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PackPros: Philip Rivers 2020 Outlook

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NC State legend Philip Rivers is entering his 16th season in the NFL, but it will be his first year not wearing a Chargers jersey. Rivers signed a 1-year $25 million contract with the Colts back in March, with all of the money being guaranteed.

Obviously, Rivers is Indianapolis’ starting Quarterback. He will be throwing to the likes of Receivers T.Y. Hilton & Zach Pascal, Tight End Jack Doyle and former NC State Running Back Nyheim Hines. All of these receivers actually graded out well in 2019 according to ProFootball Focus, though their stats were lackluster with former Wolfpack Quarterback Jacoby Brissett struggling.

2019 PFF Grades

T.Y. Hilton – 75.1
Zach Pascal – 73.7
Jack Doyle – 69.2

Rivers isn’t a Spring Chicken, but he’s still a productive NFL Quarterback. Yes, according to ProFootballFocus, his grade of 72.4 was his lowest overall grade since 2012, ranking 17th in the NFL last year. Despite that, his 4,615 passing yards were his highest since 2015, marking his 7th consecutive season of 4,000+ yards.

Rivers threw 23 touchdowns, which was his lowest total since 2007. That number could increase in 2020 standing behind a better Offensive Line. The Chargers O-Line ranked 2nd to last in Pass Blocking according to PFF, and the Colts ranked 13th by comparison.

Also, though Indianapolis is a new city for Rivers, the offensive system is far from new. He has been running Frank Reich’s system since 2013, working together with the Chargers for 3 seasons. Current Colts Offensive Coordinator Nick Sirianni also worked with Rivers there, and had this to say about his expectations for Rivers.

“I expect him to be the guy that leads the offense,” Sirianni said, via Andrew Walker of the team website. “We know how accurate he is and how he’s a great decision-maker. He’s accurate. He makes good fast decisions. So I expect that out of him in the pass game. Getting us into the right protection call, because he studies blitzes and the opposing team more than anyone I’ve ever been around.

“Then in the run game, just running the show, checking when he needs to, getting people in position to make plays. So I just expect the same from what I’ve (experienced). Obviously, we have a lot of years and a lot of history with him. Just, I expect the same Philip Rivers that we had when we were in San Diego together.” (NBC)

Despite being one year older, expect Rivers to have a bounce back year in 2020 in Indy.

Photo Credit

 

Matthew is Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He writes for all sports, with a focus on football and recruiting, and is in charge of business strategy. He is an NC State alum who majored in business. Matthew is also the lead pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

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Pack in the Pros

T-Wolves Sign Former NC State Forward TJ Warren for Remainder of the Season

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Back during the first week of March, former All-ACC NC State Forward TJ Warren signed a 10-day contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. After finding success as a scoring option off the bench, the T-Wolves signed him to another 10-day contract.

With only 11 games remaining in the regular season, Minnesota went ahead and signed him for the rest of regular season yesterday.

In the 7 games Warren has played for the T-Wolves, he has averaged 4.1 points per game in 14.0 minutes of play, shooting 47.8% from the field and 38.2% from beyond the arc.

Warren has not played in Minnesota’s past two games, but he has a chance to prove his worth once again tonight in the T-Wolves matchup vs. the Pistons. As things currently stand, Minnesota sits in 3rd place in the Western Conference.

Here’s a look at the former ACC Player of the Year’s stats over 10 seasons.

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Former NC State All-American Nyheim Hines Signs 1-Year Deal With Cleveland

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Former NC State All-American Nyheim Hines has signed a 1-year deal with the Cleveland Browns worth up to $3.5 million.

Maybe Cleveland will use Hines to his full potential. If you’re not using him as a Swiss Army Knife in the passing game, you’re wasting an opportunity.

The former All-ACC Running Back Hines missed all of last season due to a torn ACL he suffered in a boating accident.

This will be Hines’ 7th season in the NFL.

When you look at what former NC State players have done in the NFL, Hines ranks in the Top-10 in Rushing and Receiving.

His 1,015 rushing yards ranks 7th in school history and his 10 rushing touchdowns rank 9th. Hines’ 240 receptions rank 8th and his 1,778 receiving yards rank 10th.

In the return game, he’s one of the best to represent NC State in the NFL as well. His 1,015 punt return yards ranks 2nd in school history and his 817 kickoff return yards rank 6th. Hines’ 2 punts returned for TD’s ranks 3rd, and his 2 kickoffs taken to the house ranks 1st.

 

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Former NC State Quarterback Jacoby Brissett Signs 1-Year Deal with Pats

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Former NC State Quarterback Jacoby Brissett is signing a 1-year deal with the New England Patriots, rejoining the team that drafted him in the 3rd Round back in 2016.

The deal is worth $8 million.

After the Pats traded away Quarterback Mac Jones to the Jaguars yesterday, it’s abundantly clear what they are planning to do with the 3rd pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

After winning a Super Bowl in his lone season in New England in 2016, Brissett went on to spend 4 seasons in Indy, before spending the next 3 seasons in 3 different cities: Miami, Cleveland and Washington.

Brissett has had a great career as a backup Quarterback through 8 seasons in the NFL, playing in 79 games (starting 48), throwing for 10,574 yards and 51 touchdowns, with 23 interceptions, and a QB Rating of 85.3.

Brissett ranks 5th in NC State history in career passing yards and touchdowns, and 3rd in QB Rating by a former Wolfpack player in the NFL.

Prior to making a dime from New England in 2024, Brissett has made $50.9 million through his first 8 seasons in the league.

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Former NC State Defensive Tackle Justin Jones Signs with Arizona

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Former NC State Defensive Tackle Justin Jones (2014-17) has signed a 3-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals.

The deal is worth a total of $30.1 million, with $19.75 million guaranteed.

Jones spent the past two seasons in Chicago, where he started in every game, recording 101 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

In 2018, Jones was taken in the 3rd round by the Chargers. After playing in 15 games as a reserve as a rookie, Jones started for the Bolts for the next 3 years before signing with the Bears.

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