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...
Saints Run Defense Has A Problem They Cant Ignore Inside
Bo Davis has a clear standard in mind for his defensive tackles, and it is the kind of benchmark that tells you exactly where the Saints want their run defense to live. The New Orleans defensive line coach wants that group holding opponents to 3.2 yards per carry, a level that would sit at the top of the league, but the reality has been far different so far. New Orleans is giving up 4.8 yards per carry, a number that leaves the defense near the bottom of the NFL and has put the interior of the line under a brighter spotlight.
Injuries and uneven play from key tackles have fed into the problem, and it is one the Saints cannot simply hope away as the season moves on. Defensive coordinator Brandon Staley and players have both acknowledged the need for better play and more competition at the position, which makes the coming weeks important for a unit that has to tighten up inside if the defense is going to settle in. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Face A Cesar Ruiz Decision That Could Reshape Their Line
Cesar Ruiz has become one of the more interesting names on the Saints roster as the team weighs whether to keep its interior line intact or use his value to address other needs. Any move involving Ruiz would ripple beyond New Orleans, because he has been a steady piece up front and the Saints would have to sort out the right side of the line without much margin for error.
New England has emerged as a possible fit, with the Patriots dealing with injuries and searching for help at guard as they try to keep their offense on schedule and their quarterback protected. For the Saints, the decision is just as much about what comes next as what they might get back, since moving Ruiz would open the door for Jeremiah Wright to be tested in a more prominent role. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Put Run Game Pressure On Kellen Moore Before Browns Test
The Saints are making a notable adjustment in how they handle the run game as they try to clean up one of the offenses biggest problem areas. Offensive line coach Brendan Nugent is now handling the weekly structure duties, while running backs coach Joel Thomas remains involved in the situational planning, a shift designed to sharpen communication and improve execution on the ground.
It comes at a time when the rushing attack has lagged well behind where New Orleans needs it to be, adding more pressure on Kellen Moores staff to get the details right. The timing is especially important with Cleveland up next, giving the Saints a quick chance to see whether the new setup can produce a more consistent and functional run game. [Read more 🡒]