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A16 SPORTS
Wednesday 16 august 2023
10 NFL playoff teams are integrating new play-callers to add a

spark for 2023

By JOSH DUBOW got to be fundamentally
AP Pro Football Writer sound, footwork, hand
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) placement, communica-
— When Steve Wilks was tion, things of that nature.
handed the reins of the You do all those things, you
NFL’s stingiest defense in give yourself a chance.”
San Francisco, the prior- Two teams gave play-
ity for the new coordinator calling duties to their head
was learning what made coach, with Dallas’ Mike
the 49ers so good rather McCarthy taking over the
than installing his own sys- offense after Moore left
tem. and Buffalo’s Sean McDer-
Wilks stepped into what mott taking over from Leslie
was both an easy job with Frazier.
a star-studded defense “I see he’s got to take two
that led the NFL in points hats to practice,” said Bills
and yards allowed under general manager Bran-
DeMeco Ryans last season don Beane, who worked in
and a difficult one knowing Carolina when McDermott
he would get the blame if was defensive coordinator
there is any regression. for the Panthers. “He’s got
Coach Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks speaks to reporters after NFL football one without the headset
main goal when looking training camp Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, in Santa Clara, Calif. and one with the headset.
for a new coordinator af- Associated Press He’s going to have to have
ter Ryans left for the head things, but it’s not my way, one side of the ball or the fense came in Miami, his own hat guy for game
coaching job in Houston it’s the 49ers way.” other. where the Dolphins hired day. I think Sean is excit-
was finding someone who The 49ers are one of 10 The Ravens and Chargers Vic Fangio to overhaul a ed. It’s how he got the job
would keep the structure playoff teams from last sea- wanted to overhaul offens- unit that allowed the ninth- here. He was such a good
intact. son that are working in at es that had grown stag- most points in the NFL last play-caller for us in Caro-
Wilks is putting his own spin least one new offensive or nant at times. Baltimore season under Josh Boyer, lina and was a big part of
on a successful scheme, defensive coordinator in brought in Todd Monken and in Minnesota, where our success and had a lot
utilizing more blitzes and 2023. The NFC champion and his diverse passing the Vikings brought in Brian of defensive success there
spending more time work- Eagles hired Brian John- game to replace Greg Flores and his aggressive and so I’m excited to see
ing on technique with the son and Sean Desai to re- Roman, who built a run- scheme to replace the his energy.”
defensive backs in hopes place OC Shane Steichen ning offense around Lamar more passive Ed Donatell. The other new coordina-
of limiting big plays. But and DC Jonathan Gan- Jackson. Los Angeles hired But Flores knows change tors this season are Kansas
the defense is still using the non, who each got head Kellen Moore away from takes time. City OC Matt Nagy, who
same basic structure. coaching jobs. Dallas in hopes of unleash- “You don’t do it all on day was promoted when Eric
“I think the key thing is While San Francisco and ing Justin Herbert’s big arm, one,” he said. “You can’t. Bieniemy got the same job
having an open mind to Philadelphia made the which wasn’t always used Those teams are always in Washington, and Tampa
learn,” Wilks said. “I’ve changes out of necessity, enough under Joe Lom- fundamentally sound. To Bay OC Dave Canales,
been around quite a bit. other contenders believed bardi. me, that’s standard oper- who was hired to replace
I’ve done a lot of different they needed a spark on The big changes on de- ating procedure. You’ve the fired Byron Leftwich.q

Bills tackle Brandon Shell not at practice, and team places

7th-year player on reserve-retired list

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) only two backup tackles Seattle Seahawks.
— Recently signed offen- with NFL experience sixth- Overall, he had 72 starts in
sive tackle Brandon Shell year player David Ques- 83 career NFL games, and
was not present at the senberry and Tommy was a four-year starter at
Buffalo Bills’ practice on Doyle, who is entering his South Carolina before be-
Tuesday, with the team an- third season. ing selected by the Jets in
nouncing the 31-year-old Shell played 18 snaps, in- the fifth round of the 2016
intends to retire after seven cluding one on special draft.
NFL seasons. teams, in a 23-19 preseason- Shell’s great-uncle is Pro
Shell, who was placed opening win against India- Football Hall of Fame offen-
on the reserve-retired list, napolis on Saturday. Listed sive lineman Art Shell, who
signed with the Bills on June at 6-foot-5 and 324 pounds, spent his 15-year career
1 and was considered the Shell started 11 games for with the Raiders. In other
primary backup to starting Miami last season after be- developments Tuesday,
right guard Spencer Brown ing promoted off the Dol- backup linebacker Tyler
on the team’s depth chart. phins’ practice squad. He Matakevich was cleared
His departure thins Buffalo’s spent his first four seasons for practice and activated
veteran depth at the posi- This is a 2023 photo showing Brandon Shell of the Buffalo Bills NFL with the New York Jets and from the physically unable
football team.
tion, leaving the team with Associated Press spent two years with the to perform list. q