Expect to see a lot of shifts and motions in #SBLIV, which features a matchup between two of the top 4 teams in shift/motion rate this season (incl. playoffs), per @PFF.
The @49ers are the only team in the NFL to use shifts/motions on 70%+ of their plays this season.
Shifts and motions have been defining features of Kyle Shanahan's offenses dating back to at least his time as the Browns OC in 2014 (the first year @PFF charted shifts and motions), but the past 4 seasons his offenses have really pulled away from the rest of the NFL.
Andy Reid used shifts/motions at or below league average as HC of the @Chiefs from 2014-2017, but increased that to the 6th-highest rate (55%) in 2018 in Patrick Mahomes first season as starting QB and the 4th-highest rate (62%) in his 2nd season this year.
The deadline for any club that designated a Franchise Player to sign such player to a multiyear contract or extension ended yesterday.
Franchise Tag Recap
A Thread:
Signed Tender (Projected 2020 Salary)
QB - Dak Prescott ($31.4M)
TE - Hunter Henry ($10.6M)
G - Brandon Scherff ($15.0M), Joe Thuney ($14.8M)
DT - Leonard Williams ($16.1M)
LB - M. Judon ($16.8M), B. Dupree/S. Barrett ($15.8M)
S - Anthony Harris/Justin Simmons ($11.4M)
Signed Multi-Year Deal
RB Derrick Henry (4-year/$50M)
- Only RB w/ 1,000+ rush yards & 10+ rush TD in each of last 2 seasons
DT Chris Jones (4-year/$85M)
- 2nd-most sacks (33.0) by a DT since entering NFL in 2016 (Aaron Donald: 52.0)
Take a closer look at some of the biggest free agency moves so far:
Amari Cooper: 5 years, $100 million with @dallascowboys
- $20 million APY (2nd-highest among WR)
- 3rd WR to receive $100M contract (Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald)
- Top 5 in rec yards and rec TD since joining Cowboys in Week 9, 2018
- 109.2 rec yards per game at @ATTStadium
Yannick Ngakoue: Non-exclusive Franchise Tag
- 2020 Salary: $17.788M
- 211 pressures since 2016 (@NextGenStats) only trail Aaron Donald & Von Miller
- 1 of 7 players in NFL history w/ 8.0+ sacks in each of first 4 seasons
- @Jaguars have until July 15 to sign to long-term deal
The 2019 NFC Championship will be the first conference championship game in which neither of the starting QBs recorded a start in their first 2 NFL seasons.
Richard Sherman (@RSherman_25) has as many catches (1 INT) as he has allowed in coverage (1 reception) in two career NFC Championship appearances (both wins).