The Falcons are planning to bring James Pearce Jr. along carefully when he gets back into the mix, and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich made it clear the rookie’s workload will be tied to what he shows on the field.
Ulbrich said the team is expecting to use a pitch count at first, while leaving the door open to increasing that quickly if Pearce handles it well. “A lot of his conditioning and ability to play more will be dependent on what he shows as the game goes along. We’re thinking that we’ll go in with a pitch count, but we could obviously change that thinking pretty quickly based upon how he plays.”
Ulbrich also said he has been meeting with Pearce every week since his Week 5 return, and those conversations have given him a deeper sense of who the edge rusher is. “It’s been a really eye-opening experience for me to get a better perspective for who he is. He is working his butt off to really right some wrongs and become a better version of himself.”
He added: “I have a deep appreciation for that because that’s not easy. Not everybody has the humility to do that. He’s made a real effort to be the best version of James, and I’m super hopeful that translates to success.”
In Carolina, interim defensive coordinator Todd Wash is pushing a faster, more aggressive mindset. His message to the defense is simple: if mistakes happen, they need to happen at full speed. Wash said he wants the group to play at “a million miles per hour.”
Wash also said he sees defensive tackles Lee Hunter, Tershawn Wharton and Aaron Hall as players who have already worked in attack fronts, and he wants that same style showing up in the Panthers’ trenches. He also addressed how to get more out of Derrick Brown, saying, “We’ve gotta get it to where he’s not getting double teams.”
The Panthers’ new direction includes more 3-4 personnel, though Wash acknowledged that kind of shift won’t happen overnight. Even so, he said the team does have a handful of players with experience in the style they want to build now. Carolina also no longer has former Panthers linebackers coach Mayur Chaudhari, who is out after having a longtime relationship with former defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.
In New Orleans, the Saints made a coaching change before Week 9, firing run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti and handing more of the rushing operation to offensive line coach Brendan Nugent. Head coach Kellen Moore said the move is meant to “maximize our workflow.”
Moore explained that Nugent has already handled some of the installations in front of the team, and the Saints want to keep that part of the process steady while making other changes around it. “There’s elements of what we do from a presentation standpoint.
There’s the back end of putting together the game plans,” Moore said, via Katherine Terrell of ESPN. “And so Nuge has done some of the installations as far as in front of the team.
I think we’ll keep that consistent and there’ll be some other changes as we go, but again, this is just trying to maximize our workflow.”
Moore said the decision came after the bye week and a full look at the offense. “Some of the adjustments that we’ll do schematically and fundamentally,” Moore said.
“Some of the adjustments we’ll do from our workflow standpoint. Just felt like this was the most beneficial thing we can do.”
Saints guard David Edwards said the move hits the offensive line hard, and he felt some responsibility for it. “I know that TJ had a great impact on our room … and has been in successful systems.
And so I feel like he had a big impact on us and he’s a great human being, a great coach.” Edwards said.
“You feel somewhat responsible because us as players, us as linemen, we’re not having success and you feel directly responsible for a decision like this. That’s what makes it hard.”
In Other News...
Panthers Need Jaycee Horn Now More Than Ever
Jaycee Horn has been on the sideline far too much this season, with injuries limiting the Panthers cornerback to just three games, but Carolina is finally expecting him back soon. The timing matters. The Panthers are heading into a matchup with the Broncos, and getting Horn back into the secondary would give a defense that has missed his presence a much-needed boost.
Patrick Surtains public praise only adds to the intrigue around Horns return, with the Denver corner calling him one of the leagues top players at the position. For Carolina, it is the kind of recognition that underscores what Horn can mean when he is available, and why his return could reshape how the Panthers approach a tough test on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers May Finally Shake Up The Line In Front Of Bryce Young
The protection in front of Bryce Young has become hard to ignore, and Dave Canales is now openly signaling that the Panthers are weighing changes up front. Carolina has been getting beat at multiple spots along the offensive line, a problem that has left Young facing constant pressure and made the offense far more difficult to sustain.
One possible answer is Brady Christensen, who was designated to return from a hamstring injury and has taken part fully in recent practices. The sixth-year veteran could be nearing his regular-season debut, giving Carolina a chance to shuffle the line and see whether a healthier option can steady a group that has struggled to keep Young clean. [Read more 🡒]
Panthers Trade Deadline Debate Comes Down To One Tough Decision
With the trade deadline approaching, the Panthers are being sized up against a familiar set of needs, and the list starts where the roster has been thinnest. Cornerback and edge rusher remain the most obvious areas to monitor, which is why names like Riq Woolen and Josh Sweat have come up in the conversation, along with a few other possible fits who could help a defense looking for more answers on the perimeter and up front.
The trick for Carolina is separating the realistic options from the ones that make more sense on paper than in practice. Josh Downs, Damien Lewis and Vita Vea all bring different appeal, but not every target is equally attainable, whether because of divisional factors, contract considerations or simple trade practicality. For a front office trying to balance need with cost, the deadline may come down to one difficult choice about how aggressively to chase help. [Read more 🡒]