2026 Off Season Activities / Camps

[skinsinparadise]

Newton looks like an absolute cannon ball, and aggressive as hell with his feet

Forgot which reporter said it, I think it was Keim but I don't recall 100%, but one of them said when talking to the team privately, the dude they have the most confidence to break out among the younger players who haven't yet is Newton.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Forgot which reporter said it, I think it was Keim but I don't recall 100%, but one of them said when talking to the team privately, the dude they have the most confidence to break out among the younger players who haven't yet is Newton.

Despite all the changes this off season, if Newton can break out and become an impactful part of the defense, it changes so much. Not only does it change the on the field defense, it changes the way we look at the interior Dline moving forward because of his age, and then it can effect the way people talk about Peters and lessens the 'concerns' regarding Peters and his drafting.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

It would be awesome if Newton does break out, but this defensive scheme is supposed to be a little unkind to IDL getting stats. The best shot for him is through cleanup sacks. Javon Hargrave and Jon Allen are older so it's expected, but both of them had their worst stats-per-game (QB hits, sacks, etc) in a long time playing on that Minnesota defense. Defensive Tackles primary roll is to create 1-on-1 opportunities across the DL. So sometimes they have to sacrifice in order to do that.

If Newton breaks out stats wise, and does so in this scheme? That would be extremely impressive.

 

[skinsinparadise]

Despite all the changes this off season, if Newton can break out and become an impactful part of the defense, it changes so much. Not only does it change the on the field defense, it changes the way we look at the interior Dline moving forward because of his age, and then it can effect the way people talk about Peters and lessens the 'concerns' regarding Peters and his drafting.

Yeah those 6 picks in the top 100, looks like a squandered opportunity for Peters. To your point aside from Jayden even if just one emerges from that group it changes the narrative enough. And its intuitive that its Newton among that group who emerges considering he's the one of that mix who had to deal with a severe injury and maybe its finally fully healed?

I personally though don't have concerns about Peters drafting -- I think he continues to improve on that front but granted its TBD. I am just not on the same page with those who give him carte blanche trust as to roster building, when he hasn't earned it. I need his ifs and buts to actually play out as candy and nuts versus just assume it will.

My gut is I do think he's fixed the defense or close enough, I know the national media, mock draft types, Vegas, etc don't think so. But will see. My gut is this is round 3 of him failing at WR and putting this team on Jayden's back -- but at the same time i don't think he's stupid, i think he will learn from getting burned three times in a row, and go to town at Wr next off season, just like he did after two seasons on the D line spot.

 

[skinsinparadise]

It would be awesome if Newton does break out, but this defensive scheme is supposed to be a little unkind to IDL getting stats. The best shot for him is through cleanup sacks. Javon Hargrave and Jon Allen are older so it's expected, but both of them had their worst stats-per-game (QB hits, sacks, etc) in a long time playing on that Minnesota defense. Defensive Tackles primary roll is to create 1-on-1 opportunities across the DL. So sometimes they have to sacrifice in order to do that.

If Newton breaks out stats wise, and does so in this scheme? That would be extremely impressive.

With his smaller size, guessing he played a lot of DE in that front.

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

It's funny. Safety is almost never picked in the first round of the draft because it's always been considered one of the least important/easiest positions to fill. That POV might be changing due to the way we think about multiple defenses and the safety as a Swiss Army knife instead of last line of defense.

The league has gone through phases of drafting bunches of safeties in the 1st round, the problem is most of them bust. It's just a hard position to project well. Last year had 1 first rounder safety, he underwhelmed, especially in comparison to safeties drafted in the 2nd & 3rd rounds of the same draft. This year we've got 2 first rounders, maybe it's the start of a change, or just reinforces not spending premier draft capital on a safety.

 

[SkinsLife]

Forgot which reporter said it, I think it was Keim but I don't recall 100%, but one of them said when talking to the team privately, the dude they have the most confidence to break out among the younger players who haven't yet is Newton.

they say the same thing every year about him... have yet to see him do much. I'll have to see it to believe it

 

[KDawg]

It would be awesome if Newton does break out, but this defensive scheme is supposed to be a little unkind to IDL getting stats. The best shot for him is through cleanup sacks. Javon Hargrave and Jon Allen are older so it's expected, but both of them had their worst stats-per-game (QB hits, sacks, etc) in a long time playing on that Minnesota defense. Defensive Tackles primary roll is to create 1-on-1 opportunities across the DL. So sometimes they have to sacrifice in order to do that.

If Newton breaks out stats wise, and does so in this scheme? That would be extremely impressive.

I don’t know that this is true.

The weak side DT, if in a 3-tech, is 1v1 with a guard. That’s ideal.

The two DL who will see more doubles are the nose and the strong side end. But I don’t agree that this scheme is unkind to IDL.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Forgot which reporter said it, I think it was Keim but I don't recall 100%, but one of them said when talking to the team privately, the dude they have the most confidence to break out among the younger players who haven't yet is Newton.

Quinn said it in an interview with Kevin Clark of “this is football.” That clip played on just about every podcast ai listen to. I believe the quote was the end of March. I found reference to it on the commanders wire article on 3/31.

"The first one that comes to mind is defensive tackle Johnny Newton," Quinn told Kevin Clark of This is Football. “And his first year was injuries; he had foot injuries to come in. I think he’s a guy that’s about to just absolutely take off.

As a defensive tackle, man, is he quick. Beating somebody to the spot. His ability as an interior rusher, I think he'll be somebody that, 'OK, I remember talking to Dan back in March or April or whatever it was and say this guy turned into a heavy hitter.'"

 

[Conn]

Oh, if it was said in March then that means it was based on nothing but hopes and dreams lol. I was hoping that was a more recent comment after seeing some offseason growth at OTA’s

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Oh, if it was said in March then that means it was based on nothing but hopes and dreams lol. I was hoping that was a more recent comment after seeing some offseason growth at OTA’s

I mean, it was almost April. That counts for something right?

 

[RedWolf]

Quinn said it in an interview with Kevin Clark of “this is football.” That clip played on just about every podcast ai listen to. I believe the quote was the end of March. I found reference to it on the commanders wire article on 3/31.

"The first one that comes to mind is defensive tackle Johnny Newton," Quinn told Kevin Clark of This is Football. “And his first year was injuries; he had foot injuries to come in. I think he’s a guy that’s about to just absolutely take off.

As a defensive tackle, man, is he quick. Beating somebody to the spot. His ability as an interior rusher, I think he'll be somebody that, 'OK, I remember talking to Dan back in March or April or whatever it was and say this guy turned into a heavy hitter.'"

We hope! 🤞

 

[Conn]

I mean, it was almost April. That counts for something right?

lol, I hope so, but realistically no as they’ve seen nothing since the end of the season a 2-3 months earlier by late March. Other than guys working out and trying to transform their bodies at the facility, which is always good but isn’t football.

I prefer my coach hype to at least be based on drill work lol

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

lol, I hope so, but realistically no as they’ve seen nothing since the end of the season a 2-3 months earlier by late March. Other than guys working out and trying to transform their bodies at the facility, which is always good but isn’t football.

I prefer my coach hype to at least be based on drill work lol

The question is, is it based on anything or is Quinn trying to speak it into existence?

Who's to say?

 

[Always Commander Never Captain]

I don’t know that this is true.

The weak side DT, if in a 3-tech, is 1v1 with a guard. That’s ideal.

The two DL who will see more doubles are the nose and the strong side end. But I don’t agree that this scheme is unkind to IDL.

Maybe. I'm going from reading reports of the Flores scheme with the Vikings. Daronte Jones could add some tweaks or lay off some of the methods Flores used. Keep in mind I can't remember if I watched film of the Vikings to verify it, so I'm going off of what I read for how the IDL for the Vikings were often used. It was stated the first move for the IDL were often not for an immediate win attempt, but to ensure specific blockers were occupied to give cleaner rushing lanes for linebackers. IDL were often tasked with setting up a stunt.

Wait...(looking this up) maybe I'm misremembering. Apparently they just stunt at a league average rate?

Interestingly, I am finding that they used Cover 1 the least amount of time in the NFL (still used, but only about 1/3rd of the time).



They used Base Defense way more than league average, I also did not expect that. I thought they used Nickel more often than they did. Well, good thing we've got Luvu, Styles, and Chenal. All 3 of them will get playing time.

Also means our need for a post safety isn't as dire. Still need one, but not as necessary as I thought.

 

[RedWolf]

Random video with some points to consider

 

[Conn]

One of the most annoying dudes I’ve ever had the misfortune of clicking ‘play’ on. I’m not usually a video/audio guy, more of a long form article guy lol, I should just stick to that I guess.

I hope that guy’s enthusiasm for Josephs is well-placed, I read that he looked really smooth dropping into coverage during OTA’s

 

[bowhunter]

One of the most annoying dudes I’ve ever had the misfortune of clicking ‘play’ on. I’m not usually a video/audio guy, more of a long form article guy lol, I should just stick to that I guess.

I hope that guy’s enthusiasm for Josephs is well-placed, I read that he looked really smooth dropping into coverage during OTA’s

My ears hurt now. That guy should be selling used cars

 

[Discobob]

One of the most annoying dudes I’ve ever had the misfortune of clicking ‘play’ on. I’m not usually a video/audio guy, more of a long form article guy lol, I should just stick to that I guess.

I hope that guy’s enthusiasm for Josephs is well-placed, I read that he looked really smooth dropping into coverage during OTA’s

I figured it was AI... had that feel to me 🤷

But yeah, terrible listening experience!

 

[RedWolf]

Sorry guys, just trying to provide something other than Aiyuk which is dominating many vids now