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Training Camp & Preseason Observations (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Faust
- Start date
Faust
MVP
I would throw the ball a ton in the preseason to Crayton in the red zone, hoping to get some team that is weak at WR to send me a trade offer.
Faust
MVP
Camp Confidential: Baltimore Ravens
Excerpts:
THREE HOT ISSUES
1. Is Flacco ready to take the next step? There are plenty of weapons on offense, but it's up to the quarterback to make sure everything runs efficiently.
Flacco has improved every year in the NFL. He is entering his third season, and the Ravens expect him to take the next step to become a legitimate franchise quarterback.
There is no reason to believe Flacco will not make the jump this year from a good to great quarterback. He has the best receiving corps of his career, a top-notch running game and a quality offensive line. Perhaps the biggest challenge for Flacco is keeping everyone happy, as every starting skill player with the exception of the quarterback has been to the Pro Bowl.
2. Will the cornerbacks hold up? Baltimore's secondary issues are well-documented.
Top corner Domonique Foxworth (knee) is out for the season and starters Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb are both coming off major knee surgeries. Washington will make his 2010 debut Saturday against the Washington Redskins, while Webb is waiting to be cleared for practice. There's also no guarantee both players will instantly get back to their old form once they return.
Players like Cary Williams, Travis Fisher and Chris Carr have been filling in for the time being. But starting roles are simply too big for this group, and that won't cut it in the regular season. In this pass-heavy NFL, you need quality depth at cornerback, and it turns out this is Baltimore's one glaring weakness on an otherwise stacked roster.
3. Can Baltimore survive the AFC North? Here is a fact Ravens fans often ignore: At least two division rivals currently have Baltimore's number.
The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers have given Baltimore fits in recent years. Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is 8-3 against the Ravens in 11 career starts, which includes last year's 2-0 sweep. Pittsburgh also is 4-1 (including playoffs) in its last five meetings against the Ravens. The only Baltimore win in that span came against the Dennis Dixon-led Steelers in overtime last November.
A deep postseason run would be a lot easier for Baltimore if it won the AFC North division. With that comes a home playoff game(s) and possibly a bye in the first round. But the Ravens will have to play more consistently against their division rivals this season.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
The Ravens are not panicking over safety Ed Reed's offseason hip surgery, because Tom Zbikowski is having the best training camp of his career. The third-year safety is leaner and quicker this year, as Zbikowski continues to earn the confidence of the coaching staff.
Zbikowski has some natural instincts that the Ravens want to take advantage of. He's versatile enough to play in the box, and has very good timing and angles on blitzes. It's unknown if Reed will be ready for Week 1 of the regular season. The Ravens probably can't win a Super Bowl without Reed, but they can win in the short term with an improved Zbikowski.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Jared Gaither's offseason has been a disaster. The offensive tackle got off on the wrong foot by making contract demands, and things have gone downhill from there.
Right now Gaither has a back injury that's kept him out of camp. He also surprised the Ravens by reporting to the team much lighter than his usual playing weight.
Baltimore has already moved forward by making Michael Oher its left tackle, which is the most important position on the offensive line. But if Gaither doesn't straighten things out, the Ravens also may have to figure out what to do next at right tackle. We will explain their options below.
OBSERVATION DECK
Remember the name Oniel Cousins. He will be one of the most important Ravens in the next several weeks. With Gaither working to get back on the field, Cousins could do Baltimore a huge favor by playing well at right tackle. Marshal Yanda also is a possibility, but he's better suited as Baltimore's starting right guard. If Cousins proves to be the answer, the Ravens can maintain continuity with the other four spots on the offensive line.
By the end of this season, Haloti Ngata may be mentioned as the top interior defensive lineman in football. It's impressive watching Ngata routinely blow up offensive linemen in practice. He makes it look easy. In one sequence Wednesday, Ngata pushed rookie offensive tackle Ramon Harewood about 5 yards into the backfield. Ngata then yelled to the offensive coaches "get him out," because Harewood's best effort barely offered Ngata any resistance.
I would be surprised if Baltimore doesn't improve its pass rush this season. The "pressures" in camp look more crisp and aggressive this year. It also doesn't hurt that linebacker/defensive end hybrid Terrell Suggs is in great shape and motivated to have a bounce-back season. Last year, the Ravens were ranked 18th in the NFL with 32 sacks in 16 games. The Steelers (47), Cleveland Browns (40) and Bengals (34) all had more sacks in the division.
From what I saw this week, it's pretty clear Marc Bulger deserves to be the No. 2 quarterback behind Flacco. Bulger has a quicker release and more accurate arm than Troy Smith. Bulger still shows flashes of the Pro Bowl-ability he had in St. Louis and can make throws that Smith simply cannot. Bulger would be a better short-term fill in if Flacco goes down.
Webb looked good running and cutting on his surgically repaired knee while doing individual drills this week. He's yet to practice with the team but is very close to being cleared. Baltimore believes Webb could eventually develop into the team's best cornerback. But the team has to be careful and make sure he returns at full strength.
Despite the bad press rookie defensive tackle Terrence Cody received after failing his conditioning test, he is a force once he's on the field. Cody is hard to move in the trenches and has surprisingly good feet for someone his size. The Ravens are experimenting with Cody in various ways, including pairing him with Ngata and also giving Cody an occasional look at fullback in goal-line situations.
I thought I would see more from rookie receiver David Reed this week. Not to put unnecessary pressure on the fifth-round pick, but Reed generated a significant buzz in Baltimore during minicamp and organized team activities. My first impressions of Reed in training camp is that he's still inconsistent. Reed had some drops, but he also had one of this week's best catches by leaping over a defender in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Baltimore will need to see more of the latter.
Switching Paul Kruger to full-time defensive end and adding bulk is already paying dividends. Kruger looks more powerful and explosive this summer. The second-round pick was drafted as a linebacker/defensive end hybrid and couldn't find a role on the team his rookie year. Now he's more productive focusing on one position.
Excerpts:
THREE HOT ISSUES
1. Is Flacco ready to take the next step? There are plenty of weapons on offense, but it's up to the quarterback to make sure everything runs efficiently.
Flacco has improved every year in the NFL. He is entering his third season, and the Ravens expect him to take the next step to become a legitimate franchise quarterback.
There is no reason to believe Flacco will not make the jump this year from a good to great quarterback. He has the best receiving corps of his career, a top-notch running game and a quality offensive line. Perhaps the biggest challenge for Flacco is keeping everyone happy, as every starting skill player with the exception of the quarterback has been to the Pro Bowl.
2. Will the cornerbacks hold up? Baltimore's secondary issues are well-documented.
Top corner Domonique Foxworth (knee) is out for the season and starters Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb are both coming off major knee surgeries. Washington will make his 2010 debut Saturday against the Washington Redskins, while Webb is waiting to be cleared for practice. There's also no guarantee both players will instantly get back to their old form once they return.
Players like Cary Williams, Travis Fisher and Chris Carr have been filling in for the time being. But starting roles are simply too big for this group, and that won't cut it in the regular season. In this pass-heavy NFL, you need quality depth at cornerback, and it turns out this is Baltimore's one glaring weakness on an otherwise stacked roster.
3. Can Baltimore survive the AFC North? Here is a fact Ravens fans often ignore: At least two division rivals currently have Baltimore's number.
The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers have given Baltimore fits in recent years. Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer is 8-3 against the Ravens in 11 career starts, which includes last year's 2-0 sweep. Pittsburgh also is 4-1 (including playoffs) in its last five meetings against the Ravens. The only Baltimore win in that span came against the Dennis Dixon-led Steelers in overtime last November.
A deep postseason run would be a lot easier for Baltimore if it won the AFC North division. With that comes a home playoff game(s) and possibly a bye in the first round. But the Ravens will have to play more consistently against their division rivals this season.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
The Ravens are not panicking over safety Ed Reed's offseason hip surgery, because Tom Zbikowski is having the best training camp of his career. The third-year safety is leaner and quicker this year, as Zbikowski continues to earn the confidence of the coaching staff.
Zbikowski has some natural instincts that the Ravens want to take advantage of. He's versatile enough to play in the box, and has very good timing and angles on blitzes. It's unknown if Reed will be ready for Week 1 of the regular season. The Ravens probably can't win a Super Bowl without Reed, but they can win in the short term with an improved Zbikowski.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Jared Gaither's offseason has been a disaster. The offensive tackle got off on the wrong foot by making contract demands, and things have gone downhill from there.
Right now Gaither has a back injury that's kept him out of camp. He also surprised the Ravens by reporting to the team much lighter than his usual playing weight.
Baltimore has already moved forward by making Michael Oher its left tackle, which is the most important position on the offensive line. But if Gaither doesn't straighten things out, the Ravens also may have to figure out what to do next at right tackle. We will explain their options below.
OBSERVATION DECK
Remember the name Oniel Cousins. He will be one of the most important Ravens in the next several weeks. With Gaither working to get back on the field, Cousins could do Baltimore a huge favor by playing well at right tackle. Marshal Yanda also is a possibility, but he's better suited as Baltimore's starting right guard. If Cousins proves to be the answer, the Ravens can maintain continuity with the other four spots on the offensive line.
By the end of this season, Haloti Ngata may be mentioned as the top interior defensive lineman in football. It's impressive watching Ngata routinely blow up offensive linemen in practice. He makes it look easy. In one sequence Wednesday, Ngata pushed rookie offensive tackle Ramon Harewood about 5 yards into the backfield. Ngata then yelled to the offensive coaches "get him out," because Harewood's best effort barely offered Ngata any resistance.
I would be surprised if Baltimore doesn't improve its pass rush this season. The "pressures" in camp look more crisp and aggressive this year. It also doesn't hurt that linebacker/defensive end hybrid Terrell Suggs is in great shape and motivated to have a bounce-back season. Last year, the Ravens were ranked 18th in the NFL with 32 sacks in 16 games. The Steelers (47), Cleveland Browns (40) and Bengals (34) all had more sacks in the division.
From what I saw this week, it's pretty clear Marc Bulger deserves to be the No. 2 quarterback behind Flacco. Bulger has a quicker release and more accurate arm than Troy Smith. Bulger still shows flashes of the Pro Bowl-ability he had in St. Louis and can make throws that Smith simply cannot. Bulger would be a better short-term fill in if Flacco goes down.
Webb looked good running and cutting on his surgically repaired knee while doing individual drills this week. He's yet to practice with the team but is very close to being cleared. Baltimore believes Webb could eventually develop into the team's best cornerback. But the team has to be careful and make sure he returns at full strength.
Despite the bad press rookie defensive tackle Terrence Cody received after failing his conditioning test, he is a force once he's on the field. Cody is hard to move in the trenches and has surprisingly good feet for someone his size. The Ravens are experimenting with Cody in various ways, including pairing him with Ngata and also giving Cody an occasional look at fullback in goal-line situations.
I thought I would see more from rookie receiver David Reed this week. Not to put unnecessary pressure on the fifth-round pick, but Reed generated a significant buzz in Baltimore during minicamp and organized team activities. My first impressions of Reed in training camp is that he's still inconsistent. Reed had some drops, but he also had one of this week's best catches by leaping over a defender in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Baltimore will need to see more of the latter.
Switching Paul Kruger to full-time defensive end and adding bulk is already paying dividends. Kruger looks more powerful and explosive this summer. The second-round pick was drafted as a linebacker/defensive end hybrid and couldn't find a role on the team his rookie year. Now he's more productive focusing on one position.
Faust
MVP
Lions' offense getting creative
08:09 AM ET 08.19 | The Lions are finding more touches for Jahvid Best. Best, a rookie first-round pick who started at running back in last week's exhibition opener at Pittsburgh, took direct snaps out of the Wildcat formation during a 14-play period in practice Wednesday. Kevin Smith also took Wildcat snaps from an alignment that saw quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Shaun Hill split wide like a receiver. "I did that in college, so I'm familiar with that a little bit," Best said. "It was just something fun." Best said Cal installed a Wildcat package every game for him last year. He never threw the ball, Wednesday or in college, but said he has that in his arsenal, too.
08:09 AM ET 08.19 | The Lions are finding more touches for Jahvid Best. Best, a rookie first-round pick who started at running back in last week's exhibition opener at Pittsburgh, took direct snaps out of the Wildcat formation during a 14-play period in practice Wednesday. Kevin Smith also took Wildcat snaps from an alignment that saw quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Shaun Hill split wide like a receiver. "I did that in college, so I'm familiar with that a little bit," Best said. "It was just something fun." Best said Cal installed a Wildcat package every game for him last year. He never threw the ball, Wednesday or in college, but said he has that in his arsenal, too.
BigJim®
Footballguy
Highs and lows from Lehigh [Eagels report]
August 18th, 2010, Author: Geoff Mosher, Categories: Uncategorized
By GEOFF MOSHER
Twitter: @geoffmosher
Training camp is finally, mercifully over. The Eagles broke camp at Lehigh on Wednesday morning and will resume practices at the NovaCare Complex after Friday’s exhibition. Here’s my quick breakdown of the studs and duds from Lehigh after camp:
OFFENSIVE STANDOUT
LeSean McCoy can handle the workload of a No. 1 back. He’ll probably play second fiddle to the passing game but he cut down the extra shakes and bakes before hitting the hole and shored up his pass catching out of the the backfield and slot.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUT
If linebacker Ernie Sims is as barbaric against opponents as he was against teammates, the Eagles found themselves a legitimate presence on the weak side.
MOST IMPRESSIVE ROOKIE
Riley Cooper, the fifth-round pick out of Florida, livened up the first practice by starting a fight and didn’t let a day go by without an assortment of sprawled-out catches or fingertip grabs.
LEAST IMPRRESSIVE ROOKIE
Running back Charles Scott, a sixth-round pick from LSU, blew an opportunity to secure a roster spot. Scott could have staked his claim for the No. 2 job but he dropped too many passes and didn’t make enough standout plays.
BEST FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Other rookie standouts were safeties Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman, defensive end Brandon Graham and tight end Clay Harbor. Allen and Graham showed they can handle the workload to make immediate impacts. Taking advantage of thin depth at tight end, Habor emerged as Brent Celek’s backup. Howard made a strong push for the top backup spot at tackle.
WORST FIRST IMPRESSIONS
It took a while for defensive end Ricky Sapp, a fifth-round pick, to stand out at practice. He didn’t make very many plays. Third-rounder Daniel Te’o-Nesheim also got lost in the crowd.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Rookie free-agent Austin Howard - a monster at 6-foot-7, 333 pounds – emerged as the second-string left tackle, bumping King Dunlap to right tackle. The Northern Iowa product is a mauler and rare rookie free agent that secured a roster spot early.
JURY’S OUT
As the coaches experimented with Te’o-Nesheim and Graham in the nickel, newcomer Darryl Tapp got lost in the fold. Best guess is the coaches know what they have in Tapp, who’ll get more reps later in the preseason. Reserve corner Macho Harris played well at times but also missed significant reps with a hamstring injury. Moise Fokou lost the SAM competition to Akeem Jordan and was tinkered with as a stand-up pass rusher. It’s uncertain what his role will be moving forward.
THUMBS UP
* Dropping 40 pounds seems to have helped reserve guard Max Jean-Gilles save his job. He took a lot of reps with the first offense before Todd Herremans came back.
* Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson shook off early camp injuries and made plenty of plays for Kevin Kolb. Expect them to be a solid 1-2 receiving punch in the NFC.
* Despite the skeptics and his recent off-field incident, Michael Vick kept his nose in the playbook and showed major strides in his ability to run the offense. He’s showing that he can be a serviceable backup.
THUMBS DOWN
* Nick Cole struggled with the snap exchange and then lost valuable snaps when his knee swelled up. He’s considered the primary replacement at center for Jamaal Jackson but is in jeopardy of losing that distinction to Mike McGlynn.
* For a guy who came with a reputation for being hurt too often, running back Mike Bell didn’t do much to help that cause. He missed practices with a hamstring injury then missed more from a calf strain.
* The coaches were careful with Cornelius Ingram in his comeback from a second knee surgery in two years, but the tight end still fought through knee and calf injuries and sunk to the third team.
August 18th, 2010, Author: Geoff Mosher, Categories: Uncategorized
By GEOFF MOSHER
Twitter: @geoffmosher
Training camp is finally, mercifully over. The Eagles broke camp at Lehigh on Wednesday morning and will resume practices at the NovaCare Complex after Friday’s exhibition. Here’s my quick breakdown of the studs and duds from Lehigh after camp:
OFFENSIVE STANDOUT
LeSean McCoy can handle the workload of a No. 1 back. He’ll probably play second fiddle to the passing game but he cut down the extra shakes and bakes before hitting the hole and shored up his pass catching out of the the backfield and slot.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUT
If linebacker Ernie Sims is as barbaric against opponents as he was against teammates, the Eagles found themselves a legitimate presence on the weak side.
MOST IMPRESSIVE ROOKIE
Riley Cooper, the fifth-round pick out of Florida, livened up the first practice by starting a fight and didn’t let a day go by without an assortment of sprawled-out catches or fingertip grabs.
LEAST IMPRRESSIVE ROOKIE
Running back Charles Scott, a sixth-round pick from LSU, blew an opportunity to secure a roster spot. Scott could have staked his claim for the No. 2 job but he dropped too many passes and didn’t make enough standout plays.
BEST FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Other rookie standouts were safeties Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman, defensive end Brandon Graham and tight end Clay Harbor. Allen and Graham showed they can handle the workload to make immediate impacts. Taking advantage of thin depth at tight end, Habor emerged as Brent Celek’s backup. Howard made a strong push for the top backup spot at tackle.
WORST FIRST IMPRESSIONS
It took a while for defensive end Ricky Sapp, a fifth-round pick, to stand out at practice. He didn’t make very many plays. Third-rounder Daniel Te’o-Nesheim also got lost in the crowd.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Rookie free-agent Austin Howard - a monster at 6-foot-7, 333 pounds – emerged as the second-string left tackle, bumping King Dunlap to right tackle. The Northern Iowa product is a mauler and rare rookie free agent that secured a roster spot early.
JURY’S OUT
As the coaches experimented with Te’o-Nesheim and Graham in the nickel, newcomer Darryl Tapp got lost in the fold. Best guess is the coaches know what they have in Tapp, who’ll get more reps later in the preseason. Reserve corner Macho Harris played well at times but also missed significant reps with a hamstring injury. Moise Fokou lost the SAM competition to Akeem Jordan and was tinkered with as a stand-up pass rusher. It’s uncertain what his role will be moving forward.
THUMBS UP
* Dropping 40 pounds seems to have helped reserve guard Max Jean-Gilles save his job. He took a lot of reps with the first offense before Todd Herremans came back.
* Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson shook off early camp injuries and made plenty of plays for Kevin Kolb. Expect them to be a solid 1-2 receiving punch in the NFC.
* Despite the skeptics and his recent off-field incident, Michael Vick kept his nose in the playbook and showed major strides in his ability to run the offense. He’s showing that he can be a serviceable backup.
THUMBS DOWN
* Nick Cole struggled with the snap exchange and then lost valuable snaps when his knee swelled up. He’s considered the primary replacement at center for Jamaal Jackson but is in jeopardy of losing that distinction to Mike McGlynn.
* For a guy who came with a reputation for being hurt too often, running back Mike Bell didn’t do much to help that cause. He missed practices with a hamstring injury then missed more from a calf strain.
* The coaches were careful with Cornelius Ingram in his comeback from a second knee surgery in two years, but the tight end still fought through knee and calf injuries and sunk to the third team.
Faust
MVP
Camp Confidential: St. Louis Rams
Excerpts:
In fact, if anyone has reason to quiver at this point in camp, it's the defensive backs trying to defend passes they sometimes do not see coming -- as when Bradford laced one between Oshiomogho Atogwe and Craig Dahl before the safeties even turned around. It's not Bradford's accuracy or timing that have caught defensive backs' attention so much as the combination of those all-important quarterback traits. Early indications suggest the Rams could have the best quarterback in the division sooner rather than later.
"You see a lot of greatness in him -- what he brings, his skill set, very talented, very intelligent," Atogwe said.
Several of Bradford's teammates have experience breaking in first-round quarterbacks elsewhere. Brown (Joe Flacco), tight end Billy Bajema (Alex Smith), center Hank Fraley (Brady Quinn), defensive end James Hall (Joey Harrington), defensive tackle Fred Robbins (Eli Manning) and guard Jacob Bell (Vince Young) pointed to Bradford's maturity, intelligence, competitiveness, demeanor and accuracy.
The way they freely praised Bradford suggested genuine excitement, not the obligatory kind.
"I played with Steve McNair [in Tennessee] and with Ben Roethlisberger [at Miami (Ohio)]," Bell said, "and I thought, 'This guy, the way he throws the ball, man, I haven't seen anybody in person like that on the practice field, ever.' "
THREE HOT ISSUES
1. When will Bradford become the starter? It's an upset if Bradford isn't the No. 1 quarterback from the beginning of the regular season even though veteran A.J. Feeley remains the starter for now. Feeley and Bradford are sharing first- and second-team reps in practice. The team doesn't want to rush Bradford, but all signs point to the rookie grasping the offense quickly. The Rams think he's mature enough to handle what figures to be a rough rookie season. Why delay the inevitable if Bradford is looking good?
2. Can this team defend the pass? The Rams appeared to beef up the middle of their defense by adding Robbins, but the NFL is a passing league and the Rams could struggle to get pressure consistently. They have two pass-rushers -- Chris Long and Hall -- and their secondary has battled injuries throughout camp. Long should continue his improvement. Hall's sacks fell off to 4.5 last season as he transitioned from backup to starter. He is 33 years old. Kevin Dockery has exceeded expectations at cornerback, where rookie Jerome Murphy has also shown promise. But with Atogwe still rounding into form following injury, the secondary is a bit of a question mark.
3. What happens if Steven Jackson gets hurt again? The Rams do not have a proven running threat behind Jackson, even though 2009 seventh-round draft pick Chris Ogbonnaya performed well against the Arizona Cardinals late last season. Ogbonnaya might be a good third-down back because he protects the passer well and can catch the ball, but the Rams could be in trouble if they needed a starter to replace Jackson for a few games. Jackson appears fully healthy so far, but he's coming off back surgery. Brian Westbrook's decision to sign with the 49ers hurt, but the Rams saw him mostly as a third-down back at this stage of his career, anyway. Expect the Rams to monitor the waiver wire for running backs as teams reduce to 53 players on Sept. 4.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Danny Amendola. There's enough uncertainty at receiver for this position to qualify under the "Hottest Questions" heading, but Amendola appears to have found a home as the slot receiver in the Rams' personnel groupings with more than two wideouts. Injuries forced Amendola to play multiple positions last season. Camp practices have convinced me -- and the Rams -- that Amendola's quickness can make him a threat. Said Feeley: "He has polished his game. Some of these guys discover themselves after a year of playing and realizing what they can do. The guy is a special player. The guy is going to make plays and have a lot of catches this year ... a poor man's Wes Welker trying to establish himself. He fits that mold right now. The guy is cat quick."
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Offensive line continuity. The way the Rams' line struggled during the exhibition opener against Minnesota was deceiving. Rookie Rodger Saffold was making his first start at left tackle (against Jared Allen, no less). Right tackle Jason Smith had only recently returned from injury and the team knew he might wear down as the game progressed. Brown was filling in at right guard. These mitigating factors point to a broader problem: continuity. Only this week have the Rams gotten their projected starting five linemen on the field together. That must change as the Bradford era gets under way.
OBSERVATION DECK
Multiple fights broke out during a recent Rams practice and that has to be a welcome sign for a team without enforcer types. The Rams have spent the past couple of years putting into place building-block players with apparently solid character. Long, Smith and James Laurinaitis qualify as "safe" draft choices along those lines. The team has now added some veteran seasoning -- think Robbins, Feeley, Na'il Diggs and Fraley -- but there's still something missing. The next step for St. Louis could be to add some players with a few rough edges. The best teams tend to have a few good players teammates fear. The Rams need more of them.
Jackson rehabbed from back surgery with a vengeance and he's looking strong as ever. Jackson also sounds happy. He clearly appreciates coach Steve Spagnuolo's evolving approach to training camp. Spagnuolo polled coaches and players anonymously for ideas after last season. Some complained that a tough 2009 training camp featuring live tackling left the team with weary legs heading into Week 1. Spagnuolo listened, putting limits on some of the contact and giving players more time between practices. Longer term, Spagnuolo wants to reach a point where young players know how to practice without the staff having to manufacture intensity.
Looks like the Rams might find a role in their offense for rookie tight end Fendi Onobun. Considered a project coming out of college, Onobun has shown he's further along than the Rams anticipated. The leaping end-zone grab he made in practice this week wasn't out of the ordinary for Onobun. Rookies often must contribute on special teams to earn spots on the 45-man game-day roster. Onobun made a positive impression as a gunner in the exhibition opener.
Rookie receiver Mardy Gilyard will bring needed swagger if his body holds up. Gilyard has his own style and doesn't seem to worry about what others think. He practices wearing abbreviated gym shorts over bicycle shorts for a distinctive 1980s look. Gilyard has stepped up his production in practice this week. An arm injury remains a potential concern.
Long appears more comfortable with himself and his status on the team. As a rookie and even last season, I sensed Long felt the pressure of being a No. 2 overall draft choice, to the point that he sometimes sounded apologetic about it while finding his way as a pro. Long showed obvious improvement late last season, however, and he appears to be asserting himself more readily. He played a prominent role in recent camp fights and called out Bajema for chipping him unexpectedly.
After last season, the Rams were thinking receiver Brandon Gibson might develop into an important part of their offense. They can't be so sure at this point because Gibson has missed an extended period with a hamstring injury. The Rams need Gibson to get on the field and produce during preseason. The team is cautiously optimistic about some of its prospects at receiver, but injuries were a concern last season. Donnie Avery, who bulked up this offseason to become more durable, took a hard shot in practice and came back strong the next play. Rookie free agent Dominique Curry has great size (6-foot-2, 224 pounds) and stood out at times. But I sense the Rams' fingers are crossed at this position. "If they play to their ability, we'll be OK," general manager Billy Devaney said.
Atogwe dropped multiple interception chances in practice, which is unusual for him. He's among the team's more conscientious players, though. Atogwe stayed after every practice I watched to work on catching passes. He was the last guy out there.
The Rams hoped to get something from linebacker Bobby Carpenter after acquiring him from Dallas in the Alex Barron trade. That's a tough sell at this point. Carpenter isn't working with the starters. The first time I noticed Carpenter in practice was when someone knocked him on his back.
Excerpts:
In fact, if anyone has reason to quiver at this point in camp, it's the defensive backs trying to defend passes they sometimes do not see coming -- as when Bradford laced one between Oshiomogho Atogwe and Craig Dahl before the safeties even turned around. It's not Bradford's accuracy or timing that have caught defensive backs' attention so much as the combination of those all-important quarterback traits. Early indications suggest the Rams could have the best quarterback in the division sooner rather than later.
"You see a lot of greatness in him -- what he brings, his skill set, very talented, very intelligent," Atogwe said.
Several of Bradford's teammates have experience breaking in first-round quarterbacks elsewhere. Brown (Joe Flacco), tight end Billy Bajema (Alex Smith), center Hank Fraley (Brady Quinn), defensive end James Hall (Joey Harrington), defensive tackle Fred Robbins (Eli Manning) and guard Jacob Bell (Vince Young) pointed to Bradford's maturity, intelligence, competitiveness, demeanor and accuracy.
The way they freely praised Bradford suggested genuine excitement, not the obligatory kind.
"I played with Steve McNair [in Tennessee] and with Ben Roethlisberger [at Miami (Ohio)]," Bell said, "and I thought, 'This guy, the way he throws the ball, man, I haven't seen anybody in person like that on the practice field, ever.' "
THREE HOT ISSUES
1. When will Bradford become the starter? It's an upset if Bradford isn't the No. 1 quarterback from the beginning of the regular season even though veteran A.J. Feeley remains the starter for now. Feeley and Bradford are sharing first- and second-team reps in practice. The team doesn't want to rush Bradford, but all signs point to the rookie grasping the offense quickly. The Rams think he's mature enough to handle what figures to be a rough rookie season. Why delay the inevitable if Bradford is looking good?
2. Can this team defend the pass? The Rams appeared to beef up the middle of their defense by adding Robbins, but the NFL is a passing league and the Rams could struggle to get pressure consistently. They have two pass-rushers -- Chris Long and Hall -- and their secondary has battled injuries throughout camp. Long should continue his improvement. Hall's sacks fell off to 4.5 last season as he transitioned from backup to starter. He is 33 years old. Kevin Dockery has exceeded expectations at cornerback, where rookie Jerome Murphy has also shown promise. But with Atogwe still rounding into form following injury, the secondary is a bit of a question mark.
3. What happens if Steven Jackson gets hurt again? The Rams do not have a proven running threat behind Jackson, even though 2009 seventh-round draft pick Chris Ogbonnaya performed well against the Arizona Cardinals late last season. Ogbonnaya might be a good third-down back because he protects the passer well and can catch the ball, but the Rams could be in trouble if they needed a starter to replace Jackson for a few games. Jackson appears fully healthy so far, but he's coming off back surgery. Brian Westbrook's decision to sign with the 49ers hurt, but the Rams saw him mostly as a third-down back at this stage of his career, anyway. Expect the Rams to monitor the waiver wire for running backs as teams reduce to 53 players on Sept. 4.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Danny Amendola. There's enough uncertainty at receiver for this position to qualify under the "Hottest Questions" heading, but Amendola appears to have found a home as the slot receiver in the Rams' personnel groupings with more than two wideouts. Injuries forced Amendola to play multiple positions last season. Camp practices have convinced me -- and the Rams -- that Amendola's quickness can make him a threat. Said Feeley: "He has polished his game. Some of these guys discover themselves after a year of playing and realizing what they can do. The guy is a special player. The guy is going to make plays and have a lot of catches this year ... a poor man's Wes Welker trying to establish himself. He fits that mold right now. The guy is cat quick."
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Offensive line continuity. The way the Rams' line struggled during the exhibition opener against Minnesota was deceiving. Rookie Rodger Saffold was making his first start at left tackle (against Jared Allen, no less). Right tackle Jason Smith had only recently returned from injury and the team knew he might wear down as the game progressed. Brown was filling in at right guard. These mitigating factors point to a broader problem: continuity. Only this week have the Rams gotten their projected starting five linemen on the field together. That must change as the Bradford era gets under way.
OBSERVATION DECK
Multiple fights broke out during a recent Rams practice and that has to be a welcome sign for a team without enforcer types. The Rams have spent the past couple of years putting into place building-block players with apparently solid character. Long, Smith and James Laurinaitis qualify as "safe" draft choices along those lines. The team has now added some veteran seasoning -- think Robbins, Feeley, Na'il Diggs and Fraley -- but there's still something missing. The next step for St. Louis could be to add some players with a few rough edges. The best teams tend to have a few good players teammates fear. The Rams need more of them.
Jackson rehabbed from back surgery with a vengeance and he's looking strong as ever. Jackson also sounds happy. He clearly appreciates coach Steve Spagnuolo's evolving approach to training camp. Spagnuolo polled coaches and players anonymously for ideas after last season. Some complained that a tough 2009 training camp featuring live tackling left the team with weary legs heading into Week 1. Spagnuolo listened, putting limits on some of the contact and giving players more time between practices. Longer term, Spagnuolo wants to reach a point where young players know how to practice without the staff having to manufacture intensity.
Looks like the Rams might find a role in their offense for rookie tight end Fendi Onobun. Considered a project coming out of college, Onobun has shown he's further along than the Rams anticipated. The leaping end-zone grab he made in practice this week wasn't out of the ordinary for Onobun. Rookies often must contribute on special teams to earn spots on the 45-man game-day roster. Onobun made a positive impression as a gunner in the exhibition opener.
Rookie receiver Mardy Gilyard will bring needed swagger if his body holds up. Gilyard has his own style and doesn't seem to worry about what others think. He practices wearing abbreviated gym shorts over bicycle shorts for a distinctive 1980s look. Gilyard has stepped up his production in practice this week. An arm injury remains a potential concern.
Long appears more comfortable with himself and his status on the team. As a rookie and even last season, I sensed Long felt the pressure of being a No. 2 overall draft choice, to the point that he sometimes sounded apologetic about it while finding his way as a pro. Long showed obvious improvement late last season, however, and he appears to be asserting himself more readily. He played a prominent role in recent camp fights and called out Bajema for chipping him unexpectedly.
After last season, the Rams were thinking receiver Brandon Gibson might develop into an important part of their offense. They can't be so sure at this point because Gibson has missed an extended period with a hamstring injury. The Rams need Gibson to get on the field and produce during preseason. The team is cautiously optimistic about some of its prospects at receiver, but injuries were a concern last season. Donnie Avery, who bulked up this offseason to become more durable, took a hard shot in practice and came back strong the next play. Rookie free agent Dominique Curry has great size (6-foot-2, 224 pounds) and stood out at times. But I sense the Rams' fingers are crossed at this position. "If they play to their ability, we'll be OK," general manager Billy Devaney said.
Atogwe dropped multiple interception chances in practice, which is unusual for him. He's among the team's more conscientious players, though. Atogwe stayed after every practice I watched to work on catching passes. He was the last guy out there.
The Rams hoped to get something from linebacker Bobby Carpenter after acquiring him from Dallas in the Alex Barron trade. That's a tough sell at this point. Carpenter isn't working with the starters. The first time I noticed Carpenter in practice was when someone knocked him on his back.
Faust
MVP
Postcard from camp: Steelers
Excerpts:
The Steelers are one of the most compelling teams in football less than a month before the start of the season. Will Ben Roethlisberger reform his life? Will Mike Tomlin choose Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon or some combination to replace Roethlisberger for the four or six weeks he'll be out of action, serving his league suspension? Is Mike Wallace good enough to step into the starting lineup for banished Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes? Can a defense that played -- in Steeler terms -- mortally, allowing 20 or more points nine times last year, right itself? Can Aaron Smith return to Peter King all-decade-defensive-end status after missing 2009 with an injury? (A little self-promotional drama there.) But you get the point. Lots of questions around here this summer.
Troy Polamalu ran around on a fairly non-contact day looking healthy and back to normal after a left knee injury robbed him of the final three months of last season. Without him, as you know, the Steeler D is diminished not only on the back end but also in the rush and intermediate coverage areas. Time will tell. In the 11 games he missed last year, the Steelers allowed an average of 10 more points per game than in the five in which he played.
New Face, New Place
Uh, I know this is the template for the NFL postcard. But allow me to start this section over and call it "The Steeler Alumni Association Strikes Again.'' Among the men in camp who returned to some past glory -- or in a couple of cases, some past irrelevance -- are wide receiver Antwaan Randle El (from the Redskins, via Pittsburgh), quarterback Byron Leftwich (trade with Tampa Bay), cornerback Bryant McFadden (one-year detour to Arizona) and linebacker Larry Foote (Detroit). Say this about the Steelers: If you don't burn your bridge after going out the door of Heinz Field, that door's always going to be open to return.
Rookie Report
Maurkice Pouncey, the first-round center from Florida, is interesting for many reasons, not the least of which is the Steelers believe they didn't draft only a center in April. They think they drafted a center, guard and tackle, a kid who can play all five positions on the line. Can he? It seems preposterous to think a college center could play left tackle?
Tunch Ilkin, the former Steeler offensive lineman and current color man on the radio network, thinks it's possible. Standing on the sidelines and watching practice with Ilkin and his radio partner, Craig Wolfley, I got the feeling they were the co-presidents of the Pouncey Fan Club. "So quick,'' Ilkin said. And watching the workout -- he took some of the first-team snaps while incumbent Justin Hartwig handled the rest -- I could see the excellent lateral movement.
Mike Wallace, the new starter alongside Ward, worked all offseason on being fast in and out of his cuts, and I watched him do some extra work against corners after practice. He was smoking. My track record on fantasy advice is awful (just call me "Danny Wuerffel''), but Wallace is going to have a very big year, if healthy.
**** LeBeau is going to have to find playing time for Ziggy Hood this year. Period. He has wrecked a couple of practices. He could begin to take some playing time from end Brett Keisel, and if Aaron Smith shows signs of age, Hood could spell him too. But he's going to play somewhere.
Upstart camp guy Steelers are trying to find a spot for: wideout/special-teamer Brandon London, late of the Giants and Dolphins. Good hands and, at 6-4 and 210, he's good at going up for the ball and not being denied. Remember, he played multiple snaps in the Dolphins' playoff loss to Baltimore at the receiver position two seasons ago. I know the way Mike Tomlin likes his receivers to be tough and to be able to do more than just catch the ball. This guy is what they wish Limas Sweed had been.
Excerpts:
The Steelers are one of the most compelling teams in football less than a month before the start of the season. Will Ben Roethlisberger reform his life? Will Mike Tomlin choose Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon or some combination to replace Roethlisberger for the four or six weeks he'll be out of action, serving his league suspension? Is Mike Wallace good enough to step into the starting lineup for banished Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes? Can a defense that played -- in Steeler terms -- mortally, allowing 20 or more points nine times last year, right itself? Can Aaron Smith return to Peter King all-decade-defensive-end status after missing 2009 with an injury? (A little self-promotional drama there.) But you get the point. Lots of questions around here this summer.
Troy Polamalu ran around on a fairly non-contact day looking healthy and back to normal after a left knee injury robbed him of the final three months of last season. Without him, as you know, the Steeler D is diminished not only on the back end but also in the rush and intermediate coverage areas. Time will tell. In the 11 games he missed last year, the Steelers allowed an average of 10 more points per game than in the five in which he played.
New Face, New Place
Uh, I know this is the template for the NFL postcard. But allow me to start this section over and call it "The Steeler Alumni Association Strikes Again.'' Among the men in camp who returned to some past glory -- or in a couple of cases, some past irrelevance -- are wide receiver Antwaan Randle El (from the Redskins, via Pittsburgh), quarterback Byron Leftwich (trade with Tampa Bay), cornerback Bryant McFadden (one-year detour to Arizona) and linebacker Larry Foote (Detroit). Say this about the Steelers: If you don't burn your bridge after going out the door of Heinz Field, that door's always going to be open to return.
Rookie Report
Maurkice Pouncey, the first-round center from Florida, is interesting for many reasons, not the least of which is the Steelers believe they didn't draft only a center in April. They think they drafted a center, guard and tackle, a kid who can play all five positions on the line. Can he? It seems preposterous to think a college center could play left tackle?
Tunch Ilkin, the former Steeler offensive lineman and current color man on the radio network, thinks it's possible. Standing on the sidelines and watching practice with Ilkin and his radio partner, Craig Wolfley, I got the feeling they were the co-presidents of the Pouncey Fan Club. "So quick,'' Ilkin said. And watching the workout -- he took some of the first-team snaps while incumbent Justin Hartwig handled the rest -- I could see the excellent lateral movement.
Mike Wallace, the new starter alongside Ward, worked all offseason on being fast in and out of his cuts, and I watched him do some extra work against corners after practice. He was smoking. My track record on fantasy advice is awful (just call me "Danny Wuerffel''), but Wallace is going to have a very big year, if healthy.
**** LeBeau is going to have to find playing time for Ziggy Hood this year. Period. He has wrecked a couple of practices. He could begin to take some playing time from end Brett Keisel, and if Aaron Smith shows signs of age, Hood could spell him too. But he's going to play somewhere.
Upstart camp guy Steelers are trying to find a spot for: wideout/special-teamer Brandon London, late of the Giants and Dolphins. Good hands and, at 6-4 and 210, he's good at going up for the ball and not being denied. Remember, he played multiple snaps in the Dolphins' playoff loss to Baltimore at the receiver position two seasons ago. I know the way Mike Tomlin likes his receivers to be tough and to be able to do more than just catch the ball. This guy is what they wish Limas Sweed had been.
Faust
MVP
Pat Kirwan - Cardinals Camp Report
Excerpts:
OBSERVATION DECK
» The Cardinals have more position battles than most teams, which means the preseason isn't just a time to rehearse, but a time to decide upwards of nine head-to-head competitions for a starting job.
» Arizona made too many mental errors to count in its first preseason game, although veteran safety Adrian Wilson thought it was about 40. Whisenhunt called the performance a joke. The players I talked with were cool with the criticism and plan on fixing the issues this week.
After watching the coach's tape of the game, many of the problems appeared to be up front with the offensive line. Keep your eye on the front five if you want to see if the Cardinals are improving.
ROOKIE REPORT
» First-round DT Dan Williams really gets some push up front and, according to Whisenhunt, can pursue plays from sideline to sideline. He may earn the opportunity to play the nose on run downs so Bryan Robinson is fresh for the pass rush.
» Daryl Washington, a second-round LB, kicked off his NFL career with 13 tackles in his first preseason game. Whisenhunt is pleased with him, but cautions that his tackling has to be better.
» Andre Roberts, a third-round wide receiver, is struggling right now and probably has been passed by undrafted rookie Stephen Williams.
» John Skelton, a fifth-round quarterback, has a long way to go, but according to general manager Rod Graves, he has shined in practice and during the first preseason game. He's a guy worth developing over the next few years.
SURPRISE, SURPRISE
» The Cardinals aren't handing anything to Wells. Tim Hightower is still the No. 1 running back, and Whisenhunt said that while Wells is working hard to earn starting status, he isn't there yet.
» The Cardinals will not change their game plans or play-calling with Kurt Warner retired. Whisenhunt said Leinart has been here for four years, and he will do all the same things.
» Speaking of Leinart, the defense is showing no mercy on him in practice, blitzing just about every play in the team period. Leinart says it makes him sharp, and I agree.
» A number of people thought Ben Patrick would be the starting tight end, but right now Stephen Spach looks like he may win the starting job.
» Perhaps the best two candidates for right guard and right tackle are on the sideline because of weight issues. Hopefully Deuce Lutui and Herman Johnson get their weight under control and strengthen this Cardinals line.
"If they get in shape, they get a chance to play," Whisenhunt said.
EXTRA POINTS
» Don't be surprised if the Cardinals' front three on defense (Calais Campbell, Bryan Robinson and Darnell Dockett) produce close to 20 sacks this year.
» The Cardinals looked pretty good in "22 personnel" (two running backs, two tight ends, one wide receiver). Larry Fitzgerald will still draw double coverage, and that leaves the Cardinals running game in very good shape. With Alan Faneca at left guard, we could see a lot of power runs to the right side as Faneca pulls to that side as a lead blocker.
Excerpts:
OBSERVATION DECK
» The Cardinals have more position battles than most teams, which means the preseason isn't just a time to rehearse, but a time to decide upwards of nine head-to-head competitions for a starting job.
» Arizona made too many mental errors to count in its first preseason game, although veteran safety Adrian Wilson thought it was about 40. Whisenhunt called the performance a joke. The players I talked with were cool with the criticism and plan on fixing the issues this week.
After watching the coach's tape of the game, many of the problems appeared to be up front with the offensive line. Keep your eye on the front five if you want to see if the Cardinals are improving.
ROOKIE REPORT
» First-round DT Dan Williams really gets some push up front and, according to Whisenhunt, can pursue plays from sideline to sideline. He may earn the opportunity to play the nose on run downs so Bryan Robinson is fresh for the pass rush.
» Daryl Washington, a second-round LB, kicked off his NFL career with 13 tackles in his first preseason game. Whisenhunt is pleased with him, but cautions that his tackling has to be better.
» Andre Roberts, a third-round wide receiver, is struggling right now and probably has been passed by undrafted rookie Stephen Williams.
» John Skelton, a fifth-round quarterback, has a long way to go, but according to general manager Rod Graves, he has shined in practice and during the first preseason game. He's a guy worth developing over the next few years.
SURPRISE, SURPRISE
» The Cardinals aren't handing anything to Wells. Tim Hightower is still the No. 1 running back, and Whisenhunt said that while Wells is working hard to earn starting status, he isn't there yet.
» The Cardinals will not change their game plans or play-calling with Kurt Warner retired. Whisenhunt said Leinart has been here for four years, and he will do all the same things.
» Speaking of Leinart, the defense is showing no mercy on him in practice, blitzing just about every play in the team period. Leinart says it makes him sharp, and I agree.
» A number of people thought Ben Patrick would be the starting tight end, but right now Stephen Spach looks like he may win the starting job.
» Perhaps the best two candidates for right guard and right tackle are on the sideline because of weight issues. Hopefully Deuce Lutui and Herman Johnson get their weight under control and strengthen this Cardinals line.
"If they get in shape, they get a chance to play," Whisenhunt said.
EXTRA POINTS
» Don't be surprised if the Cardinals' front three on defense (Calais Campbell, Bryan Robinson and Darnell Dockett) produce close to 20 sacks this year.
» The Cardinals looked pretty good in "22 personnel" (two running backs, two tight ends, one wide receiver). Larry Fitzgerald will still draw double coverage, and that leaves the Cardinals running game in very good shape. With Alan Faneca at left guard, we could see a lot of power runs to the right side as Faneca pulls to that side as a lead blocker.
Faust
MVP
Vic Carucci - Rams Camp Report
Excerpts:
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- You don't question Sam Bradford's quarterbacking presence. At 6-foot-4 and 228 pounds, he's built like a classic pocket passer.
You don't question the strength of his arm, either. Or his ability to find an open receiver. Or the laser-like precision with which he throws the ball. You don't question his intelligence or his toughness.
What you do question is how well Bradford is going to hold up in his first year with the St. Louis Rams.
You think about that shoulder surgery that shortened his final season at Oklahoma. You think about the shoddy pass protection he's getting from the Rams' offensive line. And you think about the fact he's a rookie who still has a long way to go when it comes to knowing how to protect himself from the dangers that complex NFL defenses can pose to even the most experienced of quarterbacks.
There seems no doubt, however, that he is going to have the No. 1 job when the season begins. In fact, Bradford took a huge step toward assuring that would be the case by his handling of the punishment he took in the Rams' 28-7 loss to Minnesota. After every violent encounter with the guys in the purple helmets, Bradford got up, dusted himself off, and was ready for the next play. That was the good news.
The bad news, as Spagnuolo pointed out, is that the Rams have "got some work to do on the offensive line," which had a miscommunication on two of the sacks and a player who was flat-out beaten on a third. Bradford has some work ahead as well. He held the ball too long on one of the sacks and later acknowledged that "the speed definitely picked up, even more so than it does in practice."
The last time Bradford was exposed to contact was October, when he suffered an injury to his right (throwing) shoulder for the second time in his senior season and later underwent reconstructive surgery.
Bradford also has done his part to improve his chances of withstanding the blows. He worked hard in the offseason to improve his upper-body strength, adding some much-needed bulk and muscle.
Bradford also can rely on surprisingly good mobility for his lanky frame.
OBSERVATION DECK
» The Rams have a whole lot to repair from last year's 1-15 disaster. Even if Bradford is everything they hoped he would be at quarterback, they still need help in many other areas. Perhaps the biggest is their pass rush. "You need pass rushers in this league," Spagnuolo said, making it clear that the Rams still appear to be lacking in that department. "If you can't put pressure on the quarterback with a four-man rush, usually it's tough on the defense."
» The Rams are looking to add an experienced wide receiver at some point. Keep an eye on Patrick Crayton, who still appears to be the odd man out in Dallas.
» After an injury shortened rookie season in 2009 and limited work in camp due to a broken toe on his right foot, the Rams essentially view offensive tackle Jason Smith as a rookie. "You've just got to make sure that you're focused in on being as patient as you can be with yourself and then staying in tune with what's going on with the team, and making sure that everything you're doing is geared toward helping the team, whether you can be on the field or not," Smith said.
The addition of second-round draft pick Rodger Saffold has prompted Smith to move from left to right tackle. Smith says he's happy there, simply because it gives him "an opportunity to be on the field."
» At the end of last year's camp, his first as a head coach, Spagnuolo asked his players and assistant coaches to offer suggestions on how to make it better. He received plenty, and has implemented some this summer. "Some of it came back that we were a little leg tired coming out of training camp," Spagnuolo said. Consequently, he adjusted the practice format from a stretch of two-a-day practices to "2-1-2," meaning a day of double sessions, followed by a single-session day, followed by another day of double sessions, and so forth. Also, on the double-session day he moved the second session to later in the day so the players had more time to recover.
» Cornerback Ron Bartell on Spagnuolo entering his second season as a head coach: "I think coach has a better sense of when to push and when to pull back. Last year was a lot of push, push, push. It was a new staff, new guys. He really didn't know the pulse of the team like he does now. He's been right on time (this summer). He knows when to get under our skin, be a little tough on us, but he also knows how to take care of us. He's cut practices sometimes, given us a lot of rest, and even took us to a movie. I think we'll be a lot fresher."
» Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis seems as if he should be entering his 10th NFL season, not his second.
He carries himself with far greater maturity and focus than one would expect from a 23-year-old. Laurinaitis quickly established himself as one of the primary leaders of the defense as a rookie.
"We talk all the time, and we talked at length during the offseason about how he should be the leader of the defense," said Bartell, who is entering his sixth season. "He's such a smart, knowledgeable guy. He's the quintessential middle linebacker. He's tough as nails. He gets everybody lined up. He's a natural leader, and he's a good football player. He's still young; he has a long way to go. But right now, I think he's ahead of the learning curve."
Although he was bitterly disappointed about being drafted in the second round rather than the first, the former Ohio State star has not allowed that to be a distraction ... another obvious sign of maturity.
"You can't control who's going here and there and everything," he said. "You can only control, when you get to a team, how do you respond? It's the first time that I've had a defensive coach as a head coach, so I was excited to work under this defense that I'd heard a lot about and watched when (Spagnuolo) was in New York (as the Giants' defensive coordinator). To be a part of a first draft class of a head coach, that's really his building block. I looked at it as more of a blessing and an opportunity to come in and really turn a team and an organization around."
SURPRISE, SURPRISE
» Besides Saffold, the other rookie getting a great deal of attention this summer is tight end Fendi Onobun, a sixth-round draft pick from Houston. He played basketball for four seasons at Arizona before switching to football at Houston last fall while working on his master's degree.
Rams general manager Billy Devaney said the 6-6, 249-pound Onobun has exceeded the Rams' expectations.
"We thought, 'This is going to be a real project,'" Devaney said. "He's a lot closer to being a player than we expected. He's got really good hands and it's freaky how a guy that size can run. And he's been a tough guy. He's been sensational. Believe me, he's still raw in a lot of areas, but he's much further along than we anticipated."
ROOKIE REPORT
» Saffold is being counted on to make a major impact on an offensive line that needs it. "What I'm trying to do is bring athleticism to the line, and hopefully being able to play that left tackle position and be able to hold it down for a few years," Saffold said. "It definitely is a slow process. The season is very, very long, but I'm hoping that I can really put in a good amount of things for this offensive line throughout the season and continue to learn more, just being more comfortable within the line."
» Defensive end George Selvie, a seventh-round pick from South Florida, has been a pleasant surprise. He suffered a lower-leg injury in practice Tuesday, but seems as if he'll be fine. Selvie has made an impact with his pass-rush skills, and is also a force in kick coverage.
» Safety Darian Stewart, an undrafted free agent from South Carolina, has turned some heads with his performance.
» Running back Keith Toston, another undrafted free agent, shows some good burst. The Rams hope to give him some action in Saturday night's preseason game against Cleveland.
Excerpts:
EARTH CITY, Mo. -- You don't question Sam Bradford's quarterbacking presence. At 6-foot-4 and 228 pounds, he's built like a classic pocket passer.
You don't question the strength of his arm, either. Or his ability to find an open receiver. Or the laser-like precision with which he throws the ball. You don't question his intelligence or his toughness.
What you do question is how well Bradford is going to hold up in his first year with the St. Louis Rams.
You think about that shoulder surgery that shortened his final season at Oklahoma. You think about the shoddy pass protection he's getting from the Rams' offensive line. And you think about the fact he's a rookie who still has a long way to go when it comes to knowing how to protect himself from the dangers that complex NFL defenses can pose to even the most experienced of quarterbacks.
There seems no doubt, however, that he is going to have the No. 1 job when the season begins. In fact, Bradford took a huge step toward assuring that would be the case by his handling of the punishment he took in the Rams' 28-7 loss to Minnesota. After every violent encounter with the guys in the purple helmets, Bradford got up, dusted himself off, and was ready for the next play. That was the good news.
The bad news, as Spagnuolo pointed out, is that the Rams have "got some work to do on the offensive line," which had a miscommunication on two of the sacks and a player who was flat-out beaten on a third. Bradford has some work ahead as well. He held the ball too long on one of the sacks and later acknowledged that "the speed definitely picked up, even more so than it does in practice."
The last time Bradford was exposed to contact was October, when he suffered an injury to his right (throwing) shoulder for the second time in his senior season and later underwent reconstructive surgery.
Bradford also has done his part to improve his chances of withstanding the blows. He worked hard in the offseason to improve his upper-body strength, adding some much-needed bulk and muscle.
Bradford also can rely on surprisingly good mobility for his lanky frame.
OBSERVATION DECK
» The Rams have a whole lot to repair from last year's 1-15 disaster. Even if Bradford is everything they hoped he would be at quarterback, they still need help in many other areas. Perhaps the biggest is their pass rush. "You need pass rushers in this league," Spagnuolo said, making it clear that the Rams still appear to be lacking in that department. "If you can't put pressure on the quarterback with a four-man rush, usually it's tough on the defense."
» The Rams are looking to add an experienced wide receiver at some point. Keep an eye on Patrick Crayton, who still appears to be the odd man out in Dallas.
» After an injury shortened rookie season in 2009 and limited work in camp due to a broken toe on his right foot, the Rams essentially view offensive tackle Jason Smith as a rookie. "You've just got to make sure that you're focused in on being as patient as you can be with yourself and then staying in tune with what's going on with the team, and making sure that everything you're doing is geared toward helping the team, whether you can be on the field or not," Smith said.
The addition of second-round draft pick Rodger Saffold has prompted Smith to move from left to right tackle. Smith says he's happy there, simply because it gives him "an opportunity to be on the field."
» At the end of last year's camp, his first as a head coach, Spagnuolo asked his players and assistant coaches to offer suggestions on how to make it better. He received plenty, and has implemented some this summer. "Some of it came back that we were a little leg tired coming out of training camp," Spagnuolo said. Consequently, he adjusted the practice format from a stretch of two-a-day practices to "2-1-2," meaning a day of double sessions, followed by a single-session day, followed by another day of double sessions, and so forth. Also, on the double-session day he moved the second session to later in the day so the players had more time to recover.
» Cornerback Ron Bartell on Spagnuolo entering his second season as a head coach: "I think coach has a better sense of when to push and when to pull back. Last year was a lot of push, push, push. It was a new staff, new guys. He really didn't know the pulse of the team like he does now. He's been right on time (this summer). He knows when to get under our skin, be a little tough on us, but he also knows how to take care of us. He's cut practices sometimes, given us a lot of rest, and even took us to a movie. I think we'll be a lot fresher."
» Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis seems as if he should be entering his 10th NFL season, not his second.
He carries himself with far greater maturity and focus than one would expect from a 23-year-old. Laurinaitis quickly established himself as one of the primary leaders of the defense as a rookie.
"We talk all the time, and we talked at length during the offseason about how he should be the leader of the defense," said Bartell, who is entering his sixth season. "He's such a smart, knowledgeable guy. He's the quintessential middle linebacker. He's tough as nails. He gets everybody lined up. He's a natural leader, and he's a good football player. He's still young; he has a long way to go. But right now, I think he's ahead of the learning curve."
Although he was bitterly disappointed about being drafted in the second round rather than the first, the former Ohio State star has not allowed that to be a distraction ... another obvious sign of maturity.
"You can't control who's going here and there and everything," he said. "You can only control, when you get to a team, how do you respond? It's the first time that I've had a defensive coach as a head coach, so I was excited to work under this defense that I'd heard a lot about and watched when (Spagnuolo) was in New York (as the Giants' defensive coordinator). To be a part of a first draft class of a head coach, that's really his building block. I looked at it as more of a blessing and an opportunity to come in and really turn a team and an organization around."
SURPRISE, SURPRISE
» Besides Saffold, the other rookie getting a great deal of attention this summer is tight end Fendi Onobun, a sixth-round draft pick from Houston. He played basketball for four seasons at Arizona before switching to football at Houston last fall while working on his master's degree.
Rams general manager Billy Devaney said the 6-6, 249-pound Onobun has exceeded the Rams' expectations.
"We thought, 'This is going to be a real project,'" Devaney said. "He's a lot closer to being a player than we expected. He's got really good hands and it's freaky how a guy that size can run. And he's been a tough guy. He's been sensational. Believe me, he's still raw in a lot of areas, but he's much further along than we anticipated."
ROOKIE REPORT
» Saffold is being counted on to make a major impact on an offensive line that needs it. "What I'm trying to do is bring athleticism to the line, and hopefully being able to play that left tackle position and be able to hold it down for a few years," Saffold said. "It definitely is a slow process. The season is very, very long, but I'm hoping that I can really put in a good amount of things for this offensive line throughout the season and continue to learn more, just being more comfortable within the line."
» Defensive end George Selvie, a seventh-round pick from South Florida, has been a pleasant surprise. He suffered a lower-leg injury in practice Tuesday, but seems as if he'll be fine. Selvie has made an impact with his pass-rush skills, and is also a force in kick coverage.
» Safety Darian Stewart, an undrafted free agent from South Carolina, has turned some heads with his performance.
» Running back Keith Toston, another undrafted free agent, shows some good burst. The Rams hope to give him some action in Saturday night's preseason game against Cleveland.
identikit
Footballguy
Camp Confidential: Houston Texans
August, 21, 2010
By Paul Kuharsky
ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 14
For three years, they’ve been picked as a breakout team. In those three years, the Houston Texans went 25-23 with zero playoff appearances.
Camp Confidential: AFC South
So why are the 2010 Texans going to be different? Why do they deserve that sort of faith yet again? What’s changed when the personnel alterations have been pretty minor?
“What’s different? Experience, togetherness,” Amobi Okoye said. “I feel like by the time we will kick off, we will have the full definition of team. If there was a meter of T-E-A-M, we are right at the halfway of M… By the time the season starts, we’re going to completely spell TEAM.”
Said Bernard Pollard, the feisty safety who didn’t arrive until a few games into last season: “We have so much more team chemistry. We know and understand what we are good at. We know and understand that we can’t step out of the box and have to play our game. We’re turning that corner.”
To finally get to the postseason, the Texans have to play more complete games. They have to play better in the red zone. Perhaps above all else, they have to play better in the AFC South, where they were just 1-5 last season.
Catching the Colts is a tall task. The Texans aspire to do it, but they also know there is a route to the playoffs without a division crown. They just have to drive it more smoothly.
Three Hot Issues
Can the pass rush pick it up?
Connor Barwin should be opposite Williams on clear rush downs, and he might be the most improved player on defense. Inside, there are now alternatives to Okoye, who might just not be a good pass pressure guy. Rookie Earl Mitchell could wind up part of the nickel package along with Antonio Smith, who will shift inside to make room for Barwin.
Will the run game do its part?
Everyone is encouraged about the run game, but what’s changed? Second-round pick Ben Tate is lost with an injury. Guard Wade Smith was the only significant addition to the line, where interior issues were a big part of the problems. Offensive coordinator Rick Dennison is from the same school as predecessor Kyle Shanahan, and line coach John Benton learned under the departed Alex Gibbs.
“We have to get better running the football,” Andre Johnson said. “That helps win games, especially in the fourth quarter when you’re up and you want to kill the time, you have to go on those four-minute drives where you have to get those big fourth downs. We have to get better in that part of our offense.”
They are largely counting on young guys getting better, which begs the question: What if they don’t?
Are the supplementary pieces good enough?
Pollard and Eric Winston certainly fit the bill. Antonio Smith, Kevin Walter and Zac Diles might. That next level of player might be where this team is a little short, and it’s those kinds of guys who might well be the key to transforming a good team into a very good team.
And so we’re watching the likes of Quin, Barwin, Joel Dreessen, James Casey, Jacoby Jones and the offensive line beyond Winston, because they might wind up telling the story.
Biggest surprise: The Texans figured one of three veteran linebackers would be in the lineup during Cushing’s four-game suspension. But a combination of injuries and ineffectiveness has put Xavier Adibi, Danny Clark and Kevin Bentley on the backburner, since rookie Darryl Sharpton's been such a consistent playmaker. He might be short, but he packs a good punch.
Biggest disappointment: As the Texans search for the right combination of running backs to help balance their offense, second-round pick Tate figured to be a key piece. But he was lost for the season with a serious ankle/leg injury in the preseason opener. That puts the load on Arian Foster, Steve Slaton and either Jeremiah Johnson, Chris Henry or a back not yet on the team.
Observation deck:
* The Texans are regarded by some as a finesse team, but the defense is emphasizing physicality. Cushing, Pollard, Smith, Jackson, Quin and Mitchell have all joined the team in the past two years and are physical players.
* Expect Foster to get first crack at the carries closest to the goal line as the Texans really concentrate on running better at close range. Johnson definitely could be heard from in the running game, too -- he might be the best fit for the one-cut and go zone scheme Houston uses.
* If Kris Brown and Neil Rackers continue to be virtually even in the kicker competition, it makes sense for the team to go with Rackers. Sometimes guys just need a change of scenery. If Brown stays and fails on a crucial long field goal on opening day against the Colts, the thinking will be, “Why didn’t they make a change?” If Rackers does the same thing, I’ll think, “At least they tried someone different.”
* Houston’s defensive tackles are quick, up-the-field types. But they’d sure love if their one, big space-eater, Frank Okam, forced his way into action.
* The Texans want to get the ball in the hands of Jones since he averaged 16.2 yards a catch on his 27 receptions. But I am not so sure that means he’s going to nudge ahead of Walter for the No. 2 receiver job. Walter is smart and super reliable, and reliable is awfully important. Jones might displace Walter or get a share of snaps in two-wide formations, but look for Jones most in a heavy dose of three-wide formations.
* "Troy Nolan might be a credible alternative to Eugene Wilson at free safety if Wilson gets hurt again. I’ve been critical of the team for not adding to the spot, but Nolan missed his rookie season with an injury and appears to be a high-caliber special teamer.
* Daniels’ speed is a big part of what helped set him apart. When he returns soon from another ACL reconstruction, will he still have it in the same way? That’s’ the big question with him.
* The offensive line is set with Duane Brown at left tackle, Chris Myers at center and Winston at right tackle. Guard jobs remain up for grabs. It seems to me that Wade Smith, a free agent acquisition tailored to the system, and Antoine Caldwell, a third-rounder from 2009, would make the most sense.
* It sounds less likely that Trindon Holliday has to be a serviceable receiver to make the team than it did during OTAs. If he convinces the team he can be a consistently special return guy, he’ll stick. He looked good to me when the Texans worked with the Saints.
August, 21, 2010
By Paul Kuharsky
ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 14
For three years, they’ve been picked as a breakout team. In those three years, the Houston Texans went 25-23 with zero playoff appearances.
Camp Confidential: AFC South
So why are the 2010 Texans going to be different? Why do they deserve that sort of faith yet again? What’s changed when the personnel alterations have been pretty minor?
“What’s different? Experience, togetherness,” Amobi Okoye said. “I feel like by the time we will kick off, we will have the full definition of team. If there was a meter of T-E-A-M, we are right at the halfway of M… By the time the season starts, we’re going to completely spell TEAM.”
Said Bernard Pollard, the feisty safety who didn’t arrive until a few games into last season: “We have so much more team chemistry. We know and understand what we are good at. We know and understand that we can’t step out of the box and have to play our game. We’re turning that corner.”
To finally get to the postseason, the Texans have to play more complete games. They have to play better in the red zone. Perhaps above all else, they have to play better in the AFC South, where they were just 1-5 last season.
Catching the Colts is a tall task. The Texans aspire to do it, but they also know there is a route to the playoffs without a division crown. They just have to drive it more smoothly.
Three Hot Issues
Can the pass rush pick it up?
Connor Barwin should be opposite Williams on clear rush downs, and he might be the most improved player on defense. Inside, there are now alternatives to Okoye, who might just not be a good pass pressure guy. Rookie Earl Mitchell could wind up part of the nickel package along with Antonio Smith, who will shift inside to make room for Barwin.
Will the run game do its part?
Everyone is encouraged about the run game, but what’s changed? Second-round pick Ben Tate is lost with an injury. Guard Wade Smith was the only significant addition to the line, where interior issues were a big part of the problems. Offensive coordinator Rick Dennison is from the same school as predecessor Kyle Shanahan, and line coach John Benton learned under the departed Alex Gibbs.
“We have to get better running the football,” Andre Johnson said. “That helps win games, especially in the fourth quarter when you’re up and you want to kill the time, you have to go on those four-minute drives where you have to get those big fourth downs. We have to get better in that part of our offense.”
They are largely counting on young guys getting better, which begs the question: What if they don’t?
Are the supplementary pieces good enough?
Pollard and Eric Winston certainly fit the bill. Antonio Smith, Kevin Walter and Zac Diles might. That next level of player might be where this team is a little short, and it’s those kinds of guys who might well be the key to transforming a good team into a very good team.
And so we’re watching the likes of Quin, Barwin, Joel Dreessen, James Casey, Jacoby Jones and the offensive line beyond Winston, because they might wind up telling the story.
Biggest surprise: The Texans figured one of three veteran linebackers would be in the lineup during Cushing’s four-game suspension. But a combination of injuries and ineffectiveness has put Xavier Adibi, Danny Clark and Kevin Bentley on the backburner, since rookie Darryl Sharpton's been such a consistent playmaker. He might be short, but he packs a good punch.
Biggest disappointment: As the Texans search for the right combination of running backs to help balance their offense, second-round pick Tate figured to be a key piece. But he was lost for the season with a serious ankle/leg injury in the preseason opener. That puts the load on Arian Foster, Steve Slaton and either Jeremiah Johnson, Chris Henry or a back not yet on the team.
Observation deck:
* The Texans are regarded by some as a finesse team, but the defense is emphasizing physicality. Cushing, Pollard, Smith, Jackson, Quin and Mitchell have all joined the team in the past two years and are physical players.
* Expect Foster to get first crack at the carries closest to the goal line as the Texans really concentrate on running better at close range. Johnson definitely could be heard from in the running game, too -- he might be the best fit for the one-cut and go zone scheme Houston uses.
* If Kris Brown and Neil Rackers continue to be virtually even in the kicker competition, it makes sense for the team to go with Rackers. Sometimes guys just need a change of scenery. If Brown stays and fails on a crucial long field goal on opening day against the Colts, the thinking will be, “Why didn’t they make a change?” If Rackers does the same thing, I’ll think, “At least they tried someone different.”
* Houston’s defensive tackles are quick, up-the-field types. But they’d sure love if their one, big space-eater, Frank Okam, forced his way into action.
* The Texans want to get the ball in the hands of Jones since he averaged 16.2 yards a catch on his 27 receptions. But I am not so sure that means he’s going to nudge ahead of Walter for the No. 2 receiver job. Walter is smart and super reliable, and reliable is awfully important. Jones might displace Walter or get a share of snaps in two-wide formations, but look for Jones most in a heavy dose of three-wide formations.
* "Troy Nolan might be a credible alternative to Eugene Wilson at free safety if Wilson gets hurt again. I’ve been critical of the team for not adding to the spot, but Nolan missed his rookie season with an injury and appears to be a high-caliber special teamer.
* Daniels’ speed is a big part of what helped set him apart. When he returns soon from another ACL reconstruction, will he still have it in the same way? That’s’ the big question with him.
* The offensive line is set with Duane Brown at left tackle, Chris Myers at center and Winston at right tackle. Guard jobs remain up for grabs. It seems to me that Wade Smith, a free agent acquisition tailored to the system, and Antoine Caldwell, a third-rounder from 2009, would make the most sense.
* It sounds less likely that Trindon Holliday has to be a serviceable receiver to make the team than it did during OTAs. If he convinces the team he can be a consistently special return guy, he’ll stick. He looked good to me when the Texans worked with the Saints.
Faust
MVP
Camp Confidential: Tennessee Titans
Excerpts:
THREE HOT ISSUES
Will there be sufficient leadership?
Even if Kyle Vanden Bosch, Keith Bulluck, Alge Crumpler and Kevin Mawae were all starting to tail off and even if the Titans feel they have an upgrade over each, that is still as big a loss of collective leadership in one offseason as I can recall. The people in place to lead now -- guys like safety Chris Hope and fullback Ahmard Hall -- have to maintain, or increase, their level of production to attain and maintain the credibility that batch had.
Linebacker Will Witherspoon was the biggest veteran addition, and he looks to be a top candidate to take on a leadership mantle. But as a newcomer he’s got to figure out how to fit himself smoothly into the mix.
“With me it’s more about deciphering how to approach individuals,” Witherspoon said. “…Those are the kind of things you have to figure out. You look at the stages of leadership and different types of leadership. I’m not the guy who’s a loudmouth, getting down a guy’s throat.
“But I will, if I feel like I need to, take a guy aside and say look, ‘Here’s what I see, here’s what going on and here’s how people feel about it. Here’s what I can tell you is going to change it or you’re just going to end up with a real problem.’”
Vince Young needs to play a solid 16 games.
He’s got the league’s most explosive back behind him, an excellent offensive line protecting him and the franchise’s best crop of wide receivers in some time. Things are set up for Young to succeed as the team’s starting quarterback.
The Titans need to know they can count on him to bounce back from play-to-play, series-to-series, day-to-day and week-to-week. They need improved accountability, accuracy and consistency. They need for him not to provide reasons for fans to debate whether Rusty Smith is actually the team’s quarterback of the future.
There are more questions on defense, and the Titans need to do some scoring to allow for the sort of mistakes some of the young defenders are bound to make, especially early on.
Can the pass rush and secondary improve?
The pass rush was insufficient and the secondary failed to hold up when it needed to last. Fisher said the back end needs to be better on play-action but that the regular rush against drop back passes should be improved with a deep crop of defensive linemen.
“If we can get back to where we were with the guys rushing up front in the rotation, they’ll be fine,” Fisher said. “The play-action pass, that’s got to get done by the secondary. You don’t get as quick pressure on the quarterback in the play-action pass. We gave up too many plays in the play-action passing game last year. That’s going to require better play from the linebackers and the secondary.
“On drop backs we should really be able to do some more things.”
They don’t have clear-cut guys as the primary rushers or for the No. 2 corner spot. But they have the next best thing in what appear to be a deep pool of young options.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Harris and Stevens: Offensive lineman Leroy Harris and tight end Craig Stevens might prove more effective than Mawae and Crumpler, the two guys they are replacing. Harris is actually at left guard, with Eugene Amano sliding inside to center. Stevens doesn’t have Crumpler’s girth but can fend off a would-be tackler and/or slip out into a route so long as concussion issues don’t surface again.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Morgan out: First-round pick Derrick Morgan has been sidelined for camp with a calf injury. The defensive end has missed so much installation and work it will be tough for him to contribute. The Titans have to hope some combination of William Hayes (once he’s healthy), Jacob Ford, Jason Babin, Dave Ball and Raheem Brock can effectively rush off the edge from the start.
OBSERVATION DECK
Offensive line coach Mike Munchak consistently develops talent, but the Titans have virtually no experience behind their starting offensive line. Mike Otto could be sufficient as the backup swing tackle, but they could look for a veteran interior swing guy after cuts.
Lavelle Hawkins has gotten great reviews and is more of a traditional slot receiver than Justin Gage. It’ll be great for the team if Hawkins provides an option inside, but I’ll wait until he’s deployed in a meaningful game before buying the hype.
Babin is a new reclamation project for defensive line coach Jim Washburn. He’s suited for the team’s go-get-the-quarterback mentality and in practice, and in the first preseason game, appeared to be getting off the ball with excellent speed.
Jared Cook is only now starting to flash and create the buzz he generated at this time a year ago. The second-year tight end is a physical specimen and an attractive target, but word is he’s not as reliable as he should be. One thing that can hurt his cause: Stevens, while nowhere near Cook as an explosive threat, has been catching the ball well.
Dowell Loggains was promoted to quarterbacks coach when Fisher shuffled his staff a bit with the late departure of running back coach Kennedy Pola. Loggains has used some creative new methods to keep things fresh for his guys. It seems small but can make a big difference.
Ryan Mouton is not on par with the more consistent Jason McCourty or the more instinctive rookie Alterraun Verner among the cornerbacks vying for the No. 2 spot. I expect McCourty to start opposite Cortland Finnegan with Verner backing up the effective, but oft-injured, Vincent Fuller at nickelback. Verner’s ability to find a pick almost every day is one of the big stories of camp.
Sen’Derrick Marks is significantly stronger than he was as a rookie and could be an influential player for a defensive line that’s expected to be much more productive.
The Titans saw young defensive coordinators Gregg Williams and Jim Schwartz reach new comfort levels in their second seasons. Chuck Cecil expects to follow a similar course. Cecil knows that if he doesn’t, he’ll face another season of uncomfortable questions.
Excerpts:
THREE HOT ISSUES
Will there be sufficient leadership?
Even if Kyle Vanden Bosch, Keith Bulluck, Alge Crumpler and Kevin Mawae were all starting to tail off and even if the Titans feel they have an upgrade over each, that is still as big a loss of collective leadership in one offseason as I can recall. The people in place to lead now -- guys like safety Chris Hope and fullback Ahmard Hall -- have to maintain, or increase, their level of production to attain and maintain the credibility that batch had.
Linebacker Will Witherspoon was the biggest veteran addition, and he looks to be a top candidate to take on a leadership mantle. But as a newcomer he’s got to figure out how to fit himself smoothly into the mix.
“With me it’s more about deciphering how to approach individuals,” Witherspoon said. “…Those are the kind of things you have to figure out. You look at the stages of leadership and different types of leadership. I’m not the guy who’s a loudmouth, getting down a guy’s throat.
“But I will, if I feel like I need to, take a guy aside and say look, ‘Here’s what I see, here’s what going on and here’s how people feel about it. Here’s what I can tell you is going to change it or you’re just going to end up with a real problem.’”
Vince Young needs to play a solid 16 games.
He’s got the league’s most explosive back behind him, an excellent offensive line protecting him and the franchise’s best crop of wide receivers in some time. Things are set up for Young to succeed as the team’s starting quarterback.
The Titans need to know they can count on him to bounce back from play-to-play, series-to-series, day-to-day and week-to-week. They need improved accountability, accuracy and consistency. They need for him not to provide reasons for fans to debate whether Rusty Smith is actually the team’s quarterback of the future.
There are more questions on defense, and the Titans need to do some scoring to allow for the sort of mistakes some of the young defenders are bound to make, especially early on.
Can the pass rush and secondary improve?
The pass rush was insufficient and the secondary failed to hold up when it needed to last. Fisher said the back end needs to be better on play-action but that the regular rush against drop back passes should be improved with a deep crop of defensive linemen.
“If we can get back to where we were with the guys rushing up front in the rotation, they’ll be fine,” Fisher said. “The play-action pass, that’s got to get done by the secondary. You don’t get as quick pressure on the quarterback in the play-action pass. We gave up too many plays in the play-action passing game last year. That’s going to require better play from the linebackers and the secondary.
“On drop backs we should really be able to do some more things.”
They don’t have clear-cut guys as the primary rushers or for the No. 2 corner spot. But they have the next best thing in what appear to be a deep pool of young options.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
Harris and Stevens: Offensive lineman Leroy Harris and tight end Craig Stevens might prove more effective than Mawae and Crumpler, the two guys they are replacing. Harris is actually at left guard, with Eugene Amano sliding inside to center. Stevens doesn’t have Crumpler’s girth but can fend off a would-be tackler and/or slip out into a route so long as concussion issues don’t surface again.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Morgan out: First-round pick Derrick Morgan has been sidelined for camp with a calf injury. The defensive end has missed so much installation and work it will be tough for him to contribute. The Titans have to hope some combination of William Hayes (once he’s healthy), Jacob Ford, Jason Babin, Dave Ball and Raheem Brock can effectively rush off the edge from the start.
OBSERVATION DECK
Offensive line coach Mike Munchak consistently develops talent, but the Titans have virtually no experience behind their starting offensive line. Mike Otto could be sufficient as the backup swing tackle, but they could look for a veteran interior swing guy after cuts.
Lavelle Hawkins has gotten great reviews and is more of a traditional slot receiver than Justin Gage. It’ll be great for the team if Hawkins provides an option inside, but I’ll wait until he’s deployed in a meaningful game before buying the hype.
Babin is a new reclamation project for defensive line coach Jim Washburn. He’s suited for the team’s go-get-the-quarterback mentality and in practice, and in the first preseason game, appeared to be getting off the ball with excellent speed.
Jared Cook is only now starting to flash and create the buzz he generated at this time a year ago. The second-year tight end is a physical specimen and an attractive target, but word is he’s not as reliable as he should be. One thing that can hurt his cause: Stevens, while nowhere near Cook as an explosive threat, has been catching the ball well.
Dowell Loggains was promoted to quarterbacks coach when Fisher shuffled his staff a bit with the late departure of running back coach Kennedy Pola. Loggains has used some creative new methods to keep things fresh for his guys. It seems small but can make a big difference.
Ryan Mouton is not on par with the more consistent Jason McCourty or the more instinctive rookie Alterraun Verner among the cornerbacks vying for the No. 2 spot. I expect McCourty to start opposite Cortland Finnegan with Verner backing up the effective, but oft-injured, Vincent Fuller at nickelback. Verner’s ability to find a pick almost every day is one of the big stories of camp.
Sen’Derrick Marks is significantly stronger than he was as a rookie and could be an influential player for a defensive line that’s expected to be much more productive.
The Titans saw young defensive coordinators Gregg Williams and Jim Schwartz reach new comfort levels in their second seasons. Chuck Cecil expects to follow a similar course. Cecil knows that if he doesn’t, he’ll face another season of uncomfortable questions.
Faust
MVP
AFC North preseason recap
By James Walker
Three AFC North teams played their second preseason game Saturday night.
Here are some thoughts and observations:
Pittsburgh Steelers 24, New York Giants 17
The Good
* The quarterback play was solid across the board for Pittsburgh. Ben Roethlisberger made his 2010 debut and completed 6 of 8 passes for 76 yards and one interception with the first-team offense. His interception was thrown short on a deep pass intended for receiver Mike Wallace, which was Roethlisberger’s only poor pass of the night. Byron Leftwich had his best preseason game, throwing for 95 yards and a touchdown. His 68-yard bomb to Wallace in the second quarter was the highlight of the game for Pittsburgh. Dennis Dixon continued his sharp preseason by completing 7-of-8 passes for 82 yards. Dixon also added 27 yards rushing, as he pushes for more opportunities with the first team.
* Reserve tailback Isaac Redman continues to make a strong impression. "Red-zone" lived up to his nickname with a tough, 12-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He recorded 34 yards on six carries and averaged 5.7 yards per attempt. The AFC North blog predicted this week that Redman will make the 53-man roster, and he continues to help his case.
The Bad
* Steelers No. 1 cornerback Ike Taylor was ejected in the first quarter following his fight with New York receiver Hakeem Nicks, who also was ejected. Sure, it's the preseason, but Taylor is a veteran who should know better. Pittsburgh cannot afford to lose its top cornerback under these circumstances in the regular season.
* The defense was pretty good overall, but there was one drive by New York that will get some attention in Pittsburgh's film room. Third-string quarterback Rhett Bomar marched the Giants 75 yards for a touchdown against Pittsburgh's first-team defense. The Giants were short-handed with starter Eli Manning (head) and backup Jim Sorgi (shoulder) sitting out. The defensive standards are always high in Pittsburgh, which is why the Steelers have to be disappointed that New York's third-string quarterback had a successful drive in the first half.
Baltimore Ravens 23, Washington Redskins 3
The Good
* Baltimore linebacker/defensive end hybrid Terrell Suggs is rounding back into form. Suggs was consistently in Washington's backfield Saturday, recording a sack, a tackle for loss and an additional hit on the quarterback. Baltimore's pass rush looks improved, and Suggs' resurgence from a poor 2009 season is a big reason. Baltimore had four sacks and seven hits on the quarterback.
* Backup quarterback Marc Bulger had his best preseason game. He completed 13 of 16 passes for 130 yards. Bulger was solid during my time in Baltimore's training camp last week, and it's clear he's solidified the No. 2 quarterback job behind starter Joe Flacco.
The Bad
* Despite the low point total, the Ravens allowed 206 passing yards to Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb. Backup Rex Grossman threw for 195 yards. Nineteen of Washington's 20 first downs were passing, and the Ravens allowed five pass plays of 23-yards or more. Baltimore doesn't have many weaknesses, but opponents will continue attacking the secondary until the Ravens prove they can cover receivers consistently.
* Baltimore's offense stalled on third down. The Ravens were 1-for-10 in third-down efficiency. That number should be better with all the weapons Baltimore has on offense. But putting everything together remains a work in progress.
Cleveland Browns 17, St. Louis Rams 19
The Good
* Starting quarterback Jake Delhomme continues to play well. Despite a slow start, Delhomme put up good numbers for the second straight preseason game, completing 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. Delhomme handled the rainy weather conditions in Cleveland well, and was decisive. He zipped a 6-yard pass to tight end Ben Watson through good coverage for a second-quarter touchdown.
* One Browns player who stood out was fullback Lawrence Vickers. He punished Rams linebackers and defensive backs. The Browns like their big package with Vickers blocking for running back Peyton Hillis, who had a team-high 12 carries for 51 yards.
The Bad
* Cleveland did not take care of the football. The Browns are a bad-weather team, but sure didn't play like it. Cleveland had five turnovers (three fumbles, two interceptions) and didn't force any on defense. Browns head coach Eric Mangini despises sloppy play, and the Browns must play much smarter.
* Surprisingly, the Browns' pass rush didn't show up. Cleveland had zero sacks against the shaky offensive line of the Rams, who are projected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season. St. Louis passed 34 times without allowing a sack.
By James Walker
Three AFC North teams played their second preseason game Saturday night.
Here are some thoughts and observations:
Pittsburgh Steelers 24, New York Giants 17
The Good
* The quarterback play was solid across the board for Pittsburgh. Ben Roethlisberger made his 2010 debut and completed 6 of 8 passes for 76 yards and one interception with the first-team offense. His interception was thrown short on a deep pass intended for receiver Mike Wallace, which was Roethlisberger’s only poor pass of the night. Byron Leftwich had his best preseason game, throwing for 95 yards and a touchdown. His 68-yard bomb to Wallace in the second quarter was the highlight of the game for Pittsburgh. Dennis Dixon continued his sharp preseason by completing 7-of-8 passes for 82 yards. Dixon also added 27 yards rushing, as he pushes for more opportunities with the first team.
* Reserve tailback Isaac Redman continues to make a strong impression. "Red-zone" lived up to his nickname with a tough, 12-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He recorded 34 yards on six carries and averaged 5.7 yards per attempt. The AFC North blog predicted this week that Redman will make the 53-man roster, and he continues to help his case.
The Bad
* Steelers No. 1 cornerback Ike Taylor was ejected in the first quarter following his fight with New York receiver Hakeem Nicks, who also was ejected. Sure, it's the preseason, but Taylor is a veteran who should know better. Pittsburgh cannot afford to lose its top cornerback under these circumstances in the regular season.
* The defense was pretty good overall, but there was one drive by New York that will get some attention in Pittsburgh's film room. Third-string quarterback Rhett Bomar marched the Giants 75 yards for a touchdown against Pittsburgh's first-team defense. The Giants were short-handed with starter Eli Manning (head) and backup Jim Sorgi (shoulder) sitting out. The defensive standards are always high in Pittsburgh, which is why the Steelers have to be disappointed that New York's third-string quarterback had a successful drive in the first half.
Baltimore Ravens 23, Washington Redskins 3
The Good
* Baltimore linebacker/defensive end hybrid Terrell Suggs is rounding back into form. Suggs was consistently in Washington's backfield Saturday, recording a sack, a tackle for loss and an additional hit on the quarterback. Baltimore's pass rush looks improved, and Suggs' resurgence from a poor 2009 season is a big reason. Baltimore had four sacks and seven hits on the quarterback.
* Backup quarterback Marc Bulger had his best preseason game. He completed 13 of 16 passes for 130 yards. Bulger was solid during my time in Baltimore's training camp last week, and it's clear he's solidified the No. 2 quarterback job behind starter Joe Flacco.
The Bad
* Despite the low point total, the Ravens allowed 206 passing yards to Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb. Backup Rex Grossman threw for 195 yards. Nineteen of Washington's 20 first downs were passing, and the Ravens allowed five pass plays of 23-yards or more. Baltimore doesn't have many weaknesses, but opponents will continue attacking the secondary until the Ravens prove they can cover receivers consistently.
* Baltimore's offense stalled on third down. The Ravens were 1-for-10 in third-down efficiency. That number should be better with all the weapons Baltimore has on offense. But putting everything together remains a work in progress.
Cleveland Browns 17, St. Louis Rams 19
The Good
* Starting quarterback Jake Delhomme continues to play well. Despite a slow start, Delhomme put up good numbers for the second straight preseason game, completing 12 of 16 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown. Delhomme handled the rainy weather conditions in Cleveland well, and was decisive. He zipped a 6-yard pass to tight end Ben Watson through good coverage for a second-quarter touchdown.
* One Browns player who stood out was fullback Lawrence Vickers. He punished Rams linebackers and defensive backs. The Browns like their big package with Vickers blocking for running back Peyton Hillis, who had a team-high 12 carries for 51 yards.
The Bad
* Cleveland did not take care of the football. The Browns are a bad-weather team, but sure didn't play like it. Cleveland had five turnovers (three fumbles, two interceptions) and didn't force any on defense. Browns head coach Eric Mangini despises sloppy play, and the Browns must play much smarter.
* Surprisingly, the Browns' pass rush didn't show up. Cleveland had zero sacks against the shaky offensive line of the Rams, who are projected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL this season. St. Louis passed 34 times without allowing a sack.
Faust
MVP
Peter King - MMQB
Excerpts:
I don't see Seattle trading for Vincent Jackson this week. It might get done, but talks have chilled.
I don't see Darrelle Revis signing with the Jets this week either, despite reports to the contrary by Dallas columnist Tim Cowlishaw Sunday. But Cowlishaw's good. That's why I mention it at all -- despite a source telling me there's nothing to it.
Re the Ben Roethlisberger suspension: Goodell has a decision with enormous competitive ramifications for the AFC North. The Steelers have their bye in Week 5. If Roethlisberger's suspension stays at six weeks, he'd be out of camp for 49 days (from Sept. 6 to Oct. 25). If the suspension is cut to four weeks, he'd be banned for 28 days. Huge difference.
The Ravens want to see Byron Leftwich in Week 4, not Dennis Dixon. They think Leftwich is a stationary target they could nail with that pass-rush.
The Redskins players really like their coordinators, Jim Haslett and Kyle Shanahan. Defensive players like go-for-broke blitzers, which Haslett does at times. Offensive players like Shanahan because he's a football nerd who figures things out pretty fast for a 30-year-old who looks 19. "Kyle Shanahan is a brilliant football coach,'' Houston coach Gary Kubiak said.
There will be a longer line chasing John Fox than Bill Cowher after the season.
Dexter McCluster could have the kind of impact on the Chiefs that Devin Hester had on the Bears four years ago. Not necessarily in the return game, but in pure explosive play-making ability.
Twenty Camps, Twenty Fantasy Thoughts
So I know most of you are prepping for your fantasy drafts -- I just read that 23 million Americans play fantasy football -- and the most common questions I get out on the road are about fantasy. So here's at least one piece of advice from every camp I visited, keeping in mind I stink at the fantasy game.
Arizona: I'd steer clear of Matt Leinart (don't sense a very long leash there) but be bullish on Beanie Wells -- as long as his bruised ribs don't hamper him in the next week. I think Wells takes the starting job from Tim Hightower by mid-October.
Atlanta: With Michael Jenkins an injury question as camp winds down, slot receiver Harry Douglas should be the Falcons' second-most-productive receiver.
Baltimore: Ed Dickson's the number two tight end, ahead of Dennis Pitta, and with Todd Heap's recent injury history and the Ravens' love of throwing to the tight end, Dickson's a good late-round gamble.
Carolina: Been saying it all offseason: Matt Moore's no fluke. I think he'll be an efficient 16-game player who won't throw a lot of interceptions and who will be 64-, 65-percent accurate. This is a running, eat-the-clock team, so I don't see Moore throwing for 4,000 yards, but he'll be a very good backup guy in the 12th round ... And if wideout Brandon LaFell's there in the last round, he'll be a good risk. Coaches love him.
Chicago: I'd steer clear of Matt Forte. Nothing against new OL coach Mike Tice, but I don't trust that line to pave the way for a great running game.
Cincinnati: Judging by last Friday night's game, where the first offensive unit played a half, Terrell Owens will certainly get good looks from Carson Palmer. If healthy, T.O. could be a 70-catch, 10-touchdown guy.
Dallas: I like Dez Bryant, and so do the Cowboys. But remember that Jason Garrett, the playcaller, is going to make him earn his stripes, and remember he enters the season probably feeling the effects of his training-camp ankle injury. I'm a Bryant buyer, but in the right round.
Houston: You probably can't pick Arian Foster too high, though he did burn an owner or two in Week 15 last season when his early fumble resulted in a two-carry, seven-yard benching. The Houston coaches still are skeptical of Steve Slaton's ability to hold onto the ball, and Ben Tate's gone for the year, so Foster could be a top-20 running back. Now, Foster fumbled Saturday night, but from the replay it looked like he did so switching the ball from one hand to the other. That's different from getting it stripped, a problem he hasn't had.
Indianapolis: Based on history, Anthony Gonzalez won't stay healthy. But let's say he and Austin Collie both play 16 games. Gonzalez would have better numbers across the board. I just think Peyton Manning trusts him a little more right now.
Kansas City: Dexter McCluster will be the most dangerous offensive rookie in the league. I see him as a 1,500-yards-from-scrimmage guy, with a bunch of touchdowns. I'm no fantasy student, but don't pass on him.
Miami: Chad Henne threw for 2,878 yards in 14 games without Brandon Marshall last year. I think he could throw for 3,800, easy, with Marshall this year. The question is, if he struggles, will the Dolphins let him play his way out of the slump, or will they yank him for the reliable Chad Pennington? I like Henne a lot, but Miami, in this division, can't afford a long bad spell from him.
N.Y. Giants: Only two teams -- St. Louis and Detroit -- allowed more points than the Giants last year. That'll turn around this year, in a big way. The Giants will be a top-10 defense, and maybe top-five. Once defenses start going off the board, I'd take the Giants.
N.Y. Jets: In camp, Santonio Holmes looked like a million bucks to me. You can steal him late because of his four-game suspension. He'll give you some great weeks, I think. Motivated to be great for many reasons, including this being a contract year.
Philadelphia: With a potentially shaky Eagles offensive line, I see Brent Celek catching 85 balls and taking some downfield opportunities away from the good receiver group.
Pittsburgh: Mike Wallace had 39 catches and six touchdowns last year. Double both. He'll finish the year a top-20 fantasy wideout.
St. Louis: I'd steer clear of this team. I don't trust the quarterback to stay upright, and I don't trust Steven Jackson to have many holes, or to stay healthy. Jackson's a first-round fantasy talent, but I don't see him having first-round numbers this year.
San Diego: Pick Ryan Mathews in the first round, anytime after number seven, and laugh all the way to the playoffs.
San Francisco: Don't let sixth-round running back Anthony Dixon get past you. Frank Gore has had four significant surgeries in his football life, and Brian Westbrook is on his last legs ... For the Niners to have a chance, Michael Crabtree has to be a force of nature. Talking to him and Niner people, even with the questionable Alex Smith at quarterback, I don't think Crabtree will disappoint.
Tampa Bay: See St. Louis ... with one exception. The staff loves Mike Williams. The quarterback loves Mike Williams. Mike Williams loves Mike Williams. He's going to have a chance to be the biggest offensive force on this team. I'd be tempted to make him a late-rounder.
Washington: Mike Shanahan and offensive architect and son Kyle like Chris Cooley, and Donovan McNabb has always liked throwing to the tight end. You can get Cooley late. You won't be disappointed.
On Sunday, Jason LaCanfora of NFL Network reported Haynesworth may be suffering from rhabdomyolysis, the breakdown of muscle fibers, which causes overall weakness in the body. Shanahan clearly has been miffed that Haynesworth has been missing practices through camp, and Haynesworth was also miffed that the club was describing his malady as headaches.
The Redskins won't be releasing Haynesworth, not after paying him $35 million over the past 18 months. But I can't see him being with the team beyond this year.
I think Seattle has to be nervous, or worse, about losing left tackle Russell Okung to an ankle sprain Saturday night. Not only was left tackle the Seahawks' position of biggest need entering this season, but also Seattle is frightfully thin there --the immortal Mansfield Wrotto took Okung's spot when he went down against Green Bay. Seattle now may face the prospect of moving Sean Locklear back to the left side.
The Seahawks said it was a two-to-four-week injury on Sunday, which means there's a good chance he'll be ready for the opener. Not to overplay a first game of a season, but Seahawks host San Francisco in Week 1. To have much of a chance to win your division, that's the kind of game you have to win, which makes the recovery of the centerpiece of your rebuilding efforts to protect Matt Hasselbeck pretty important.
Excerpts:
I don't see Seattle trading for Vincent Jackson this week. It might get done, but talks have chilled.
I don't see Darrelle Revis signing with the Jets this week either, despite reports to the contrary by Dallas columnist Tim Cowlishaw Sunday. But Cowlishaw's good. That's why I mention it at all -- despite a source telling me there's nothing to it.
Re the Ben Roethlisberger suspension: Goodell has a decision with enormous competitive ramifications for the AFC North. The Steelers have their bye in Week 5. If Roethlisberger's suspension stays at six weeks, he'd be out of camp for 49 days (from Sept. 6 to Oct. 25). If the suspension is cut to four weeks, he'd be banned for 28 days. Huge difference.
The Ravens want to see Byron Leftwich in Week 4, not Dennis Dixon. They think Leftwich is a stationary target they could nail with that pass-rush.
The Redskins players really like their coordinators, Jim Haslett and Kyle Shanahan. Defensive players like go-for-broke blitzers, which Haslett does at times. Offensive players like Shanahan because he's a football nerd who figures things out pretty fast for a 30-year-old who looks 19. "Kyle Shanahan is a brilliant football coach,'' Houston coach Gary Kubiak said.
There will be a longer line chasing John Fox than Bill Cowher after the season.
Dexter McCluster could have the kind of impact on the Chiefs that Devin Hester had on the Bears four years ago. Not necessarily in the return game, but in pure explosive play-making ability.
Twenty Camps, Twenty Fantasy Thoughts
So I know most of you are prepping for your fantasy drafts -- I just read that 23 million Americans play fantasy football -- and the most common questions I get out on the road are about fantasy. So here's at least one piece of advice from every camp I visited, keeping in mind I stink at the fantasy game.
Arizona: I'd steer clear of Matt Leinart (don't sense a very long leash there) but be bullish on Beanie Wells -- as long as his bruised ribs don't hamper him in the next week. I think Wells takes the starting job from Tim Hightower by mid-October.
Atlanta: With Michael Jenkins an injury question as camp winds down, slot receiver Harry Douglas should be the Falcons' second-most-productive receiver.
Baltimore: Ed Dickson's the number two tight end, ahead of Dennis Pitta, and with Todd Heap's recent injury history and the Ravens' love of throwing to the tight end, Dickson's a good late-round gamble.
Carolina: Been saying it all offseason: Matt Moore's no fluke. I think he'll be an efficient 16-game player who won't throw a lot of interceptions and who will be 64-, 65-percent accurate. This is a running, eat-the-clock team, so I don't see Moore throwing for 4,000 yards, but he'll be a very good backup guy in the 12th round ... And if wideout Brandon LaFell's there in the last round, he'll be a good risk. Coaches love him.
Chicago: I'd steer clear of Matt Forte. Nothing against new OL coach Mike Tice, but I don't trust that line to pave the way for a great running game.
Cincinnati: Judging by last Friday night's game, where the first offensive unit played a half, Terrell Owens will certainly get good looks from Carson Palmer. If healthy, T.O. could be a 70-catch, 10-touchdown guy.
Dallas: I like Dez Bryant, and so do the Cowboys. But remember that Jason Garrett, the playcaller, is going to make him earn his stripes, and remember he enters the season probably feeling the effects of his training-camp ankle injury. I'm a Bryant buyer, but in the right round.
Houston: You probably can't pick Arian Foster too high, though he did burn an owner or two in Week 15 last season when his early fumble resulted in a two-carry, seven-yard benching. The Houston coaches still are skeptical of Steve Slaton's ability to hold onto the ball, and Ben Tate's gone for the year, so Foster could be a top-20 running back. Now, Foster fumbled Saturday night, but from the replay it looked like he did so switching the ball from one hand to the other. That's different from getting it stripped, a problem he hasn't had.
Indianapolis: Based on history, Anthony Gonzalez won't stay healthy. But let's say he and Austin Collie both play 16 games. Gonzalez would have better numbers across the board. I just think Peyton Manning trusts him a little more right now.
Kansas City: Dexter McCluster will be the most dangerous offensive rookie in the league. I see him as a 1,500-yards-from-scrimmage guy, with a bunch of touchdowns. I'm no fantasy student, but don't pass on him.
Miami: Chad Henne threw for 2,878 yards in 14 games without Brandon Marshall last year. I think he could throw for 3,800, easy, with Marshall this year. The question is, if he struggles, will the Dolphins let him play his way out of the slump, or will they yank him for the reliable Chad Pennington? I like Henne a lot, but Miami, in this division, can't afford a long bad spell from him.
N.Y. Giants: Only two teams -- St. Louis and Detroit -- allowed more points than the Giants last year. That'll turn around this year, in a big way. The Giants will be a top-10 defense, and maybe top-five. Once defenses start going off the board, I'd take the Giants.
N.Y. Jets: In camp, Santonio Holmes looked like a million bucks to me. You can steal him late because of his four-game suspension. He'll give you some great weeks, I think. Motivated to be great for many reasons, including this being a contract year.
Philadelphia: With a potentially shaky Eagles offensive line, I see Brent Celek catching 85 balls and taking some downfield opportunities away from the good receiver group.
Pittsburgh: Mike Wallace had 39 catches and six touchdowns last year. Double both. He'll finish the year a top-20 fantasy wideout.
St. Louis: I'd steer clear of this team. I don't trust the quarterback to stay upright, and I don't trust Steven Jackson to have many holes, or to stay healthy. Jackson's a first-round fantasy talent, but I don't see him having first-round numbers this year.
San Diego: Pick Ryan Mathews in the first round, anytime after number seven, and laugh all the way to the playoffs.
San Francisco: Don't let sixth-round running back Anthony Dixon get past you. Frank Gore has had four significant surgeries in his football life, and Brian Westbrook is on his last legs ... For the Niners to have a chance, Michael Crabtree has to be a force of nature. Talking to him and Niner people, even with the questionable Alex Smith at quarterback, I don't think Crabtree will disappoint.
Tampa Bay: See St. Louis ... with one exception. The staff loves Mike Williams. The quarterback loves Mike Williams. Mike Williams loves Mike Williams. He's going to have a chance to be the biggest offensive force on this team. I'd be tempted to make him a late-rounder.
Washington: Mike Shanahan and offensive architect and son Kyle like Chris Cooley, and Donovan McNabb has always liked throwing to the tight end. You can get Cooley late. You won't be disappointed.
On Sunday, Jason LaCanfora of NFL Network reported Haynesworth may be suffering from rhabdomyolysis, the breakdown of muscle fibers, which causes overall weakness in the body. Shanahan clearly has been miffed that Haynesworth has been missing practices through camp, and Haynesworth was also miffed that the club was describing his malady as headaches.
The Redskins won't be releasing Haynesworth, not after paying him $35 million over the past 18 months. But I can't see him being with the team beyond this year.
I think Seattle has to be nervous, or worse, about losing left tackle Russell Okung to an ankle sprain Saturday night. Not only was left tackle the Seahawks' position of biggest need entering this season, but also Seattle is frightfully thin there --the immortal Mansfield Wrotto took Okung's spot when he went down against Green Bay. Seattle now may face the prospect of moving Sean Locklear back to the left side.
The Seahawks said it was a two-to-four-week injury on Sunday, which means there's a good chance he'll be ready for the opener. Not to overplay a first game of a season, but Seahawks host San Francisco in Week 1. To have much of a chance to win your division, that's the kind of game you have to win, which makes the recovery of the centerpiece of your rebuilding efforts to protect Matt Hasselbeck pretty important.
Faust
MVP
PFW - NFC Whispers
We've been hearing the following whispers coming from the NFC:
• One of the surprise developments in Saints training camp has been the rise of LB Jonathan Casillas, who is the new starting weak-side 'backer. After the first preseason game New Orleans decided to move longtime WLB Scott Shanle to the strong side to clear a spot for Casillas, who made 20 tackles in 11 games last season as a rookie. The Saints were expecting fifth-year veteran Clint Ingram to compete for the starting job on the strong side, but he's still on the PUP list recovering from knee surgery, and Casillas has had a solid camp.
• Falcons head coach Mike Smith said DE Kroy Biermann is pushing for a starting job after another strong performance in Atlanta's second preseason game. With John Abraham firmly entrenched in one of the spots at defensive end, Biermann is putting pressure on the other first-team end, Jamaal Anderson, who moves inside to tackle in passing situations.
• Giants SLB Clint Sintim has not flashed a lot in training camp or the preseason so far, but the team might not expect too much out of that position this season. In coordinator Perry Fewell's scheme, the "Sam" spot is likely to be a one- or two-down position, which should keep Sintim's assignments and expectations in relative check.
• The Redskins have an interesting situation brewing at returner. Both Terrence Austin and Brandon Banks have shown intriguing potential to make the roster, but there could be room for only one of them. Because he's only 5-foot-7, Banks likely would have to make the roster as a returner only, and likely only on punts — but his blinding speed (4.25) has been very real. Austin has the chops to be a kick and punt returner, as well as a wideout, but his speed is in the 4.54 range, a few steps slower than Banks. Could both be kept? Only if the Redskins keep two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster and use Mike Sellers as a hybrid fullback and tight end, giving them more flexibility.
• While he appears to be in no immediate danger of being released because of the injuries currently shrinking the Bears' ranks at the safety position, we hear second-year pro Al Afalava, who surprisingly won a starting job as a rookie entering the 2009 campaign, really must assert himself after not playing very well in the preseason opener.
• Although they'd like to see more consistency from him, we hear Packers undrafted rookie RB Quinn Porter is probably the front-runner as the team's No. 3 back behind Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson.
• While it's a very good bet Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald will go out of his way to try to convince head coach Ken Whisenhunt that the sprained right MCL Fitzgerald suffered in the preseason opener will be healed enough to enable to him to get on the field for some preseason action, we hear it's pretty much a given that Whisenhunt will exercise extreme caution with Fitzgerald and shut him down until Week One.
• The bad news at inside linebacker for the Cardinals is that we hear it's far from a lock that Gerald Hayes will be fully recovered from early-July back surgery in time for the first regular-season game, even though he is reportedly making steady progress. The good news is that second-round draft pick Daryl Washington could be on a fast track toward a starting ILB job after registering a team-leading 13 tackles and looking very sharp in Arizona's preseason opener.
• After losing out to the division-rival Niners in pursuit of two-time Pro Bowl RB Brian Westbrook, who we hear took less money to play for San Francisco than what the Rams were offering, Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo continues to have good things to say about second-year RB Chris Ogbonnaya, who currently shapes up as the No. 2 back behind Steven Jackson. "I think Chris is doing a great job," Spagnuolo said. "I'll tell you what: He's a smart football player. He's in tune to it. He's out there telling quarterbacks, O-linemen what to do. He's into football. I love that part of him."
• We hear the Niners could be thinking long and hard about finding a spot on the roster for undrafted rookie LB Mike Balogun, who has proven to be an extremely hard worker. "The guy's incredibly dedicated," said one team source of Balogun. "During two-a-days he was going out between practices and hitting the practice dummies. He's very hungry, and with the Niners losing Scott McKillop for the season, he just might make the team."
• Newly acquired Niners RB Brian Westbrook is looking forward to pairing with featured back Frank Gore. "Frank's the man," Gore gushed in his first press conference as a Niner. "He's done tremendous things in the past, Pro Bowls, a talented guy. I've respected his game from afar. In Philly, I watched and studied him an awful lot. ... I'm going to go out there and push him as much as I can, and I'm sure he'll do the same thing for me, continue to make me better."
• While Seahawks sixth-round TE Anthony McCoy definitely passes the eyeball test, we hear he has had persistent problems holding on to catchable passes.
We've been hearing the following whispers coming from the NFC:
• One of the surprise developments in Saints training camp has been the rise of LB Jonathan Casillas, who is the new starting weak-side 'backer. After the first preseason game New Orleans decided to move longtime WLB Scott Shanle to the strong side to clear a spot for Casillas, who made 20 tackles in 11 games last season as a rookie. The Saints were expecting fifth-year veteran Clint Ingram to compete for the starting job on the strong side, but he's still on the PUP list recovering from knee surgery, and Casillas has had a solid camp.
• Falcons head coach Mike Smith said DE Kroy Biermann is pushing for a starting job after another strong performance in Atlanta's second preseason game. With John Abraham firmly entrenched in one of the spots at defensive end, Biermann is putting pressure on the other first-team end, Jamaal Anderson, who moves inside to tackle in passing situations.
• Giants SLB Clint Sintim has not flashed a lot in training camp or the preseason so far, but the team might not expect too much out of that position this season. In coordinator Perry Fewell's scheme, the "Sam" spot is likely to be a one- or two-down position, which should keep Sintim's assignments and expectations in relative check.
• The Redskins have an interesting situation brewing at returner. Both Terrence Austin and Brandon Banks have shown intriguing potential to make the roster, but there could be room for only one of them. Because he's only 5-foot-7, Banks likely would have to make the roster as a returner only, and likely only on punts — but his blinding speed (4.25) has been very real. Austin has the chops to be a kick and punt returner, as well as a wideout, but his speed is in the 4.54 range, a few steps slower than Banks. Could both be kept? Only if the Redskins keep two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster and use Mike Sellers as a hybrid fullback and tight end, giving them more flexibility.
• While he appears to be in no immediate danger of being released because of the injuries currently shrinking the Bears' ranks at the safety position, we hear second-year pro Al Afalava, who surprisingly won a starting job as a rookie entering the 2009 campaign, really must assert himself after not playing very well in the preseason opener.
• Although they'd like to see more consistency from him, we hear Packers undrafted rookie RB Quinn Porter is probably the front-runner as the team's No. 3 back behind Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson.
• While it's a very good bet Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald will go out of his way to try to convince head coach Ken Whisenhunt that the sprained right MCL Fitzgerald suffered in the preseason opener will be healed enough to enable to him to get on the field for some preseason action, we hear it's pretty much a given that Whisenhunt will exercise extreme caution with Fitzgerald and shut him down until Week One.
• The bad news at inside linebacker for the Cardinals is that we hear it's far from a lock that Gerald Hayes will be fully recovered from early-July back surgery in time for the first regular-season game, even though he is reportedly making steady progress. The good news is that second-round draft pick Daryl Washington could be on a fast track toward a starting ILB job after registering a team-leading 13 tackles and looking very sharp in Arizona's preseason opener.
• After losing out to the division-rival Niners in pursuit of two-time Pro Bowl RB Brian Westbrook, who we hear took less money to play for San Francisco than what the Rams were offering, Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo continues to have good things to say about second-year RB Chris Ogbonnaya, who currently shapes up as the No. 2 back behind Steven Jackson. "I think Chris is doing a great job," Spagnuolo said. "I'll tell you what: He's a smart football player. He's in tune to it. He's out there telling quarterbacks, O-linemen what to do. He's into football. I love that part of him."
• We hear the Niners could be thinking long and hard about finding a spot on the roster for undrafted rookie LB Mike Balogun, who has proven to be an extremely hard worker. "The guy's incredibly dedicated," said one team source of Balogun. "During two-a-days he was going out between practices and hitting the practice dummies. He's very hungry, and with the Niners losing Scott McKillop for the season, he just might make the team."
• Newly acquired Niners RB Brian Westbrook is looking forward to pairing with featured back Frank Gore. "Frank's the man," Gore gushed in his first press conference as a Niner. "He's done tremendous things in the past, Pro Bowls, a talented guy. I've respected his game from afar. In Philly, I watched and studied him an awful lot. ... I'm going to go out there and push him as much as I can, and I'm sure he'll do the same thing for me, continue to make me better."
• While Seahawks sixth-round TE Anthony McCoy definitely passes the eyeball test, we hear he has had persistent problems holding on to catchable passes.
Faust
MVP
PFW - AFC Whispers
Here are the whispers we're hearing from around the AFC:
• Although not a lot of players excelled during Chiefs training camp, we hear that WR Dwayne Bowe was one of the standouts. Entering a critical fourth season, Bowe routinely made impressive plays, drawing praise from his coaches and teammates. He still was up to a few of the usual antics that rub some people in K.C. the wrong way, but for the most part he looked like one of the team's better players. The Chiefs will need major production from him if they hope to improve on their No. 25-ranked passing attack.
• It appears the Broncos will start two rookies on their offensive line. J.D. Walton, a third-round pick, has taken all the first-team reps at center in training camp, and second-round choice Zane Beadles, who played left tackle during his last two seasons in college, will start at left guard. Denver can call on swing backup Russ Hochstein, who started 10 games for the Broncos last season, if either of the rookies isn't up to the task in the regular season, but the team will likely be patient with them.
• The ship has not sailed on OG Logan Mankins playing for the team this year, we hear. Although Mankins is stubborn and the team and his representatives have not had any serious negotiations since May, there is this to consider: Mankins is a football player. And, we hear, the bottom line is that he's not likely to give up $3.27 million this season by choosing not to play this season when all is said and done. So far, the team's lead negotiator in this case has been Floyd Reese, but it's possible that Bill Belichick could act as a closer and get involved late in the process of trying to get Mankins back with the team. Mankins' presence becomes an even greater priority with the report that his potential replacement, Nick Kaczur, may miss the entire season after undergoing back surgery.
• The Patriots could have several tough roster decisions. One team observer thinks FS James Sanders and RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis might be squeezed out in a roster crunch but could offer minimal trade value in return from a needy club.
• Steelers rookie WR Antonio Brown stands a very strong chance of making the 53-player roster, the way we hear it. Brown caught a pass from QB Dennis Dixon on a slant pattern and sprinted for a 68-yard TD in Pittsburgh's preseason debut against Detroit.
• The competition for the Browns' ORT job is one to watch as the regular season nears, with John St. Clair, Scott Kooistra and Tony Pashos seemingly all having chances to be the starter. Pashos has missed time in training camp both because of the flu and because of a shoulder injury.
• DT Fili Moala, who looked like he was walking around in a daze as a rookie last season, had a very good training camp. Moala appears confident and is playing at a high level. The light bulb may have finally gone on, which is good news for the interior of the Colts' D-line.
• If first-year RB Devin Moore keeps showing promise in the return game, he has a real shot to make the Colts' roster. The team is very intrigued by Moore, who looked good at running back and as a kick returner in the club's first two preseason games. Moore's success could spell trouble for seventh-round CB Ray Fisher. Fisher fumbled a punt against the Bills and will have to show a lot in the final two preseason games if he wants to make the 53-man roster.
• Texans SS Bernard Pollard had positive things to say about the development of rookie RCB Kareem Jackson. "He's done a great job," Pollard told PFW late last week. Jackson immediately stepped into the starting lineup and replaced Dunta Robinson, who signed with Atlanta in the offseason. Jackson's readiness for the opener vs. Indianapolis is key; as Pollard noted. "Peyton Manning isn't going to hold back because he's a rookie."
Here are the whispers we're hearing from around the AFC:
• Although not a lot of players excelled during Chiefs training camp, we hear that WR Dwayne Bowe was one of the standouts. Entering a critical fourth season, Bowe routinely made impressive plays, drawing praise from his coaches and teammates. He still was up to a few of the usual antics that rub some people in K.C. the wrong way, but for the most part he looked like one of the team's better players. The Chiefs will need major production from him if they hope to improve on their No. 25-ranked passing attack.
• It appears the Broncos will start two rookies on their offensive line. J.D. Walton, a third-round pick, has taken all the first-team reps at center in training camp, and second-round choice Zane Beadles, who played left tackle during his last two seasons in college, will start at left guard. Denver can call on swing backup Russ Hochstein, who started 10 games for the Broncos last season, if either of the rookies isn't up to the task in the regular season, but the team will likely be patient with them.
• The ship has not sailed on OG Logan Mankins playing for the team this year, we hear. Although Mankins is stubborn and the team and his representatives have not had any serious negotiations since May, there is this to consider: Mankins is a football player. And, we hear, the bottom line is that he's not likely to give up $3.27 million this season by choosing not to play this season when all is said and done. So far, the team's lead negotiator in this case has been Floyd Reese, but it's possible that Bill Belichick could act as a closer and get involved late in the process of trying to get Mankins back with the team. Mankins' presence becomes an even greater priority with the report that his potential replacement, Nick Kaczur, may miss the entire season after undergoing back surgery.
• The Patriots could have several tough roster decisions. One team observer thinks FS James Sanders and RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis might be squeezed out in a roster crunch but could offer minimal trade value in return from a needy club.
• Steelers rookie WR Antonio Brown stands a very strong chance of making the 53-player roster, the way we hear it. Brown caught a pass from QB Dennis Dixon on a slant pattern and sprinted for a 68-yard TD in Pittsburgh's preseason debut against Detroit.
• The competition for the Browns' ORT job is one to watch as the regular season nears, with John St. Clair, Scott Kooistra and Tony Pashos seemingly all having chances to be the starter. Pashos has missed time in training camp both because of the flu and because of a shoulder injury.
• DT Fili Moala, who looked like he was walking around in a daze as a rookie last season, had a very good training camp. Moala appears confident and is playing at a high level. The light bulb may have finally gone on, which is good news for the interior of the Colts' D-line.
• If first-year RB Devin Moore keeps showing promise in the return game, he has a real shot to make the Colts' roster. The team is very intrigued by Moore, who looked good at running back and as a kick returner in the club's first two preseason games. Moore's success could spell trouble for seventh-round CB Ray Fisher. Fisher fumbled a punt against the Bills and will have to show a lot in the final two preseason games if he wants to make the 53-man roster.
• Texans SS Bernard Pollard had positive things to say about the development of rookie RCB Kareem Jackson. "He's done a great job," Pollard told PFW late last week. Jackson immediately stepped into the starting lineup and replaced Dunta Robinson, who signed with Atlanta in the offseason. Jackson's readiness for the opener vs. Indianapolis is key; as Pollard noted. "Peyton Manning isn't going to hold back because he's a rookie."
Grahamburn
Footballguy
Thanks for this thread Faust. This is the type of stuff that helps you win your league. Bowe could be a steal at his ADP if he really does have his head on straight. This kind of news coupled with his attendance at Larry Fitzgerald's WR camp has me thinking breakout season for Dwayne.
netnalp
Footballguy
Aaron Ross was complaining about the tape job on his ankles during Saturday night's preseason game against the Steelers. The next day, he had what Tom Coughlin termed a "big, swollen heel."
The Giants' cornerback, who had his right foot propped up on a chair in the cafeteria while his teammates practiced Monday, has been diagnosed as plantar fasciitis, the same injury that affected QB Eli Manning last season.
"He got it under control and played with it," Coughlin said of Manning, "but it's a different position."
With all of the cutting and running Ross will be asked to do, this could be a nagging injury.
Elsewhere on the injury front:
--WR Ramses Barden will not require surgery for the stress fracture of a transverse process, Coughlin said. Coughlin is hoping Barden can return in a week. The issue is pain.
"If he can handle the pain, he can go," Coughlin said.
--S Michael Johnson, who has a disc issue in his back, is undergoing a different treatment after his last treatment did not work.
"In the mean time, we're all standing here," Coughlin said. "We can use him."
--S Michael Greco has a knee sprain.
--TE Travis Beckum has an issue with his neck. Coughlin categorized it as a "muscular problem." Coughlin said it's not related to the hamstring issue that has previously plagued Beckum, although hamstring issues seldom affect the neck.
--QB Jim Sorgi remains out with a shoulder injury.
* * * *
"We were in Albany for three weeks and it didn't rain once," LG Rich Seubert said while stretching in the Giants' indoor facility. "We're here one day and it's raining."
Seubert and the rest of the team dealt with the rain by moving practice indoors. The full report:
THE STARTERS
Manning, wearing his cap so as not to aggravate the cut on his head, looked just fine in his return to practice. Early on, he was very smooth during a blitz drill, connecting with WR Derek Hagan on a smooth hot route, and later hit WR Steve Smith on a deep ball past CB Corey Webster. Coughlin noted Manning’s “tempo” and the way he got rid of the ball quickly as good signs he wasn’t rusty.
DE Mathias Kiwanuka got up to bat one of Manning's passes. The ball never came close to Manning's head, though.
DT Barry Cofield got his hand up to knock down a pass from QB Rhett Bomar.
It was a treat to watch the line 1-on-1s, which usually take place away from the media in camp. Here at the indoor facility, they happened right in front of us. DT Chris Canty, LT David Diehl and DE Osi Umenyiora were the most impressive. Canty's second rep was a gorgeous swim move past OL Shawn Andrews, who was lined up at LG. Umenyiora used a combo of speed and power to get around LT Will Beatty. Earlier, Diehl dug in during a good battle with Umenyiora.
There's Canty again, shooting the hole to get to Manning before he can throw a screen pass. Real good practice for him.
S Deon Grant beat TE Kevin Boss to the punch to make a stop in the backfield.
Speaking of Boss, he looked as good as he has since undergoing ankle surgery in the spring. He came out of his break well on an in cut to catch a ball in front of S John Busing and then beat Busing on a flag route.
RB Ahmad Bradshaw snuck behind LB Michael Boley to catch a screen pass and was gone.
LB Keith Bulluck was working as one of the outside LBs with the first-team base defense. He was in there in place of LB Clint Sintim, who was still with the starters in the "big base" defense. This seemed like a possibility when Coughlin said before the start of camp Bulluck would begin as a middle linebacker but could move elsewhere. "He's played there all his career," Coughlin said Monday of Bulluck's playing the outside. "Just to make sure he's familiar so he can be more versatile." Asked if he still considers Bulluck a middle linebacker, Coughlin replied, "I consider him a linebacker."
As for Sintim, Coughlin said he "attacked the line of scrimmage better the other night (against the Steelers). I just think the competitive aspect of it is the way we've gone all camp. If that creates a little bit of competition over there, so be it."
Bulluck was there to make a stop on RB Gartrell Johnson as he tried to bounce to the outside.
* * * *
THE BACKUPS
During 1-on-1s, in addition to the whiff on Canty, Andrews appeared to rock backward a bit early when lined up against DE Dave Tollefson. That probably would have been a false start in a live game. But Andrews did have one very good rep when he showed great punch on DT Dwayne Hendricks, who never recovered from that blow.
During team drills, Tollefson showed his hustle by chasing down RB Andre Brown from behind on a sweep the other way.
S Kenny Phillips continues to look faster and faster with every practuce. Monday, he came downfield hard, and I mean hard, to make a stop in the backfield. Terrific closing speed on that play.
Bomar tried to hit WR Tim Brown on a deep in but threw it to his back shoulder, which allowed CB Seth Williams to make a play on the ball.
DT Rocky Bernard, who absolutely blew up C Adam Koets during 1-on-1s, sniffed out a screen in team drills and stayed all over the RB to disrupt the play.
LB Bryan Kehl made a couple of nice plays toward the end of practice: a stop in the backfield and a tipped ball over the middle.
* * * *
THE YOUNG GUYS
DT Linval Joseph got penetration to make a stop in the backfield early in team drills. He later beat OL Mitch Petrus to force Petrus to grab and tackle him.
Mike Garafolo/The Star-Ledger
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2010/08...with_a_big.html
Nice work by OL Dennis Landolt to hang in there and resist the urge to hold when LB Phillip Dilliard got a great jump off the snap. Landolt kept working and was able to recover and finish the block.
Williams had an interception during 7-on-7s. I didn’s catch the particulars because I was watching the line 1-on-1s. All I saw was Williams running down the left sideline with only one man to beat: defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.
WR Victor Cruz got CB Bruce Johnson to groan after beating him on a hook. Cruz later caught a hook in front of CB Courtney Brown.
* * * *
The passing 1-on-1s included several highlights on both sides of the ball:
--Great route by WR Hakeem Nicks on a short hook that had CB Corey Webster still running upfield. Nicks then added a deep ball past Bruce Johnson on a go route from Manning.
--Bruce Johnson did display excellent coverage earlier, though, on a short route by WR Mario Manningham.
--Cruz got scolded by offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride for either a bad read or a bad route on a short in. That ball was defensed well by CB D.J. Johnson.
--S Antrel Rolle, lined up at corner, was all over WR Duke Calhoun on a comeback. On the next play, CB Terrell Thomas blanketed Hagan.
The Giants' cornerback, who had his right foot propped up on a chair in the cafeteria while his teammates practiced Monday, has been diagnosed as plantar fasciitis, the same injury that affected QB Eli Manning last season.
"He got it under control and played with it," Coughlin said of Manning, "but it's a different position."
With all of the cutting and running Ross will be asked to do, this could be a nagging injury.
Elsewhere on the injury front:
--WR Ramses Barden will not require surgery for the stress fracture of a transverse process, Coughlin said. Coughlin is hoping Barden can return in a week. The issue is pain.
"If he can handle the pain, he can go," Coughlin said.
--S Michael Johnson, who has a disc issue in his back, is undergoing a different treatment after his last treatment did not work.
"In the mean time, we're all standing here," Coughlin said. "We can use him."
--S Michael Greco has a knee sprain.
--TE Travis Beckum has an issue with his neck. Coughlin categorized it as a "muscular problem." Coughlin said it's not related to the hamstring issue that has previously plagued Beckum, although hamstring issues seldom affect the neck.
--QB Jim Sorgi remains out with a shoulder injury.
* * * *
"We were in Albany for three weeks and it didn't rain once," LG Rich Seubert said while stretching in the Giants' indoor facility. "We're here one day and it's raining."
Seubert and the rest of the team dealt with the rain by moving practice indoors. The full report:
THE STARTERS
Manning, wearing his cap so as not to aggravate the cut on his head, looked just fine in his return to practice. Early on, he was very smooth during a blitz drill, connecting with WR Derek Hagan on a smooth hot route, and later hit WR Steve Smith on a deep ball past CB Corey Webster. Coughlin noted Manning’s “tempo” and the way he got rid of the ball quickly as good signs he wasn’t rusty.
DE Mathias Kiwanuka got up to bat one of Manning's passes. The ball never came close to Manning's head, though.
DT Barry Cofield got his hand up to knock down a pass from QB Rhett Bomar.
It was a treat to watch the line 1-on-1s, which usually take place away from the media in camp. Here at the indoor facility, they happened right in front of us. DT Chris Canty, LT David Diehl and DE Osi Umenyiora were the most impressive. Canty's second rep was a gorgeous swim move past OL Shawn Andrews, who was lined up at LG. Umenyiora used a combo of speed and power to get around LT Will Beatty. Earlier, Diehl dug in during a good battle with Umenyiora.
There's Canty again, shooting the hole to get to Manning before he can throw a screen pass. Real good practice for him.
S Deon Grant beat TE Kevin Boss to the punch to make a stop in the backfield.
Speaking of Boss, he looked as good as he has since undergoing ankle surgery in the spring. He came out of his break well on an in cut to catch a ball in front of S John Busing and then beat Busing on a flag route.
RB Ahmad Bradshaw snuck behind LB Michael Boley to catch a screen pass and was gone.
LB Keith Bulluck was working as one of the outside LBs with the first-team base defense. He was in there in place of LB Clint Sintim, who was still with the starters in the "big base" defense. This seemed like a possibility when Coughlin said before the start of camp Bulluck would begin as a middle linebacker but could move elsewhere. "He's played there all his career," Coughlin said Monday of Bulluck's playing the outside. "Just to make sure he's familiar so he can be more versatile." Asked if he still considers Bulluck a middle linebacker, Coughlin replied, "I consider him a linebacker."
As for Sintim, Coughlin said he "attacked the line of scrimmage better the other night (against the Steelers). I just think the competitive aspect of it is the way we've gone all camp. If that creates a little bit of competition over there, so be it."
Bulluck was there to make a stop on RB Gartrell Johnson as he tried to bounce to the outside.
* * * *
THE BACKUPS
During 1-on-1s, in addition to the whiff on Canty, Andrews appeared to rock backward a bit early when lined up against DE Dave Tollefson. That probably would have been a false start in a live game. But Andrews did have one very good rep when he showed great punch on DT Dwayne Hendricks, who never recovered from that blow.
During team drills, Tollefson showed his hustle by chasing down RB Andre Brown from behind on a sweep the other way.
S Kenny Phillips continues to look faster and faster with every practuce. Monday, he came downfield hard, and I mean hard, to make a stop in the backfield. Terrific closing speed on that play.
Bomar tried to hit WR Tim Brown on a deep in but threw it to his back shoulder, which allowed CB Seth Williams to make a play on the ball.
DT Rocky Bernard, who absolutely blew up C Adam Koets during 1-on-1s, sniffed out a screen in team drills and stayed all over the RB to disrupt the play.
LB Bryan Kehl made a couple of nice plays toward the end of practice: a stop in the backfield and a tipped ball over the middle.
* * * *
THE YOUNG GUYS
DT Linval Joseph got penetration to make a stop in the backfield early in team drills. He later beat OL Mitch Petrus to force Petrus to grab and tackle him.
Mike Garafolo/The Star-Ledger
http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2010/08...with_a_big.html
Nice work by OL Dennis Landolt to hang in there and resist the urge to hold when LB Phillip Dilliard got a great jump off the snap. Landolt kept working and was able to recover and finish the block.
Williams had an interception during 7-on-7s. I didn’s catch the particulars because I was watching the line 1-on-1s. All I saw was Williams running down the left sideline with only one man to beat: defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.
WR Victor Cruz got CB Bruce Johnson to groan after beating him on a hook. Cruz later caught a hook in front of CB Courtney Brown.
* * * *
The passing 1-on-1s included several highlights on both sides of the ball:
--Great route by WR Hakeem Nicks on a short hook that had CB Corey Webster still running upfield. Nicks then added a deep ball past Bruce Johnson on a go route from Manning.
--Bruce Johnson did display excellent coverage earlier, though, on a short route by WR Mario Manningham.
--Cruz got scolded by offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride for either a bad read or a bad route on a short in. That ball was defensed well by CB D.J. Johnson.
--S Antrel Rolle, lined up at corner, was all over WR Duke Calhoun on a comeback. On the next play, CB Terrell Thomas blanketed Hagan.
Faust
MVP
There have been several sources that have observed that Bowe is looking good in training camp. Now he needs to carry it over to the regular season.
Thanks for the kudos!
And thanks to the guys like netnalp who have done a great job adding the Giants camp reports!
Faust
MVP
Snap Judgments: Running down preseason Week 2 winners, losers
Excerpts:
Newly acquired Oakland outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley was the star of game for the Raiders, abusing Bears offensive tackle Chris Williams with an eye-opening four sacks of Jay Cutler.
Oakland's defense had some issues defending the run against the Bears (174 yards on 25 carries), and Chicago's starting offense did put up 14 points in the first half on a pair of big plays -- an 89-yard Matt Forte run and a 22-yard Cutler-to-Johnny Knox pass. But the Raiders clearly have something coming together on defense, and when you factor in their improvement at quarterback with Jason Campbell, and the strong work they did with their 2010 draft class, the buzz that's just starting to be heard in Oakland seems legit.
• WINNER -- As a former mid-round pick, Kyle Orton has really never been the chosen one throughout his solid NFL career. But he's the guy for the foreseeable future in Denver now that the Broncos have extended his contract through 2011. No, that's not a long-term investment, but it's a start, and Orton just might make Denver look very smart this year for having him locked up.
Orton has been on fire so far this preseason, completing 68.6 percent of his passes for 261 yards and four touchdowns, and running the Broncos offense with a sophistication and familiarity he clearly lacked at times last season. The Tim Tebow experiment in Denver notwithstanding, the Broncos are Orton's team until the former Purdue Boilermaker says otherwise.
• WINNER -- LaDainian Tomlinson has been telling anyone who will listen this summer that he's healthy again and supremely motivated to prove all his doubters wrong in his first season with the Jets. I've been among the group believing Tomlinson looked to be an old 31, but I have to admit I saw something akin to the old L.T. burst in New York's 9-3 win over Carolina on Saturday night.
Tomlinson ripped off a 20-yard run up the gut against the Panthers, turning a third-and-13 situation at the New York 5 into a first down at the 25. It was the kind of run he never seemed to have in him last season, when he rushed for career lows in yards (730) and average gain (3.3), with just 20 receptions for 154 yards. Tomlinson finished with 26 yards on three carries against Carolina, adding a pair of catches for two yards.
For a guy who rarely played in the preseason while he was a Charger for nine seasons, it still seems odd to watch L.T. in action in August. But the Tomlinson we saw the other night in Charlotte was familiar all the same.
• LOSER -- It's not particularly fair, but the leash on Matt Leinart is going to be short enough this year in Arizona that he'll have to endure the criticism and questions that come with even one so-so preseason performance. Like the one he turned in Monday night in a 24-3 loss at Tennessee.
Leinart was 4 of 6 for 28 yards against the Titans, but the Arizona offense looked sloppy with him in the game and failed to generate even one first down on his three series of work. Predictably, Leinart's lack of success, his body language, and his leadership skills were picked apart the rest of the evening on the ESPN telecast.
Leinart repeatedly told a sideline reporter in the second half that he was "fine,'' but the reality is no one will let him be fine this season after a showing like that one. He just doesn't have enough credit in the bank yet, and that means he can't afford mediocrity. This year is going to double as a week-to-week referendum on his future in Arizona, and Leinart has very little margin for error.
• WINNER -- He played only six snaps Thursday night at Atlanta, but that was all we needed to see to realize that Wes Welker is back, and because he is, the Patriots offense might be, too. More than anyone this side of Tom Brady, Welker is the guy who makes things go in New England and his full-speed return from last season's Week 17 ACL injury was a big part of the Patriots' plan for success in 2010.
Forget all the medical marvel stuff. These days, Welker's return from an ACL injury is impressive, but not the stuff of miracles. The significance is that he was healthy enough to catch two passes for 20 yards in the Patriots' second preseason game, and that means there will be no need to ease him into the regular season whatsoever. New England can relax and know that Welker, who led the NFL with 346 catches over the past three seasons, will be ready to handle anything they throw at him from Week 1 on. In the three-team AFC East race that we all expect to unfold, that's a huge comfort for the Patriots.
• LOSER -- In the what-a-difference-a-year-makes department, the Browns look like a competitive team this summer. But even in the rain that soaked Cleveland in Saturday night's 19-17 loss to the visiting Rams, five turnovers is entirely too many. The Browns lost three fumbles and threw two interceptions, paving the way for St. Louis to win despite gaining just 178 yards of offense.
I suppose the best news out of all those mistakes was that Cleveland starting quarterback Jake Delhomme only added one to the turnover total. As you might recall, giving the ball away was kind of his downfall last year in Carolina. Delhomme fumbled twice, but recovered one of those bobbles. He and four other Browns all had one turnover apiece against the punchless Rams.
• WINNER -- The Saints offense must have sent shivers through the rest of the NFL with its showing Saturday night at home against Houston. The defending Super Bowl champs scored touchdowns on four of their six first-half possessions en route to a 38-20 dismantling of the Texans.
The Saints were the picture of balance in rolling up 409 yards of offense. They threw for 211 and ran for 198, with 15 first downs on the ground compared to 12 through the air. On third downs, New Orleans was a sharp 8 of 16, and even converted all three of its fourth-down tries.
For now, the dreaded Super Bowl hangover effect appears to be a preseason storyline in search of some evidence in New Orleans.
• LOSER -- It's only the preseason, but we still have yet to see even a glimpse of the Tony Romo who threw for 26 touchdowns and nearly 4,500 yards for Dallas last season, with just nine interceptions and a career-high 97.6 passer rating. In the Cowboys' first three preseason games, Romo has completed five, four and four passes, with a 13 of 28 showing overall for 141 yards.
Romo was just 4 of 11 in the 16-14 Dallas win at San Diego this weekend, for 30 yards with both a touchdown and an interception. He threw off his back foot on several occasions, as the Chargers hurried or hit him, and never once looked comfortably in the flow of the game. With everyone considering Dallas to be one of the NFC's strongest Super Bowl contenders, Romo only has a couple more weeks to find his game. At the moment, he looks like he's feeling the pressure, both literally and figuratively.
Excerpts:
Newly acquired Oakland outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley was the star of game for the Raiders, abusing Bears offensive tackle Chris Williams with an eye-opening four sacks of Jay Cutler.
Oakland's defense had some issues defending the run against the Bears (174 yards on 25 carries), and Chicago's starting offense did put up 14 points in the first half on a pair of big plays -- an 89-yard Matt Forte run and a 22-yard Cutler-to-Johnny Knox pass. But the Raiders clearly have something coming together on defense, and when you factor in their improvement at quarterback with Jason Campbell, and the strong work they did with their 2010 draft class, the buzz that's just starting to be heard in Oakland seems legit.
• WINNER -- As a former mid-round pick, Kyle Orton has really never been the chosen one throughout his solid NFL career. But he's the guy for the foreseeable future in Denver now that the Broncos have extended his contract through 2011. No, that's not a long-term investment, but it's a start, and Orton just might make Denver look very smart this year for having him locked up.
Orton has been on fire so far this preseason, completing 68.6 percent of his passes for 261 yards and four touchdowns, and running the Broncos offense with a sophistication and familiarity he clearly lacked at times last season. The Tim Tebow experiment in Denver notwithstanding, the Broncos are Orton's team until the former Purdue Boilermaker says otherwise.
• WINNER -- LaDainian Tomlinson has been telling anyone who will listen this summer that he's healthy again and supremely motivated to prove all his doubters wrong in his first season with the Jets. I've been among the group believing Tomlinson looked to be an old 31, but I have to admit I saw something akin to the old L.T. burst in New York's 9-3 win over Carolina on Saturday night.
Tomlinson ripped off a 20-yard run up the gut against the Panthers, turning a third-and-13 situation at the New York 5 into a first down at the 25. It was the kind of run he never seemed to have in him last season, when he rushed for career lows in yards (730) and average gain (3.3), with just 20 receptions for 154 yards. Tomlinson finished with 26 yards on three carries against Carolina, adding a pair of catches for two yards.
For a guy who rarely played in the preseason while he was a Charger for nine seasons, it still seems odd to watch L.T. in action in August. But the Tomlinson we saw the other night in Charlotte was familiar all the same.
• LOSER -- It's not particularly fair, but the leash on Matt Leinart is going to be short enough this year in Arizona that he'll have to endure the criticism and questions that come with even one so-so preseason performance. Like the one he turned in Monday night in a 24-3 loss at Tennessee.
Leinart was 4 of 6 for 28 yards against the Titans, but the Arizona offense looked sloppy with him in the game and failed to generate even one first down on his three series of work. Predictably, Leinart's lack of success, his body language, and his leadership skills were picked apart the rest of the evening on the ESPN telecast.
Leinart repeatedly told a sideline reporter in the second half that he was "fine,'' but the reality is no one will let him be fine this season after a showing like that one. He just doesn't have enough credit in the bank yet, and that means he can't afford mediocrity. This year is going to double as a week-to-week referendum on his future in Arizona, and Leinart has very little margin for error.
• WINNER -- He played only six snaps Thursday night at Atlanta, but that was all we needed to see to realize that Wes Welker is back, and because he is, the Patriots offense might be, too. More than anyone this side of Tom Brady, Welker is the guy who makes things go in New England and his full-speed return from last season's Week 17 ACL injury was a big part of the Patriots' plan for success in 2010.
Forget all the medical marvel stuff. These days, Welker's return from an ACL injury is impressive, but not the stuff of miracles. The significance is that he was healthy enough to catch two passes for 20 yards in the Patriots' second preseason game, and that means there will be no need to ease him into the regular season whatsoever. New England can relax and know that Welker, who led the NFL with 346 catches over the past three seasons, will be ready to handle anything they throw at him from Week 1 on. In the three-team AFC East race that we all expect to unfold, that's a huge comfort for the Patriots.
• LOSER -- In the what-a-difference-a-year-makes department, the Browns look like a competitive team this summer. But even in the rain that soaked Cleveland in Saturday night's 19-17 loss to the visiting Rams, five turnovers is entirely too many. The Browns lost three fumbles and threw two interceptions, paving the way for St. Louis to win despite gaining just 178 yards of offense.
I suppose the best news out of all those mistakes was that Cleveland starting quarterback Jake Delhomme only added one to the turnover total. As you might recall, giving the ball away was kind of his downfall last year in Carolina. Delhomme fumbled twice, but recovered one of those bobbles. He and four other Browns all had one turnover apiece against the punchless Rams.
• WINNER -- The Saints offense must have sent shivers through the rest of the NFL with its showing Saturday night at home against Houston. The defending Super Bowl champs scored touchdowns on four of their six first-half possessions en route to a 38-20 dismantling of the Texans.
The Saints were the picture of balance in rolling up 409 yards of offense. They threw for 211 and ran for 198, with 15 first downs on the ground compared to 12 through the air. On third downs, New Orleans was a sharp 8 of 16, and even converted all three of its fourth-down tries.
For now, the dreaded Super Bowl hangover effect appears to be a preseason storyline in search of some evidence in New Orleans.
• LOSER -- It's only the preseason, but we still have yet to see even a glimpse of the Tony Romo who threw for 26 touchdowns and nearly 4,500 yards for Dallas last season, with just nine interceptions and a career-high 97.6 passer rating. In the Cowboys' first three preseason games, Romo has completed five, four and four passes, with a 13 of 28 showing overall for 141 yards.
Romo was just 4 of 11 in the 16-14 Dallas win at San Diego this weekend, for 30 yards with both a touchdown and an interception. He threw off his back foot on several occasions, as the Chargers hurried or hit him, and never once looked comfortably in the flow of the game. With everyone considering Dallas to be one of the NFC's strongest Super Bowl contenders, Romo only has a couple more weeks to find his game. At the moment, he looks like he's feeling the pressure, both literally and figuratively.
Faust
MVP
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id...econd-year-jump
By Kevin Seifert
Time was running out on the Detroit Lions' first-team offense Saturday night. One minute, 20 seconds remained before halftime at Invesco Field, after which coaches planned to start substituting backup players for the remainder of this preseason contest.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford had led the Lions to a touchdown on one drive, but two others stalled in the red zone. Who wouldn't want to end the night with a touchdown?
Stafford seemed to have that opportunity on first down from the Denver Broncos' 11-yard line. Receiver Nate Burleson was running a fade route into the end zone, and anyone who has seen Burleson play knows he can leap for a back-corner score as well as anyone. I'm sure Stafford was tempted, if ever so briefly.
But here's what happened: The Broncos had Burleson in bracket coverage -- one man short and one man deep. It would have required an extraordinary two-way effort to dial up a touchdown. What did Stafford do? He threw it away.
I'm going to be careful about reading too much into one preseason pass. But watching it brought to mind a conversation with Stafford during this year's training camp tour. When I broached the 20 interceptions he threw in 10 games last season, Stafford said: "A lot of times, they were just me trying to make a play when it wasn't there."
Learning to give up on a play is one of the most difficult lessons for a young quarterback, particularly those like Stafford with big arms and huge ambition. But because he lived to play another down, as coaches like to say, Stafford kept the Lions in position to put three points on the board. (They actually should have had a touchdown on the next play, but tight end Tony Scheffler dropped a perfect pass.)
As we discussed earlier this month, the Lions are counting on a substantial jump from Stafford in his second season as their starter. In order to meet that expectation, he must dramatically lower his interception rate -- one that was actually higher on a per-game average than the NFL leader (Jay Cutler with 26). Stafford, in fact, was one of two quarterbacks in the past 10 years to throw 20 interceptions in less than 400 attempts. If you view the world in a 16-game spectrum, consider that Stafford was on a 32-interception pace if he had played the entire season.
There are two ways to view that performance. The Lions, as you'll see in a bit, believe Stafford was the victim of being on a bad team with inferior talent that was behind too often. Others, most notably our friends at Football Outsiders, cast serious doubts about his long-term viability based on the interception rate and 53.3 completion percentage.
Football Outsiders (FO) rates quarterbacks in a system that compares them to the NFL average. On that scale, Stafford ranked No. 40 among quarterbacks last season. Former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell was the only quarterback ranked behind him. In its 2010 Football Almanac, FO notes that only one established quarterback -- the Washington Redskins' Donovan McNabb -- had a worse rookie season based on that ratings system.
I'm willing to give Stafford a one-year pass on his completion percentage, even though we discussed this issue before the 2009 draft. I know what my own eyes told me about the Lions' slick-handed receiving corps last season. But he and the Lions must take an active role in lowering his interception rate, and during my visit to Detroit, here is the way I understood their strategy.
Stafford studied each interception during the offseason. His conclusion: The biggest problem was impatience on third-and-long. Indeed, if you look at the chart accompanying this post, you see nearly half of his interceptions came on third-and-5 or longer.
"I've got to be better at trusting our backs," he said. "You just throw a checkdown and let them run and try to go get the first down, knowing that the best teams in the league convert 35 percent on third-and-long. Not everybody's making it every time. The goal this year is to stay out of that as much as possible."
That approach makes a lot of sense, and Stafford's analytic approach is one of the reasons coach Jim Schwartz is so enamored with him. When you talk to Schwartz about Stafford, you find a deep loyalty and a bit of sensitivity to criticism of a rookie's performance on a 2-14 team.
Ask Schwartz how Stafford could throw fewer interceptions, and this is what you get: "It's putting more talented players around him. It's playing better defense and being a better team."
Schwartz spoke for some five minutes about Stafford. Read some excerpts below and tell me if it doesn't sound like a coach who considers Stafford his best asset rather than a potential liability.
"Generally, the quarterbacks that throw a lot of interceptions are on losing teams," Schwartz said. "I don't know what came first, the chicken or the egg. But I'll tell you a good recipe for throwing an interception: Be down by 17 points with four minutes to go in the game and so you need three scores and you don't have a whole lot of guys that you can go to and get open.
"And as a result, the defense knows you have to throw it. You can't be smart and make good decisions because that's going to cause you to lose the game. You need three scores in four minutes. You've got to get a chunk. You can't say, 'The route we wanted wasn't there, so let's take the checkdown, keep the chains moving and let's go.' You're going to run out of time. A lot of that happened last year.
"Also, we had a lot of situations that was third-and-extra long. Penalties, sacks, lost yardage plays, whatever it was. ... That's a good recipe for throwing interceptions.
"And Matt had a lot of those when he tried to make something happen and he didn't. And in all honesty, we weren't good enough as a team. There are some teams that are good enough. They get to third-and-20 and they run a draw. And they'll say, 'Maybe it pops through, but we're not going to make a mistake and we'll punt if we have to.' We weren't in that place as a team.
"... Matt knew where we were as a team. Part of this is his awareness, part of this is putting better players around him, giving him answers, guys he can go to with the ball. And then feel confident and all those people stay healthy. If you do that, I think you'll see his interception numbers drastically decrease. He's an accurate passer. He's smart. Generally, interceptions that are the fault of the quarterback are from an inaccurate throw or poor decisions. The other ones, they are put in a bad spot."
Whew. Well, the chart shows us that 14 of Stafford's 20 interceptions came when the Lions were trailing; seven were during desperation mode in the fourth quarter. Are these reasonable explanations for the highest per-game interception rate in the NFL last season? Or is it excuse making from a team that has invested $41.7 million? We'll soon find out. The second-year jump is an essential part of any elite quarterback's growth.
By Kevin Seifert
Time was running out on the Detroit Lions' first-team offense Saturday night. One minute, 20 seconds remained before halftime at Invesco Field, after which coaches planned to start substituting backup players for the remainder of this preseason contest.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford had led the Lions to a touchdown on one drive, but two others stalled in the red zone. Who wouldn't want to end the night with a touchdown?
Stafford seemed to have that opportunity on first down from the Denver Broncos' 11-yard line. Receiver Nate Burleson was running a fade route into the end zone, and anyone who has seen Burleson play knows he can leap for a back-corner score as well as anyone. I'm sure Stafford was tempted, if ever so briefly.
But here's what happened: The Broncos had Burleson in bracket coverage -- one man short and one man deep. It would have required an extraordinary two-way effort to dial up a touchdown. What did Stafford do? He threw it away.
I'm going to be careful about reading too much into one preseason pass. But watching it brought to mind a conversation with Stafford during this year's training camp tour. When I broached the 20 interceptions he threw in 10 games last season, Stafford said: "A lot of times, they were just me trying to make a play when it wasn't there."
Learning to give up on a play is one of the most difficult lessons for a young quarterback, particularly those like Stafford with big arms and huge ambition. But because he lived to play another down, as coaches like to say, Stafford kept the Lions in position to put three points on the board. (They actually should have had a touchdown on the next play, but tight end Tony Scheffler dropped a perfect pass.)
As we discussed earlier this month, the Lions are counting on a substantial jump from Stafford in his second season as their starter. In order to meet that expectation, he must dramatically lower his interception rate -- one that was actually higher on a per-game average than the NFL leader (Jay Cutler with 26). Stafford, in fact, was one of two quarterbacks in the past 10 years to throw 20 interceptions in less than 400 attempts. If you view the world in a 16-game spectrum, consider that Stafford was on a 32-interception pace if he had played the entire season.
There are two ways to view that performance. The Lions, as you'll see in a bit, believe Stafford was the victim of being on a bad team with inferior talent that was behind too often. Others, most notably our friends at Football Outsiders, cast serious doubts about his long-term viability based on the interception rate and 53.3 completion percentage.
Football Outsiders (FO) rates quarterbacks in a system that compares them to the NFL average. On that scale, Stafford ranked No. 40 among quarterbacks last season. Former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell was the only quarterback ranked behind him. In its 2010 Football Almanac, FO notes that only one established quarterback -- the Washington Redskins' Donovan McNabb -- had a worse rookie season based on that ratings system.
I'm willing to give Stafford a one-year pass on his completion percentage, even though we discussed this issue before the 2009 draft. I know what my own eyes told me about the Lions' slick-handed receiving corps last season. But he and the Lions must take an active role in lowering his interception rate, and during my visit to Detroit, here is the way I understood their strategy.
Stafford studied each interception during the offseason. His conclusion: The biggest problem was impatience on third-and-long. Indeed, if you look at the chart accompanying this post, you see nearly half of his interceptions came on third-and-5 or longer.
"I've got to be better at trusting our backs," he said. "You just throw a checkdown and let them run and try to go get the first down, knowing that the best teams in the league convert 35 percent on third-and-long. Not everybody's making it every time. The goal this year is to stay out of that as much as possible."
That approach makes a lot of sense, and Stafford's analytic approach is one of the reasons coach Jim Schwartz is so enamored with him. When you talk to Schwartz about Stafford, you find a deep loyalty and a bit of sensitivity to criticism of a rookie's performance on a 2-14 team.
Ask Schwartz how Stafford could throw fewer interceptions, and this is what you get: "It's putting more talented players around him. It's playing better defense and being a better team."
Schwartz spoke for some five minutes about Stafford. Read some excerpts below and tell me if it doesn't sound like a coach who considers Stafford his best asset rather than a potential liability.
"Generally, the quarterbacks that throw a lot of interceptions are on losing teams," Schwartz said. "I don't know what came first, the chicken or the egg. But I'll tell you a good recipe for throwing an interception: Be down by 17 points with four minutes to go in the game and so you need three scores and you don't have a whole lot of guys that you can go to and get open.
"And as a result, the defense knows you have to throw it. You can't be smart and make good decisions because that's going to cause you to lose the game. You need three scores in four minutes. You've got to get a chunk. You can't say, 'The route we wanted wasn't there, so let's take the checkdown, keep the chains moving and let's go.' You're going to run out of time. A lot of that happened last year.
"Also, we had a lot of situations that was third-and-extra long. Penalties, sacks, lost yardage plays, whatever it was. ... That's a good recipe for throwing interceptions.
"And Matt had a lot of those when he tried to make something happen and he didn't. And in all honesty, we weren't good enough as a team. There are some teams that are good enough. They get to third-and-20 and they run a draw. And they'll say, 'Maybe it pops through, but we're not going to make a mistake and we'll punt if we have to.' We weren't in that place as a team.
"... Matt knew where we were as a team. Part of this is his awareness, part of this is putting better players around him, giving him answers, guys he can go to with the ball. And then feel confident and all those people stay healthy. If you do that, I think you'll see his interception numbers drastically decrease. He's an accurate passer. He's smart. Generally, interceptions that are the fault of the quarterback are from an inaccurate throw or poor decisions. The other ones, they are put in a bad spot."
Whew. Well, the chart shows us that 14 of Stafford's 20 interceptions came when the Lions were trailing; seven were during desperation mode in the fourth quarter. Are these reasonable explanations for the highest per-game interception rate in the NFL last season? Or is it excuse making from a team that has invested $41.7 million? We'll soon find out. The second-year jump is an essential part of any elite quarterback's growth.
Faust
MVP
Postcard from camp: Raiders
Excerpts:
Three Observations
1. It would be an overstatement to say there's a swagger about the Raiders, but there is an air of quiet confidence that should not be confused with the false bravado of recent years, when the players seemed to talk the talk in hopes that they might eventually believe it. This year, the Raiders believe they're going to be good, that their streak of seven straight years with 11 or more losses will finally end.
New offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, in particular, keeps the energy level high with his constant barking. Despite the heat Tuesday, he kept reminding players to jog to where they wanted to go. Walking was not an option. His ability to keep his foot on the backside of players is making them accountable, even defenders whom he'll call out when they fail to compete at the level they should. He's not above talking trash to them, letting them know that one of his players got the better of a showdown. It's entertaining stuff not only for onlookers, but also the players themselves.
2. QB Jason Campbell, acquired in an April trade from Washington, has upgraded the passing game. But the Raiders still are lagging in that area because they haven't been able to consistently get everyone on the field at the same time. Chaz Schilens, the projected No. 1, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this week and is out indefinitely. Previously, he was limited in camp after missing eight games last season because of a broken bone in his foot.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, the seventh pick of the 2009 draft, missed four practices last week because of "fatigue." Coincidentally, the layoff came after a noticeable dropoff in performance. DHB had only nine catches in 11 starts last season, but showed improvement early in camp. Then he hit a wall. On Tuesday, after sitting out the practices, he looked fresh and made a couple of nice catches in his first day back.
Meantime, Campbell says it hurts not having all of his receivers healthy. "We have an opportunity to be a real special unit together, but with one guy here and a couple of guys out and a couple of others coming back, sometimes it gets tough to get a comfort level," he says. "You've got to be in practice to build that comfort level. Sometimes they're not there for various reasons, like injuries. It's more important to get healthy."
3. Speaking of injuries: Running back Darren McFadden returned to practice Tuesday after missing two weeks with a hamstring injury. He looked like someone well-rested, showing a burst that had teammates ooohing and ahhhing during one team drill.
This is a key year for McFadden, the fourth pick of the 2008 draft. He was slowed by injuries in each of his first seasons, missing seven games and being limited in nearly a dozen others. He spent the summer training at the Michael Johnson Performance center in Texas and looks physically bigger in his upper body. To date, however, his injuries have been lower body (toe, knee and hamstring).
The Raiders released running back Justin Fargas in hopes of creating more opportunities for McFadden and Michael Bush, who is considered stronger between the tackles and better-built to be an every-down back. McFadden has surpassed 14 carries just twice in 25 career games, in part because of health issues.
Rookie Report
The team's top two picks, middle linebacker Rolando McClain and defensive end Lamarr Houston, have definitely caught the eye of the team's top defender: cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
"He's a rookie so he's not perfect," Asomugha says of McClain, "but to me he looks really good. He's a smart linebacker, physical guy. You can tell that he has been taught well. There are those guys that you see and they have that innate, football IQ. You can tell he comes from good teaching. He does some things every now and then that a fifth-year player doesn't even read or doesn't know. He's good in coverage, too. And Lamarr Houston is a quick guy. Oh, my goodness. [He's been] very impressive."
Both are running with the starting defense.
New Face, New Place
The Raiders have had a busy offseason. The comings include new starters at QB (Jason Campbell, acquired in a trade with Washington), middle linebacker (Rolando McClain, the 8th pick of the draft), outside linebacker (Kamerion Wimbley; trade, Cleveland), defensive end (Lamarr Houston, second-round pick) and a potential run-stuffing defensive tackle (John Henderson, free agent). Not to be overlooked is the hiring of offensive coordinator Hue Jackson.
The goings include their 2009 opening-day starting QB (JaMarcus Russell), primary running back (Justin Fargas), most experienced wide receiver (Javon Walker) and leading tackler (Kirk Morrison).
Memorable Image
Campbell working after practice with second-year wideout Louis Murphy -- not just working, but demanding that certain routes be run certain ways, then explaining why. Teammates say that Campbell stays behind every day to work on his game.
"It's important to him to be good," says coach Tom Cable. "I think he came here thirsting for a fresh start, a chance to start over and make a new name for himself, if you will. I love the fact that he comes out every day and wants to be good and tries to do exactly what he's coached to do and tries to push the envelope to be what you want him to be."
You could count on one hand (no hands?) the number of times that Russell stayed behind to work with receivers. Thus far Campbell, who is the son of a coach, has been everything that Russell was not. Which is exactly what the coaches and players wanted.
Parting Shots
1. Oakland tied for last in the league with 17 offensive touchdowns and scored just 197 points overall, tying for second-fewest in the league. But Cable says he believes those struggles will vanish this year.
"Offensively, I think we're finding an identity that we can score points and we can attack you,, that we have some toughness about us," he says.
Oakland has scored 49 points in exhibition wins at Dallas and Chicago. That they did it with playmakers such as McFadden and Schilens on the sideline is even more reason for optimism.
2. Tackle John Henderson was signed to help shore up a run defense that has not ranked higher than 22nd the past seven seasons. But Cable says Henderson's veteran leadership has been an unexpected boon. Henderson currently is running with the second team, but the club has packages to take advantage of his specific abilities.
3. Another smart offseason move was the hiring of Greg Biekert as an assistant linebackers coach. Biekert was a tough, heady linebacker with the Raiders from 1993 to 2001, and his presence should help with the development of McClain.
4. The Raiders are one of the last teams to break camp, which is a concern to Asomugha.
"We've been in camp for a while, and I just don't want us to get fatigued by that," he says. "I also don't want us to get off track. We've won our first two preseason games, but in 2006 I was on a team that went 4-1 in the preseason and we won two games in the regular season. We just have to stay the course, and I believe with the types of guys that we have that we will do that."
5. The Raiders didn't make changes on their offensive line because, according to Cable, he knows the players' strengths and weaknesses and believes they will be put in positions to succeed this year. The line took a lot of heat last season, but some of that was due to Russell, the former No. 1 pick who blew protection calls and sometimes held the ball to the surprise of the line when he was supposed to release it on a three-step drop. Campbell doesn't figure to make those same mistakes. He knows that trust is an important factor to an offense's success, and that when he tells the line the ball will be out in three steps, it will. The Raiders also believe that Campbell's ability to complete passes that Russell did not will create running lanes and keep defenses off-balance.
Excerpts:
Three Observations
1. It would be an overstatement to say there's a swagger about the Raiders, but there is an air of quiet confidence that should not be confused with the false bravado of recent years, when the players seemed to talk the talk in hopes that they might eventually believe it. This year, the Raiders believe they're going to be good, that their streak of seven straight years with 11 or more losses will finally end.
New offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, in particular, keeps the energy level high with his constant barking. Despite the heat Tuesday, he kept reminding players to jog to where they wanted to go. Walking was not an option. His ability to keep his foot on the backside of players is making them accountable, even defenders whom he'll call out when they fail to compete at the level they should. He's not above talking trash to them, letting them know that one of his players got the better of a showdown. It's entertaining stuff not only for onlookers, but also the players themselves.
2. QB Jason Campbell, acquired in an April trade from Washington, has upgraded the passing game. But the Raiders still are lagging in that area because they haven't been able to consistently get everyone on the field at the same time. Chaz Schilens, the projected No. 1, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this week and is out indefinitely. Previously, he was limited in camp after missing eight games last season because of a broken bone in his foot.
Darrius Heyward-Bey, the seventh pick of the 2009 draft, missed four practices last week because of "fatigue." Coincidentally, the layoff came after a noticeable dropoff in performance. DHB had only nine catches in 11 starts last season, but showed improvement early in camp. Then he hit a wall. On Tuesday, after sitting out the practices, he looked fresh and made a couple of nice catches in his first day back.
Meantime, Campbell says it hurts not having all of his receivers healthy. "We have an opportunity to be a real special unit together, but with one guy here and a couple of guys out and a couple of others coming back, sometimes it gets tough to get a comfort level," he says. "You've got to be in practice to build that comfort level. Sometimes they're not there for various reasons, like injuries. It's more important to get healthy."
3. Speaking of injuries: Running back Darren McFadden returned to practice Tuesday after missing two weeks with a hamstring injury. He looked like someone well-rested, showing a burst that had teammates ooohing and ahhhing during one team drill.
This is a key year for McFadden, the fourth pick of the 2008 draft. He was slowed by injuries in each of his first seasons, missing seven games and being limited in nearly a dozen others. He spent the summer training at the Michael Johnson Performance center in Texas and looks physically bigger in his upper body. To date, however, his injuries have been lower body (toe, knee and hamstring).
The Raiders released running back Justin Fargas in hopes of creating more opportunities for McFadden and Michael Bush, who is considered stronger between the tackles and better-built to be an every-down back. McFadden has surpassed 14 carries just twice in 25 career games, in part because of health issues.
Rookie Report
The team's top two picks, middle linebacker Rolando McClain and defensive end Lamarr Houston, have definitely caught the eye of the team's top defender: cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
"He's a rookie so he's not perfect," Asomugha says of McClain, "but to me he looks really good. He's a smart linebacker, physical guy. You can tell that he has been taught well. There are those guys that you see and they have that innate, football IQ. You can tell he comes from good teaching. He does some things every now and then that a fifth-year player doesn't even read or doesn't know. He's good in coverage, too. And Lamarr Houston is a quick guy. Oh, my goodness. [He's been] very impressive."
Both are running with the starting defense.
New Face, New Place
The Raiders have had a busy offseason. The comings include new starters at QB (Jason Campbell, acquired in a trade with Washington), middle linebacker (Rolando McClain, the 8th pick of the draft), outside linebacker (Kamerion Wimbley; trade, Cleveland), defensive end (Lamarr Houston, second-round pick) and a potential run-stuffing defensive tackle (John Henderson, free agent). Not to be overlooked is the hiring of offensive coordinator Hue Jackson.
The goings include their 2009 opening-day starting QB (JaMarcus Russell), primary running back (Justin Fargas), most experienced wide receiver (Javon Walker) and leading tackler (Kirk Morrison).
Memorable Image
Campbell working after practice with second-year wideout Louis Murphy -- not just working, but demanding that certain routes be run certain ways, then explaining why. Teammates say that Campbell stays behind every day to work on his game.
"It's important to him to be good," says coach Tom Cable. "I think he came here thirsting for a fresh start, a chance to start over and make a new name for himself, if you will. I love the fact that he comes out every day and wants to be good and tries to do exactly what he's coached to do and tries to push the envelope to be what you want him to be."
You could count on one hand (no hands?) the number of times that Russell stayed behind to work with receivers. Thus far Campbell, who is the son of a coach, has been everything that Russell was not. Which is exactly what the coaches and players wanted.
Parting Shots
1. Oakland tied for last in the league with 17 offensive touchdowns and scored just 197 points overall, tying for second-fewest in the league. But Cable says he believes those struggles will vanish this year.
"Offensively, I think we're finding an identity that we can score points and we can attack you,, that we have some toughness about us," he says.
Oakland has scored 49 points in exhibition wins at Dallas and Chicago. That they did it with playmakers such as McFadden and Schilens on the sideline is even more reason for optimism.
2. Tackle John Henderson was signed to help shore up a run defense that has not ranked higher than 22nd the past seven seasons. But Cable says Henderson's veteran leadership has been an unexpected boon. Henderson currently is running with the second team, but the club has packages to take advantage of his specific abilities.
3. Another smart offseason move was the hiring of Greg Biekert as an assistant linebackers coach. Biekert was a tough, heady linebacker with the Raiders from 1993 to 2001, and his presence should help with the development of McClain.
4. The Raiders are one of the last teams to break camp, which is a concern to Asomugha.
"We've been in camp for a while, and I just don't want us to get fatigued by that," he says. "I also don't want us to get off track. We've won our first two preseason games, but in 2006 I was on a team that went 4-1 in the preseason and we won two games in the regular season. We just have to stay the course, and I believe with the types of guys that we have that we will do that."
5. The Raiders didn't make changes on their offensive line because, according to Cable, he knows the players' strengths and weaknesses and believes they will be put in positions to succeed this year. The line took a lot of heat last season, but some of that was due to Russell, the former No. 1 pick who blew protection calls and sometimes held the ball to the surprise of the line when he was supposed to release it on a three-step drop. Campbell doesn't figure to make those same mistakes. He knows that trust is an important factor to an offense's success, and that when he tells the line the ball will be out in three steps, it will. The Raiders also believe that Campbell's ability to complete passes that Russell did not will create running lanes and keep defenses off-balance.
Last edited by a moderator:
Jayrod
Footballguy
I really like what this team is doing this year and I think they will win the weakest division in football. Lots of improvement and that defense was already pretty good.
Dude. The gratitude is more than well deserved. This has easily been the most helpful, best maintained thread going on over four weeks now. Thanks again to you, netnalp and all the other contributors.
kutta
Footballguy
It's fool's gold. Rolle can't cover as a corner, so you might want to put a call into Coughlin and tell him to keep him at safety.
Faust
MVP
Stafford, Wallace shine in second week of the preseason
The second week of the preseason had several interesting developments and some eye-opening performances that will affect fantasy player values. If you missed any of the games over the weekend (then you need NFL Preseason Live), here's a breakdown of the important news and notes you'll need to help prepare for your upcoming drafts.
Bengals 22, Eagles 9:
I continue to be impressed with Kevin Kolb, who went 11-for-17 for 126 yards. I think he'll be a low-end fantasy starter this season. ... DeSean Jackson had four catches for 74 yards and has an obvious rapport with Kolb. ... Jeremy Maclin suffered a shoulder contusion, but he Tweeted that he "can't wait for K.C. Friday". He should be fine to draft. ... LeSean McCoy didn't have huge numbers, but I still think he's being undervalued in PPR drafts. He could catch 50 passes in the Eagles offense. ... Carson Palmer's arm strength doesn't seem to be an issue, but his accuracy still needs to be questioned. He was 15-for-23 with two interceptions. Despite the talent around him, he's still no more than a No. 2 fantasy quarterback. ... Terrell Owens, who posted three catches for 67 yards, is being targeted more often than Chad Ochocinco this preseason. I'm not touching Ochocinco unless he's my No. 3 fantasy wideout. Anything more and he'll be a potentially huge disappointment. Ochocinco had just two catches for 29 yards.
Ravens 23, Redskins 3:
Joe Flacco had a ho-hum stat line (9-for-16, 72 yards), but I still think he's a nice fantasy sleeper. ... When the Ravens defense forced a turnover and ran the ball down to the Redskins' 1-yard line, Willis McGahee, not Ray Rice, was used in the goal-line package. Looks like McGahee will continue his role as a touchdown vulture. ... Rice saw limited work (three carries, 17 yards), but all reports on him during training camp have been glowing. He's worth a top-five pick in all drafts. ... Donovan McNabb threw for 206 yards, but completed just 42 percent of his passes and was pressured often. He's a borderline No. 1 fantasy quarterback, but the offensive line needs to do a better job in pass protection if he's going to make it through the season. ... Larry Johnson started ahead of Clinton Portis, but rushed for just four yards on eight carries. Portis is the back to draft in fantasy leagues, but I don't like him as more than a flex starter. ... Devin Thomas caught just one pass for 14 yards and had two balls go off his hands. I still think he'll start ahead of Joey Galloway, but Thomas isn't worth more than a late-round flier.
Steelers 24, Giants 17:
Ben Roethlisberger completed six passes for 76 yards and threw an interception, but still looked good overall. He's going to miss at least four games to start the season, but he should still be a No. 1 fantasy quarterback upon his return. Target him in the middle rounds. ... Isaac Redman continued to look good, rushing for 34 yards and a touchdown on six carries. With Jonathan Dwyer injured, Redman looks like the best bet to start the season as Rashard Mendenhall's fantasy handcuff. ... NFL.com sleeper Mike Wallace was impressive, catching two passes for 80 yards and scoring on a 68-yard strike from Byron Leftwich. Wallace is well worth a middle-round look. ... Ahmad Bradshaw (six carries, 28 yards, TD) is clearly the best fantasy option in the Giants backfield. He should be drafted ahead of Brandon Jacobs, who missed the game with a stiff neck. ... We didn't get to see much of Hakeem Nicks, who was ejected from the game early after throwing punches with Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor. ... So much for Victor Cruz as a sleeper -- he had two catches for 30 yards.
Buccaneers 20, Chiefs 15:
Matt Cassel looked solid, completing 14-of-19 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown. The fact that Charlie Weis will be calling the plays makes Cassel a more attractive sleeper. ... Thomas Jones started and rushed for 29 yards on eight carries with a lost fumble. I expect Jamaal Charles, who is averaging seven yards a carry in the preseason, to overtake him on the depth chart sooner than later. Jones is still worth a second-round pick. ... Josh Freeman suffered a broken thumb and will miss the remainder of the preseason. The injury means little in fantasy leagues, though, as Freeman was barely even draftable in most formats. ... Kareem Huggins (eight carries, 44 yards) continues to outplay Derrick Ward and is pushing for a move up the depth chart. He's someone to watch in the final weeks of preseason. ... Mike Williams had three catches for 44 yards and has emerged as the lone Bucs wideout worth a look in seasonal fantasy leagues. Fellow rookie Arrelious Benn was playing special teams until the final quarter and hasn't been good enough to consider outside of dynasty and deeper leagues.
Dolphins 27, Jaguars 26:
Chad Henne was the story of the game, completing 11-of-14 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Two of his three incomplete passes were drops, so he was clearly on target. He's a nice low-end sleeper and worth a late-round look on draft day. .... Both of Henne's touchdown passes went to Anthony Fasano, but I still don't see him as a fantasy factor. ... Brandon Marshall had four catches for 65 yards in limited work. ... Luke McCown (152 yards, TD) had another nice game, but he's not going to pass David Garrard on the depth chart. Garrard completed 6-of-8 passes for 79 yards and threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Mike Thomas. ... Mike Sims-Walker led the Jaguars with three catches for 64 yards, so the shoulder ailment he suffered last week doesn't seem to be a problem. He's a viable No. 2 fantasy wideout.
Rams 19, Browns 17:
Sam Bradford looked unimpressive, completing 6-of-14 passes for 24 yards. Even if he opens the regular season as the starter, he'll have no more than minimal value in seasonal leagues. ... Steven Jackson made his preseason debut, rushing for 20 yards on four carries. He's still a risk coming off back surgery, but right now Jackson appears to be 100 percent. ... Despite poor weather conditions, Jake Delhomme still posted a nice stat line (127 yards, TD). Keep in mind, though, that he was facing the Rams. Delhomme still isn't worth drafting. ... Jerome Harrison got the start but was unimpressive, rushing for 13 yards on five carries. Montario Hardesty is expected to be back from a knee injury for the start of the regular season. In the meantime, Harrison will continue to start. ... Joshua Cribbs led the Browns in receptions and scored a touchdown, but he still shouldn't be drafted outside of the late rounds in standard leagues.
Saints 38, Texans 20:
Matt Schaub completed 8-of-13 passes for 117 yards and is now 13-of-16 for 195 yards with one touchdown in two preseason games. He still looks like the same quarterback who broke out for fantasy owners in 2009. ... Sleeper Arian Foster had 28 rushing yards and a touchdown and is clearly entrenched as the Texans' No. 1 back. He's now worth a low middle-round pick in drafts. ... Steve Slaton had five rushes for 19 yards and was used on two kickoff returns, which is further proof that Foster is the main man. ... Reggie Bush started and looked fantastic, rushing seven times for 49 yards with a touchdown. If he can avoid injuries, Bush should see a greater role in the offense this season. He has middle-round value. ... Pierre Thomas was also solid out of the backfield, posting 62 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown catch. He'll be worth as much as a third-round pick and could be a bargain if he falls past Round 4.
Jets 9, Panthers 3:
Mark Sanchez continued to look brutal during the preseason, completing just 5-of-10 passes for 12 yards with an ugly 56.2 passer rating. He's certainly not helping his fantasy appeal, nor the value of the receivers in the Jets offense. ... LaDainian Tomlinson had three carries for 26 yards and showed some good burst, but he's still no threat to put a serious dent into Shonn Greene's carries or fantasy value. ... Matt Moore looked shaky, completing just 6-of-17 passes for 57 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Of course, this was against a stout Jets defense. Moore still doesn't have his best option, Steve Smith, at his disposal. ... Jonathan Stewart, who is coming back from an injured heel, didn't play but isn't in danger of missing the start of the regular season. He's still a viable No. 2 fantasy back, but DeAngelo Williams remains the more attractive option. Williams had 26 yards on six carries.
Raiders 32, Bears 17:
Jason Campbell looked good, throwing for 170 yards and rushing for a touchdown. He has a very favorable schedule this season and should be a useful No. 2 fantasy quarterback. ... Michael Bush had eight carries 26 yards but hasn't solidified his role as the team's starter just yet. ... Darren McFadden missed the contest with a hamstring injury and is losing fantasy value fast. ... Zach Miller caught three passes for 32 yards and continues to be the most impressive receiver in Silver & Black. He has a ton of sleeper appeal. ... Jay Cutler completed 7-of-15 passes for 99 yards and threw a touchdown pass to fantasy sleeper Johnny Knox. Cutler should be an attractive No. 1 fantasy quarterback, as long as his offensive line holds up. ... Matt Fore made the play of the game, breaking an 89-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. While the presence of Chester Taylor could limit his numbers, Forte has a chance to rebound from a disappointing 2009 season. He'll be worth as much as a fourth-round pick in most leagues.
Cowboys 16, Chargers 14:
The Cowboys' first-team offense didn't look good in this one, but there's no need for fantasy owners to panic. On a positive note, Tony Romo did hit Miles Austin for a 9-yard touchdown. Austin isn't a one-season wonder and warrants a second- or third-round pick. He'll have another solid season. ... Marion Barber continued to start for the Cowboys, but he'll share carries with Felix Jones all season. They both had three rushing attempts against the Chargers. ... Ryan Mathews continued to impress me. He finished with 53 yards on 12 carries and also caught one pass for 13 yards and barely missed scoring a touchdown near the goal line. Despite the fact that he's a rookie, I'd still take him in the late first round. ... With Vincent Jackson still holding out, Malcom Floyd remains the default No. 1 wideout for Philip Rivers. Floyd looked good in limited time, catching three passes for 47 yards. He'll be a nice sleeper until (or if) Jackson returns to the team.
Lions 25, Broncos 20:
Matthew Stafford looked extremely impressive, completing 13-of-18 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown. He has fantasy sleeper written all over him. ... Jahvid Best is clearly the main back in the offense, and he showed why he's earned that role with two catches and 59 yards from scrimmage in limited time. There's no reason he should still be on the board past the third round of a seasonal league. ... Calvin Johnson, a major fantasy disappointment last year, hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Stafford and has scored in each of the first two preseason games. Look for Johnson to transform back into a fantasy star in 2010. ... Kyle Orton's fantasy value is down these days, but his play on the field has been solid. He completed 16-of-22 passes for 177 yards and threw two touchdowns, giving him four scoring passes during the preseason. ... If you're looking for a deep sleeper in the late rounds, take a chance on Jabar Gaffney. He hauled in six passes for 98 yards and is clearly Orton's go-to wideout. I've moved him ahead of Demaryius Thomas and Eddie Royal on NFL.com's rankings.
Packers 27, Seahawks 24:
Aaron Rodgers continues to look ridiculously good, throwing for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He has three total scores and a passer rating of more than 143.0 in his two preseason games. He's going to be the fantasy MVP this season. ... Ryan Grant, who got his bell rung last week, returned to action. ... Breakout candidate Jermichael Finley posted four catches for 48 yards and scored a touchdown. He could become an elite fantasy tight end this season and is worth a middle-round look. ... Matt Hasselbeck looked good, completing 11-of-15 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown, but it's still difficult to trust him in fantasy leagues. ... Justin Forsett got the start and was unimpressive with just 13 yards on five carries, but Leon Washington made an impact with 19 yards and a score. I still like Forsett the most out of these options, but a backfield-by-committee is imminent. ... Mike Williams had another nice game and appears to have moved ahead of rookie Golden Tate on the depth chart. Neither player is worth more than a late-round look in larger fantasy leagues.
49ers 15, Vikings 10:
So much for the preseason debut of Brett Favre -- he saw four snaps before being pulled. He has middle-round value in drafts. ... Sidney Rice (hip) was out once again and could be in danger of missing Week 1. His value is falling. ... Adrian Peterson had six carries for 17 yards. More importantly, he led the Vikings in receptions with three. He's going to see more targets with Taylor out of the mix, making him even more attractive in PPR leagues. Peterson is a top-two pick in all drafts. ... Rookie Toby Gerhart is averaging just 2.8 yards per carry during the preseason. ... The 49ers top fantasy players -- Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis -- were all held out. ... Alex Smith looked good, completing 9-of-13 passes for 88 yards in limited work. He's still no more than a No. 2 fantasy quarterback, though. ... The Niners did add Brian Westbrook last week, but rookie Anthony Dixon looked good with 20 carries, 51 yards and a touchdown. It doesn't seem like a true fantasy handcuff for Gore has been established at this point, so owners who have the talented runner need to monitor the depth chart.
The second week of the preseason had several interesting developments and some eye-opening performances that will affect fantasy player values. If you missed any of the games over the weekend (then you need NFL Preseason Live), here's a breakdown of the important news and notes you'll need to help prepare for your upcoming drafts.
Bengals 22, Eagles 9:
I continue to be impressed with Kevin Kolb, who went 11-for-17 for 126 yards. I think he'll be a low-end fantasy starter this season. ... DeSean Jackson had four catches for 74 yards and has an obvious rapport with Kolb. ... Jeremy Maclin suffered a shoulder contusion, but he Tweeted that he "can't wait for K.C. Friday". He should be fine to draft. ... LeSean McCoy didn't have huge numbers, but I still think he's being undervalued in PPR drafts. He could catch 50 passes in the Eagles offense. ... Carson Palmer's arm strength doesn't seem to be an issue, but his accuracy still needs to be questioned. He was 15-for-23 with two interceptions. Despite the talent around him, he's still no more than a No. 2 fantasy quarterback. ... Terrell Owens, who posted three catches for 67 yards, is being targeted more often than Chad Ochocinco this preseason. I'm not touching Ochocinco unless he's my No. 3 fantasy wideout. Anything more and he'll be a potentially huge disappointment. Ochocinco had just two catches for 29 yards.
Ravens 23, Redskins 3:
Joe Flacco had a ho-hum stat line (9-for-16, 72 yards), but I still think he's a nice fantasy sleeper. ... When the Ravens defense forced a turnover and ran the ball down to the Redskins' 1-yard line, Willis McGahee, not Ray Rice, was used in the goal-line package. Looks like McGahee will continue his role as a touchdown vulture. ... Rice saw limited work (three carries, 17 yards), but all reports on him during training camp have been glowing. He's worth a top-five pick in all drafts. ... Donovan McNabb threw for 206 yards, but completed just 42 percent of his passes and was pressured often. He's a borderline No. 1 fantasy quarterback, but the offensive line needs to do a better job in pass protection if he's going to make it through the season. ... Larry Johnson started ahead of Clinton Portis, but rushed for just four yards on eight carries. Portis is the back to draft in fantasy leagues, but I don't like him as more than a flex starter. ... Devin Thomas caught just one pass for 14 yards and had two balls go off his hands. I still think he'll start ahead of Joey Galloway, but Thomas isn't worth more than a late-round flier.
Steelers 24, Giants 17:
Ben Roethlisberger completed six passes for 76 yards and threw an interception, but still looked good overall. He's going to miss at least four games to start the season, but he should still be a No. 1 fantasy quarterback upon his return. Target him in the middle rounds. ... Isaac Redman continued to look good, rushing for 34 yards and a touchdown on six carries. With Jonathan Dwyer injured, Redman looks like the best bet to start the season as Rashard Mendenhall's fantasy handcuff. ... NFL.com sleeper Mike Wallace was impressive, catching two passes for 80 yards and scoring on a 68-yard strike from Byron Leftwich. Wallace is well worth a middle-round look. ... Ahmad Bradshaw (six carries, 28 yards, TD) is clearly the best fantasy option in the Giants backfield. He should be drafted ahead of Brandon Jacobs, who missed the game with a stiff neck. ... We didn't get to see much of Hakeem Nicks, who was ejected from the game early after throwing punches with Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor. ... So much for Victor Cruz as a sleeper -- he had two catches for 30 yards.
Buccaneers 20, Chiefs 15:
Matt Cassel looked solid, completing 14-of-19 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown. The fact that Charlie Weis will be calling the plays makes Cassel a more attractive sleeper. ... Thomas Jones started and rushed for 29 yards on eight carries with a lost fumble. I expect Jamaal Charles, who is averaging seven yards a carry in the preseason, to overtake him on the depth chart sooner than later. Jones is still worth a second-round pick. ... Josh Freeman suffered a broken thumb and will miss the remainder of the preseason. The injury means little in fantasy leagues, though, as Freeman was barely even draftable in most formats. ... Kareem Huggins (eight carries, 44 yards) continues to outplay Derrick Ward and is pushing for a move up the depth chart. He's someone to watch in the final weeks of preseason. ... Mike Williams had three catches for 44 yards and has emerged as the lone Bucs wideout worth a look in seasonal fantasy leagues. Fellow rookie Arrelious Benn was playing special teams until the final quarter and hasn't been good enough to consider outside of dynasty and deeper leagues.
Dolphins 27, Jaguars 26:
Chad Henne was the story of the game, completing 11-of-14 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Two of his three incomplete passes were drops, so he was clearly on target. He's a nice low-end sleeper and worth a late-round look on draft day. .... Both of Henne's touchdown passes went to Anthony Fasano, but I still don't see him as a fantasy factor. ... Brandon Marshall had four catches for 65 yards in limited work. ... Luke McCown (152 yards, TD) had another nice game, but he's not going to pass David Garrard on the depth chart. Garrard completed 6-of-8 passes for 79 yards and threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Mike Thomas. ... Mike Sims-Walker led the Jaguars with three catches for 64 yards, so the shoulder ailment he suffered last week doesn't seem to be a problem. He's a viable No. 2 fantasy wideout.
Rams 19, Browns 17:
Sam Bradford looked unimpressive, completing 6-of-14 passes for 24 yards. Even if he opens the regular season as the starter, he'll have no more than minimal value in seasonal leagues. ... Steven Jackson made his preseason debut, rushing for 20 yards on four carries. He's still a risk coming off back surgery, but right now Jackson appears to be 100 percent. ... Despite poor weather conditions, Jake Delhomme still posted a nice stat line (127 yards, TD). Keep in mind, though, that he was facing the Rams. Delhomme still isn't worth drafting. ... Jerome Harrison got the start but was unimpressive, rushing for 13 yards on five carries. Montario Hardesty is expected to be back from a knee injury for the start of the regular season. In the meantime, Harrison will continue to start. ... Joshua Cribbs led the Browns in receptions and scored a touchdown, but he still shouldn't be drafted outside of the late rounds in standard leagues.
Saints 38, Texans 20:
Matt Schaub completed 8-of-13 passes for 117 yards and is now 13-of-16 for 195 yards with one touchdown in two preseason games. He still looks like the same quarterback who broke out for fantasy owners in 2009. ... Sleeper Arian Foster had 28 rushing yards and a touchdown and is clearly entrenched as the Texans' No. 1 back. He's now worth a low middle-round pick in drafts. ... Steve Slaton had five rushes for 19 yards and was used on two kickoff returns, which is further proof that Foster is the main man. ... Reggie Bush started and looked fantastic, rushing seven times for 49 yards with a touchdown. If he can avoid injuries, Bush should see a greater role in the offense this season. He has middle-round value. ... Pierre Thomas was also solid out of the backfield, posting 62 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown catch. He'll be worth as much as a third-round pick and could be a bargain if he falls past Round 4.
Jets 9, Panthers 3:
Mark Sanchez continued to look brutal during the preseason, completing just 5-of-10 passes for 12 yards with an ugly 56.2 passer rating. He's certainly not helping his fantasy appeal, nor the value of the receivers in the Jets offense. ... LaDainian Tomlinson had three carries for 26 yards and showed some good burst, but he's still no threat to put a serious dent into Shonn Greene's carries or fantasy value. ... Matt Moore looked shaky, completing just 6-of-17 passes for 57 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Of course, this was against a stout Jets defense. Moore still doesn't have his best option, Steve Smith, at his disposal. ... Jonathan Stewart, who is coming back from an injured heel, didn't play but isn't in danger of missing the start of the regular season. He's still a viable No. 2 fantasy back, but DeAngelo Williams remains the more attractive option. Williams had 26 yards on six carries.
Raiders 32, Bears 17:
Jason Campbell looked good, throwing for 170 yards and rushing for a touchdown. He has a very favorable schedule this season and should be a useful No. 2 fantasy quarterback. ... Michael Bush had eight carries 26 yards but hasn't solidified his role as the team's starter just yet. ... Darren McFadden missed the contest with a hamstring injury and is losing fantasy value fast. ... Zach Miller caught three passes for 32 yards and continues to be the most impressive receiver in Silver & Black. He has a ton of sleeper appeal. ... Jay Cutler completed 7-of-15 passes for 99 yards and threw a touchdown pass to fantasy sleeper Johnny Knox. Cutler should be an attractive No. 1 fantasy quarterback, as long as his offensive line holds up. ... Matt Fore made the play of the game, breaking an 89-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. While the presence of Chester Taylor could limit his numbers, Forte has a chance to rebound from a disappointing 2009 season. He'll be worth as much as a fourth-round pick in most leagues.
Cowboys 16, Chargers 14:
The Cowboys' first-team offense didn't look good in this one, but there's no need for fantasy owners to panic. On a positive note, Tony Romo did hit Miles Austin for a 9-yard touchdown. Austin isn't a one-season wonder and warrants a second- or third-round pick. He'll have another solid season. ... Marion Barber continued to start for the Cowboys, but he'll share carries with Felix Jones all season. They both had three rushing attempts against the Chargers. ... Ryan Mathews continued to impress me. He finished with 53 yards on 12 carries and also caught one pass for 13 yards and barely missed scoring a touchdown near the goal line. Despite the fact that he's a rookie, I'd still take him in the late first round. ... With Vincent Jackson still holding out, Malcom Floyd remains the default No. 1 wideout for Philip Rivers. Floyd looked good in limited time, catching three passes for 47 yards. He'll be a nice sleeper until (or if) Jackson returns to the team.
Lions 25, Broncos 20:
Matthew Stafford looked extremely impressive, completing 13-of-18 passes for 130 yards and one touchdown. He has fantasy sleeper written all over him. ... Jahvid Best is clearly the main back in the offense, and he showed why he's earned that role with two catches and 59 yards from scrimmage in limited time. There's no reason he should still be on the board past the third round of a seasonal league. ... Calvin Johnson, a major fantasy disappointment last year, hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass from Stafford and has scored in each of the first two preseason games. Look for Johnson to transform back into a fantasy star in 2010. ... Kyle Orton's fantasy value is down these days, but his play on the field has been solid. He completed 16-of-22 passes for 177 yards and threw two touchdowns, giving him four scoring passes during the preseason. ... If you're looking for a deep sleeper in the late rounds, take a chance on Jabar Gaffney. He hauled in six passes for 98 yards and is clearly Orton's go-to wideout. I've moved him ahead of Demaryius Thomas and Eddie Royal on NFL.com's rankings.
Packers 27, Seahawks 24:
Aaron Rodgers continues to look ridiculously good, throwing for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He has three total scores and a passer rating of more than 143.0 in his two preseason games. He's going to be the fantasy MVP this season. ... Ryan Grant, who got his bell rung last week, returned to action. ... Breakout candidate Jermichael Finley posted four catches for 48 yards and scored a touchdown. He could become an elite fantasy tight end this season and is worth a middle-round look. ... Matt Hasselbeck looked good, completing 11-of-15 passes for 127 yards and one touchdown, but it's still difficult to trust him in fantasy leagues. ... Justin Forsett got the start and was unimpressive with just 13 yards on five carries, but Leon Washington made an impact with 19 yards and a score. I still like Forsett the most out of these options, but a backfield-by-committee is imminent. ... Mike Williams had another nice game and appears to have moved ahead of rookie Golden Tate on the depth chart. Neither player is worth more than a late-round look in larger fantasy leagues.
49ers 15, Vikings 10:
So much for the preseason debut of Brett Favre -- he saw four snaps before being pulled. He has middle-round value in drafts. ... Sidney Rice (hip) was out once again and could be in danger of missing Week 1. His value is falling. ... Adrian Peterson had six carries for 17 yards. More importantly, he led the Vikings in receptions with three. He's going to see more targets with Taylor out of the mix, making him even more attractive in PPR leagues. Peterson is a top-two pick in all drafts. ... Rookie Toby Gerhart is averaging just 2.8 yards per carry during the preseason. ... The 49ers top fantasy players -- Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis -- were all held out. ... Alex Smith looked good, completing 9-of-13 passes for 88 yards in limited work. He's still no more than a No. 2 fantasy quarterback, though. ... The Niners did add Brian Westbrook last week, but rookie Anthony Dixon looked good with 20 carries, 51 yards and a touchdown. It doesn't seem like a true fantasy handcuff for Gore has been established at this point, so owners who have the talented runner need to monitor the depth chart.
Faust
MVP
Updating AFC North quarterbacks
By James WalkerWe are halfway through the preseason. Therefore, it's a great time to take a look at the NFL's most important position: Quarterback.
Here is an update on how AFC North starting quarterbacks are performing so far:
Carson Palmer
Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Stats: Three starts, 292 yards, two interceptions, 67.4 completion percentage.
Analysis: With so many new receivers, Cincinnati's passing offense remains a work in progress. Palmer has been decent, but not great, in limited action during the Bengals’ three preseason games. I like the fact that he's making a strong effort to develop a rapport with receiver Terrell Owens, and they are getting more comfortable each week. Palmer's passer rating (67.2) took a hit last weekend after throwing two interceptions against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Joe Flacco
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Stats: Two starts, 192 yards, one touchdown, 60.7 completion percentage.
Analysis: There are high expectations for the Ravens' offense, which is why this unit has taken some heat recently in the Baltimore media. The Ravens' starters are not playing poorly on offense, but they aren't scoring many points, either. A fake punt led to the first team's only touchdown last week against the Washington Redskins. With a solid 93.2 passer rating, Flacco is playing efficiently and not turning over the football. Flacco also hinted that Baltimore isn't showing everything this preseason.
Jake Delhomme
Team: Cleveland Browns
Stats: Two starts, 193 yards, one touchdown, 78.3 completion percentage.
Analysis: Sporting a 116.1 passer rating, Delhomme is playing as well as the Browns could hope for in the preseason. He's been accurate and decisive in his reads, and Delhomme even played well through rainy field conditions last week against the St. Louis Rams. There are a lot of concerns about Delhomme this season. But based on his preseason performance, Delhomme has done everything in his power to quiet those concerns.
Ben Roethlisberger
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Stats: One start, 76 yards, one interception, 75.0 completion percentage.
Analysis: Despite a poor deep throw to Mike Wallace that was intercepted, Roethlisberger played well overall in his 2010 debut against the New York Giants. He completed 6 of 8 passes in limited playing time, and it appears Roethlisberger might start again Sunday against the Denver Broncos, despite his conditional six-game suspension. Meanwhile, Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon are battling it out to start in Week 1. Dixon has performed better so far against lesser competition. That is why the Steelers intend to get the third-year quarterback some playing time with the first team against Denver to see what he can do.
By James WalkerWe are halfway through the preseason. Therefore, it's a great time to take a look at the NFL's most important position: Quarterback.
Here is an update on how AFC North starting quarterbacks are performing so far:
Carson Palmer
Team: Cincinnati Bengals
Stats: Three starts, 292 yards, two interceptions, 67.4 completion percentage.
Analysis: With so many new receivers, Cincinnati's passing offense remains a work in progress. Palmer has been decent, but not great, in limited action during the Bengals’ three preseason games. I like the fact that he's making a strong effort to develop a rapport with receiver Terrell Owens, and they are getting more comfortable each week. Palmer's passer rating (67.2) took a hit last weekend after throwing two interceptions against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Joe Flacco
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Stats: Two starts, 192 yards, one touchdown, 60.7 completion percentage.
Analysis: There are high expectations for the Ravens' offense, which is why this unit has taken some heat recently in the Baltimore media. The Ravens' starters are not playing poorly on offense, but they aren't scoring many points, either. A fake punt led to the first team's only touchdown last week against the Washington Redskins. With a solid 93.2 passer rating, Flacco is playing efficiently and not turning over the football. Flacco also hinted that Baltimore isn't showing everything this preseason.
Jake Delhomme
Team: Cleveland Browns
Stats: Two starts, 193 yards, one touchdown, 78.3 completion percentage.
Analysis: Sporting a 116.1 passer rating, Delhomme is playing as well as the Browns could hope for in the preseason. He's been accurate and decisive in his reads, and Delhomme even played well through rainy field conditions last week against the St. Louis Rams. There are a lot of concerns about Delhomme this season. But based on his preseason performance, Delhomme has done everything in his power to quiet those concerns.
Ben Roethlisberger
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Stats: One start, 76 yards, one interception, 75.0 completion percentage.
Analysis: Despite a poor deep throw to Mike Wallace that was intercepted, Roethlisberger played well overall in his 2010 debut against the New York Giants. He completed 6 of 8 passes in limited playing time, and it appears Roethlisberger might start again Sunday against the Denver Broncos, despite his conditional six-game suspension. Meanwhile, Byron Leftwich and Dennis Dixon are battling it out to start in Week 1. Dixon has performed better so far against lesser competition. That is why the Steelers intend to get the third-year quarterback some playing time with the first team against Denver to see what he can do.
Faust
MVP
Five NFC West fantasy considerations
By Mike Sando
Derek Anderson at QB: The Arizona Cardinals could still name Matt Leinart their starter, but Anderson is suddenly in play to a larger degree. Ian Allen of Fantasy Football Index raised an interesting point about Anderson during the 2nd Annual Fantasy Camp with John Clayton. He thought Anderson's penchant for throwing into coverage could work out OK in Arizona because Larry Fitzgerald wins so many battles at the ball. Fitzgerald was going to get his numbers anyway, but if Anderson is throwing fearlessly into spots Leinart might avoid, he could have more chances.
Matt Leinart's demotion: ESPN's Brock Huard, also speaking at Clayton's camp, offered a theory on Leinart based upon things he's heard from contacts in Arizona. According to Huard, Leinart long ago shed the freewheeling Southern California lifestyle that created perceptions of the former USC star as a laid-back playboy. The primary problem for Leinart, at least according to Huard, was that the quarterback's high level of intelligence wasn't translating into processing information quickly enough to make split-second decisions. As a result, Leinart plays too slowly and appears indecisive.
Donnie Avery's injury: The St. Louis Rams lost starting receiver Donnie Avery to a knee injury that appeared serious. Avery has been prone to injuries, making it tough for the Rams to rely on him. While Avery's injury was a downer for St. Louis, Danny Amendola is validating what I saw from him at Rams camp. Amendola caught five passes against New England on Thursday night. He has a chance to catch three or four passes per game -- and maybe more, depending on how the position shakes out -- working from the slot.
Leon Washington's start for Seattle: The Seahawks are taking turns giving running backs Julius Jones, Justin Forsett and Washington chances to start during preseason. Washington realizes he's best off working in a complementary role, making explosive plays on limited touches. He does not project as an every-down running back, but he will likely get consistent carries as part of a rotation. Washington's scheduled start against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday night gives him a more extended opportunity to work with the starters. He has the potential to emerge as an effective third-down back. As noted, Washington does more than carry or catch the ball. He can be a vicious blocker in pass protection as well (all three Seattle runners are competent in this critical area).
Michael Crabtree's return. A neck injury has kept Crabtree off the field for the San Francisco 49ers' first two exhibition games. That will change Saturday night at Oakland. Crabtree immediately became a primary target for Alex Smith upon joining the 49ers during last season. He catches the ball consistently and should benefit from a full offseason around team headquarters. Check out his game-by-game reception totals from last season: 5, 6, 3, 4, 4, 4, 6, 5, 4, 4, 3. That's remarkable consistency from a young player. Some fantasy performers are up and down, finishing the season with good stats despite failing to produce consistently. That was the case for Frank Gore last season as the 49ers searched for their offensive identity. Crabtree produced all the way through.
By Mike Sando
Derek Anderson at QB: The Arizona Cardinals could still name Matt Leinart their starter, but Anderson is suddenly in play to a larger degree. Ian Allen of Fantasy Football Index raised an interesting point about Anderson during the 2nd Annual Fantasy Camp with John Clayton. He thought Anderson's penchant for throwing into coverage could work out OK in Arizona because Larry Fitzgerald wins so many battles at the ball. Fitzgerald was going to get his numbers anyway, but if Anderson is throwing fearlessly into spots Leinart might avoid, he could have more chances.
Matt Leinart's demotion: ESPN's Brock Huard, also speaking at Clayton's camp, offered a theory on Leinart based upon things he's heard from contacts in Arizona. According to Huard, Leinart long ago shed the freewheeling Southern California lifestyle that created perceptions of the former USC star as a laid-back playboy. The primary problem for Leinart, at least according to Huard, was that the quarterback's high level of intelligence wasn't translating into processing information quickly enough to make split-second decisions. As a result, Leinart plays too slowly and appears indecisive.
Donnie Avery's injury: The St. Louis Rams lost starting receiver Donnie Avery to a knee injury that appeared serious. Avery has been prone to injuries, making it tough for the Rams to rely on him. While Avery's injury was a downer for St. Louis, Danny Amendola is validating what I saw from him at Rams camp. Amendola caught five passes against New England on Thursday night. He has a chance to catch three or four passes per game -- and maybe more, depending on how the position shakes out -- working from the slot.
Leon Washington's start for Seattle: The Seahawks are taking turns giving running backs Julius Jones, Justin Forsett and Washington chances to start during preseason. Washington realizes he's best off working in a complementary role, making explosive plays on limited touches. He does not project as an every-down running back, but he will likely get consistent carries as part of a rotation. Washington's scheduled start against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday night gives him a more extended opportunity to work with the starters. He has the potential to emerge as an effective third-down back. As noted, Washington does more than carry or catch the ball. He can be a vicious blocker in pass protection as well (all three Seattle runners are competent in this critical area).
Michael Crabtree's return. A neck injury has kept Crabtree off the field for the San Francisco 49ers' first two exhibition games. That will change Saturday night at Oakland. Crabtree immediately became a primary target for Alex Smith upon joining the 49ers during last season. He catches the ball consistently and should benefit from a full offseason around team headquarters. Check out his game-by-game reception totals from last season: 5, 6, 3, 4, 4, 4, 6, 5, 4, 4, 3. That's remarkable consistency from a young player. Some fantasy performers are up and down, finishing the season with good stats despite failing to produce consistently. That was the case for Frank Gore last season as the 49ers searched for their offensive identity. Crabtree produced all the way through.
Faust
MVP
Fifteen players who could be this NFL season's hidden rookie gems
John P. Lopez>INSIDE THE NFL
It's the NFL first-rounders who grab draft-day headlines. But often times late-round picks and undrafted free agents make the biggest impact down the road.
Tom Brady. Jared Allen. Austin Collie. They start their careers unheralded. They end up in the biggest games the NFL knows. For whatever reason -- size, speed, level of competition in college -- players slide down draft boards but emerge as late-round or undrafted steals.
A year ago at this time, few people knew Collie. Just a few months later, the fourth-round pick was starting in the Super Bowl for the Colts, snatching passes out of the air from Peyton Manning.
So who's it going to be this year?
Julian Edelman of the Patriots was one of the unheralded gems highlighted in this spot a year ago. So, too, was the Bears' Johnny Knox. Are there future Pro Bowl and Super Bowl players among the following hidden gems? We're not making any promises, but here's one look at players emerging as potential non-first round impact rookies for 2010:
Nolan Carroll, CB (5th round), Dolphins
Carroll is the epitome of a hidden gem, starting just five games his entire career at Maryland and never scratching his potential. It was mostly because of injury, including breaking his leg in the second game of the 2009 season. But Carroll possesses unreal athletic ability and finally thrived once he got healthy and earned an opportunity.
Carroll ran a 4.3 in his pro day at Maryland, turning heads within the Dolphins' front office. Once he's gotten into uniform, Carroll has only continued to impress, to the point he likely will be the Dolphins' featured kick returner and will press for reps in the secondary.
Chris DeGeare, OG (5th round), Vikings
Millions of people tuned in to watch DeGeare's debut with the Vikings' first-team offense. OK, maybe Brett Favre had something to do with it. But it's subtle, under-the-radar moves like picking this load of an offensive guard (6-foot-4, 325 pounds) that can help the Vikings have another huge season.
DeGeare, a rookie out of Wake Forest, has turned heads from the moment he stepped into uniform. He is not intimidated by the big stage and stepped into a nice role among the offensive linemen. He's worked at left guard and earned reps with the starting unit. His stock is rising and he could be a fixture in the Vikes' offensive line for years.
Jordan Shipley, WR (3rd round), Bengals
With the addition of Terrell Owens, it didn't seem there were even enough No. 81s to go around in Cincinnati, much less footballs. Among Owens, Chad Ochocinco, Antonio Bryant (who sold his No. 81 to Owens) and Jermaine Gresham, where would Shipley fit in?
The answer is, Shipley already might have the most reliable hands on the squad. That's not to say he is the most explosive, but it's clear already that when Carson Palmer needs a sure catch, he's unafraid to turn to Shipley. His routes are precise and anything thrown his way will be caught. He'll also be returning kicks and punts.
Devin Moore, RB/KR (undrafted), Colts
Year-in, year-out, the Colts manage to find players otherwise forgotten, thrown to the scrap heap or pigeonholed as an unlikely NFL contributor because of size or some other factor. Moore was all of that. On the Carolina and Seattle practice squads last year, Moore has found a home in his hometown of Indianapolis.
At 5-9, Moore's size limited prospects, then an inability to make plays despite great speed left his career hanging in the balance. But in the Colts' system, Moore has excelled, returning a punt 49 yards, totaling 32 yards on four kickoff returns and showing flashes of breakaway ability in a preseason game against the Bills.
T.J. Ward S (2nd round), Browns
While second-round picks aren't normally considered a reach, when the Browns selected Ward, the consensus was that they overvalued the athletic safety. Sure, his measurables were strong, but the Browns passed on Taylor Mays to grab a player most mock draft boards considered a third-rounder at best? The draft boards were wrong.
Ward is hardly intimidated by the bright lights. He's making plays in coverage and in run-support, and already has recorded some highlight-reel pops on receivers. Once known to take occasional plays off, Ward seems to be a changed man and could become a staple in the Browns' secondary.
Tony Moeaki, TE (3rd round), Chiefs
How do you say "Gonzalez" in Tongan? OK, maybe that's a stretch. There never will be another Tony Gonzalez in a Chiefs uniform, but Moeaki was turning heads and forcing his way into the starting lineup, until ... injuries set him back.
Injuries have been the story of Moeaki's career -- foot, ankle, elbow, hand. It's why he dropped to the third-round of the draft. Still, when healthy, Moeaki has been a standout for the Chiefs offense. He was wowing everyone who saw him during OTAs and early in camp. If he can get healthy, the job likely will be his and he may well star. He's THAT talented.
Mike Williams, WR (4th round), Buccaneers
It's never a good thing when apologists say a player is "misunderstood."
That's the company line on the super-talented Williams, who dropped to the fourth round after plenty of academic and behavior issues at Syracuse. Clearly, Williams could be the steal of the entire NFL draft. His talent is ridiculous. His hands and play-making ability are unquestioned. He's been the story of Bucs camp, making play after play.
But the questions will hound him until he proves otherwise. He got caught cheating on a test at Syracuse. He was suspended from the team after being involved in a car accident after curfew, returning from a trip to a casino. He quit the team. It's up to him to mature and become a professional.
Victor Cruz, WR (undrafted), Giants
Can a player go from the next great sensation to yesterday's news in the span of a week? Welcome to New York, Victor.
Cruz was the back-page feel good story of the Big Apple in the preseason opener, shredding Rex Ryan's defense for six catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns. A week later against the Steelers, he played only with the second-teamers, caught two balls and muffed a punt.
Still, Cruz will be a contributor on a contender, having showed smarts, elusiveness and playmaking ability. He could be the perfect complementary change-of-pace player for the Giants.
Anthony Dixon, RB (6th round), 49ers
Once mentioned in the same breath as power backs Toby Gerhart, Ben Tate and Jonathan Dwyer, Dixon's draft stock plummeted because of subpar measurables. The 49ers scooped him up on the hopes he could develop down the road. But Glen Coffee surprisingly retired and Dixon has played better than expected.
Niners coach Mike Singletary demands power running and has been hard on Dixon, who's slated to back up Frank Gore and Brian Westbrook. He might do more than that, however. After rushing for 100 yards against the Colts, Dixon showed good downhill instincts and power in another solid effort against the Vikings.
Greg Hardy, DE (6th round), Panthers
When a draftable player earns a reputation -- good or bad -- it can be almost impossible to keep the story from spreading out of control. You have to wonder if that's what happened in the case of Hardy, an immensely talented end considered a top-10 pick before his senior season.
Somehow, a couple of injuries and reports of a bad attitude turned the entire league on Hardy, whose physical skills (6-4, 280) could not be more impressive. His stock dropped like a rock. Ever since, he's been dropping quarterbacks much the same way, and behavior or effort have not been a problem.
Hardy had two sacks, two tackles for loss and tied for the team lead in tackles with five in his preseason debut. Of late, he's been working with the first team at defensive end. It could be a big, big year for the former Ole Miss Rebel.
Barry Church, S (undrafted), Cowboys
Even before a shoulder injury sidelined Gerald Sensabaugh for three to four weeks, Church, an undrafted free agent out of Toledo, was turning heads in camp. His knack for being around the ball and making plays has been evident from the start of camp.
He also has great size (6-1, 220) and decent speed, although being tackled shy of a touchdown by Philip Rivers after picking up a fumble in a preseason game against the Chargers was a bit embarrassing. The Cowboys like Church. And they need him. He definitely will get snaps and play in special teams. He appears to always be in the thick of big plays.
Zoltan Mesko, P (5th round), Patriots
There's no one more unheralded than a punter, is there? But often times, there's no one more important. At the University of Michigan, Mesko was called, in beautiful redundant fashion, the "Space Emperor Of Space." Of Romanian descent, the Space Emperor speaks five languages, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees and was dubbed the most interesting man in the NFL by the Wall Street Journal. When asked what he took from the NFL combine, Mesko responded, "an M.R.I. machine."
Still, it comes down to talent and Mesko has it. With a huge leg and accuracy, Mesko is the only punter in Patriots camp and could prove to be huge in the ever-important field-position battles of blustery fall afternoons.
Austin Howard, OT, (undrafted), Eagles
It's amazing that in a league that values tackles more than just about any other position on the field, the mammoth and quick Howard (6-7, 335 pounds) went undrafted. The Eagles have found a gem, all right, in this first season with Kevin Kolb as the full-time starter.
Howard, who played tight end his first two seasons at Division I-AA Northern Iowa, won't be in the starting lineup to open the season, but rest assured he'll get there. He's stepped in and been physical, quick and shown good hands in every practice and preseason game.
Perrish Cox, DB/KR, (5th round), Broncos
Cox was something of a problem child at Oklahoma State, so much so that when the Broncos took a chance on him, coach Josh McDaniels said, "He's got to live up to his end of the bargain."
He has. He was the other big star at OSU next to Dez Bryant. At Denver, there's another rookie -- Tim Somebody -- making most of the headlines. But Cox has earned reps with the first-team defense at cornerback as Champ Bailey battles injuries and has proved to be a terrific cover corner. He also broke a 65-yard punt return in the second preseason game. He'll make plays all year long for the Broncos, presuming he continues to live up to his end of the bargain.
Darryl Sharpton, LB (4th round), Texans
Can Al Sharpton's nephew keep playoff hope alive for the Texans. Yes, we're mixing Reverend references, but even Jesse Jackson would agree that there's a gaping hole in the Texans' defense left by 2009 Defensive Rookie Of The Year Brian Cushing's four-game suspension to start the year.
No one's crazy about starting a pair of rookies defensively for a team that fancies itself a playoff contender (first-round CB Kareem Jackson is the other), but the former Miami Hurricane has stepped in and impressed, making the most of an unlikely opportunity. Also, presumed backups Xavier Adibi and Danny Clark have been fighting injuries through camp.
Sharpton has responded by impressing during the offseason and making big plays in the Texans' first preseason game, before an uneven effort in the second. He's got the eye of coaches, though, no doubt.
John P. Lopez>INSIDE THE NFL
It's the NFL first-rounders who grab draft-day headlines. But often times late-round picks and undrafted free agents make the biggest impact down the road.
Tom Brady. Jared Allen. Austin Collie. They start their careers unheralded. They end up in the biggest games the NFL knows. For whatever reason -- size, speed, level of competition in college -- players slide down draft boards but emerge as late-round or undrafted steals.
A year ago at this time, few people knew Collie. Just a few months later, the fourth-round pick was starting in the Super Bowl for the Colts, snatching passes out of the air from Peyton Manning.
So who's it going to be this year?
Julian Edelman of the Patriots was one of the unheralded gems highlighted in this spot a year ago. So, too, was the Bears' Johnny Knox. Are there future Pro Bowl and Super Bowl players among the following hidden gems? We're not making any promises, but here's one look at players emerging as potential non-first round impact rookies for 2010:
Nolan Carroll, CB (5th round), Dolphins
Carroll is the epitome of a hidden gem, starting just five games his entire career at Maryland and never scratching his potential. It was mostly because of injury, including breaking his leg in the second game of the 2009 season. But Carroll possesses unreal athletic ability and finally thrived once he got healthy and earned an opportunity.
Carroll ran a 4.3 in his pro day at Maryland, turning heads within the Dolphins' front office. Once he's gotten into uniform, Carroll has only continued to impress, to the point he likely will be the Dolphins' featured kick returner and will press for reps in the secondary.
Chris DeGeare, OG (5th round), Vikings
Millions of people tuned in to watch DeGeare's debut with the Vikings' first-team offense. OK, maybe Brett Favre had something to do with it. But it's subtle, under-the-radar moves like picking this load of an offensive guard (6-foot-4, 325 pounds) that can help the Vikings have another huge season.
DeGeare, a rookie out of Wake Forest, has turned heads from the moment he stepped into uniform. He is not intimidated by the big stage and stepped into a nice role among the offensive linemen. He's worked at left guard and earned reps with the starting unit. His stock is rising and he could be a fixture in the Vikes' offensive line for years.
Jordan Shipley, WR (3rd round), Bengals
With the addition of Terrell Owens, it didn't seem there were even enough No. 81s to go around in Cincinnati, much less footballs. Among Owens, Chad Ochocinco, Antonio Bryant (who sold his No. 81 to Owens) and Jermaine Gresham, where would Shipley fit in?
The answer is, Shipley already might have the most reliable hands on the squad. That's not to say he is the most explosive, but it's clear already that when Carson Palmer needs a sure catch, he's unafraid to turn to Shipley. His routes are precise and anything thrown his way will be caught. He'll also be returning kicks and punts.
Devin Moore, RB/KR (undrafted), Colts
Year-in, year-out, the Colts manage to find players otherwise forgotten, thrown to the scrap heap or pigeonholed as an unlikely NFL contributor because of size or some other factor. Moore was all of that. On the Carolina and Seattle practice squads last year, Moore has found a home in his hometown of Indianapolis.
At 5-9, Moore's size limited prospects, then an inability to make plays despite great speed left his career hanging in the balance. But in the Colts' system, Moore has excelled, returning a punt 49 yards, totaling 32 yards on four kickoff returns and showing flashes of breakaway ability in a preseason game against the Bills.
T.J. Ward S (2nd round), Browns
While second-round picks aren't normally considered a reach, when the Browns selected Ward, the consensus was that they overvalued the athletic safety. Sure, his measurables were strong, but the Browns passed on Taylor Mays to grab a player most mock draft boards considered a third-rounder at best? The draft boards were wrong.
Ward is hardly intimidated by the bright lights. He's making plays in coverage and in run-support, and already has recorded some highlight-reel pops on receivers. Once known to take occasional plays off, Ward seems to be a changed man and could become a staple in the Browns' secondary.
Tony Moeaki, TE (3rd round), Chiefs
How do you say "Gonzalez" in Tongan? OK, maybe that's a stretch. There never will be another Tony Gonzalez in a Chiefs uniform, but Moeaki was turning heads and forcing his way into the starting lineup, until ... injuries set him back.
Injuries have been the story of Moeaki's career -- foot, ankle, elbow, hand. It's why he dropped to the third-round of the draft. Still, when healthy, Moeaki has been a standout for the Chiefs offense. He was wowing everyone who saw him during OTAs and early in camp. If he can get healthy, the job likely will be his and he may well star. He's THAT talented.
Mike Williams, WR (4th round), Buccaneers
It's never a good thing when apologists say a player is "misunderstood."
That's the company line on the super-talented Williams, who dropped to the fourth round after plenty of academic and behavior issues at Syracuse. Clearly, Williams could be the steal of the entire NFL draft. His talent is ridiculous. His hands and play-making ability are unquestioned. He's been the story of Bucs camp, making play after play.
But the questions will hound him until he proves otherwise. He got caught cheating on a test at Syracuse. He was suspended from the team after being involved in a car accident after curfew, returning from a trip to a casino. He quit the team. It's up to him to mature and become a professional.
Victor Cruz, WR (undrafted), Giants
Can a player go from the next great sensation to yesterday's news in the span of a week? Welcome to New York, Victor.
Cruz was the back-page feel good story of the Big Apple in the preseason opener, shredding Rex Ryan's defense for six catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns. A week later against the Steelers, he played only with the second-teamers, caught two balls and muffed a punt.
Still, Cruz will be a contributor on a contender, having showed smarts, elusiveness and playmaking ability. He could be the perfect complementary change-of-pace player for the Giants.
Anthony Dixon, RB (6th round), 49ers
Once mentioned in the same breath as power backs Toby Gerhart, Ben Tate and Jonathan Dwyer, Dixon's draft stock plummeted because of subpar measurables. The 49ers scooped him up on the hopes he could develop down the road. But Glen Coffee surprisingly retired and Dixon has played better than expected.
Niners coach Mike Singletary demands power running and has been hard on Dixon, who's slated to back up Frank Gore and Brian Westbrook. He might do more than that, however. After rushing for 100 yards against the Colts, Dixon showed good downhill instincts and power in another solid effort against the Vikings.
Greg Hardy, DE (6th round), Panthers
When a draftable player earns a reputation -- good or bad -- it can be almost impossible to keep the story from spreading out of control. You have to wonder if that's what happened in the case of Hardy, an immensely talented end considered a top-10 pick before his senior season.
Somehow, a couple of injuries and reports of a bad attitude turned the entire league on Hardy, whose physical skills (6-4, 280) could not be more impressive. His stock dropped like a rock. Ever since, he's been dropping quarterbacks much the same way, and behavior or effort have not been a problem.
Hardy had two sacks, two tackles for loss and tied for the team lead in tackles with five in his preseason debut. Of late, he's been working with the first team at defensive end. It could be a big, big year for the former Ole Miss Rebel.
Barry Church, S (undrafted), Cowboys
Even before a shoulder injury sidelined Gerald Sensabaugh for three to four weeks, Church, an undrafted free agent out of Toledo, was turning heads in camp. His knack for being around the ball and making plays has been evident from the start of camp.
He also has great size (6-1, 220) and decent speed, although being tackled shy of a touchdown by Philip Rivers after picking up a fumble in a preseason game against the Chargers was a bit embarrassing. The Cowboys like Church. And they need him. He definitely will get snaps and play in special teams. He appears to always be in the thick of big plays.
Zoltan Mesko, P (5th round), Patriots
There's no one more unheralded than a punter, is there? But often times, there's no one more important. At the University of Michigan, Mesko was called, in beautiful redundant fashion, the "Space Emperor Of Space." Of Romanian descent, the Space Emperor speaks five languages, earned undergraduate and graduate degrees and was dubbed the most interesting man in the NFL by the Wall Street Journal. When asked what he took from the NFL combine, Mesko responded, "an M.R.I. machine."
Still, it comes down to talent and Mesko has it. With a huge leg and accuracy, Mesko is the only punter in Patriots camp and could prove to be huge in the ever-important field-position battles of blustery fall afternoons.
Austin Howard, OT, (undrafted), Eagles
It's amazing that in a league that values tackles more than just about any other position on the field, the mammoth and quick Howard (6-7, 335 pounds) went undrafted. The Eagles have found a gem, all right, in this first season with Kevin Kolb as the full-time starter.
Howard, who played tight end his first two seasons at Division I-AA Northern Iowa, won't be in the starting lineup to open the season, but rest assured he'll get there. He's stepped in and been physical, quick and shown good hands in every practice and preseason game.
Perrish Cox, DB/KR, (5th round), Broncos
Cox was something of a problem child at Oklahoma State, so much so that when the Broncos took a chance on him, coach Josh McDaniels said, "He's got to live up to his end of the bargain."
He has. He was the other big star at OSU next to Dez Bryant. At Denver, there's another rookie -- Tim Somebody -- making most of the headlines. But Cox has earned reps with the first-team defense at cornerback as Champ Bailey battles injuries and has proved to be a terrific cover corner. He also broke a 65-yard punt return in the second preseason game. He'll make plays all year long for the Broncos, presuming he continues to live up to his end of the bargain.
Darryl Sharpton, LB (4th round), Texans
Can Al Sharpton's nephew keep playoff hope alive for the Texans. Yes, we're mixing Reverend references, but even Jesse Jackson would agree that there's a gaping hole in the Texans' defense left by 2009 Defensive Rookie Of The Year Brian Cushing's four-game suspension to start the year.
No one's crazy about starting a pair of rookies defensively for a team that fancies itself a playoff contender (first-round CB Kareem Jackson is the other), but the former Miami Hurricane has stepped in and impressed, making the most of an unlikely opportunity. Also, presumed backups Xavier Adibi and Danny Clark have been fighting injuries through camp.
Sharpton has responded by impressing during the offseason and making big plays in the Texans' first preseason game, before an uneven effort in the second. He's got the eye of coaches, though, no doubt.
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Faust
MVP
Peter King - MMQB
Excerpts:
1. I think I'd be very surprised if commissioner Goodell didn't reduce Ben Roethlisberger's suspension from six to four games when they meet in New York Friday. Whether Roethlisberger's turned his life around or not, he seems to have had no blemishes since his second sexual-assault accusation, and Goodell always left open that Roethlisberger would be able to chip two games off the suspension if he toed the line through the offseason and was serious about changing his ways.
2. I think the best note from a practice session I've seen this summer came from Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (don't mean to put him in every MMQB, but the guy's good), monitoring the combined Cards-Titans practice on Wednesday in Nashville. Before a snap when the Cards' offense stepped to the line of scrimmage, Somers heard a Titans defender say to a teammate: "I got a buffalo nickel that says he checks down.'' In footballese, that translates to: Matt Leinart will always take the easy way out instead of trying to make a play.
3. I think the Leinart yanking shows Ken Whisenhunt didn't trust Leinart in 2007, and he doesn't trust him now. How that trust can be rebuilt is the tough question.
4. I think it's hard to figure out which rookie Jim Schwartz is more excited about -- Jahvid Best or Ndamukong Suh. Best gives the Lions a dimension they just haven't had since (dare I say it?) Barry Sanders. Suh, Schwartz said, "makes some plays in the interior line that Albert Haynesworth would make in his fifth year. He's been amazing.''
5. I think Donovan McNabb has 13 days to get his ankle healthy, and it's hard to believe he wouldn't play opening night against Dallas.
6. I think the Jets had it right the first time -- Jason Taylor's not a 45-play-a-game player anymore. They planned to have him in there maybe 20 before Calvin Pace got hurt. Just because the team has a need now doesn't mean Taylor should fill it. You have to know how to use a 36-year-old rusher, and the way to do it is not to overload him. All the more reason to sign Adalius Thomas and let Rex Ryan move him all over the defense.
7. I think those C.J. Spiller highlights make me hope, for the Bills' sake, that he can play more than the part-time role his history says he should play. At Clemson, Spiller rarely lugged it 20 times a game, and with the punishment he'll take in the NFL, it's unrealistic to expect he'll approach that workload. But he's getting a good shot with Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson out of the lineup in Buffalo. If he could have 225 injury-free touches this year, Buffalo fans should be grateful.
8. I think that was not a good night for Tim Tebow, even though it ended with a nice touchdown throw to Eric Decker. Easier said than done, but he needs to get comfortable out there. He looked tight and not so athletic against Pittsburgh on Sunday night.
9. I think the two Mike Williamses, the rookie from Syracuse in Tampa Bay, and the vet trying to make a comeback in Seattle, had interesting Saturdays. I watched the Seattle Williams at the Vikes, and Matt Hasselbeck went to him early and often; you can tell the Seahawks have him built into the game plan, and he'll take the big receiver's role there. The Tampa Williams made a couple of great catch-and-run plays. Too early to make a judgment on the Tampa Williams because of all the baggage in his past, but if Tampa Bay hits on him, imagine the value for the 101st player picked in the draft.
Excerpts:
1. I think I'd be very surprised if commissioner Goodell didn't reduce Ben Roethlisberger's suspension from six to four games when they meet in New York Friday. Whether Roethlisberger's turned his life around or not, he seems to have had no blemishes since his second sexual-assault accusation, and Goodell always left open that Roethlisberger would be able to chip two games off the suspension if he toed the line through the offseason and was serious about changing his ways.
2. I think the best note from a practice session I've seen this summer came from Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (don't mean to put him in every MMQB, but the guy's good), monitoring the combined Cards-Titans practice on Wednesday in Nashville. Before a snap when the Cards' offense stepped to the line of scrimmage, Somers heard a Titans defender say to a teammate: "I got a buffalo nickel that says he checks down.'' In footballese, that translates to: Matt Leinart will always take the easy way out instead of trying to make a play.
3. I think the Leinart yanking shows Ken Whisenhunt didn't trust Leinart in 2007, and he doesn't trust him now. How that trust can be rebuilt is the tough question.
4. I think it's hard to figure out which rookie Jim Schwartz is more excited about -- Jahvid Best or Ndamukong Suh. Best gives the Lions a dimension they just haven't had since (dare I say it?) Barry Sanders. Suh, Schwartz said, "makes some plays in the interior line that Albert Haynesworth would make in his fifth year. He's been amazing.''
5. I think Donovan McNabb has 13 days to get his ankle healthy, and it's hard to believe he wouldn't play opening night against Dallas.
6. I think the Jets had it right the first time -- Jason Taylor's not a 45-play-a-game player anymore. They planned to have him in there maybe 20 before Calvin Pace got hurt. Just because the team has a need now doesn't mean Taylor should fill it. You have to know how to use a 36-year-old rusher, and the way to do it is not to overload him. All the more reason to sign Adalius Thomas and let Rex Ryan move him all over the defense.
7. I think those C.J. Spiller highlights make me hope, for the Bills' sake, that he can play more than the part-time role his history says he should play. At Clemson, Spiller rarely lugged it 20 times a game, and with the punishment he'll take in the NFL, it's unrealistic to expect he'll approach that workload. But he's getting a good shot with Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson out of the lineup in Buffalo. If he could have 225 injury-free touches this year, Buffalo fans should be grateful.
8. I think that was not a good night for Tim Tebow, even though it ended with a nice touchdown throw to Eric Decker. Easier said than done, but he needs to get comfortable out there. He looked tight and not so athletic against Pittsburgh on Sunday night.
9. I think the two Mike Williamses, the rookie from Syracuse in Tampa Bay, and the vet trying to make a comeback in Seattle, had interesting Saturdays. I watched the Seattle Williams at the Vikes, and Matt Hasselbeck went to him early and often; you can tell the Seahawks have him built into the game plan, and he'll take the big receiver's role there. The Tampa Williams made a couple of great catch-and-run plays. Too early to make a judgment on the Tampa Williams because of all the baggage in his past, but if Tampa Bay hits on him, imagine the value for the 101st player picked in the draft.
Faust
MVP
Big names, once-productive vets might be on the NFL chopping block
Colt McCoy, the Texas golden boy and college football's all-time winningest quarterback, seems to have avoided the NFL chopping block. Or maybe not.
McCoy's disappointing preseason has led to his name surfacing as one that could fall victim to roster cuts. Browns coach Eric Mangini recently offered an endorsement, sort of, for McCoy. He said the decision has not been made and offensive coordinator Eric Mangini has kept four quarterbacks before. When it comes to NFL roster cuts, though, nothing ever is certain and keeping four QBs is very unlikely.
The happiest day for NFL players is the day after the final preseason game, when camp and games that don't matter are done. It's also the most difficult day for players and coaches alike. Every year there are surprising big-name players who take the long walk to the head coach's office upon hearing the saddest three words in the NFL: Get your playbook.
It is called the Not For Long league for a reason. The first round of cuts comes this week. By next Sunday, rosters must be set at 53. Here are some once-upon-a-time contributors and big-name players who could be cut:
Colt McCoy, QB, Browns
Mangini's endorsement was not exactly definitive. With Jake Delhomme penciled in as the starter and Seneca Wallace having a good preseason, McCoy is locked in a battle for the No. 3 spot with Brett Ratliff.
It seems highly unlikely the Browns would actually pull the trigger on cutting a third-round draft pick like McCoy, who is younger than Ratliff and could develop slowly. Still, there's a sense the Browns feel McCoy is in over his head and not the physical talent they believed him to be.
Laurence Maroney, RB, Patriots
If actions speak louder than words, Maroney will hit the bricks soon. Pats coach Bill Belichick said Maroney "absolutely" remained part of his plans. Taking him for his word, Maroney seems safe.
But Maroney has not gotten the touches in a stacked backfield and the numbers just don't add up. Fred Taylor has looked strong of late, and then there's Sammy Morris, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Kevin Faulk ahead of Maroney. With roster depth issues elsewhere, it's unlikely New England will keep five backs.
Pat White, QB, Dolphins
Perhaps the most dynamic player in college football three years ago, White has struggled to learn the quarterback position and has not found a home anywhere else on the field.
Behind Chad Henne and Chad Pennington, White (44th overall in the 2009 draft) appears to be a project worth keeping for the Dolphins. Still, Miami won't keep four QBs, and Tyler Thigpen, frankly, is a better NFL quarterback than White. And as NFL defenses have figured out the Wildcat, White's days appear to be numbered.
Willie Parker, RB, Redskins
The next big thing lasted about an hour-and-a-half. A two-time Pro Bowler, a two-time Super Bowl champ, Parker could turn heads and wow fans with the best of them. And then it was all gone.
"Fast" Willie Parker, who broke Marcus Allen's long-standing record for longest rush in the Super Bowl with a 75-yard jaunt, is on the fast-track out of town in D.C.
Larry Johnson solidified his place behind Clinton Portis in Mike Shanahan's offense with a strong effort in the Redskins' third preseason game. Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams are also in the mix, leaving Parker in a tough spot.
Sam Hurd, WR, Cowboys
Hurd is popular, reliable, good in the locker room and blazing-fast. He's also likely on the way out.
At the start of camp, the consensus was that Hurd and Patrick Crayton were battling for the final receiver roster spot. Crayton's had a terrific camp; it's a classic numbers-game type situation. The Cowboys certainly aren't going to release Roy Williams, Miles Austin or top pick Dez Bryant. And young players like Jesse Holley and Kevin Ogletree are up-and-comers -- and cheaper. Once rumors of the Cowboys trying to deal Hurd surfaced last week, it was a sure sign Hurd's days in Dallas are coming to an end.
Kris Brown, K, Texans
What's the big deal, kickers are cut all the time, right? Yes. But Brown has been one of the most reliable kickers in the NFL in recent years. He also is a huge fan favorite in Houston, a community staple and the last of the original Texans from 2002.
But there's a bit of a "Brad Lidge Effect" in Houston. Brown missed a pair of crucial kicks last year against the division rival Colts and Titans. Make just one of those and the Texans would have been in the playoffs for the first time. The misses seemed to get into his head, and he struggled down the stretch. The Texans brought in former Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers and the battle is heated. The nod may go to Rackers if it's a tie.
Sinorice Moss, WR, Giants
Victor Cruz is the "it" player in New York right now. He's also cheap. Meanwhile, Moss is the five-year veteran who's underachieved and has a $1.176 million base salary. Do the math. It just doesn't add up well for Moss.
The Giants have waited for Moss to break out into something special for a while now. Now that there's a clearly capable option on the roster and Moss has nursed a groin injury, the former second-round pick out of Miami could be going bye-bye.
Deion Branch, WR, Seahawks
His nickname should be, "Roach." For all the times people have tried to step on him, squish him or shoo him away, Branch keeps hanging around.
Despite being an aging (31), ridiculously overpaid (two years left on a $39 million contract), oft-injured and often underachieving wideout, Branch remains a part of the 'Hawks plans. But for how long under the new regime? Pete Carroll has openly praised Branch, but despite being a Super Bowl MVP, Branch has never had a 1,000-yard season and has bad wheels.
Chris Simms, QB, Titans
With Vince Young given the starting job and trusty backup Kerry Collins entrenched, Simms, a one-time NFL starter, could well find it difficult getting a job after he is cut by the Titans.
Rusty Smith likely will be kept instead of Simms, who's staring at the end of an underachieving career.
Brandon Stokley, WR, Broncos
Stokley's first impression under Josh McDaniels was a magnificent one, catching a deflected ball in the 2009 opener and scoring one of the most memorable game-winning TDs of the year. But Stokley, once called the best slot receiver in football by former coach Mike Shanahan, doesn't fit the McDaniels' mold at wideout.
Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd and Eddie Royal are the front-line receivers, with rookies Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker making noise. Stokley's days in Denver could be numbered.
Rhett Bomar, QB, Giants
Tom Coughlin has a tough call to make and the former superstar-in-waiting could be left on the outside looking in. With the departure of David Carr, the Giants have Jim Sorgi, who is injured, as the only experienced quarterback behind Eli Manning. If the Giants cut Sorgi, that would leave the inexperienced and still developing Bomar. Not exactly ideal.
If they waive Bomar, he surely will be picked up by another squad because the talent is there and he could prove to be something in this league -- just not with New York.
Colt McCoy, the Texas golden boy and college football's all-time winningest quarterback, seems to have avoided the NFL chopping block. Or maybe not.
McCoy's disappointing preseason has led to his name surfacing as one that could fall victim to roster cuts. Browns coach Eric Mangini recently offered an endorsement, sort of, for McCoy. He said the decision has not been made and offensive coordinator Eric Mangini has kept four quarterbacks before. When it comes to NFL roster cuts, though, nothing ever is certain and keeping four QBs is very unlikely.
The happiest day for NFL players is the day after the final preseason game, when camp and games that don't matter are done. It's also the most difficult day for players and coaches alike. Every year there are surprising big-name players who take the long walk to the head coach's office upon hearing the saddest three words in the NFL: Get your playbook.
It is called the Not For Long league for a reason. The first round of cuts comes this week. By next Sunday, rosters must be set at 53. Here are some once-upon-a-time contributors and big-name players who could be cut:
Colt McCoy, QB, Browns
Mangini's endorsement was not exactly definitive. With Jake Delhomme penciled in as the starter and Seneca Wallace having a good preseason, McCoy is locked in a battle for the No. 3 spot with Brett Ratliff.
It seems highly unlikely the Browns would actually pull the trigger on cutting a third-round draft pick like McCoy, who is younger than Ratliff and could develop slowly. Still, there's a sense the Browns feel McCoy is in over his head and not the physical talent they believed him to be.
Laurence Maroney, RB, Patriots
If actions speak louder than words, Maroney will hit the bricks soon. Pats coach Bill Belichick said Maroney "absolutely" remained part of his plans. Taking him for his word, Maroney seems safe.
But Maroney has not gotten the touches in a stacked backfield and the numbers just don't add up. Fred Taylor has looked strong of late, and then there's Sammy Morris, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Kevin Faulk ahead of Maroney. With roster depth issues elsewhere, it's unlikely New England will keep five backs.
Pat White, QB, Dolphins
Perhaps the most dynamic player in college football three years ago, White has struggled to learn the quarterback position and has not found a home anywhere else on the field.
Behind Chad Henne and Chad Pennington, White (44th overall in the 2009 draft) appears to be a project worth keeping for the Dolphins. Still, Miami won't keep four QBs, and Tyler Thigpen, frankly, is a better NFL quarterback than White. And as NFL defenses have figured out the Wildcat, White's days appear to be numbered.
Willie Parker, RB, Redskins
The next big thing lasted about an hour-and-a-half. A two-time Pro Bowler, a two-time Super Bowl champ, Parker could turn heads and wow fans with the best of them. And then it was all gone.
"Fast" Willie Parker, who broke Marcus Allen's long-standing record for longest rush in the Super Bowl with a 75-yard jaunt, is on the fast-track out of town in D.C.
Larry Johnson solidified his place behind Clinton Portis in Mike Shanahan's offense with a strong effort in the Redskins' third preseason game. Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams are also in the mix, leaving Parker in a tough spot.
Sam Hurd, WR, Cowboys
Hurd is popular, reliable, good in the locker room and blazing-fast. He's also likely on the way out.
At the start of camp, the consensus was that Hurd and Patrick Crayton were battling for the final receiver roster spot. Crayton's had a terrific camp; it's a classic numbers-game type situation. The Cowboys certainly aren't going to release Roy Williams, Miles Austin or top pick Dez Bryant. And young players like Jesse Holley and Kevin Ogletree are up-and-comers -- and cheaper. Once rumors of the Cowboys trying to deal Hurd surfaced last week, it was a sure sign Hurd's days in Dallas are coming to an end.
Kris Brown, K, Texans
What's the big deal, kickers are cut all the time, right? Yes. But Brown has been one of the most reliable kickers in the NFL in recent years. He also is a huge fan favorite in Houston, a community staple and the last of the original Texans from 2002.
But there's a bit of a "Brad Lidge Effect" in Houston. Brown missed a pair of crucial kicks last year against the division rival Colts and Titans. Make just one of those and the Texans would have been in the playoffs for the first time. The misses seemed to get into his head, and he struggled down the stretch. The Texans brought in former Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers and the battle is heated. The nod may go to Rackers if it's a tie.
Sinorice Moss, WR, Giants
Victor Cruz is the "it" player in New York right now. He's also cheap. Meanwhile, Moss is the five-year veteran who's underachieved and has a $1.176 million base salary. Do the math. It just doesn't add up well for Moss.
The Giants have waited for Moss to break out into something special for a while now. Now that there's a clearly capable option on the roster and Moss has nursed a groin injury, the former second-round pick out of Miami could be going bye-bye.
Deion Branch, WR, Seahawks
His nickname should be, "Roach." For all the times people have tried to step on him, squish him or shoo him away, Branch keeps hanging around.
Despite being an aging (31), ridiculously overpaid (two years left on a $39 million contract), oft-injured and often underachieving wideout, Branch remains a part of the 'Hawks plans. But for how long under the new regime? Pete Carroll has openly praised Branch, but despite being a Super Bowl MVP, Branch has never had a 1,000-yard season and has bad wheels.
Chris Simms, QB, Titans
With Vince Young given the starting job and trusty backup Kerry Collins entrenched, Simms, a one-time NFL starter, could well find it difficult getting a job after he is cut by the Titans.
Rusty Smith likely will be kept instead of Simms, who's staring at the end of an underachieving career.
Brandon Stokley, WR, Broncos
Stokley's first impression under Josh McDaniels was a magnificent one, catching a deflected ball in the 2009 opener and scoring one of the most memorable game-winning TDs of the year. But Stokley, once called the best slot receiver in football by former coach Mike Shanahan, doesn't fit the McDaniels' mold at wideout.
Jabar Gaffney, Brandon Lloyd and Eddie Royal are the front-line receivers, with rookies Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker making noise. Stokley's days in Denver could be numbered.
Rhett Bomar, QB, Giants
Tom Coughlin has a tough call to make and the former superstar-in-waiting could be left on the outside looking in. With the departure of David Carr, the Giants have Jim Sorgi, who is injured, as the only experienced quarterback behind Eli Manning. If the Giants cut Sorgi, that would leave the inexperienced and still developing Bomar. Not exactly ideal.
If they waive Bomar, he surely will be picked up by another squad because the talent is there and he could prove to be something in this league -- just not with New York.
Faust
MVP
Is it time to panic in Chicago?
By Kevin Seifert
As the Chicago Bears have stumbled through a 0-3 preseason, panic has remained trapped beneath the surface. We've only seen a few warning signs, most notably quarterback Jay Cutler's admission Saturday night that pass protection issues has made it difficult "just trusting guys" on the offensive line.
No one should have expected a sterling preseason. The Bears are installing a new offense, have new starters sprinkled throughout their defense and have endured more than their share of training camp injuries. But the near-total infestation raises a fair question: Can the Bears get it together before they open the regular season against the Detroit Lions in 13 days?
As another week of practice begins, let's consider three reasons to panic and three reasons to remain calm. How fun: We can be alarmists and flight attendants all at once.
This is bad -- really bad.
It's one thing if the offense needs some fine-tuning. But to this point, it's hardly functioned. The Bears' average of 12 points per game this preseason is tied for second-worst in the NFL. In a little more than four quarters of play, Cutler has taken 10 sacks, completed 51.4 percent of his passes and thrown two interceptions. If he doesn't trust his offensive linemen, there's nothing that can happen between now and Sept. 12 to fix that.
Attention on the offense might have softened concerns about the defense. Most notably, the Bears have allowed opponents to convert 45.6 percent of third-down opportunities. Usually, preseason statistics are mildly relevant at best. But if you consider it a carryover from last season, when the Bears ranked No. 27 among NFL teams in third-down defense (41 percent), then you could conclude the problems haven't been solved.
It's been psychologically jarring to see the Bears' usually pristine special teams in such disarray. Long-snapper Patrick Mannelly's neck injury rendered the Aug. 21 game against the Oakland Raiders moot. Opponents have blocked two punts and one field goal. Meanwhile, the Bears' longest special-teams play has been a 32-yard kickoff return from Danieal Manning. Taken individually, none of these issues would be alarming. But it's jarring when you consider the Bears normally have been explosive and impenetrable under coordinator Dave Toub.
As the Chicago Bears have stumbled through a 0-3 preseason, panic has remained trapped beneath the surface. We've only seen a few warning signs, most notably quarterback Jay Cutler's admission Saturday night that pass protection issues has made it difficult "just trusting guys" on the offensive line.
No one should have expected a sterling preseason. The Bears are installing a new offense, have new starters sprinkled throughout their defense and have endured more than their share of training camp injuries. But the near-total infestation raises a fair question: Can the Bears get it together before they open the regular season against the Detroit Lions in 13 days?
As another week of practice begins, let's consider three reasons to panic and three reasons to remain calm. How fun: We can be alarmists and flight attendants all at once.
This is bad -- really bad.
Take a deep breath
1. If the line can come together and Cutler can calm his nerves, the Bears have demonstrated they have some explosive parts to this offense. Receiver Johnny Knox is averaging 21 yards per reception. Tailback Matt Forte has an 89-yard touchdown run to his credit, and backup Chester Taylor produced a nifty 34-yard run the other night. And we're only being honest in noting that the first defense the Bears will face this season, the Lions, has struggled equally as much in the preseason.
2. The defense hasn't been close to full strength this summer, considering injuries to linebackers Nick Roach (knee), Brian Urlacher (calf) and Lance Briggs (ankle). Safety Major Wright broke a finger during a promising preseason debut, leaving us unable to evaluate the expected pairing of Wright at free safety and Chris Harris at strong. Finally, defensive end Julius Peppers has shown up with two sacks in limited playing time. Don't forget about him.
3.Toub and the rest of the Bears' special teams deserve some benefit of the doubt based on history. Mannelly's return has restored some order, and not all of the players who have made blocking and coverage mistakes will earn spots on the final roster. And don't forget the team has three returners with histories of explosiveness to choose from in Manning, Knox and Devin Hester.
By Kevin Seifert
As the Chicago Bears have stumbled through a 0-3 preseason, panic has remained trapped beneath the surface. We've only seen a few warning signs, most notably quarterback Jay Cutler's admission Saturday night that pass protection issues has made it difficult "just trusting guys" on the offensive line.
No one should have expected a sterling preseason. The Bears are installing a new offense, have new starters sprinkled throughout their defense and have endured more than their share of training camp injuries. But the near-total infestation raises a fair question: Can the Bears get it together before they open the regular season against the Detroit Lions in 13 days?
As another week of practice begins, let's consider three reasons to panic and three reasons to remain calm. How fun: We can be alarmists and flight attendants all at once.
This is bad -- really bad.
It's one thing if the offense needs some fine-tuning. But to this point, it's hardly functioned. The Bears' average of 12 points per game this preseason is tied for second-worst in the NFL. In a little more than four quarters of play, Cutler has taken 10 sacks, completed 51.4 percent of his passes and thrown two interceptions. If he doesn't trust his offensive linemen, there's nothing that can happen between now and Sept. 12 to fix that.
Attention on the offense might have softened concerns about the defense. Most notably, the Bears have allowed opponents to convert 45.6 percent of third-down opportunities. Usually, preseason statistics are mildly relevant at best. But if you consider it a carryover from last season, when the Bears ranked No. 27 among NFL teams in third-down defense (41 percent), then you could conclude the problems haven't been solved.
It's been psychologically jarring to see the Bears' usually pristine special teams in such disarray. Long-snapper Patrick Mannelly's neck injury rendered the Aug. 21 game against the Oakland Raiders moot. Opponents have blocked two punts and one field goal. Meanwhile, the Bears' longest special-teams play has been a 32-yard kickoff return from Danieal Manning. Taken individually, none of these issues would be alarming. But it's jarring when you consider the Bears normally have been explosive and impenetrable under coordinator Dave Toub.
As the Chicago Bears have stumbled through a 0-3 preseason, panic has remained trapped beneath the surface. We've only seen a few warning signs, most notably quarterback Jay Cutler's admission Saturday night that pass protection issues has made it difficult "just trusting guys" on the offensive line.
No one should have expected a sterling preseason. The Bears are installing a new offense, have new starters sprinkled throughout their defense and have endured more than their share of training camp injuries. But the near-total infestation raises a fair question: Can the Bears get it together before they open the regular season against the Detroit Lions in 13 days?
As another week of practice begins, let's consider three reasons to panic and three reasons to remain calm. How fun: We can be alarmists and flight attendants all at once.
This is bad -- really bad.
Take a deep breath
1. If the line can come together and Cutler can calm his nerves, the Bears have demonstrated they have some explosive parts to this offense. Receiver Johnny Knox is averaging 21 yards per reception. Tailback Matt Forte has an 89-yard touchdown run to his credit, and backup Chester Taylor produced a nifty 34-yard run the other night. And we're only being honest in noting that the first defense the Bears will face this season, the Lions, has struggled equally as much in the preseason.
2. The defense hasn't been close to full strength this summer, considering injuries to linebackers Nick Roach (knee), Brian Urlacher (calf) and Lance Briggs (ankle). Safety Major Wright broke a finger during a promising preseason debut, leaving us unable to evaluate the expected pairing of Wright at free safety and Chris Harris at strong. Finally, defensive end Julius Peppers has shown up with two sacks in limited playing time. Don't forget about him.
3.Toub and the rest of the Bears' special teams deserve some benefit of the doubt based on history. Mannelly's return has restored some order, and not all of the players who have made blocking and coverage mistakes will earn spots on the final roster. And don't forget the team has three returners with histories of explosiveness to choose from in Manning, Knox and Devin Hester.
Faust
MVP
PFW - AFC Whispers
Posted Aug. 29, 2010 @ 9:34 a.m. ET
By PFW staff
We've been hearing the following whispers from around the AFC:
• It's too early to speculate about the status of Patriots RB Laurence Maroney, who played only 12 snaps and had only eight carries — including none in the third preseason game, in which the starters played into the fourth quarter — through the first three preseason games. It must be noted that the Patriots had a lot of short drives against the Rams and clearly put an emphasis on the passing game, rushing it a mere 11 times. But none of those were by the supposed starting back, which raises questions about his place on the team despite Bill Belichick having praised Maroney through the course of the preseason and training camp.
• All signs once pointed to WR James Hardy winning a starting spot when Terrell Owens was allowed to leave Buffalo, but that hasn't been the case. Instead of seizing his opportunity, the 2008 second-rounder has been sidelined for most of August with a foot injury, falling well back on the depth chart. With fellow WR Steve Johnson looking like the probable starter and both Chad Jackson and multiple rookies impressing in camp, we hear Hardy could be in danger of not making the final roster.
• The struggles of rookie Nolan Carroll — combined with Will Allen's recovery from Aug. 12 knee surgery, which could keep him out during the early part of the regular season — led the Dolphins to trade WR Greg Camarillo for Vikings CB Benny Sapp. Carroll was expected to be the nickel back until Allen could return, but he is in danger of losing that job to Sapp, who functioned as the nickel back at times while with the Vikings.
• Jets WR David Clowney is on the roster bubble. Special-teams coach Mike Westhoff seems to have no use for Clowney, and if he's not contributing on special teams, the Jets most likely won't make room for him on the 53-man roster.
• One of the interesting lineup decisions the Ravens are left to make is at inside linebacker, where Jameel McClain and Dannell Ellerbe are the primary contenders to start at "Will" linebacker alongside legendary "Mike" 'backer Ray Lewis. McClain has started in the preseason and could win the job initially in the regular season, but, having started the last three games of 2009, Ellerbe looms as a threat to eventually recapture the job, the way we hear it.
• The Browns don't have any plans to move veteran CB Sheldon Brown to safety to create a spot in the lineup for first-round pick Joe Haden unless Haden forces the decision with some spectacular play. "I really like what Sheldon is doing at corner, and Joe is going to have to, for that to even be a thought, really make a dramatic push," head coach Eric Mangini told Cleveland reporters on Aug. 26.
• Undrafted first-year RB Devin Moore is the "odds-on favorite" to handle return duties for the Colts. The club remains high on fellow undrafted rookie Brandon James, who has an edge on seventh-round CB Ray Fisher because of James' contributions as a wideout. Fisher has struggled at cornerback, and he muffed a punt in the second preseason game against the Bills.
• The Texans were one of the teams to have put in a waiver claim for OT Tyler Polumbus, whom the Broncos waived on Aug. 24. The Lions — ahead of Houston in the claiming-priority order — added Polumbus the net day. The Texans' interest in Polumbus is understandable. Offensive coordinator Rick Dennison was the Broncos' offensive line coach for the first two seasons of Polumbus' career, and the Texans employ a zone-blocking scheme, which the Broncos no longer use. Polumbus signed with the Broncos in 2008 as an undrafted free agent when Mike Shanahan was head coach and Denver was a zone-blocking team.
• DE Jeremy Mincey continues to impress the Jaguars and could contribute as a rotational lineman for the club this season. The 6-3, 270 pound Mincey has done more during the preseason than DTs Walter Curry and Atiyyah Ellison, the way we hear it.
• Colts rookie TE Brody Eldridge's ability to run- and pass-block, paired with his surprisingly good hands, could spell trouble for H-back Gijon Robinson.
• Although it's hard to bring in starters off the waiver wire, we hear the Jaguars are very likely to sign a reserve safety or two to add depth to arguably the weakest position on the team.
• The Chargers are clearly interested in trading unsigned WR Vincent Jackson, but we hear that his asking price has scared away most suitors to this point. The Pro Bowl wideout is reportedly looking for a five-year, $50 million contract with $30 million guaranteed, a price that teams are wary of paying for a player with off-field conduct issues. San Diego has permitted the Seahawks to discuss contract parameters with Jackson's camp, but a deal appears unlikely unless the receiver's demands are scaled back.
• The Raiders are giving rookie Jared Veldheer a chance to win the starting job at center with Samson Satele out nursing an injury. Veldheer, a third-round pick, played left tackle in college and would be the tallest center in the league at 6-foot-8. Chris Morris would get the starting nod in the season opener if the Raiders decide Veldheer isn't ready yet and Satele is still sidelined, but the team seems to think Veldheer can provide more of the push it's looking for.
• Raiders QB Bruce Gradkowski has gone from being a lock as Jason Campbell's top backup to being on the roster bubble. Head coach Tom Cable has said the No. 2 job is still up for grabs, but Kyle Boller has had a nice preseason and Gradkowski has spent much of his offseason trying to get healthy. Gradkowski dealt with a pectoral injury, which kept him out of OTAs, and has been hampered by a groin injury in training camp.
Posted Aug. 29, 2010 @ 9:34 a.m. ET
By PFW staff
We've been hearing the following whispers from around the AFC:
• It's too early to speculate about the status of Patriots RB Laurence Maroney, who played only 12 snaps and had only eight carries — including none in the third preseason game, in which the starters played into the fourth quarter — through the first three preseason games. It must be noted that the Patriots had a lot of short drives against the Rams and clearly put an emphasis on the passing game, rushing it a mere 11 times. But none of those were by the supposed starting back, which raises questions about his place on the team despite Bill Belichick having praised Maroney through the course of the preseason and training camp.
• All signs once pointed to WR James Hardy winning a starting spot when Terrell Owens was allowed to leave Buffalo, but that hasn't been the case. Instead of seizing his opportunity, the 2008 second-rounder has been sidelined for most of August with a foot injury, falling well back on the depth chart. With fellow WR Steve Johnson looking like the probable starter and both Chad Jackson and multiple rookies impressing in camp, we hear Hardy could be in danger of not making the final roster.
• The struggles of rookie Nolan Carroll — combined with Will Allen's recovery from Aug. 12 knee surgery, which could keep him out during the early part of the regular season — led the Dolphins to trade WR Greg Camarillo for Vikings CB Benny Sapp. Carroll was expected to be the nickel back until Allen could return, but he is in danger of losing that job to Sapp, who functioned as the nickel back at times while with the Vikings.
• Jets WR David Clowney is on the roster bubble. Special-teams coach Mike Westhoff seems to have no use for Clowney, and if he's not contributing on special teams, the Jets most likely won't make room for him on the 53-man roster.
• One of the interesting lineup decisions the Ravens are left to make is at inside linebacker, where Jameel McClain and Dannell Ellerbe are the primary contenders to start at "Will" linebacker alongside legendary "Mike" 'backer Ray Lewis. McClain has started in the preseason and could win the job initially in the regular season, but, having started the last three games of 2009, Ellerbe looms as a threat to eventually recapture the job, the way we hear it.
• The Browns don't have any plans to move veteran CB Sheldon Brown to safety to create a spot in the lineup for first-round pick Joe Haden unless Haden forces the decision with some spectacular play. "I really like what Sheldon is doing at corner, and Joe is going to have to, for that to even be a thought, really make a dramatic push," head coach Eric Mangini told Cleveland reporters on Aug. 26.
• Undrafted first-year RB Devin Moore is the "odds-on favorite" to handle return duties for the Colts. The club remains high on fellow undrafted rookie Brandon James, who has an edge on seventh-round CB Ray Fisher because of James' contributions as a wideout. Fisher has struggled at cornerback, and he muffed a punt in the second preseason game against the Bills.
• The Texans were one of the teams to have put in a waiver claim for OT Tyler Polumbus, whom the Broncos waived on Aug. 24. The Lions — ahead of Houston in the claiming-priority order — added Polumbus the net day. The Texans' interest in Polumbus is understandable. Offensive coordinator Rick Dennison was the Broncos' offensive line coach for the first two seasons of Polumbus' career, and the Texans employ a zone-blocking scheme, which the Broncos no longer use. Polumbus signed with the Broncos in 2008 as an undrafted free agent when Mike Shanahan was head coach and Denver was a zone-blocking team.
• DE Jeremy Mincey continues to impress the Jaguars and could contribute as a rotational lineman for the club this season. The 6-3, 270 pound Mincey has done more during the preseason than DTs Walter Curry and Atiyyah Ellison, the way we hear it.
• Colts rookie TE Brody Eldridge's ability to run- and pass-block, paired with his surprisingly good hands, could spell trouble for H-back Gijon Robinson.
• Although it's hard to bring in starters off the waiver wire, we hear the Jaguars are very likely to sign a reserve safety or two to add depth to arguably the weakest position on the team.
• The Chargers are clearly interested in trading unsigned WR Vincent Jackson, but we hear that his asking price has scared away most suitors to this point. The Pro Bowl wideout is reportedly looking for a five-year, $50 million contract with $30 million guaranteed, a price that teams are wary of paying for a player with off-field conduct issues. San Diego has permitted the Seahawks to discuss contract parameters with Jackson's camp, but a deal appears unlikely unless the receiver's demands are scaled back.
• The Raiders are giving rookie Jared Veldheer a chance to win the starting job at center with Samson Satele out nursing an injury. Veldheer, a third-round pick, played left tackle in college and would be the tallest center in the league at 6-foot-8. Chris Morris would get the starting nod in the season opener if the Raiders decide Veldheer isn't ready yet and Satele is still sidelined, but the team seems to think Veldheer can provide more of the push it's looking for.
• Raiders QB Bruce Gradkowski has gone from being a lock as Jason Campbell's top backup to being on the roster bubble. Head coach Tom Cable has said the No. 2 job is still up for grabs, but Kyle Boller has had a nice preseason and Gradkowski has spent much of his offseason trying to get healthy. Gradkowski dealt with a pectoral injury, which kept him out of OTAs, and has been hampered by a groin injury in training camp.
Faust
MVP
PFW - NFC Whispers
Posted Aug. 29, 2010 @ 4:21 p.m. ET
By PFW staff
Here are some of the whispers we've been hearing from around the NFC:
• Redskins WR Malcolm Kelly appears to be in real trouble for a roster spot. He has missed a ton of time with a hamstring injury and has failed to impress Mike Shanahan, who showed in Denver he isn't above hacking a highly drafted receiver. Who has impressed has been Anthony Armstrong, who appears smaller than his listed 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds. But Armstrong has caught the ball consistently well and has earned the trust of the coaching staff.
• The Giants are quietly concerned about their punting. Since losing directional specialist Jeff Feagles to retirement in the offseason, rookie P Matt Dodge has struggled with consistency and hasn't kicked with nearly as much accuracy as Feagles did. It could change the team's field-position strategy if they don't opt to bring in a veteran instead. Dodge's distances have been OK, but his hang time and direction have been troublesome.
• Eagles CB Dimitri Patterson has played well enough in camp and during the preseason that he appears to be a roster lock. In fact, some feel he could be pushing Joselio Hanson for the nickel job. Hanson has not been at his best this preseason.
• Danny McCray has been a special-teams standout for the Cowboys and stands a decent chance of making the final roster. He has been all over the place on coverage and has stood out as a blocker on the return units. Though McCray has a way to go as a safety, he could be an instant contributor on special teams if he makes it.
• The Lions feel better about their DE depth in spite of the news that Jared DeVries will miss the entire season with a knee injury. They landed Lawrence Jackson via trade from the Seahawks, and he'll back up starters Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch. With Turk McBride and intriguing rookie Willie Young, the Lions appear to have five ends they like.
• The play of rookie CB Chris Cook was one of the factors that allowed the Vikings to trade Benny Sapp, a valuable sub defender last season, to the Dolphins for WR Greg Camarillo. Cook started out playing left corner, backing up starter Antoine Winfield, but now has played both sides and figures to be on the field with a role on defense early on.
• Right now, Vikings rookie DE Everson Griffen is buried on the depth chart and shows he has a long way to go. Yet, he almost certainly will make the team and spend this season as a pseudo redshirt, learning how to play defensive end in the NFL.
• Two Bears players we hear could be on the trading block are RB Garrett Wolfe, who is battling Kahlil Bell for a backup job behind Matt Forté and Chester Taylor, and S Al Afalava, who has struggled more often than not so far this preseason.
• We hear one of the bigger disappointments in the Bears' training camp has been second-year DE Jarron Gilbert, who has been limited by a stinger and has looked really slow off the ball most of the time in practice sessions when healthy, according to camp observers.
• Even though he has had all kinds of problems fielding kickoffs, our Packers sources tell us undrafted rookie CB Sam Shields' kick-coverage skills and 4.28 speed are likely to enable him to beat out veteran Jarrett Bush for a roster spot.
• Observers in Charlotte say Jon Beason has made a smooth transition from middle linebacker to the weak side. The player he's replacing on the weak side, Thomas Davis, is holding out hope that he can return in December. The chances of that happening appear slim — he's recovering from his second ACL tear in seven months — but we're told Davis isn't training like a player who doesn't expect to play in 2010.
• An ankle injury has kept Buccaneers WR Maurice Stovall out of the past two preseason games, and it appears he will be demoted from the top spot at flanker on the depth chart. Head coach Raheem Morris said it will be tough for Stovall to win that job under the circumstances.
• Probably the most pleasant surprise in the Cardinals' training camp is undrafted rookie Stephen Williams, who appears to have moved ahead of third-round rookie Andre Roberts for the No. 4 WR job. "He's been pretty good," one team insider said of Williams. "I doubt he'll make a Marques Colston-type impact, but he's got great size (6-foot-5) and has picked up the system very quickly."
• Niners head coach Mike Singletary seems pretty sure OLB Ahmad Brooks, who is expected to be one of the defense's primary pass rushers, will be completely recovered from the lacerated kidney that ended his preseason. "I don't think so," said Singletary when asked whether he thought Brooks' injury would linger into the regular season. "I talked to our trainers, and they feel very positive about it, but we're just being smart."
• We hear the Seahawks couldn't be happier with fourth-round rookie CB Walter Thurmond, who has had a very impressive training camp despite wearing a thick brace on his right knee. "He's a comer," said one daily team observer of Thurmond, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last September in his final year at Oregon. "He made this one amazing interception in one practice, and he's very physical. He could eventually end up being the guy opposite Marcus Trufant."
• While the reaction to the approval of Stan Kroenke as the Rams' new majority owner was mostly positive, we hear there were some locals who would have preferred bidder Shahid Khan since he would have had only one team to worry about.
Posted Aug. 29, 2010 @ 4:21 p.m. ET
By PFW staff
Here are some of the whispers we've been hearing from around the NFC:
• Redskins WR Malcolm Kelly appears to be in real trouble for a roster spot. He has missed a ton of time with a hamstring injury and has failed to impress Mike Shanahan, who showed in Denver he isn't above hacking a highly drafted receiver. Who has impressed has been Anthony Armstrong, who appears smaller than his listed 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds. But Armstrong has caught the ball consistently well and has earned the trust of the coaching staff.
• The Giants are quietly concerned about their punting. Since losing directional specialist Jeff Feagles to retirement in the offseason, rookie P Matt Dodge has struggled with consistency and hasn't kicked with nearly as much accuracy as Feagles did. It could change the team's field-position strategy if they don't opt to bring in a veteran instead. Dodge's distances have been OK, but his hang time and direction have been troublesome.
• Eagles CB Dimitri Patterson has played well enough in camp and during the preseason that he appears to be a roster lock. In fact, some feel he could be pushing Joselio Hanson for the nickel job. Hanson has not been at his best this preseason.
• Danny McCray has been a special-teams standout for the Cowboys and stands a decent chance of making the final roster. He has been all over the place on coverage and has stood out as a blocker on the return units. Though McCray has a way to go as a safety, he could be an instant contributor on special teams if he makes it.
• The Lions feel better about their DE depth in spite of the news that Jared DeVries will miss the entire season with a knee injury. They landed Lawrence Jackson via trade from the Seahawks, and he'll back up starters Cliff Avril and Kyle Vanden Bosch. With Turk McBride and intriguing rookie Willie Young, the Lions appear to have five ends they like.
• The play of rookie CB Chris Cook was one of the factors that allowed the Vikings to trade Benny Sapp, a valuable sub defender last season, to the Dolphins for WR Greg Camarillo. Cook started out playing left corner, backing up starter Antoine Winfield, but now has played both sides and figures to be on the field with a role on defense early on.
• Right now, Vikings rookie DE Everson Griffen is buried on the depth chart and shows he has a long way to go. Yet, he almost certainly will make the team and spend this season as a pseudo redshirt, learning how to play defensive end in the NFL.
• Two Bears players we hear could be on the trading block are RB Garrett Wolfe, who is battling Kahlil Bell for a backup job behind Matt Forté and Chester Taylor, and S Al Afalava, who has struggled more often than not so far this preseason.
• We hear one of the bigger disappointments in the Bears' training camp has been second-year DE Jarron Gilbert, who has been limited by a stinger and has looked really slow off the ball most of the time in practice sessions when healthy, according to camp observers.
• Even though he has had all kinds of problems fielding kickoffs, our Packers sources tell us undrafted rookie CB Sam Shields' kick-coverage skills and 4.28 speed are likely to enable him to beat out veteran Jarrett Bush for a roster spot.
• Observers in Charlotte say Jon Beason has made a smooth transition from middle linebacker to the weak side. The player he's replacing on the weak side, Thomas Davis, is holding out hope that he can return in December. The chances of that happening appear slim — he's recovering from his second ACL tear in seven months — but we're told Davis isn't training like a player who doesn't expect to play in 2010.
• An ankle injury has kept Buccaneers WR Maurice Stovall out of the past two preseason games, and it appears he will be demoted from the top spot at flanker on the depth chart. Head coach Raheem Morris said it will be tough for Stovall to win that job under the circumstances.
• Probably the most pleasant surprise in the Cardinals' training camp is undrafted rookie Stephen Williams, who appears to have moved ahead of third-round rookie Andre Roberts for the No. 4 WR job. "He's been pretty good," one team insider said of Williams. "I doubt he'll make a Marques Colston-type impact, but he's got great size (6-foot-5) and has picked up the system very quickly."
• Niners head coach Mike Singletary seems pretty sure OLB Ahmad Brooks, who is expected to be one of the defense's primary pass rushers, will be completely recovered from the lacerated kidney that ended his preseason. "I don't think so," said Singletary when asked whether he thought Brooks' injury would linger into the regular season. "I talked to our trainers, and they feel very positive about it, but we're just being smart."
• We hear the Seahawks couldn't be happier with fourth-round rookie CB Walter Thurmond, who has had a very impressive training camp despite wearing a thick brace on his right knee. "He's a comer," said one daily team observer of Thurmond, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last September in his final year at Oregon. "He made this one amazing interception in one practice, and he's very physical. He could eventually end up being the guy opposite Marcus Trufant."
• While the reaction to the approval of Stan Kroenke as the Rams' new majority owner was mostly positive, we hear there were some locals who would have preferred bidder Shahid Khan since he would have had only one team to worry about.
Faust
MVP
How much should we put into third preseason games?
Posted Aug. 29, 2010 @ 5:44 p.m.
Updated Aug. 29, 2010 @ 9:52 p.m.
By Eric Edholm
Generally speaking, NFL teams tend to play their starters more in their third preseason games than any other.
So shouldn't we then put more stock into what they do in these games heading into the regular season?
In some cases, yes. In others, not as much.
Here's a quick run-through of the biggest issues that came from this week's games (minus Broncos-Steelers, which is later tonight) and which teams should be more concerned than others:
Rams: The passing game looked fully developed, and the protection of Sam Bradford was good.
Verdict: This was a promising development, but the season-ending injury to Donnie Avery is a bad sign for a WR corps that seriously lacks talent now.
Patriots: The pass defense was a big sore spot, and the pass rush was very spotty.
Verdict: The Patriots' defense looked better, much better, in the first two preseason games, so I am hesistant to make too much of it. But the coverage was poor, and there will be games when the rush just isn't there to make up for it.
Packers: What a performance by the offense, which looked lethal even without WR Greg Jennings. The special teams appeared improved, too.
Verdict: What you see is what you get. The Packers will be this year's Saints, scoring in batches. Aaron Rodgers could be the league's MVP. And I was encouraged by the special teams, which I thought might be their Achilles heel.
Colts: Peyton Manning was non-plussed by the officials' calls during the two-minute offense, and the defense was gashed at times no matter what it threw at the Packers.
Verdict: Expect the officials to get some sort of memo about "over-calling" some of these procedural penalties; remember, it's preseason for the officials, too, and they're attempting to adjust to a new position of the official. As for the defense, it was pretty shocking to see, but likely an aberration.
Falcons: The defense stood up extremely well against the Dolphins with starting QB Chad Henne in the game. The young players made big plays in big spots.
Verdict: There has been growing sentiment that the defense is ready to step up. (Interestingly, the offense has taken a few steps back, it appears.) Curtis Lofton and Lawrence Sidbury had big games, and the entire unit should be better this season. They get two big QB breaks in Weeks One (no Ben Roethlisberger) and Two (no Kurt Warner) before head to New Orleans to face Drew Brees and the Saints.
Dolphins: The run game — the team's bread and butter — was not effective as the offensive line was overmatched by the Falcons.
Verdict: Tony Sparano should get these guys in order for the start of the season, but it might not be a dominant group at any point. There will be games where the Dolphins run the ball very well, but I susupect there will be others where they have real trouble with it, too. At least Henne and Brandon Marshall hooked up for a few big plays.
Jets: The first-team offense hasn't looked good in any of the three games. You can say what you want about vanilla play calling, but this is not the way the team would have liked to execute this preseason. The Jets turned it over four times in the loss to the Redskins.
Verdict: There's genuine concern about the team's ability to move the ball consistently. Mark Sanchez has been sub-par. He must make more plays and be less erratic. But with this defense, the offense does not have to be a world-beating group.
Redskins: Donovan McNabb missed the game with an ankle injury, and he could miss the opener, Mike Shanahan said today. Few pass-catching threats have emerged.
Verdict: Although I think McNabb will play Week One against the Cowboys, I think he'll struggle in the game and in the early part of the season with so few weapons at his disposal. I like the tight ends, and Santana Moss will make 3-4 plays a game. But who is next on the totem pole? Devin Thomas? Anthony Armstrong?
Saints: Could Chris Ivory be the Saints' latest rags-to-riches running back? Is Jonathan Vilma's injury going to be serious?
Verdict: Ivory has a chance to make it, but he has been given a lot of chances before and hasn't always made the most of him. Still, his 76-yard zig-zagging reception against the Chargers shows he has NFL-type skills and could be a diamond in the rough. Vilma's injury was scary but appears to be relatively minor.
Chargers: The defense missed opportunities at making big plays. There are questions about depth after losing players in the offseason.
Verdict: The offense will make up for some deficiencies on defense, and overall the "D" remains a pretty good unit. Plenty of quality defenses have looked bad against the Saints. There is not a major concern here, I don't think.
Eagles: Kevin Kolb's struggles continued, as pass protection was shaky.
Verdict: Even with the offensive line getting healthy finally, I am not ready to bury this issue. I expect the Packers to come after Kolb until the Eagles show they can protect him. As for Kolb struggling even when he had time this preseason, this is not going to be an instant hit. I like his prospects long term, but he might not dominate immediately.
Chiefs: The offense struggled again. Despite the addition of some playmakers, there hasn't been a lot of noise yet.
Verdict: The Chiefs remain a work in progress, but I am starting to wonder if Matt Cassel is the guy there. He is right now, but all bets are off if the Chiefs start slowly. Jamaal Charles can't fumble and expect to get more carries than Thomas Jones.
Lions: For all the positives on offense, the defense continued to struggle.
Verdict: I wouldn't be fooling anyone to suggest that the Lions won't be very good defensively this season. Their best chances comes if that defensive line dominates opponents and can make up for deficiencies on the back end. But that isn't going to happen every week. Still, the offense gives them chances to beat teams. It's going to be fun to watch them with the ball this season.
Browns: See Lions, above.
Verdict: It's hard not to be encouraged with the offense, but the defense remains a sore spot. They only can scheme their way to success so much; it's clear the talent is not all there yet. I expect some moderate improvement as the season goes on, and the Browns are slightly better than people realize, but the defense will continue to hold this team back.
Bills: The offense has scored 59 points combined the past two games and has shown some real signs of life.
Verdict: C.J. Spiller has been as advertised, and though Trent Edwards was 13-of-17 passing for 153 yards against the Bengals, I am not sure he's going to be a top-16 quarterback. You will see bursts from Spiller, who will be a factor in the passing and run games, but after that it's going to be a patchwork unit. I am more encouraged than I was two weeks ago but not convinced that things are dramatically better.
Bengals: Carson Palmer and the receivers showed signs of life after a slow start to the preseason.
Verdict: This is to be expected, considering that Terrell Owens was added to the mix late and that rookies Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham are trying to get up to NFL speed. The Bengals have an intriguing mix of talen on offense, and now that Palmer looks healthy and steadier, they could take off if they are consistent and avoid turnovers.
Jaguars: The run blocking continued to struggle, and the pass rush was noticeably absent again.
Verdict: Things will get better now that the starting O-line is back together and that Maurice Jones-Drew will return in Week One from a precautionary absence. But the pass rush could remain a problem. Having all three starting linebackers out hurts, but are those players sure to provide the rush the team needs? Yet to be determined.
Buccaneers: Josh Johnson filled in fairly well for Josh Freeman and showed he has some NFL-caliber skills.
Verdict: Could Johnson push Freeman at some point? Yes, but the job will be Freeman's in Week One, assuming he's healthy. His thumb could prove to be an irritation, but if Freeman doesn't make enough strides, the Bucs could turn to Johnson and be in good shape. Johnson might never be a 16-game starter, but he has some interesting skills worth keeping around.
Giants: They had just five first downs in the first half, struggled to run the ball and had no answer for the Ravens' passing attack.
Verdict: As Vinny DiTrani wrote, "If this indeed was the dress rehearsal, the play should close before it even opens." It felt like a total dud of a game, with neither the offense nor defense bothering to show up. So do we chalk it up as one bad game? Or worry there are trends here? I suspect the defense will be far better than it showed against the Ravens, but the offensive inefficiency is something to follow.
Ravens: They slung the ball well with Joe Flacco, continuing their pass-proficient ways of the preseason.
Verdict: The Ravens will throw more this season. And better. Flacco has hit a peak in his third season, and Anquan Boldin changes the way teams defend the Ravens. Dicing up a good secondary such as the Giants' gives high hopes for this trend continuing.
Cowboys: The first-team offense has been abysmal: can't run, can't pass, can't block.
Verdict: There has to be concern here, even if the problems are corectable, as Tony Romo said. The line needs to get healthier and better. RBs Marion Barber and Felix Jones look faster, but they have had no room to run. And Romo can't throw when he's getting snowed under. But Romo deserves some role in this, too. He has not been sharp through the first three preseason games and must get into a groove once Dez Bryant gets back.
Texans: Arian Foster continued to make believers by the day with another strong rushing effort.
Verdict: Everyone knows how badly the Texans have sought a lead runner to spearhead the ground game. Foster just might be this guy, although I think he needs help. I don't expect him to hold up for an entire season with constant pounding, though I do think he'll have some very nice performances along the way.
Vikings: Brett Favre has some nice moments with his new receivers, Javon Walker and Greg Camarillo.
Verdict: Call me a skeptic, but I am not ready to proclaim Walker NFL-ready after catching a TD pass against the Seahawks. He has been a tease almost every play he has taken in the NFL since 2006, so one nice catch isn't going to change my mind yet. I need to see way more. Camarillo, however, could be a 50-catch guy. Favre clearly overestimated his speed on the interception, overthrowing him by a good yard or two, but Favre should find Camarillo open quite a bit underneath this season once he picks up the offense.
Seahawks: Earl Thomas has a fantastic game, but the offense sputtered.
Verdict: Thomas is a fine player, though we have to mention the fact that Bernard Berrian gift-wrapped his 86-yard TD return on the interception that went right through his hands and into Thomas'. The offense? Well, there's a lot of work to do. The run game lacks an identity (though I think Justin Forsett will win the No. 1 spot) and the passing game has been too up and down. The offensive line is a big reason why. Expect more of that early in the season.
Panthers: The first-team offense still hasn't scored a TD, but the defense has stunned its three opponents with 18 sacks.
Verdict: They will meet in the middle. The offense will improve with Steve Smith, Jonathan Steart and Jeff Otah back, and the defense won't come close to keeping up its six-sacks-per-game pace. But I think we're talking about an underrated team either way. Free-agent-to-be John Fox is coaching pressure-free this season, and it will show.
Titans: Chris Johnson struggled, as did Vince Young, but the run defense was strong.
Verdict: No need to worry about Johnson. Young, he should be fine as well, although as we've seen, he will have a clunker here and there. But I am encouraged by the run defense, which will need to be sharp in Week One against the Rainders, who plan to play physical football this season. The Titans played disciplined football against the Panthers' run game, a very positive development.
Cardinals: The QB job remains open after both Matt Leinart and Derek Anderson threw for touchdowns.
Verdict: I think Leinart will win the job. But I don't think that will be the end-all-be-all decision. At some point, Ken Whisenhunt is bound to make a change. They just have too much invested in Leinart now and have to give him a shot to take the job and run with it. It's just that I am of the opinion he won't fully take advantage of that opportunity.
Bears: Jay Cutler struggled with off-target throws, and the defense turned in a so-so effort.
Verdict: The defense remains a concern, despite talent there. I just don't think it will perform up to its capabilities every week and will face a suddenly dangerous Lions offense in Week One. As for Cutler, who knows? You'll see glimpses of greatness, but in no way do I think he will suddenly stop throwing interceptions at such a high rate. He doesn't value possession enough, although Mike Martz has never worried about picks as long as he's scoring points. Problem is, the offense has been uneven at best so far and points have been hard to come by.
49ers: The first-team defense allowed three touchdowns, and the team committed 10 penalties.
Verdict: I am not convinced, unlike the rest of the natural world, that the 49ers are destined for greatness, even though I do have them winning the NFC West. And it's because they are prone to bouts of inconsistency, which makes me prone to doubt their credentials. I expect them to be a good but not great team this season and that their mistakes will cost them at times.
Raiders: The defense missed some tackles, and QB Jason Campbell suffered a neck stinger that looked scary for a moment.
Verdict: First part last. Campbell should be fine. I expect to see him out there Week One against the Titans. The Raiders' tackling this preseason has been a bit spotty, and it is one big thing that will prevent them from being the great defense they think they are capable of. Expect at least one change: Mike Mitchell could bounce Michael Huff at safety. Huff now has been beaten twice this preseason on long runs and appears to be a vulnerability. The rest of the unit should be more consistent, I believe, without him.
Posted Aug. 29, 2010 @ 5:44 p.m.
Updated Aug. 29, 2010 @ 9:52 p.m.
By Eric Edholm
Generally speaking, NFL teams tend to play their starters more in their third preseason games than any other.
So shouldn't we then put more stock into what they do in these games heading into the regular season?
In some cases, yes. In others, not as much.
Here's a quick run-through of the biggest issues that came from this week's games (minus Broncos-Steelers, which is later tonight) and which teams should be more concerned than others:
Rams: The passing game looked fully developed, and the protection of Sam Bradford was good.
Verdict: This was a promising development, but the season-ending injury to Donnie Avery is a bad sign for a WR corps that seriously lacks talent now.
Patriots: The pass defense was a big sore spot, and the pass rush was very spotty.
Verdict: The Patriots' defense looked better, much better, in the first two preseason games, so I am hesistant to make too much of it. But the coverage was poor, and there will be games when the rush just isn't there to make up for it.
Packers: What a performance by the offense, which looked lethal even without WR Greg Jennings. The special teams appeared improved, too.
Verdict: What you see is what you get. The Packers will be this year's Saints, scoring in batches. Aaron Rodgers could be the league's MVP. And I was encouraged by the special teams, which I thought might be their Achilles heel.
Colts: Peyton Manning was non-plussed by the officials' calls during the two-minute offense, and the defense was gashed at times no matter what it threw at the Packers.
Verdict: Expect the officials to get some sort of memo about "over-calling" some of these procedural penalties; remember, it's preseason for the officials, too, and they're attempting to adjust to a new position of the official. As for the defense, it was pretty shocking to see, but likely an aberration.
Falcons: The defense stood up extremely well against the Dolphins with starting QB Chad Henne in the game. The young players made big plays in big spots.
Verdict: There has been growing sentiment that the defense is ready to step up. (Interestingly, the offense has taken a few steps back, it appears.) Curtis Lofton and Lawrence Sidbury had big games, and the entire unit should be better this season. They get two big QB breaks in Weeks One (no Ben Roethlisberger) and Two (no Kurt Warner) before head to New Orleans to face Drew Brees and the Saints.
Dolphins: The run game — the team's bread and butter — was not effective as the offensive line was overmatched by the Falcons.
Verdict: Tony Sparano should get these guys in order for the start of the season, but it might not be a dominant group at any point. There will be games where the Dolphins run the ball very well, but I susupect there will be others where they have real trouble with it, too. At least Henne and Brandon Marshall hooked up for a few big plays.
Jets: The first-team offense hasn't looked good in any of the three games. You can say what you want about vanilla play calling, but this is not the way the team would have liked to execute this preseason. The Jets turned it over four times in the loss to the Redskins.
Verdict: There's genuine concern about the team's ability to move the ball consistently. Mark Sanchez has been sub-par. He must make more plays and be less erratic. But with this defense, the offense does not have to be a world-beating group.
Redskins: Donovan McNabb missed the game with an ankle injury, and he could miss the opener, Mike Shanahan said today. Few pass-catching threats have emerged.
Verdict: Although I think McNabb will play Week One against the Cowboys, I think he'll struggle in the game and in the early part of the season with so few weapons at his disposal. I like the tight ends, and Santana Moss will make 3-4 plays a game. But who is next on the totem pole? Devin Thomas? Anthony Armstrong?
Saints: Could Chris Ivory be the Saints' latest rags-to-riches running back? Is Jonathan Vilma's injury going to be serious?
Verdict: Ivory has a chance to make it, but he has been given a lot of chances before and hasn't always made the most of him. Still, his 76-yard zig-zagging reception against the Chargers shows he has NFL-type skills and could be a diamond in the rough. Vilma's injury was scary but appears to be relatively minor.
Chargers: The defense missed opportunities at making big plays. There are questions about depth after losing players in the offseason.
Verdict: The offense will make up for some deficiencies on defense, and overall the "D" remains a pretty good unit. Plenty of quality defenses have looked bad against the Saints. There is not a major concern here, I don't think.
Eagles: Kevin Kolb's struggles continued, as pass protection was shaky.
Verdict: Even with the offensive line getting healthy finally, I am not ready to bury this issue. I expect the Packers to come after Kolb until the Eagles show they can protect him. As for Kolb struggling even when he had time this preseason, this is not going to be an instant hit. I like his prospects long term, but he might not dominate immediately.
Chiefs: The offense struggled again. Despite the addition of some playmakers, there hasn't been a lot of noise yet.
Verdict: The Chiefs remain a work in progress, but I am starting to wonder if Matt Cassel is the guy there. He is right now, but all bets are off if the Chiefs start slowly. Jamaal Charles can't fumble and expect to get more carries than Thomas Jones.
Lions: For all the positives on offense, the defense continued to struggle.
Verdict: I wouldn't be fooling anyone to suggest that the Lions won't be very good defensively this season. Their best chances comes if that defensive line dominates opponents and can make up for deficiencies on the back end. But that isn't going to happen every week. Still, the offense gives them chances to beat teams. It's going to be fun to watch them with the ball this season.
Browns: See Lions, above.
Verdict: It's hard not to be encouraged with the offense, but the defense remains a sore spot. They only can scheme their way to success so much; it's clear the talent is not all there yet. I expect some moderate improvement as the season goes on, and the Browns are slightly better than people realize, but the defense will continue to hold this team back.
Bills: The offense has scored 59 points combined the past two games and has shown some real signs of life.
Verdict: C.J. Spiller has been as advertised, and though Trent Edwards was 13-of-17 passing for 153 yards against the Bengals, I am not sure he's going to be a top-16 quarterback. You will see bursts from Spiller, who will be a factor in the passing and run games, but after that it's going to be a patchwork unit. I am more encouraged than I was two weeks ago but not convinced that things are dramatically better.
Bengals: Carson Palmer and the receivers showed signs of life after a slow start to the preseason.
Verdict: This is to be expected, considering that Terrell Owens was added to the mix late and that rookies Jordan Shipley and Jermaine Gresham are trying to get up to NFL speed. The Bengals have an intriguing mix of talen on offense, and now that Palmer looks healthy and steadier, they could take off if they are consistent and avoid turnovers.
Jaguars: The run blocking continued to struggle, and the pass rush was noticeably absent again.
Verdict: Things will get better now that the starting O-line is back together and that Maurice Jones-Drew will return in Week One from a precautionary absence. But the pass rush could remain a problem. Having all three starting linebackers out hurts, but are those players sure to provide the rush the team needs? Yet to be determined.
Buccaneers: Josh Johnson filled in fairly well for Josh Freeman and showed he has some NFL-caliber skills.
Verdict: Could Johnson push Freeman at some point? Yes, but the job will be Freeman's in Week One, assuming he's healthy. His thumb could prove to be an irritation, but if Freeman doesn't make enough strides, the Bucs could turn to Johnson and be in good shape. Johnson might never be a 16-game starter, but he has some interesting skills worth keeping around.
Giants: They had just five first downs in the first half, struggled to run the ball and had no answer for the Ravens' passing attack.
Verdict: As Vinny DiTrani wrote, "If this indeed was the dress rehearsal, the play should close before it even opens." It felt like a total dud of a game, with neither the offense nor defense bothering to show up. So do we chalk it up as one bad game? Or worry there are trends here? I suspect the defense will be far better than it showed against the Ravens, but the offensive inefficiency is something to follow.
Ravens: They slung the ball well with Joe Flacco, continuing their pass-proficient ways of the preseason.
Verdict: The Ravens will throw more this season. And better. Flacco has hit a peak in his third season, and Anquan Boldin changes the way teams defend the Ravens. Dicing up a good secondary such as the Giants' gives high hopes for this trend continuing.
Cowboys: The first-team offense has been abysmal: can't run, can't pass, can't block.
Verdict: There has to be concern here, even if the problems are corectable, as Tony Romo said. The line needs to get healthier and better. RBs Marion Barber and Felix Jones look faster, but they have had no room to run. And Romo can't throw when he's getting snowed under. But Romo deserves some role in this, too. He has not been sharp through the first three preseason games and must get into a groove once Dez Bryant gets back.
Texans: Arian Foster continued to make believers by the day with another strong rushing effort.
Verdict: Everyone knows how badly the Texans have sought a lead runner to spearhead the ground game. Foster just might be this guy, although I think he needs help. I don't expect him to hold up for an entire season with constant pounding, though I do think he'll have some very nice performances along the way.
Vikings: Brett Favre has some nice moments with his new receivers, Javon Walker and Greg Camarillo.
Verdict: Call me a skeptic, but I am not ready to proclaim Walker NFL-ready after catching a TD pass against the Seahawks. He has been a tease almost every play he has taken in the NFL since 2006, so one nice catch isn't going to change my mind yet. I need to see way more. Camarillo, however, could be a 50-catch guy. Favre clearly overestimated his speed on the interception, overthrowing him by a good yard or two, but Favre should find Camarillo open quite a bit underneath this season once he picks up the offense.
Seahawks: Earl Thomas has a fantastic game, but the offense sputtered.
Verdict: Thomas is a fine player, though we have to mention the fact that Bernard Berrian gift-wrapped his 86-yard TD return on the interception that went right through his hands and into Thomas'. The offense? Well, there's a lot of work to do. The run game lacks an identity (though I think Justin Forsett will win the No. 1 spot) and the passing game has been too up and down. The offensive line is a big reason why. Expect more of that early in the season.
Panthers: The first-team offense still hasn't scored a TD, but the defense has stunned its three opponents with 18 sacks.
Verdict: They will meet in the middle. The offense will improve with Steve Smith, Jonathan Steart and Jeff Otah back, and the defense won't come close to keeping up its six-sacks-per-game pace. But I think we're talking about an underrated team either way. Free-agent-to-be John Fox is coaching pressure-free this season, and it will show.
Titans: Chris Johnson struggled, as did Vince Young, but the run defense was strong.
Verdict: No need to worry about Johnson. Young, he should be fine as well, although as we've seen, he will have a clunker here and there. But I am encouraged by the run defense, which will need to be sharp in Week One against the Rainders, who plan to play physical football this season. The Titans played disciplined football against the Panthers' run game, a very positive development.
Cardinals: The QB job remains open after both Matt Leinart and Derek Anderson threw for touchdowns.
Verdict: I think Leinart will win the job. But I don't think that will be the end-all-be-all decision. At some point, Ken Whisenhunt is bound to make a change. They just have too much invested in Leinart now and have to give him a shot to take the job and run with it. It's just that I am of the opinion he won't fully take advantage of that opportunity.
Bears: Jay Cutler struggled with off-target throws, and the defense turned in a so-so effort.
Verdict: The defense remains a concern, despite talent there. I just don't think it will perform up to its capabilities every week and will face a suddenly dangerous Lions offense in Week One. As for Cutler, who knows? You'll see glimpses of greatness, but in no way do I think he will suddenly stop throwing interceptions at such a high rate. He doesn't value possession enough, although Mike Martz has never worried about picks as long as he's scoring points. Problem is, the offense has been uneven at best so far and points have been hard to come by.
49ers: The first-team defense allowed three touchdowns, and the team committed 10 penalties.
Verdict: I am not convinced, unlike the rest of the natural world, that the 49ers are destined for greatness, even though I do have them winning the NFC West. And it's because they are prone to bouts of inconsistency, which makes me prone to doubt their credentials. I expect them to be a good but not great team this season and that their mistakes will cost them at times.
Raiders: The defense missed some tackles, and QB Jason Campbell suffered a neck stinger that looked scary for a moment.
Verdict: First part last. Campbell should be fine. I expect to see him out there Week One against the Titans. The Raiders' tackling this preseason has been a bit spotty, and it is one big thing that will prevent them from being the great defense they think they are capable of. Expect at least one change: Mike Mitchell could bounce Michael Huff at safety. Huff now has been beaten twice this preseason on long runs and appears to be a vulnerability. The rest of the unit should be more consistent, I believe, without him.
Faust
MVP
Leinart and other Week 4 preseason topics
By Mike Sando
A few thoughts and observations while watching all four NFC West teams play their final games of the 2010 exhibition season:
Matt Leinart played long enough to attempt five passes for the Arizona Cardinals. The offense didn't do much. Leinart passed for 14 yards. The fact that he played at all suggests there could still be a spot for him on the roster, but it's an upset if he has a future in Arizona. Third-stringer Max Hall has a much greater chance of sticking around long term. The Cardinals like his intangibles, and the way he has produced during preseason.
Hall outplayed fellow rookie John Skelton. The Cardinals might be best off keeping Derek Anderson, Leinart and Hall for now, then figuring out what to do with Leinart depending on what other options come available.
Cardinals running back Beanie Wells suffered a leg injury and was seen with ice on his shin area. That's a tough ending to a nondescript exhibition season for Wells, and another tough break for Arizona. This team has seen Leinart implode, Larry Fitzgerald sprain a knee and Wells limp off the field 10 days before the opener (Wells later said he was fine).
Sam Bradford has to be the choice as the St. Louis Rams' starting quarterback. The Rams weren't going to force the issue, but if Bradford looked the part and produced, they weren't going to hold him back. Bradford has looked the part and he produced again Thursday night, albeit against the Baltimore Ravens' backups. Bradford completed all six of his passes and appeared in full command while leading a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on his only possession. He even ran the no-huddle offense. Case closed.
Several young NFC West receivers made big plays. The San Francisco 49ers' Dominique Zeigler didn't get both feet down while making a one-handed grab in the end zone, but the play was sensational. Golden Tate, Ben Obomanu and especially Deon Butler (100-plus yards) stood out for Seattle. Butler broke two arm tackles during a 26-yard touchdown reception. The Cardinals' Stephen Williams made a 20-yard grab and teammate Onrea Jones atoned for a special-teams miscue by showing power and determination in charging toward the goal line following a reception. The Rams' Dominique Curry, who enjoyed a strong camp and could be fighting for a roster spot, stood out for his blocking.
Ex-49ers receiver Brandon Jones, trying to earn a roster spot in Seattle, dropped a pass on third down.
Cardinals second-round choice Daryl Washington gets to the football in a hurry. Next to Bradford, he might be the most impressive rookie in the division to this point.
The Seahawks rested their starting quarterback and starting receivers. Receiver Mike Williams played quite a bit and again showed why he should be part of the rotation. The Seahawks might feel good enough about their young depth at receiver to go young at the position -- it's what they want to do, anyway -- but they would have a hard time getting trade value for veteran T.J. Houshmandzadeh, whose $7 million salary is guaranteed.
Rams tight end Daniel Fells was shaken up early in the game, then committed a penalty upon his return (he also had an 18-yard reception). Will the Rams go with younger players at the position? Rookie Mike Hoomanawanui had a 27-yard reception. He's a keeper.
The 49ers' Anthony Dixon ran hard and showed elusiveness during a 46-yard touchdown run, but he also suffered injured ribs. Rib injuries linger, but the 49ers shouldn't need Dixon on offense for some time (if at all).
Seahawks rookie Dexter Davis might have surpassed the injured Nick Reed as the Seahawks' second-best pass-rusher. We'll see what it means for the regular season. Seattle will need Aaron Curry to make an impact in that area.
A rough preseason for 49ers third-string quarterback Nate Davis got rougher when the San Diego Chargers picked off two of his first 15 passes (not necessarily Davis' fault entirely as there were dropped passes). Davis has talent and potential. He can look very good. He did move the 49ers into scoring position late, delivering a short touchdown pass. Overall, the comments coach Mike Singletary made questioning Davis' preparation stick in my mind as the 53-man deadline approaches. A public wakeup call, or an omen? Hmmm.
All that said, this was the fourth exhibition game. We'll forget what happened in another week.
By Mike Sando
A few thoughts and observations while watching all four NFC West teams play their final games of the 2010 exhibition season:
Matt Leinart played long enough to attempt five passes for the Arizona Cardinals. The offense didn't do much. Leinart passed for 14 yards. The fact that he played at all suggests there could still be a spot for him on the roster, but it's an upset if he has a future in Arizona. Third-stringer Max Hall has a much greater chance of sticking around long term. The Cardinals like his intangibles, and the way he has produced during preseason.
Hall outplayed fellow rookie John Skelton. The Cardinals might be best off keeping Derek Anderson, Leinart and Hall for now, then figuring out what to do with Leinart depending on what other options come available.
Cardinals running back Beanie Wells suffered a leg injury and was seen with ice on his shin area. That's a tough ending to a nondescript exhibition season for Wells, and another tough break for Arizona. This team has seen Leinart implode, Larry Fitzgerald sprain a knee and Wells limp off the field 10 days before the opener (Wells later said he was fine).
Sam Bradford has to be the choice as the St. Louis Rams' starting quarterback. The Rams weren't going to force the issue, but if Bradford looked the part and produced, they weren't going to hold him back. Bradford has looked the part and he produced again Thursday night, albeit against the Baltimore Ravens' backups. Bradford completed all six of his passes and appeared in full command while leading a 10-play, 75-yard touchdown drive on his only possession. He even ran the no-huddle offense. Case closed.
Several young NFC West receivers made big plays. The San Francisco 49ers' Dominique Zeigler didn't get both feet down while making a one-handed grab in the end zone, but the play was sensational. Golden Tate, Ben Obomanu and especially Deon Butler (100-plus yards) stood out for Seattle. Butler broke two arm tackles during a 26-yard touchdown reception. The Cardinals' Stephen Williams made a 20-yard grab and teammate Onrea Jones atoned for a special-teams miscue by showing power and determination in charging toward the goal line following a reception. The Rams' Dominique Curry, who enjoyed a strong camp and could be fighting for a roster spot, stood out for his blocking.
Ex-49ers receiver Brandon Jones, trying to earn a roster spot in Seattle, dropped a pass on third down.
Cardinals second-round choice Daryl Washington gets to the football in a hurry. Next to Bradford, he might be the most impressive rookie in the division to this point.
The Seahawks rested their starting quarterback and starting receivers. Receiver Mike Williams played quite a bit and again showed why he should be part of the rotation. The Seahawks might feel good enough about their young depth at receiver to go young at the position -- it's what they want to do, anyway -- but they would have a hard time getting trade value for veteran T.J. Houshmandzadeh, whose $7 million salary is guaranteed.
Rams tight end Daniel Fells was shaken up early in the game, then committed a penalty upon his return (he also had an 18-yard reception). Will the Rams go with younger players at the position? Rookie Mike Hoomanawanui had a 27-yard reception. He's a keeper.
The 49ers' Anthony Dixon ran hard and showed elusiveness during a 46-yard touchdown run, but he also suffered injured ribs. Rib injuries linger, but the 49ers shouldn't need Dixon on offense for some time (if at all).
Seahawks rookie Dexter Davis might have surpassed the injured Nick Reed as the Seahawks' second-best pass-rusher. We'll see what it means for the regular season. Seattle will need Aaron Curry to make an impact in that area.
A rough preseason for 49ers third-string quarterback Nate Davis got rougher when the San Diego Chargers picked off two of his first 15 passes (not necessarily Davis' fault entirely as there were dropped passes). Davis has talent and potential. He can look very good. He did move the 49ers into scoring position late, delivering a short touchdown pass. Overall, the comments coach Mike Singletary made questioning Davis' preparation stick in my mind as the 53-man deadline approaches. A public wakeup call, or an omen? Hmmm.
All that said, this was the fourth exhibition game. We'll forget what happened in another week.
Faust
MVP
PFW - whispers from around the league
Here are some of the whispers we've been hearing from around the league:
• The latest word out of Green Bay is that undrafted rookie Sam Shields, a fan favorite with blazing speed (4.28 seconds in the 40-yard dash), has moved ahead of both Brandon Underwood and Patrick Lee as the Packers' third cornerback behind Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams until veteran starter Al Harris hopefully returns from the physically-unable-to-perform list six games into the season.
• There were reports in February that the Saints planned to extend QB Drew Brees' contract before the 2010 campaign, but the potential of a new deal wasn't a major topic in New Orleans this offseason, sources say. Brees is signed through the 2011 season and the Saints probably will not address his contract until this season is over.
• Now that the Cardinals have placed veteran ILB Gerald Hayes, who underwent back surgery in July, on the physically-unable-to-perform list, they will have to get used to starting second-round rookie Daryl Washington at one of the ILB spots — whether they like it or not. The good news is that Washington, who has very impressive speed, looked decent more often than not this preseason.
• While Rams featured back Steven Jackson probably wouldn't mind more quality help behind him on the depth chart, a much more important thing as far as he's concerned is having the same five offensive linemen blocking in front of him all season. "I don't know how long it's been since we've had a starting O-line to start a season and complete it," Jackson said recently. "I would think that's the biggest goal for us, and make sure that our five guys up front stay healthy and play together the whole season."
• We hear it would not be a surprise if 49ers third-year S Reggie Smith regularly replaces veteran starting SS Michael Lewis on passing downs once the season starts.
• Our Seahawks sources tell us the team has been very pleased with seventh-round rookie Dexter Davis, who is shaping up as the primary backup behind Chris Clemons at the "Leo" end spot. "What they really like about him is his versatility," one team insider said of Davis, who also can play strong-side linebacker. "He has had a tendency to get lost in coverage, but he has shown some real pass-rush ability."
• The Patriots will have a decision to make regarding FS James Sanders, a six-year veteran. A daily team observer thinks Sanders might be traded before the season starts as he is behind Brandon Meriweather, Patrick Chung and newly acquired Jarrad Page on the depth chart. Sanders has a big contract and won't see the field much, even with the Pats' secondary concerns, so he could be trade bait.
• Minor injuries to starting OTs Jake Long and Vernon Carey shouldn't keep either of them out of the season opener against the Bills but it raised questions about the depth behind arguably the top tackle combination in the league. With top backup Nate Garner on injured reserve with a broken foot, the Dolphins acquired OT Pat McQuistan from the Cowboys, likely for a late-round draft pick.
• Aaron Maybin was a non-factor as a rookie, producing only 18 tackles with no sacks at defensive end. But having been moved to an OLB spot in Buffalo's new 3-4 scheme, the 2009 first-round pick looks much more comfortable and should be able to contribute much more. Chris Ellis also has been a pleasant surprise in Buffalo's LB corps; he has benefited from extra playing time after Reggie Torbor's injury.
• A source close to the Steelers suggests the club could look at free-agent running backs to bolster their depth beyond starter Rashard Mendenhall. Veteran Mewelde Moore is slated to be Mendenhall's backup, but the options beyond Moore are not as established or steady.
• Browns WR Josh Cribbs' improvement and development as a wide receiver has been one of the positive stories of the summer coming out of Cleveland. Cribbs, who is entering his sixth NFL season, started a career-high 12 games at receiver last season after making just five starts on offense in his first four NFL seasons.
• A source close to the Texans suggests that the team could rotate Antoine Caldwell and Mike Brisiel at right guard in the regular season, as both have played well. At left guard, Wade Smith has beat out Kasey Studdard, who became the starter last season after Chester Pitts suffered a season-ending knee injury.
• He may spend much of his time in the defense's meeting room, but Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha told PFW he can tell two key additions on offense are making a big difference. "Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has come in and done a really nice job of getting guys in position to be effective and bringing out the most in the players," he said. "I think the quarterback situation (with Jason Campbell) has helped us out a lot. Anytime you're going to be a contender, he has to be the guy that can have a commanding presence, not just for the offense, but for the entire team."
• An injury kept ILB D.J. Williams out of the first two preseason games, but a Broncos observer expects Williams to be more effective this season. Williams is playing the same position he did last season after being bounced around at several different linebacker spots the past few years, which should be beneficial. He's also at his best when he has room to move in space, and Denver's defensive line should be better at keeping blockers off of him than it was in 2009.
Here are some of the whispers we've been hearing from around the league:
• The latest word out of Green Bay is that undrafted rookie Sam Shields, a fan favorite with blazing speed (4.28 seconds in the 40-yard dash), has moved ahead of both Brandon Underwood and Patrick Lee as the Packers' third cornerback behind Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams until veteran starter Al Harris hopefully returns from the physically-unable-to-perform list six games into the season.
• There were reports in February that the Saints planned to extend QB Drew Brees' contract before the 2010 campaign, but the potential of a new deal wasn't a major topic in New Orleans this offseason, sources say. Brees is signed through the 2011 season and the Saints probably will not address his contract until this season is over.
• Now that the Cardinals have placed veteran ILB Gerald Hayes, who underwent back surgery in July, on the physically-unable-to-perform list, they will have to get used to starting second-round rookie Daryl Washington at one of the ILB spots — whether they like it or not. The good news is that Washington, who has very impressive speed, looked decent more often than not this preseason.
• While Rams featured back Steven Jackson probably wouldn't mind more quality help behind him on the depth chart, a much more important thing as far as he's concerned is having the same five offensive linemen blocking in front of him all season. "I don't know how long it's been since we've had a starting O-line to start a season and complete it," Jackson said recently. "I would think that's the biggest goal for us, and make sure that our five guys up front stay healthy and play together the whole season."
• We hear it would not be a surprise if 49ers third-year S Reggie Smith regularly replaces veteran starting SS Michael Lewis on passing downs once the season starts.
• Our Seahawks sources tell us the team has been very pleased with seventh-round rookie Dexter Davis, who is shaping up as the primary backup behind Chris Clemons at the "Leo" end spot. "What they really like about him is his versatility," one team insider said of Davis, who also can play strong-side linebacker. "He has had a tendency to get lost in coverage, but he has shown some real pass-rush ability."
• The Patriots will have a decision to make regarding FS James Sanders, a six-year veteran. A daily team observer thinks Sanders might be traded before the season starts as he is behind Brandon Meriweather, Patrick Chung and newly acquired Jarrad Page on the depth chart. Sanders has a big contract and won't see the field much, even with the Pats' secondary concerns, so he could be trade bait.
• Minor injuries to starting OTs Jake Long and Vernon Carey shouldn't keep either of them out of the season opener against the Bills but it raised questions about the depth behind arguably the top tackle combination in the league. With top backup Nate Garner on injured reserve with a broken foot, the Dolphins acquired OT Pat McQuistan from the Cowboys, likely for a late-round draft pick.
• Aaron Maybin was a non-factor as a rookie, producing only 18 tackles with no sacks at defensive end. But having been moved to an OLB spot in Buffalo's new 3-4 scheme, the 2009 first-round pick looks much more comfortable and should be able to contribute much more. Chris Ellis also has been a pleasant surprise in Buffalo's LB corps; he has benefited from extra playing time after Reggie Torbor's injury.
• A source close to the Steelers suggests the club could look at free-agent running backs to bolster their depth beyond starter Rashard Mendenhall. Veteran Mewelde Moore is slated to be Mendenhall's backup, but the options beyond Moore are not as established or steady.
• Browns WR Josh Cribbs' improvement and development as a wide receiver has been one of the positive stories of the summer coming out of Cleveland. Cribbs, who is entering his sixth NFL season, started a career-high 12 games at receiver last season after making just five starts on offense in his first four NFL seasons.
• A source close to the Texans suggests that the team could rotate Antoine Caldwell and Mike Brisiel at right guard in the regular season, as both have played well. At left guard, Wade Smith has beat out Kasey Studdard, who became the starter last season after Chester Pitts suffered a season-ending knee injury.
• He may spend much of his time in the defense's meeting room, but Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha told PFW he can tell two key additions on offense are making a big difference. "Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson has come in and done a really nice job of getting guys in position to be effective and bringing out the most in the players," he said. "I think the quarterback situation (with Jason Campbell) has helped us out a lot. Anytime you're going to be a contender, he has to be the guy that can have a commanding presence, not just for the offense, but for the entire team."
• An injury kept ILB D.J. Williams out of the first two preseason games, but a Broncos observer expects Williams to be more effective this season. Williams is playing the same position he did last season after being bounced around at several different linebacker spots the past few years, which should be beneficial. He's also at his best when he has room to move in space, and Denver's defensive line should be better at keeping blockers off of him than it was in 2009.
Amazing contribution. Thanks so much.
Nicolas Cocaign
Footballguy
Excellent thread, Faust. Thanks to you and everyone who contributed to it.
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