doesn’t occur if not for an overarching philosophy centered round instilling perception and guaranteeing the participant is just not being requested to do greater than they’re able to.

It helps to have a surrounding solid that includes Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson, however the ancillary elements communicate to O’Connell’s program. Earlier than the Vikings drafted quarterback J.J. McCarthy, they employed longtime NFL quarterback Josh McCown. After they drafted McCarthy, they explored the biomechanics house, even bringing in among the sport’s greatest minds to speak about quarterback actions.

All of this pertains to the stellar play of their present reclamation venture: Sam Darnold, a participant who has bounced round 4 totally different groups (together with the Panthers). Final week, after the Vikings beat the 49ers, San Francisco’s star edge rusher Nick Bosa mentioned: “That’s a superb coach … he’s simply actually good with the scheme. He is aware of methods to scheme up the big-time gamers [against] the protection, and he’s acquired plenty of excellent gamers and a very good offensive line. You can really feel it whenever you’re enjoying a very good coach who is aware of what they’re doing.”

All of this brings up an fascinating matter concerning the Vikings’ future. When the staff employed O’Connell and basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in February 2022, it signed them to four-year contracts. That is their third season, and through coaching camp, Vikings co-owner Mark Wilf mentioned extension talks wouldn’t be taking place this season. In the meantime, Mike McDaniel, who was employed similtaneously O’Connell, was prolonged by Dolphins proprietor Steve Ross.

It must be famous that extensions hardly ever occur after two seasons, but when optimum improvement packages are as arduous to search out as they appear to be, why not make investments now? Within the eyes of many across the league, O’Connell deserves a brand new contract. If one doesn’t come, free company is all the time an alternate.

GO DEEPER

What are the chances Sam Darnold’s Vikings resurgence is real? Sando’s Pick Six

Earlier than Rodgers, Jets needed ‘future Corridor of Famer’ Carr

Aaron Rodgers’ Thursday night performance towards the Patriots was unbelievable. That’s what the New York Jets had been ready for.

Earlier than they acquired Aaron Rodgers within the spring of 2023, the staff’s best choice for a veteran QB was Derek Carr. Members of the group eagerly recruited him, expressing their unwavering perception in his talents. At a dinner, head coach Robert Saleh informed Carr that he noticed the quarterback as a future Corridor of Famer.

Whereas many doubted that assertion, Carr’s stellar efficiency thus far in 2024, together with Sunday towards Mike Zimmer’s formidable Cowboys protection, means that Saleh might need been on to one thing. First-year Saints offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak has injected a new level of dynamism into the staff’s offense, paying homage to the high-powered Sean Payton-Drew Brees years.

Although as one defensive coordinator identified: “The Payton offense is out of the constructing, the run sport has made an enormous distinction in ensuring Carr is just not carrying the offense solely on his shoulders. Credit score to Carr too, who has been actually environment friendly.”

Pre-snap shifts and play-action passes are all a part of the offense, with Carr beneath middle 70% of the time. That leads the league, and the Saints lead the league in factors. Who noticed that coming?

GO DEEPER

Why Derek Carr may have found the right fit in Klint Kubiak’s Saints offense

Kickers play the lengthy sport

If Taylor Swift was the discuss of the NFL all of final season, this yr there’s an much more common star dominating the sport: your staff’s kicker.

Yep, this would be the solely place you ever learn that sentence. There’s nothing horny about kickers, after all, however what they’re doing proper now has everybody admiring elite toes. Kicking lengthy area objectives within the NFL hastily seems to be straightforward. (It isn’t.) League-wide this season, kickers have made 35 of 39 (90%) of their area purpose makes an attempt from 50 yards or longer. What’s behind the long-range pattern? I requested across the league.

The most typical reply is that climate situations and enjoying surfaces have been best. Most surfaces are in nice form this time of yr — considerably, the pure grass fields — resulting in fewer points for kickers. We’ll seemingly see the success charge go down as soon as it will get colder, windier, and the climate shifts.

One coach mentioned: “There are extra indoor stadiums. There are extra specialist coaches. There’s extra publicity to kicking as a specialised talent. Guys are literally rising up aspiring to be kickers, in comparison with the way it was when guys kicked and performed one other place.”

A basic supervisor added: “Specialists are their entity, and that’s all they work on, so they need to be good at it. Snap, maintain, and kick timing will be labored on recurrently so you will get good on the course of. And groups seemingly actually don’t spend an excessive amount of time on FG Block since they’re devoting assets to different areas.”

One other head coach expanded on that final level: “Because the rule modifications lately, it’s nearly unattainable to dam a kick. You’ll be able to’t cowl the middle, you may’t soar and land over the road of scrimmage, and you may’t push inside lineman … blocking kicks is nearly a non-factor.”

Three of Ka’imi Fairbairn’s six NFL-leading area objectives of 50-plus yards got here in primetime on Sunday evening. (Alex Slitz / Getty Pictures)

And a particular groups coach added: “They’ve gone the way in which of plenty of the positions — private coaches, and there may be politics in that, however they do a very good job of refining their craft, swing mechanics, method, power. They’ve summits like the opposite positions do. They will self right … and if they’ll’t there’s a expertise pool to go get another person. They don’t essentially have the identical profession path the place they must have rapid success, and chances are you’ll not hear about them for just a few years. It really must be a ardour for them.”

The strangest half about all these boots on hearth is that the one kicker who has been burning up the document books for years, Baltimore’s Justin Tucker, is off to a gradual begin. He’s already missed two kicks — although his document for longest area purpose, 66 yards, nonetheless stands. For now.

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And eventually…

The determined, 0-2 Colts will attempt to be extra bodily on protection this week towards the Bears. The mixed quarterback age in that sport is 44: Caleb Williams in 22, and Anthony Richardson is 22.

I’m positively not feeling 22. (I’m allowed one Taylor Swift lyric reference a season. Thanks.)

Ensure you check out the “Scoop City” Podcast this Tuesday to get extra data and perception on the Week 3 video games. Two-time Tremendous Bowl champion Chris Lengthy will be part of co-host Chase Daniel and I to tell us which groups and quarterbacks have him in shock.

(Prime picture: Matthew Stockman / Getty Pictures)