NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 7 New Articles Added 11/6/06

Hache Man · Aug 22, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Aug. 22, 2006, 4:08 PM

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FFL: Weekend Wrap

By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Here's an in-depth look at some of the top stories from the past weekend, including player news, injuries and exhibition game performances.
? Jets acquire Kevan Barlow: Before this trade, Barlow was considered a past disappointment with limited fantasy appeal. Frank Gore has obvious upside, but fantasy leaguers still weren't sure about his possible output with Barlow still in the San Francisco RB picture. The trade instantly boosts the value of both players.
A change of scenery is good for Barlow, who hasn't officially been named the new Jets starter, but it's clear he is in line to be the No. 1 guy in New York. In the past, Barlow has been enigmatic and only occasionally looked like he is worthy of being a fantasy starter. But he could be motivated by a chance to start over and he still has the chance to post decent overall numbers with the Jets if he avoids injuries. Barlow is coming off knee surgery in January, and he has already dealt with shoulder and thigh problems this preseason. New York has an offensive line that could potentially be solid if everyone stays healthy and the younger players come along quickly. The Jets will need Barlow to take pressure off the QB as well.
Chad Pennington's shoulder remains a question mark, as does the Jets' QB situation. So Barlow's owners will have to hope the New York passing game can at least be respectable, and there is also the reality that the Jets could play from behind often, neutralizing the running game. Barlow still has the skills to perform well occasionally and he should be dependable near the goal line when needed. Look for Barlow to be inconsistent overall, and he is more attractive as a "flex" player or top backup to your best two starters. Don't expect more than a maximum of 950 rushing yards or six TDs. Barlow still has a lot to prove, must stay healthy, and is surrounded by questionable talent at the other skill positions. All signs now point to Curtis Martin being a wasted fantasy draft choice.
Gore now becomes a very good fourth-round pick as long as he doesn't have any further shoulder issues. He's a sparkplug with good speed who should now become a focal point of the offense, as offensive coordinator Norv Turner has always made the running game a major part of his offensive attack. If Gore stays healthy, he could be good for 1,100-plus rushing yards and six or more TDs. His owners just have to hope QB Alex Smith can keep defenses honest. Maurice Hicks is good late-round insurance for Gore, who has dealt with injury problems in the past.
? QB controversy in Dallas?: The buzz is getting louder that Tony Romo, who looked sharp in Dallas' second preseason game, could threaten the playing time of Drew Blesdoe at some point. While Bledsoe remains the starter for now, and Bill Parcells has openly dismissed any talk of a QB "race", Bledsoe might not have much room for error early in the regular season. If Romo continues to impress, he could take over for Bledsoe at some point during the 2006 schedule. How Romo would fare during the regular season remains to be seen, but fantasy owners should drop Bledsoe a few spots on their cheat sheets for now, knowing there is a chance he could lose his job at some point. Don't worry about Terrell Owens in light of this talk. Once Romo gets the ball in the hands of Owens, T.O. can do much of the rest and he's still worthy of a second-round selection. Parcells won't give Romo the chance to play if he doesn't trust him to get the ball to his best target.
? Jamal Lewis out two weeks: Just when it appeared his preseason was getting off to a good start, Baltimore's top RB had a setback. Lewis is expected to miss two weeks because of a hip problem. He has recurring soreness in the hip and quadriceps areas, and will now rest and rehab for the regular season. Lewis had rushed for 65 yards on 15 carries in the first two Baltimore exhibition games, but he still has pain and said he isn't playing at 100 percent. While Lewis should still be ready for the regular season, fantasy owners should proceed with caution and avoid him until the fourth round. Lewis had been on the physically-unable-to-perform list earlier in the summer because of the problem. While Lewis has been happy about his new contract and wants to prove he can still be a top RB, his body is not guaranteed to cooperate. Mike Anderson, who is trying to overcome a foot problem, is the obvious handcuff pick in the middle rounds.
? The Houston RB picture: It is still uncertain when Domanick Davis will return from a knee injury, or if he will be ready for the beginning of the regular season. In the meantime, Vernand Morency, who seems to have the endorsement of the Houston braintrust, made a solid case to be the interim starter. He rushed for 99 yards and two TDs against St. Louis. Wali Lundy totaled 66 yards from scrimmage, but Morency appears to be the favorite to start when Davis is out. The Texans are giving Morency every opportunity to prove himself this preseason. Both Morency and Lundy make good later-round picks right now. Morency might get the chance to start first, but don't rule out Lundy eventually surpassing him on the depth chart. Lundy has looked very good early in the preseason and Morency will have to deliver some more good outings to keep the No. 2 RB job.
? Palmer ready to return?: Carson Palmer now says he expect to play in next Monday's preseason game. While Marvin Lewis has yet to officially confirm that, it is apparent Palmer is becoming more confident in taking the field and testing his knee. As long as he doesn't have any more swelling prior to Monday, he could make his preseason debut. This is encouraging news for Palmer's owners. Meanwhile, Anthony Wright has played adequately in Palmer's place. He threw a TD to Chad Johnson, who finished with five catches for 73 yards on Friday. Johnson has already shown us that he won't suffer a major drop in production if Palmer misses any regular season time. He has worked well with Wright so far in exhibition play.
? Fred Taylor not secure: Jack Del Rio has not yet named a starter at RB and there is still a reported open competition between Fred Taylor and Greg Jones. Neither one has distinguished himself over the other in a major way yet in exhibition play. Taylor has rushed for 27 yards, and Jones 26. But with Taylor's injury history, smart fantasy owners know Jones could eventually start even if he doesn't win the job outright. Both RBs should be picked in the fifth or sixth round of fantasy leagues.
? Mike Bell looking better: After fumbling in his exhibition debut, rookie RB Mike Bell worked on his running style in the days leading up to Denver's second preseason game. Bell had focused on keeping his shoulder pads lower, and the adjustments seemed to boost his confidence against Tennessee. Bell rushed for 73 yards on 10 carries and scored twice. He appears to have tightened his grip on the starting RB job for now, and Bell shouldn't be picked later than the end of the fourth round in most fantasy leagues. There is also now talk that Ron Dayne, who has been battling a toe injury, isn't assured of making the team.
? More adversity for Larry Johnson?: The Chiefs are still dealing with the retirements of tackles Willie Roaf and John Welbourn. Now there are injury issues at guard to contend with. Right guard Will Shields now has a high ankle sprain. Left guard Brain Waters has just returned from a foot injury. Shields is still expected to be ready for the regular season and Waters is back at practice. There's no reason to panic yet, but monitor the situations. I have yet to drop Johnson from his spot atop my player rankings, but he is no lock to stay there ahead of Shaun Alexander and LaDainian Tomlinson.
? Dillon not done: While rookie Laurence Maroney has a lot of upside, Corey Dillon isn't about to surrender his starting job. Dillon rushed for 26 yards on 10 carries and scored on Saturday. While the final numbers aren't impressive, it's apparent Dillon will get most of the carries when he is healthy. He certainly will remain a top option near the goal line. Maroney has looked good, but his only real opportunity to shine might come as a result of a Dillon injury.
? Pick this Packer: Rookie Greg Jennings has looked very good this preseason, and has impressed onlookers with his ability to catch the ball in stride and gain extra yards after the reception. Jennings finished with 115 receiving yards, including an 85-yard TD reception, against Atlanta. He could easily overtake Robert Ferguson in the starting lineup at some point, and Jennings is looking like a terrific late-round fantasy draft choice. Tomorrow: Watch for an exclusive fantasy report on Saturday's Vikings-Steelers preseason game.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 22, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Aug. 22, 2006, 4:08 PM

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FFL: Weekend Wrap

By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Here's an in-depth look at some of the top stories from the past weekend, including player news, injuries and exhibition game performances.
? Jets acquire Kevan Barlow: Before this trade, Barlow was considered a past disappointment with limited fantasy appeal. Frank Gore has obvious upside, but fantasy leaguers still weren't sure about his possible output with Barlow still in the San Francisco RB picture. The trade instantly boosts the value of both players.
A change of scenery is good for Barlow, who hasn't officially been named the new Jets starter, but it's clear he is in line to be the No. 1 guy in New York. In the past, Barlow has been enigmatic and only occasionally looked like he is worthy of being a fantasy starter. But he could be motivated by a chance to start over and he still has the chance to post decent overall numbers with the Jets if he avoids injuries. Barlow is coming off knee surgery in January, and he has already dealt with shoulder and thigh problems this preseason. New York has an offensive line that could potentially be solid if everyone stays healthy and the younger players come along quickly. The Jets will need Barlow to take pressure off the QB as well.
Chad Pennington's shoulder remains a question mark, as does the Jets' QB situation. So Barlow's owners will have to hope the New York passing game can at least be respectable, and there is also the reality that the Jets could play from behind often, neutralizing the running game. Barlow still has the skills to perform well occasionally and he should be dependable near the goal line when needed. Look for Barlow to be inconsistent overall, and he is more attractive as a "flex" player or top backup to your best two starters. Don't expect more than a maximum of 950 rushing yards or six TDs. Barlow still has a lot to prove, must stay healthy, and is surrounded by questionable talent at the other skill positions. All signs now point to Curtis Martin being a wasted fantasy draft choice.
Gore now becomes a very good fourth-round pick as long as he doesn't have any further shoulder issues. He's a sparkplug with good speed who should now become a focal point of the offense, as offensive coordinator Norv Turner has always made the running game a major part of his offensive attack. If Gore stays healthy, he could be good for 1,100-plus rushing yards and six or more TDs. His owners just have to hope QB Alex Smith can keep defenses honest. Maurice Hicks is good late-round insurance for Gore, who has dealt with injury problems in the past.
? QB controversy in Dallas?: The buzz is getting louder that Tony Romo, who looked sharp in Dallas' second preseason game, could threaten the playing time of Drew Blesdoe at some point. While Bledsoe remains the starter for now, and Bill Parcells has openly dismissed any talk of a QB "race", Bledsoe might not have much room for error early in the regular season. If Romo continues to impress, he could take over for Bledsoe at some point during the 2006 schedule. How Romo would fare during the regular season remains to be seen, but fantasy owners should drop Bledsoe a few spots on their cheat sheets for now, knowing there is a chance he could lose his job at some point. Don't worry about Terrell Owens in light of this talk. Once Romo gets the ball in the hands of Owens, T.O. can do much of the rest and he's still worthy of a second-round selection. Parcells won't give Romo the chance to play if he doesn't trust him to get the ball to his best target.
? Jamal Lewis out two weeks: Just when it appeared his preseason was getting off to a good start, Baltimore's top RB had a setback. Lewis is expected to miss two weeks because of a hip problem. He has recurring soreness in the hip and quadriceps areas, and will now rest and rehab for the regular season. Lewis had rushed for 65 yards on 15 carries in the first two Baltimore exhibition games, but he still has pain and said he isn't playing at 100 percent. While Lewis should still be ready for the regular season, fantasy owners should proceed with caution and avoid him until the fourth round. Lewis had been on the physically-unable-to-perform list earlier in the summer because of the problem. While Lewis has been happy about his new contract and wants to prove he can still be a top RB, his body is not guaranteed to cooperate. Mike Anderson, who is trying to overcome a foot problem, is the obvious handcuff pick in the middle rounds.
? The Houston RB picture: It is still uncertain when Domanick Davis will return from a knee injury, or if he will be ready for the beginning of the regular season. In the meantime, Vernand Morency, who seems to have the endorsement of the Houston braintrust, made a solid case to be the interim starter. He rushed for 99 yards and two TDs against St. Louis. Wali Lundy totaled 66 yards from scrimmage, but Morency appears to be the favorite to start when Davis is out. The Texans are giving Morency every opportunity to prove himself this preseason. Both Morency and Lundy make good later-round picks right now. Morency might get the chance to start first, but don't rule out Lundy eventually surpassing him on the depth chart. Lundy has looked very good early in the preseason and Morency will have to deliver some more good outings to keep the No. 2 RB job.
? Palmer ready to return?: Carson Palmer now says he expect to play in next Monday's preseason game. While Marvin Lewis has yet to officially confirm that, it is apparent Palmer is becoming more confident in taking the field and testing his knee. As long as he doesn't have any more swelling prior to Monday, he could make his preseason debut. This is encouraging news for Palmer's owners. Meanwhile, Anthony Wright has played adequately in Palmer's place. He threw a TD to Chad Johnson, who finished with five catches for 73 yards on Friday. Johnson has already shown us that he won't suffer a major drop in production if Palmer misses any regular season time. He has worked well with Wright so far in exhibition play.
? Fred Taylor not secure: Jack Del Rio has not yet named a starter at RB and there is still a reported open competition between Fred Taylor and Greg Jones. Neither one has distinguished himself over the other in a major way yet in exhibition play. Taylor has rushed for 27 yards, and Jones 26. But with Taylor's injury history, smart fantasy owners know Jones could eventually start even if he doesn't win the job outright. Both RBs should be picked in the fifth or sixth round of fantasy leagues.
? Mike Bell looking better: After fumbling in his exhibition debut, rookie RB Mike Bell worked on his running style in the days leading up to Denver's second preseason game. Bell had focused on keeping his shoulder pads lower, and the adjustments seemed to boost his confidence against Tennessee. Bell rushed for 73 yards on 10 carries and scored twice. He appears to have tightened his grip on the starting RB job for now, and Bell shouldn't be picked later than the end of the fourth round in most fantasy leagues. There is also now talk that Ron Dayne, who has been battling a toe injury, isn't assured of making the team.
? More adversity for Larry Johnson?: The Chiefs are still dealing with the retirements of tackles Willie Roaf and John Welbourn. Now there are injury issues at guard to contend with. Right guard Will Shields now has a high ankle sprain. Left guard Brain Waters has just returned from a foot injury. Shields is still expected to be ready for the regular season and Waters is back at practice. There's no reason to panic yet, but monitor the situations. I have yet to drop Johnson from his spot atop my player rankings, but he is no lock to stay there ahead of Shaun Alexander and LaDainian Tomlinson.
? Dillon not done: While rookie Laurence Maroney has a lot of upside, Corey Dillon isn't about to surrender his starting job. Dillon rushed for 26 yards on 10 carries and scored on Saturday. While the final numbers aren't impressive, it's apparent Dillon will get most of the carries when he is healthy. He certainly will remain a top option near the goal line. Maroney has looked good, but his only real opportunity to shine might come as a result of a Dillon injury.
? Pick this Packer: Rookie Greg Jennings has looked very good this preseason, and has impressed onlookers with his ability to catch the ball in stride and gain extra yards after the reception. Jennings finished with 115 receiving yards, including an 85-yard TD reception, against Atlanta. He could easily overtake Robert Ferguson in the starting lineup at some point, and Jennings is looking like a terrific late-round fantasy draft choice. Tomorrow: Watch for an exclusive fantasy report on Saturday's Vikings-Steelers preseason game.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Watts made Lelie expendable

posted: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Denver Broncos

In what appears to be the beginning of a pattern, the Denver Broncos have swung their second three-team trade involving the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.

Lelie

Tuesday's deal sent disgruntled wide receiver Ashley Lelie from Denver to Atlanta and running back T.J. Duckett from Atlanta to Washington. The Broncos reportedly will receive the Redskins' third-round pick in the 2007 draft, but there might be some contingencies involved on the pick.

In March, the Broncos helped the Falcons land defensive end John Abraham from the Jets in a three-team deal, and in return received the draft pick they used to grab quarterback Jay Cutler.
So if you are the Broncos, why do you make this deal? You aren't getting anything that helps you this season in your quest to get over the hump and into the Super Bowl.
Well, they did if for a few reasons. First and foremost, they got rid of a player who has been a serious distraction for them the entire offseason. Lelie is an average receiver, and his absence is not going to have a major effect on how this offense performs this season.
The team added veteran WR Javon Walker in a draft-day trade. Walker is coming off a knee injury and has yet to play in the preseason, but he is close to being ready.

Watts

A bigger reason than the Walker deal, though, is the newfound confidence head coach Mike Shanahan has developed in third-year WR Darius Watts. If you remember, Watts had a very good rookie season two years ago, when he caught 31 balls for 385 yards and a TD. Last season he fell off the map (two receptions for 22 yards), going through a big-time sophomore slump.

But Watts appears ready to put last season behind him. I have talked to people in the Broncos organization who say Watts has been the team's most outstanding receiver in camp. They told me he really has improved his toughness and competitiveness. They talked to me about how Watts spent this entire offseason working hard and really concentrating on becoming a much better route runner. The end result? We will have to wait and see. We know this, though: Denver is going to use a lot of three-receiver sets, which will give Watts the opportunity to become a dangerous playmaker in their offensive system.

Hache Man · Aug 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Watts made Lelie expendable

posted: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Denver Broncos

In what appears to be the beginning of a pattern, the Denver Broncos have swung their second three-team trade involving the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.

Lelie

Tuesday's deal sent disgruntled wide receiver Ashley Lelie from Denver to Atlanta and running back T.J. Duckett from Atlanta to Washington. The Broncos reportedly will receive the Redskins' third-round pick in the 2007 draft, but there might be some contingencies involved on the pick.

In March, the Broncos helped the Falcons land defensive end John Abraham from the Jets in a three-team deal, and in return received the draft pick they used to grab quarterback Jay Cutler.
So if you are the Broncos, why do you make this deal? You aren't getting anything that helps you this season in your quest to get over the hump and into the Super Bowl.
Well, they did if for a few reasons. First and foremost, they got rid of a player who has been a serious distraction for them the entire offseason. Lelie is an average receiver, and his absence is not going to have a major effect on how this offense performs this season.
The team added veteran WR Javon Walker in a draft-day trade. Walker is coming off a knee injury and has yet to play in the preseason, but he is close to being ready.

Watts

A bigger reason than the Walker deal, though, is the newfound confidence head coach Mike Shanahan has developed in third-year WR Darius Watts. If you remember, Watts had a very good rookie season two years ago, when he caught 31 balls for 385 yards and a TD. Last season he fell off the map (two receptions for 22 yards), going through a big-time sophomore slump.

But Watts appears ready to put last season behind him. I have talked to people in the Broncos organization who say Watts has been the team's most outstanding receiver in camp. They told me he really has improved his toughness and competitiveness. They talked to me about how Watts spent this entire offseason working hard and really concentrating on becoming a much better route runner. The end result? We will have to wait and see. We know this, though: Denver is going to use a lot of three-receiver sets, which will give Watts the opportunity to become a dangerous playmaker in their offensive system.

Hache Man · Aug 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Duckett is insurance for Portis

posted: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Washington Redskins

After the three-team, two-player trade that developed Tuesday night that sent T.J. Duckett to Washington and Ashley Lelie to Atlanta, there is some lingering question in my mind about how serious Clinton Portis' shoulder injury might be. Is this trade a sign that Portis might not be 100 percent in the first part of the season? Or are the Redskins giving themselves a solid one-two punch at running back that they feel will get them over the hump this year?

Portis

As I stated in my earlier blog, shoulder injuries at certain positions can affect how well players get their jobs done. Portis could have lingering soreness and range-of-motion problems all season, and if were to take a solid hit on that shoulder, he could be out for a series or the rest of a game. An effective running game will be key for the 'Skins this year, as it was in 2005.

Joe Gibbs cannot be pleased with the performance of his backup running backs, as they have combined for only 55 yards on 27 carries in two preseason games. Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright and Nehemiah Broughton have not gotten the job done so far. So Washington took advantage of the opportunity to upgrade its running game with a proven back in Duckett.

Duckett

Duckett has had a solid preseason, gaining 96 yards on 15 carries, an impressive 6.4 average. He is a power, downhill runner who can move the pile and get tough, inside yards. His size and power make him a good choice in short-yardage, goal-line and four-minute situations, when the 'Skins are trying to run out the clock, as well. Duckett has good vision and will make good decisions while running with the football, but he needs to improve his pass blocking and catching the ball out of the backfield to fit Al Saunders offensive scheme.

If Portis is healthy, he and Duckett could form a good one-two punch for Washington, with Portis as the speed back and Duckett the power back. This combo worked well for the Steelers last season, with Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis. One thing is for certain: The Redskins feel they have a legitimate chance at winning the NFC East and going deep into the playoffs, and they are making a commitment with this trade to bolster their veteran depth at the running back position. Gibbs must feel this is his year, and he is going to do what ever it takes to make it happen.

Hache Man · Aug 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Duckett is insurance for Portis

posted: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Washington Redskins

After the three-team, two-player trade that developed Tuesday night that sent T.J. Duckett to Washington and Ashley Lelie to Atlanta, there is some lingering question in my mind about how serious Clinton Portis' shoulder injury might be. Is this trade a sign that Portis might not be 100 percent in the first part of the season? Or are the Redskins giving themselves a solid one-two punch at running back that they feel will get them over the hump this year?

Portis

As I stated in my earlier blog, shoulder injuries at certain positions can affect how well players get their jobs done. Portis could have lingering soreness and range-of-motion problems all season, and if were to take a solid hit on that shoulder, he could be out for a series or the rest of a game. An effective running game will be key for the 'Skins this year, as it was in 2005.

Joe Gibbs cannot be pleased with the performance of his backup running backs, as they have combined for only 55 yards on 27 carries in two preseason games. Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright and Nehemiah Broughton have not gotten the job done so far. So Washington took advantage of the opportunity to upgrade its running game with a proven back in Duckett.

Duckett

Duckett has had a solid preseason, gaining 96 yards on 15 carries, an impressive 6.4 average. He is a power, downhill runner who can move the pile and get tough, inside yards. His size and power make him a good choice in short-yardage, goal-line and four-minute situations, when the 'Skins are trying to run out the clock, as well. Duckett has good vision and will make good decisions while running with the football, but he needs to improve his pass blocking and catching the ball out of the backfield to fit Al Saunders offensive scheme.

If Portis is healthy, he and Duckett could form a good one-two punch for Washington, with Portis as the speed back and Duckett the power back. This combo worked well for the Steelers last season, with Willie Parker and Jerome Bettis. One thing is for certain: The Redskins feel they have a legitimate chance at winning the NFC East and going deep into the playoffs, and they are making a commitment with this trade to bolster their veteran depth at the running back position. Gibbs must feel this is his year, and he is going to do what ever it takes to make it happen.

Hache Man · Aug 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Lelie improves Falcons' offense

posted: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons' west coast passing attack has struggled throughout the preseason to come up with a third or fourth option in the spread groupings since the injury to wide receiver Brian Finneran. Finneran was a crafty possession receiver who finished second on the team in receptions last season with 50. He was an experienced player who could play multiple spots in the team's spread formations and had a strong relationship with quarterback Michael Vick.

Former first-round picks Roddy White and Michael Jenkins are young players who combined for 65 receptions last season. They both possess the size and skill-set to develop into productive playmakers in the NFL, but they lack experience and consistency at this stage. However, they both have looked really impressive thus far in training camp with their timing and rhythm with Vick.
Still, acquiring Ashley Lelie is a good move for the Falcons, because he is an upgrade over Jerome Pathon and sixth-round pick Adam Jennings. Lelie is young and has very good athletic skills for the position. He brings another vertical dimension to the offense that, along with Jenkins, gives Vick deep options down the field. Lelie can be inconsistent in his overall catching skills, but he is a fast and explosive player in his run-after-catch ability. However, I have concerns about Lelie's consistency and toughness. And, don't forget that he has missed all the offseason conditioning programs and training camp as the regular season gets closer.
Look for the Falcons to move Jenkins inside to the slot, where Finneran usually lined up, in multiple sets, with White and Lelie on the outside. This will allow Jenkins to focus on shallow underneath crossing routes and option routes.
The other area this trade impacts is the Falcons' rushing attack. With the loss of T.J. Duckett, rookie Jerious Norwood now becomes the primary backup to starter Warrick Dunn. Norwood is a fast and explosive young back, but he has struggled to carry the ball between the tackles thus far in the preseason. However, after using a third-round pick on Norwood, the organization has enough confidence in him to move Duckett in a trade.
Fantasy tip: For you fantasy lovers out there, the player that this trade impacts the most might be tight end Alge Crumpler. Crumpler should flourish even more in the passing game with this strong supporting cast around him, especially in the red zone. Bulking up: One other interesting note in Atlanta is the addition of nose tackle Grady Jackson. If Jackson can pass the team's physical, he will add a unique dimension to the interior of the Falcons' defensive line. Jackson has a good combination of size, strength and power. He has value as a run stuffer but has limited pass-rush skills. The Falcons really struggled last season against the run, and Jackson gives them that inside space-eater opposite DT Rod Coleman on first and second downs.

Hache Man · Aug 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Lelie improves Falcons' offense

posted: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons' west coast passing attack has struggled throughout the preseason to come up with a third or fourth option in the spread groupings since the injury to wide receiver Brian Finneran. Finneran was a crafty possession receiver who finished second on the team in receptions last season with 50. He was an experienced player who could play multiple spots in the team's spread formations and had a strong relationship with quarterback Michael Vick.

Former first-round picks Roddy White and Michael Jenkins are young players who combined for 65 receptions last season. They both possess the size and skill-set to develop into productive playmakers in the NFL, but they lack experience and consistency at this stage. However, they both have looked really impressive thus far in training camp with their timing and rhythm with Vick.
Still, acquiring Ashley Lelie is a good move for the Falcons, because he is an upgrade over Jerome Pathon and sixth-round pick Adam Jennings. Lelie is young and has very good athletic skills for the position. He brings another vertical dimension to the offense that, along with Jenkins, gives Vick deep options down the field. Lelie can be inconsistent in his overall catching skills, but he is a fast and explosive player in his run-after-catch ability. However, I have concerns about Lelie's consistency and toughness. And, don't forget that he has missed all the offseason conditioning programs and training camp as the regular season gets closer.
Look for the Falcons to move Jenkins inside to the slot, where Finneran usually lined up, in multiple sets, with White and Lelie on the outside. This will allow Jenkins to focus on shallow underneath crossing routes and option routes.
The other area this trade impacts is the Falcons' rushing attack. With the loss of T.J. Duckett, rookie Jerious Norwood now becomes the primary backup to starter Warrick Dunn. Norwood is a fast and explosive young back, but he has struggled to carry the ball between the tackles thus far in the preseason. However, after using a third-round pick on Norwood, the organization has enough confidence in him to move Duckett in a trade.
Fantasy tip: For you fantasy lovers out there, the player that this trade impacts the most might be tight end Alge Crumpler. Crumpler should flourish even more in the passing game with this strong supporting cast around him, especially in the red zone. Bulking up: One other interesting note in Atlanta is the addition of nose tackle Grady Jackson. If Jackson can pass the team's physical, he will add a unique dimension to the interior of the Falcons' defensive line. Jackson has a good combination of size, strength and power. He has value as a run stuffer but has limited pass-rush skills. The Falcons really struggled last season against the run, and Jackson gives them that inside space-eater opposite DT Rod Coleman on first and second downs.

Hache Man · Aug 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Part elephant trainer, part mad scientist

posted: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

Probably the most important -- and most difficult -- position coach on any NFL staff is the offensive line coach. He has to get five starters all on the same page on blocking assignments and techniques. One missed assignment by any of the five linemen can ruin a play. He also has to get at least three backups on the same page, as well. One injury and the lineup changes.

How a line coach handles his players varies with each individual. Most linemen consider themselves the blue-collar players on the team. They don't ask for, or want, a lot of publicity. While it's muscle and mass against muscle and mass when blocking, they must use proper techniques, as well as some of the tricks of the trade, to get the job done.
The offensive lineman has the toughest playbook to learn outside that of the quarterback, and he has to learn to work with the guys on his left as well as his right. Because so much of the lineman's game is mental, the line coach has to understand how his prot?g?s learn. Do they pick things up off the blackboard (grease boards these days)? Do they learn out of the playbook? Or do they have to walk through everything on the practice field? Everyone is different.
Because of this, a good line coach (more so than any other position coach) can create a strong cohesive unit out of mediocre talent. With that in mind, let's look at the offensive line coaches in the AFC South.
Houston: John Benton. He played at Colorado State, then spent his college coaching career at his alma mater and at California University (Pa.) as an offensive line coach. After college coaching, he went to the St. Louis Rams as an offensive line coach for two years before being hired to coach the line this year at Houston.
Jacksonville: Andy Heck. Andy moved from tight end to tackle for his senior year at Notre Dame. I was scouting for Seattle when we drafted him in the first round in 1989, and he became an immediate starter. He coached tight ends at the University of Virginia, then joined the Jaguars in 2004. As a player, he was the kind of guy we knew would end up coaching some day. He understood how to play the position.
Indianapolis: Howard Mudd. It would take more pages than I'm allowed to cover Howard's coaching career. Suffice it to say he has been coaching the offensive line for 33 years in the NFL. As a player, Mudd enjoyed a stellar career both in college (Hillsdale) and in the NFL (San Francisco and Chicago), earning honors at both levels. I have been fortunate enough to have worked with Howard twice (two stints in Seattle) and consider him one of, if not the, best offensive line coaches in the NFL. I have never seen a coach get more out of his players and produce as successful a blocking team as Howard.
Tennessee: Mike Munchak. Mike has probably the most glamorous r?sum? of all the coaches currently in the NFL. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player and had his number retired by the Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans). He has been coaching for the Oilers/Titans since he retired in 1994 and was promoted to the offensive line coach in 1997. He has immediate credibility and the respect of his players and has done a fine job in Tennessee. As a group, these are all fine coaches. How quickly they can get their five starters and their backups to jell will go a long ways in determining how their teams do this year.

Hache Man · Aug 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Part elephant trainer, part mad scientist

posted: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

Probably the most important -- and most difficult -- position coach on any NFL staff is the offensive line coach. He has to get five starters all on the same page on blocking assignments and techniques. One missed assignment by any of the five linemen can ruin a play. He also has to get at least three backups on the same page, as well. One injury and the lineup changes.

How a line coach handles his players varies with each individual. Most linemen consider themselves the blue-collar players on the team. They don't ask for, or want, a lot of publicity. While it's muscle and mass against muscle and mass when blocking, they must use proper techniques, as well as some of the tricks of the trade, to get the job done.
The offensive lineman has the toughest playbook to learn outside that of the quarterback, and he has to learn to work with the guys on his left as well as his right. Because so much of the lineman's game is mental, the line coach has to understand how his prot?g?s learn. Do they pick things up off the blackboard (grease boards these days)? Do they learn out of the playbook? Or do they have to walk through everything on the practice field? Everyone is different.
Because of this, a good line coach (more so than any other position coach) can create a strong cohesive unit out of mediocre talent. With that in mind, let's look at the offensive line coaches in the AFC South.
Houston: John Benton. He played at Colorado State, then spent his college coaching career at his alma mater and at California University (Pa.) as an offensive line coach. After college coaching, he went to the St. Louis Rams as an offensive line coach for two years before being hired to coach the line this year at Houston.
Jacksonville: Andy Heck. Andy moved from tight end to tackle for his senior year at Notre Dame. I was scouting for Seattle when we drafted him in the first round in 1989, and he became an immediate starter. He coached tight ends at the University of Virginia, then joined the Jaguars in 2004. As a player, he was the kind of guy we knew would end up coaching some day. He understood how to play the position.
Indianapolis: Howard Mudd. It would take more pages than I'm allowed to cover Howard's coaching career. Suffice it to say he has been coaching the offensive line for 33 years in the NFL. As a player, Mudd enjoyed a stellar career both in college (Hillsdale) and in the NFL (San Francisco and Chicago), earning honors at both levels. I have been fortunate enough to have worked with Howard twice (two stints in Seattle) and consider him one of, if not the, best offensive line coaches in the NFL. I have never seen a coach get more out of his players and produce as successful a blocking team as Howard.
Tennessee: Mike Munchak. Mike has probably the most glamorous r?sum? of all the coaches currently in the NFL. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player and had his number retired by the Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans). He has been coaching for the Oilers/Titans since he retired in 1994 and was promoted to the offensive line coach in 1997. He has immediate credibility and the respect of his players and has done a fine job in Tennessee. As a group, these are all fine coaches. How quickly they can get their five starters and their backups to jell will go a long ways in determining how their teams do this year.

Hache Man · Aug 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Wimbley making early impression

filed under: Cleveland Browns

A lot of things have gone wrong for the Cleveland Browns since they started training camp, but the addition of Kamerion Wimbley isn't one of them. It's early, of course, and yes, he is learning a new position, but he just jumps off the screen when you watch the Browns' defense. Wimbley currently is listed as Matt Stewart's backup at the right outside linebacker spot in the starting defense, but by the early look of things he will pass Stewart in no time.

Wimbley is close to the perfect specimen for a 3-4 outside linebacker. He has a very long build with big hands, long arms, good body definition and enough strength to hold the point of attack in the run game. He is both very fast and abrupt at changing directions. His run recognition still needs more time to develop, but he has fine upside in this area. Amazingly, he looks pretty natural in pass coverage -- something he rarely did at Florida State. He covers a lot of ground, is very fluid and breaks on the ball with suddenness and certainty.
What Wimbley was drafted for, though, is his pass-rushing talents, and he has surpassed expectations in that area. He explodes off the snap, has rare body control and balance and shows the rare ability to dip his shoulder underneath the offensive tackle while bending the edge without losing speed or the ability to change direction. He already is an excellent stunting pass rusher, and he closes on his target with force and passion.
The Browns had more than their share of weaknesses in 2005, but the lack of a pass rusher who inspired fear in protection schemes could have been the most glaring. If he isn't already, Wimbley very soon will be the best pass rusher on the team, and his ceiling for getting after the quarterback is extremely high. In all areas of his game, his outstanding athletic ability is apparent. He bends his knees extremely well and never looks awkward or out of place, despite playing a new position. Without a doubt, Wimbley has been by far the best-looking rookie I have seen in the AFC North, and he is just scratching the surface of what he may become. The Browns got this one right.

Hache Man · Aug 23, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/22/06)

Wimbley making early impression

filed under: Cleveland Browns

A lot of things have gone wrong for the Cleveland Browns since they started training camp, but the addition of Kamerion Wimbley isn't one of them. It's early, of course, and yes, he is learning a new position, but he just jumps off the screen when you watch the Browns' defense. Wimbley currently is listed as Matt Stewart's backup at the right outside linebacker spot in the starting defense, but by the early look of things he will pass Stewart in no time.

Wimbley is close to the perfect specimen for a 3-4 outside linebacker. He has a very long build with big hands, long arms, good body definition and enough strength to hold the point of attack in the run game. He is both very fast and abrupt at changing directions. His run recognition still needs more time to develop, but he has fine upside in this area. Amazingly, he looks pretty natural in pass coverage -- something he rarely did at Florida State. He covers a lot of ground, is very fluid and breaks on the ball with suddenness and certainty.
What Wimbley was drafted for, though, is his pass-rushing talents, and he has surpassed expectations in that area. He explodes off the snap, has rare body control and balance and shows the rare ability to dip his shoulder underneath the offensive tackle while bending the edge without losing speed or the ability to change direction. He already is an excellent stunting pass rusher, and he closes on his target with force and passion.
The Browns had more than their share of weaknesses in 2005, but the lack of a pass rusher who inspired fear in protection schemes could have been the most glaring. If he isn't already, Wimbley very soon will be the best pass rusher on the team, and his ceiling for getting after the quarterback is extremely high. In all areas of his game, his outstanding athletic ability is apparent. He bends his knees extremely well and never looks awkward or out of place, despite playing a new position. Without a doubt, Wimbley has been by far the best-looking rookie I have seen in the AFC North, and he is just scratching the surface of what he may become. The Browns got this one right.

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training-camp closure: NFC North

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way, and as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final league-wide rundown of this year's training-camp action, we provide more than a few clues on what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse.
In the following NFC North report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason. <OFFER>

? NFC East | NFC South | NFC West
? AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West

Chicago Bears

Veteran to watch: QB Brian Griese. We know, we know, it's the preseason. But Griese's preseason performance cannot be ignored, especially if incumbent starter Rex Grossman fails to deliver as he did in the preseason opener Aug. 11 at San Francisco. While Grossman completed just 3 of 11 passes, Griese led the second-team offense on scoring drives of 83 and 75 yards.
Rookie to watch: RS Devin Hester. The second-round pick will play a major role for the Bears in replacing Jerry Azumah as the primary return specialist. Hester has game-breaking speed to make highlight-reel plays. However, his decision-making can be questionable at times and will make him an even more interesting study.
Injury update: RB Thomas Jones is back from a hamstring problem that sidelined him for all but one day of camp. RB Cedric Benson is rehabbing and participating in individual drills but might not play again in the preseason. The Bears believe Benson will be cleared for contact before the Sept. 10 opener at Green Bay and hope the same applies to SS Mike Brown, who felt a twinge in his right Achilles at San Francisco on Aug. 11 and was shut down completely for at least seven days. CB Nathan Vasher is being monitored closely after suffering a concussion vs. the 49ers. DT Ian Scott (knee surgery) was expected to be out until Aug. 21, and DT Tank Johnson (quadriceps) could come off the non-football injury list at that time. Oft-injured FB Bryan Johnson suffered a torn hamstring. He's unlikely to play until midseason at the earliest. WRs Alex Bannister (wrist) and Airese Currie (knee) were expected to be ready to resume practicing shortly after camp broke on Aug. 16.
Strongest positions: Running back and cornerback are equal assets for the Bears. Once Jones and Benson are healthy, which has rarely been the case in the one full year the duo has been in Chicago, the Bears' backfield could be as loaded as any in the league. And the CB play has risen a level, bolstered by offseason additions Ricky Manning and Dante Wesley.
Weakest position: Homegrown second-round, third-round and fifth-round picks at wide receiver have to exceed expectations for the Bears' offense to make the much-discussed improvement it seeks. Mark Bradley, Bernard Berrian, Justin Gage and Airese Currie are average individual talents, at best, until proven otherwise. Durability seems to be a significant hurdle across the board, leaving Gage or perhaps long shot Rashied Davis as the top candidate to start opposite Muhsin Muhammad.

Detroit Lions

Veterans to watch: Expectations are through the roof for RB Kevin Jones in Detroit, and not just with the fan base. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz thinks Jones can play every down after improving his pass-catching skills in the offseason and coming to training camp in flawless physical condition. Another top pick, LB Boss Bailey, hasn't been the same since his rookie season because of knee and ankle injuries. But the Lions have been cautious with Bailey and plan to use him as a do-it-all playmaker at middle linebacker.
Rookies to watch: Detroit's top two picks, LB Ernie Sims and FS Daniel Bullocks, are hard-hitting, instinctive defenders who bring attitude to the defense. Bullocks possesses the skill set of a strong safety, but don't be surprised to see him start at free safety alongside Kenoy Kennedy. Sims did too much freelancing in his first week of training camp but is coming around to Rod Marinelli's tough-love approach.
Injury update: Bailey has not yet played in the preseason because of a tight hamstring. WR Charles Rogers missed the Lions' second preseason game with a sore knee. DT Shaun Rogers (shoulder) and ORG Damien Woody (broken hand) are expected to play in the Lions' third preseason game. TE Casey FitzSimmons (fractured left wrist) won't play until at least Week Two. ORT Rex Tucker (knee) is still bothered by his injury and might miss another week of practice. LB Teddy Lehman (foot), WR Scottie Vines (groin) and TE Dan Campbell (elbow) remain on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Strongest positions: Martz continues to freely rotate personnel at quarterback and wide receiver. According to the coach, it's not a question of whether the talent exists, but rather which talents best suit the Lions' offense. Dan Orlovsky and Josh McCown are neck-and-neck behind Jon Kitna for the backup QB job, and the competition for four, possibly five, roster spots at wide receiver behind Roy Williams is thick. Former first-round pick Charles Rogers could still be released, but we're told Mike Williams, the Lions' top pick in 2005, is moving up the depth chart.
Weakest position: Based on the personnel and not the coach overseeing the unit, the defensive line might become a weak link. Marinelli, a veteran DL coach before taking over the Lions, has much to like about his starters: DEs Cory Redding and James Hall are solid, and DTs Rogers and Shaun Cody are active 300-pounders capable of disrupting plays in the backfield and making a tackle five yards downfield. But there is little depth outside of DE Kalimba Edwards. Can the hands-on approach of Marinelli make a big enough difference?

Green Bay Packers

Veteran to watch: RB Ahman Green has returned to full-contact, full-pads practices and has drawn praise from coaches and teammates. If he's fully recovered from the quadriceps injury that ended his 2005 season two months early and shows the form he did two seasons ago, the offense should be more complete. If not, the Packers are more likely to sink to the bottom of the NFC North for the second straight year.
Rookie to watch: Second-round pick Greg Jennings is climbing the depth chart at wide receiver, but the jewel of the Packers' draft class is LB A.J. Hawk. After a rude introduction to the NFL -- Hawk was slow to pick up the defense in training camp and was torched in coverage by Chargers TE Antonio Gates in the preseason opener -- there were signs that Hawk was turning the corner. If he's full speed, or close to it, by Week 1, the Packers think their defense could be prizeworthy.
Injury update: Two safeties are injured for the Packers. Starter Marquand Manuel missed almost every training-camp practice with a calf injury. Marviel Underwood (knee), the top backup to Manuel, was lost for the season in the preseason opener. DT Ryan Pickett and TE David Martin have hand injuries, but neither injury is serious. The Packers are monitoring the status of OLT Chad Clifton closely. He has missed several practices with soreness in his right knee, on which he's had multiple operations. Green continues to be brought along slowly with a target date for his full-speed return of Aug. 28 vs. Cincinnati.
Strongest position: For whatever it might be worth at this stage in the game, the Packers are thrilled with their depth at defensive tackle. Some pinpointed the interior defensive line as a weak spot, but the competition inside is fierce, and the Packers think they can go five or six deep. Next to free-agent signee Ryan Pickett, Cullen Jenkins, Corey Williams, Colin Cole and Kenderick Allen are fighting for the starting DLT job. In fact, we're told general manager Ted Thompson already has discussed trading one of his tackles.
Weakest position: Perilously thin at safety, the Packers are crossing their fingers Manuel can return soon. He's been out with a calf injury since late July, and there is no depth behind him after Underwood injured his knee. The Packers released Mark Roman just before the start of camp and used sixth-round pick Tyrone Culver with the starting defense at San Diego.

Minnesota Vikings

Veterans to watch: Chester Taylor has never been a starter, but he could be the most critical cog on the Vikings' roster. As Taylor goes, so will the Vikings. If he falters, Minnesota lacks a tested fallback option. Taylor, himself unproven after four seasons in Baltimore, was handpicked in free agency to be head coach Brad Childress' bell-cow running back. Defensively, the Vikings are counting on a rebound season out of CB Fred Smoot, who was signed to a lucrative free-agent deal prior to the 2005 season. Injuries, off-the-field drama and greatly diminished self-confidence derailed Smoot's first season in Minnesota.
Rookie to watch: A raw talent for whom the Vikings set low expectations this season, second-round pick Tarvaris Jackson, came to camp ready to compete in the NFL. Veterans describe him as one of the hardest-working players in camp. His work ethic is such that the hands-on coaching from Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is absorbed and put to use almost immediately. Already Jackson was the Vikings' No. 2 quarterback, ahead of Mike McMahon, on Aug. 19 at Pittsburgh and completed 9 of 11 passes (3-of-4 with the first-team offense).
Injury update: Rookie WLB Chad Greenway has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and is done for the year. A fractured left middle finger might force OLT Bryant McKinnie to play wearing a protective wrap for a few weeks, possibly into the regular season. DT Kevin Williams has experienced some swelling in his left knee, but the Vikings don't believe the injury to be serious. SS Tank Williams (broken left kneecap) is out for the season. SS Willie Offord injured his right wrist in the Aug. 19 game and is expected to consult a specialist.
Strongest positions: Depth and talent along the defensive line are nothing new to these Vikings. With three first-round picks -- DEs Erasmus James and Kenechi Udeze and DT Kevin Williams -- alongside motivated veteran anchor Pat Williams, Minnesota's front wall won't be easy to keep out of the backfield. The secondary, should Smoot raise his level of play back near Pro Bowl caliber, also has enough muscle to scare opponents.
Weakest positions: The Vikings possess quantity but not quality at linebacker. They don't have the true playmakers needed to successfully employ the Cover 2 defense. E.J. Henderson, now the unquestioned starter on the weak side in light of Greenway's knee injury, is the best of an average bunch. Don't rule out a move before the regular-season opener at Washington. Wide receiver, now that lead option Koren Robinson's future is in doubt, isn't far behind linebacker in terms of weakness. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training-camp closure: NFC North

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way, and as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final league-wide rundown of this year's training-camp action, we provide more than a few clues on what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse.
In the following NFC North report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason. <OFFER>

? NFC East | NFC South | NFC West
? AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West

Chicago Bears

Veteran to watch: QB Brian Griese. We know, we know, it's the preseason. But Griese's preseason performance cannot be ignored, especially if incumbent starter Rex Grossman fails to deliver as he did in the preseason opener Aug. 11 at San Francisco. While Grossman completed just 3 of 11 passes, Griese led the second-team offense on scoring drives of 83 and 75 yards.
Rookie to watch: RS Devin Hester. The second-round pick will play a major role for the Bears in replacing Jerry Azumah as the primary return specialist. Hester has game-breaking speed to make highlight-reel plays. However, his decision-making can be questionable at times and will make him an even more interesting study.
Injury update: RB Thomas Jones is back from a hamstring problem that sidelined him for all but one day of camp. RB Cedric Benson is rehabbing and participating in individual drills but might not play again in the preseason. The Bears believe Benson will be cleared for contact before the Sept. 10 opener at Green Bay and hope the same applies to SS Mike Brown, who felt a twinge in his right Achilles at San Francisco on Aug. 11 and was shut down completely for at least seven days. CB Nathan Vasher is being monitored closely after suffering a concussion vs. the 49ers. DT Ian Scott (knee surgery) was expected to be out until Aug. 21, and DT Tank Johnson (quadriceps) could come off the non-football injury list at that time. Oft-injured FB Bryan Johnson suffered a torn hamstring. He's unlikely to play until midseason at the earliest. WRs Alex Bannister (wrist) and Airese Currie (knee) were expected to be ready to resume practicing shortly after camp broke on Aug. 16.
Strongest positions: Running back and cornerback are equal assets for the Bears. Once Jones and Benson are healthy, which has rarely been the case in the one full year the duo has been in Chicago, the Bears' backfield could be as loaded as any in the league. And the CB play has risen a level, bolstered by offseason additions Ricky Manning and Dante Wesley.
Weakest position: Homegrown second-round, third-round and fifth-round picks at wide receiver have to exceed expectations for the Bears' offense to make the much-discussed improvement it seeks. Mark Bradley, Bernard Berrian, Justin Gage and Airese Currie are average individual talents, at best, until proven otherwise. Durability seems to be a significant hurdle across the board, leaving Gage or perhaps long shot Rashied Davis as the top candidate to start opposite Muhsin Muhammad.

Detroit Lions

Veterans to watch: Expectations are through the roof for RB Kevin Jones in Detroit, and not just with the fan base. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz thinks Jones can play every down after improving his pass-catching skills in the offseason and coming to training camp in flawless physical condition. Another top pick, LB Boss Bailey, hasn't been the same since his rookie season because of knee and ankle injuries. But the Lions have been cautious with Bailey and plan to use him as a do-it-all playmaker at middle linebacker.
Rookies to watch: Detroit's top two picks, LB Ernie Sims and FS Daniel Bullocks, are hard-hitting, instinctive defenders who bring attitude to the defense. Bullocks possesses the skill set of a strong safety, but don't be surprised to see him start at free safety alongside Kenoy Kennedy. Sims did too much freelancing in his first week of training camp but is coming around to Rod Marinelli's tough-love approach.
Injury update: Bailey has not yet played in the preseason because of a tight hamstring. WR Charles Rogers missed the Lions' second preseason game with a sore knee. DT Shaun Rogers (shoulder) and ORG Damien Woody (broken hand) are expected to play in the Lions' third preseason game. TE Casey FitzSimmons (fractured left wrist) won't play until at least Week Two. ORT Rex Tucker (knee) is still bothered by his injury and might miss another week of practice. LB Teddy Lehman (foot), WR Scottie Vines (groin) and TE Dan Campbell (elbow) remain on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Strongest positions: Martz continues to freely rotate personnel at quarterback and wide receiver. According to the coach, it's not a question of whether the talent exists, but rather which talents best suit the Lions' offense. Dan Orlovsky and Josh McCown are neck-and-neck behind Jon Kitna for the backup QB job, and the competition for four, possibly five, roster spots at wide receiver behind Roy Williams is thick. Former first-round pick Charles Rogers could still be released, but we're told Mike Williams, the Lions' top pick in 2005, is moving up the depth chart.
Weakest position: Based on the personnel and not the coach overseeing the unit, the defensive line might become a weak link. Marinelli, a veteran DL coach before taking over the Lions, has much to like about his starters: DEs Cory Redding and James Hall are solid, and DTs Rogers and Shaun Cody are active 300-pounders capable of disrupting plays in the backfield and making a tackle five yards downfield. But there is little depth outside of DE Kalimba Edwards. Can the hands-on approach of Marinelli make a big enough difference?

Green Bay Packers

Veteran to watch: RB Ahman Green has returned to full-contact, full-pads practices and has drawn praise from coaches and teammates. If he's fully recovered from the quadriceps injury that ended his 2005 season two months early and shows the form he did two seasons ago, the offense should be more complete. If not, the Packers are more likely to sink to the bottom of the NFC North for the second straight year.
Rookie to watch: Second-round pick Greg Jennings is climbing the depth chart at wide receiver, but the jewel of the Packers' draft class is LB A.J. Hawk. After a rude introduction to the NFL -- Hawk was slow to pick up the defense in training camp and was torched in coverage by Chargers TE Antonio Gates in the preseason opener -- there were signs that Hawk was turning the corner. If he's full speed, or close to it, by Week 1, the Packers think their defense could be prizeworthy.
Injury update: Two safeties are injured for the Packers. Starter Marquand Manuel missed almost every training-camp practice with a calf injury. Marviel Underwood (knee), the top backup to Manuel, was lost for the season in the preseason opener. DT Ryan Pickett and TE David Martin have hand injuries, but neither injury is serious. The Packers are monitoring the status of OLT Chad Clifton closely. He has missed several practices with soreness in his right knee, on which he's had multiple operations. Green continues to be brought along slowly with a target date for his full-speed return of Aug. 28 vs. Cincinnati.
Strongest position: For whatever it might be worth at this stage in the game, the Packers are thrilled with their depth at defensive tackle. Some pinpointed the interior defensive line as a weak spot, but the competition inside is fierce, and the Packers think they can go five or six deep. Next to free-agent signee Ryan Pickett, Cullen Jenkins, Corey Williams, Colin Cole and Kenderick Allen are fighting for the starting DLT job. In fact, we're told general manager Ted Thompson already has discussed trading one of his tackles.
Weakest position: Perilously thin at safety, the Packers are crossing their fingers Manuel can return soon. He's been out with a calf injury since late July, and there is no depth behind him after Underwood injured his knee. The Packers released Mark Roman just before the start of camp and used sixth-round pick Tyrone Culver with the starting defense at San Diego.

Minnesota Vikings

Veterans to watch: Chester Taylor has never been a starter, but he could be the most critical cog on the Vikings' roster. As Taylor goes, so will the Vikings. If he falters, Minnesota lacks a tested fallback option. Taylor, himself unproven after four seasons in Baltimore, was handpicked in free agency to be head coach Brad Childress' bell-cow running back. Defensively, the Vikings are counting on a rebound season out of CB Fred Smoot, who was signed to a lucrative free-agent deal prior to the 2005 season. Injuries, off-the-field drama and greatly diminished self-confidence derailed Smoot's first season in Minnesota.
Rookie to watch: A raw talent for whom the Vikings set low expectations this season, second-round pick Tarvaris Jackson, came to camp ready to compete in the NFL. Veterans describe him as one of the hardest-working players in camp. His work ethic is such that the hands-on coaching from Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is absorbed and put to use almost immediately. Already Jackson was the Vikings' No. 2 quarterback, ahead of Mike McMahon, on Aug. 19 at Pittsburgh and completed 9 of 11 passes (3-of-4 with the first-team offense).
Injury update: Rookie WLB Chad Greenway has a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and is done for the year. A fractured left middle finger might force OLT Bryant McKinnie to play wearing a protective wrap for a few weeks, possibly into the regular season. DT Kevin Williams has experienced some swelling in his left knee, but the Vikings don't believe the injury to be serious. SS Tank Williams (broken left kneecap) is out for the season. SS Willie Offord injured his right wrist in the Aug. 19 game and is expected to consult a specialist.
Strongest positions: Depth and talent along the defensive line are nothing new to these Vikings. With three first-round picks -- DEs Erasmus James and Kenechi Udeze and DT Kevin Williams -- alongside motivated veteran anchor Pat Williams, Minnesota's front wall won't be easy to keep out of the backfield. The secondary, should Smoot raise his level of play back near Pro Bowl caliber, also has enough muscle to scare opponents.
Weakest positions: The Vikings possess quantity but not quality at linebacker. They don't have the true playmakers needed to successfully employ the Cover 2 defense. E.J. Henderson, now the unquestioned starter on the weak side in light of Greenway's knee injury, is the best of an average bunch. Don't rule out a move before the regular-season opener at Washington. Wide receiver, now that lead option Koren Robinson's future is in doubt, isn't far behind linebacker in terms of weakness. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training camp closure: NFC East

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way, and as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final leaguewide rundown of this year's training camp action, we provide more than a few clues on what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse.
In the following NFC East report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason. <OFFER>

? NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
? AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West

Dallas Cowboys

Veteran to watch: Now that he's healthy, veteran OT Marc Colombo has a realistic chance to start on the right side. It has taken him years to get over the knee injury he suffered with the Bears, but Colombo looked pretty good working with the first team in the preseason opener vs. Seattle. The team has had a revolving door at right tackle for six seasons, and Colombo will rotate with Rob Petitti -- last year's starter who struggled badly as a rookie -- in the remaining preseason games until one stands out enough to get the starting nod.
Rookie to watch: Bill Parcells, who is usually opaque toward rookies, has been praiseworthy of intriguing fifth-round FS Pat Watkins, who is running with the second team now. Watkins could challenge for a starting spot and should make an impact as a nickel safety. The first time he steps on the field, the 6-foot-5 Watkins will be one of the tallest safeties in the history of the NFL, but he has shown good movement and skills on defense as well as on special teams.
Injury update: WR Terrell Owens (hamstring) ended his 14-practice hiatus, but the injury is worth watching, especially with ailing WRs Patrick Crayton (high ankle sprain) and Terry Glenn (blisters) missing time. Parcells says Owens won't play in games unless he practices. PK Mike Vanderjagt has been bothered by quadriceps and hamstring problems and hasn't kicked much at all. DE Marcus Spears (knee) and LB Rocky Boiman (thumb) are back in the fold. The playing days of S Justin Beriault, a feel-good story coming off a tricky osteotomy surgery, appear to be over; Parcells said Beriault likely would retire after not being able to come back from two serious ligament tears.
Strongest position: Linebacker might be the deepest position, and the D-line has some great parts, but the secondary appears to be in great shape. Top three CBs Terence Newman, Anthony Henry and Aaron Glenn are about as solid a trio as there is in the league right now. SS Roy Williams, armed with a new contract extension, has taken on a leadership role and appears to be poised for a breakout season. And free safety, considered somewhat of a question mark coming into camp, looks at least steady with Watkins, Keith Davis (15 starts last year), 11-year vet Marcus Coleman and even first-year man Abram Elam, who had seven tackles in the first preseason game.
Weakest position: The offensive line still has questions at multiple spots, though it might not appear as dire as it once did this offseason. Right tackle is up for grabs. Center is still in doubt, though Andre Gurode has looked better. And OLT Flozell Adams, slowed by his rehabbed knee, has yet to stand out and has needed to have his repetitions cut in order to keep him fresh. The depth, predictably, is thin as well.

New York Giants

Veteran to watch: CB Sam Madison was brought in to help solidify a rebuilt secondary, but he hasn't looked great when he has been out there. He isn't playing right now with a sore hamstring, and although it's not a legitimate concern at this point, the team clearly would like to see more out of their free-agent acquisition. The good news is that second-year CB Corey Webster, the other projected starter, has had a strong camp.
Rookie to watch: Considered a long shot to make the roster, CB E.J. Underwood -- from tiny Pikeville via Ohio State -- has made quite an impression on the staff and has a real chance to make the team. Despite several veterans ahead of him at the start of camp, Underwood has been working with the starting nickel and dime defenses and has taken snaps with the second unit. The team is trying to throw as much at the little-known rookie as possible.
Injury update: OG Chris Snee's knee, LB Carlos Emmons' stinger and RB Derrick Ward's broken hand have tested the Giants' depth early on, but none of the injuries is considered very serious. The team is being cautious with LB LaVar Arrington (knee) and WR Amani Toomer (hamstring) as well, but both appear fine. The most frustrating injury has been to rookie WR Sinorice Moss, who has missed several practices with a strained quadriceps -- and it's not clear how much more time he'll miss. The offensive line has taken a hit. Besides Snee, starting C Shaun O'Hara sprained a knee ligament in the Aug. 17 win over the Chiefs, and it was unknown how soon he might return. Starting OLT Luke Petitgout continues to be bothered by back spasms, and backup OG Rich Seubert is still struggling with leg and toe injuries.
Strongest position: Clearly, it's defensive end, where the team starts two Pro Bowlers in Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora and has incredible depth in promising Justin Tuck and first-round pick Mathias Kiwanuka, who had a sack and two pressures in his preseason debut. The defensive staff has talked about a nickel package where all four ends are on the field at the same time.
Weakest position: Why, of course, it's the defensive tackles. As strong as they are outside, the Giants have been unhappy with the production inside. Tom Coughlin called out William Joseph and Fred Robbins, who started the first preseason game, and the depth there -- with the untested Damane Duckett, Jonas Seawright and rookie Barry Cofield in reserve -- is shaky. As one observer notes, it appears there are a bunch of three-techniques but no one who appears capable of playing over the nose.

Philadelphia Eagles

Veteran to watch: After losing 40 pounds in the offseason following the death of a close friend who was obese, ORG Shawn Andrews has been an absolute monster in the preseason, blowing away most people lined up opposite him. He embarrassed Raiders DT Warren Sapp in the Hall of Fame game and appears poised to have his best season to date. If Andrews maintains that level of play this season, he could be moved out to tackle at some point.
Rookie to watch: Undrafted WR Hank Baskett, who was acquired in the offseason from Minnesota for Billy McMullen, is proving to be a major steal. Baskett has made terrific catches look routine throughout camp and has appeared quicker than he did in college or at the Senior Bowl. In fact, with Todd Pinkston still nursing an Achilles injury and Jabar Gaffney apparently fitting in best in the slot, Baskett has an excellent chance to start opposite Reggie Brown -- something that appeared remote at best when camp began.
Injury update: RB Brian Westbrook (foot) and snakebitten DE Jerome McDougle (broken ribs) might miss the rest of the preseason, but the prognosis is worse for LB Greg Richmond, who was expected to challenge Dhani Jones on the strong side but underwent lower-back surgery. RB Correll Buckhalter played in his first game in two years on Aug. 17, and he appeared fully recovered from a torn right patellar tendon. DT Darwin Walker (fractured rib), RB Bruce Perry (neck), OG Adrien Clarke (back surgery), CB Roderick Hood (toe), WR-RS Jeremy Bloom (hamstring) and FB Jason Davis (knee) also have been hurt.
Strongest position: Defensive end appears to be a strength. Darren Howard has had a great camp, and he should open things up for fellow DE Jevon Kearse. Howard also can slide inside to tackle on passing downs, as he did in New Orleans, which allows nickel ends Trent Cole (five sacks as a rookie) and Chris Gocong (who also plays linebacker) to rush the passer. McDougle, assuming he can ever stay healthy, is another legit talent at the position, and Juqua Thomas has had a good camp.
Weakest position: With all the injuries, Reno Mahe and Marty Johnson have seen time as the No. 1 back -- and that's not good. Though it appears there's good depth with Westbrook, Moats and others, no one has stepped up and shown he can handle the tough, inside carries or be anything close to a bell-cow back. It's safe to say the Eagles' brass will keep its eyes open for help here, though sources in Philly have dismissed the Hank Fraley-for-Lee Suggs trade rumors that have been floated recently.

Washington Redskins

Veteran to watch: FS Sean Taylor is free from missing any game action, instead levied with a heavy fine from the league for his most recent off-the-field problems. Now that the team has let out a huge sigh of relief, Taylor must work on his image and return to being the dominant defender he has shown he's capable of. There's no denying his position-defining talent, but Taylor's maturity and focus will be big concerns as this team handles massive expectations. The watch will begin in camp, though Taylor has been notoriously short with the media at times.
Rookie to watch: WLB Roger McIntosh isn't going to be handed a starting spot -- neither Taylor nor fellow top-10 pick Carlos Rogers started at the beginning of their rookie seasons -- and don't expect defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to break tradition here just because Chris Clemons, once part of McIntosh's competition on the weak side, was waived. The smart money says that Warrick Holdman, who has had a nice offseason, will open on the weak side, but that doesn't mean the staff doesn't think McIntosh will deliver at some point once he learns Williams' complicated defensive playbook. The next few weeks will be critical in his development.
Injury update: CB Shawn Springs (abdomen) will miss 3-6 weeks following surgery last week, putting him in doubt for Week 1. RB Clinton Portis (shoulder) also is in doubt to start the season and has been ruled out of any more preseason action, though there has been more optimism each day about Portis being able to play against the Vikings on Sept. 11. DE Phillip Daniels (back), CB Ade Jimoh (chest), RB Ladell Betts (hamstring) all have suffered nagging injuries, but none is considered terribly serious. Clemons, who at one point was thought to be a potential starter at LaVar Arrington's old spot, was waived after suffering a sprained medial collateral ligament.
Strongest position: With the injuries to Portis and Springs, running back and secondary -- two of the strongest positions -- have to be put on hold. It might be receiver, which was a one-trick pony last season with standout Santana Moss but has improved dramatically with the additions of Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El. Though Lloyd (hip flexor) missed a few practices, insiders say he still appears to be the front-runner to start outside. Randle El, meanwhile, has looked good out of the slot and on punt returns. Following the trade of Taylor Jacobs, David Patten (once he gets past a viral problem) and James Thrash give the team a very nice top five.
Weakest position: The feeling is that if Mark Brunell goes down for any significant stretch of time, the Redskins are in deep trouble. That's because backup QBs Jason Campbell and Todd Collins don't appear to be starting material. Collins is the most ready to step in for the short run, considering his experience in Al Saunders' offense in Kansas City, but Campbell is the more talented. These two must show something in the preseason. This position will be a season-long concern, considering the depth. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training camp closure: NFC East

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way, and as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final leaguewide rundown of this year's training camp action, we provide more than a few clues on what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse.
In the following NFC East report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason. <OFFER>

? NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
? AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West

Dallas Cowboys

Veteran to watch: Now that he's healthy, veteran OT Marc Colombo has a realistic chance to start on the right side. It has taken him years to get over the knee injury he suffered with the Bears, but Colombo looked pretty good working with the first team in the preseason opener vs. Seattle. The team has had a revolving door at right tackle for six seasons, and Colombo will rotate with Rob Petitti -- last year's starter who struggled badly as a rookie -- in the remaining preseason games until one stands out enough to get the starting nod.
Rookie to watch: Bill Parcells, who is usually opaque toward rookies, has been praiseworthy of intriguing fifth-round FS Pat Watkins, who is running with the second team now. Watkins could challenge for a starting spot and should make an impact as a nickel safety. The first time he steps on the field, the 6-foot-5 Watkins will be one of the tallest safeties in the history of the NFL, but he has shown good movement and skills on defense as well as on special teams.
Injury update: WR Terrell Owens (hamstring) ended his 14-practice hiatus, but the injury is worth watching, especially with ailing WRs Patrick Crayton (high ankle sprain) and Terry Glenn (blisters) missing time. Parcells says Owens won't play in games unless he practices. PK Mike Vanderjagt has been bothered by quadriceps and hamstring problems and hasn't kicked much at all. DE Marcus Spears (knee) and LB Rocky Boiman (thumb) are back in the fold. The playing days of S Justin Beriault, a feel-good story coming off a tricky osteotomy surgery, appear to be over; Parcells said Beriault likely would retire after not being able to come back from two serious ligament tears.
Strongest position: Linebacker might be the deepest position, and the D-line has some great parts, but the secondary appears to be in great shape. Top three CBs Terence Newman, Anthony Henry and Aaron Glenn are about as solid a trio as there is in the league right now. SS Roy Williams, armed with a new contract extension, has taken on a leadership role and appears to be poised for a breakout season. And free safety, considered somewhat of a question mark coming into camp, looks at least steady with Watkins, Keith Davis (15 starts last year), 11-year vet Marcus Coleman and even first-year man Abram Elam, who had seven tackles in the first preseason game.
Weakest position: The offensive line still has questions at multiple spots, though it might not appear as dire as it once did this offseason. Right tackle is up for grabs. Center is still in doubt, though Andre Gurode has looked better. And OLT Flozell Adams, slowed by his rehabbed knee, has yet to stand out and has needed to have his repetitions cut in order to keep him fresh. The depth, predictably, is thin as well.

New York Giants

Veteran to watch: CB Sam Madison was brought in to help solidify a rebuilt secondary, but he hasn't looked great when he has been out there. He isn't playing right now with a sore hamstring, and although it's not a legitimate concern at this point, the team clearly would like to see more out of their free-agent acquisition. The good news is that second-year CB Corey Webster, the other projected starter, has had a strong camp.
Rookie to watch: Considered a long shot to make the roster, CB E.J. Underwood -- from tiny Pikeville via Ohio State -- has made quite an impression on the staff and has a real chance to make the team. Despite several veterans ahead of him at the start of camp, Underwood has been working with the starting nickel and dime defenses and has taken snaps with the second unit. The team is trying to throw as much at the little-known rookie as possible.
Injury update: OG Chris Snee's knee, LB Carlos Emmons' stinger and RB Derrick Ward's broken hand have tested the Giants' depth early on, but none of the injuries is considered very serious. The team is being cautious with LB LaVar Arrington (knee) and WR Amani Toomer (hamstring) as well, but both appear fine. The most frustrating injury has been to rookie WR Sinorice Moss, who has missed several practices with a strained quadriceps -- and it's not clear how much more time he'll miss. The offensive line has taken a hit. Besides Snee, starting C Shaun O'Hara sprained a knee ligament in the Aug. 17 win over the Chiefs, and it was unknown how soon he might return. Starting OLT Luke Petitgout continues to be bothered by back spasms, and backup OG Rich Seubert is still struggling with leg and toe injuries.
Strongest position: Clearly, it's defensive end, where the team starts two Pro Bowlers in Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora and has incredible depth in promising Justin Tuck and first-round pick Mathias Kiwanuka, who had a sack and two pressures in his preseason debut. The defensive staff has talked about a nickel package where all four ends are on the field at the same time.
Weakest position: Why, of course, it's the defensive tackles. As strong as they are outside, the Giants have been unhappy with the production inside. Tom Coughlin called out William Joseph and Fred Robbins, who started the first preseason game, and the depth there -- with the untested Damane Duckett, Jonas Seawright and rookie Barry Cofield in reserve -- is shaky. As one observer notes, it appears there are a bunch of three-techniques but no one who appears capable of playing over the nose.

Philadelphia Eagles

Veteran to watch: After losing 40 pounds in the offseason following the death of a close friend who was obese, ORG Shawn Andrews has been an absolute monster in the preseason, blowing away most people lined up opposite him. He embarrassed Raiders DT Warren Sapp in the Hall of Fame game and appears poised to have his best season to date. If Andrews maintains that level of play this season, he could be moved out to tackle at some point.
Rookie to watch: Undrafted WR Hank Baskett, who was acquired in the offseason from Minnesota for Billy McMullen, is proving to be a major steal. Baskett has made terrific catches look routine throughout camp and has appeared quicker than he did in college or at the Senior Bowl. In fact, with Todd Pinkston still nursing an Achilles injury and Jabar Gaffney apparently fitting in best in the slot, Baskett has an excellent chance to start opposite Reggie Brown -- something that appeared remote at best when camp began.
Injury update: RB Brian Westbrook (foot) and snakebitten DE Jerome McDougle (broken ribs) might miss the rest of the preseason, but the prognosis is worse for LB Greg Richmond, who was expected to challenge Dhani Jones on the strong side but underwent lower-back surgery. RB Correll Buckhalter played in his first game in two years on Aug. 17, and he appeared fully recovered from a torn right patellar tendon. DT Darwin Walker (fractured rib), RB Bruce Perry (neck), OG Adrien Clarke (back surgery), CB Roderick Hood (toe), WR-RS Jeremy Bloom (hamstring) and FB Jason Davis (knee) also have been hurt.
Strongest position: Defensive end appears to be a strength. Darren Howard has had a great camp, and he should open things up for fellow DE Jevon Kearse. Howard also can slide inside to tackle on passing downs, as he did in New Orleans, which allows nickel ends Trent Cole (five sacks as a rookie) and Chris Gocong (who also plays linebacker) to rush the passer. McDougle, assuming he can ever stay healthy, is another legit talent at the position, and Juqua Thomas has had a good camp.
Weakest position: With all the injuries, Reno Mahe and Marty Johnson have seen time as the No. 1 back -- and that's not good. Though it appears there's good depth with Westbrook, Moats and others, no one has stepped up and shown he can handle the tough, inside carries or be anything close to a bell-cow back. It's safe to say the Eagles' brass will keep its eyes open for help here, though sources in Philly have dismissed the Hank Fraley-for-Lee Suggs trade rumors that have been floated recently.

Washington Redskins

Veteran to watch: FS Sean Taylor is free from missing any game action, instead levied with a heavy fine from the league for his most recent off-the-field problems. Now that the team has let out a huge sigh of relief, Taylor must work on his image and return to being the dominant defender he has shown he's capable of. There's no denying his position-defining talent, but Taylor's maturity and focus will be big concerns as this team handles massive expectations. The watch will begin in camp, though Taylor has been notoriously short with the media at times.
Rookie to watch: WLB Roger McIntosh isn't going to be handed a starting spot -- neither Taylor nor fellow top-10 pick Carlos Rogers started at the beginning of their rookie seasons -- and don't expect defensive coordinator Gregg Williams to break tradition here just because Chris Clemons, once part of McIntosh's competition on the weak side, was waived. The smart money says that Warrick Holdman, who has had a nice offseason, will open on the weak side, but that doesn't mean the staff doesn't think McIntosh will deliver at some point once he learns Williams' complicated defensive playbook. The next few weeks will be critical in his development.
Injury update: CB Shawn Springs (abdomen) will miss 3-6 weeks following surgery last week, putting him in doubt for Week 1. RB Clinton Portis (shoulder) also is in doubt to start the season and has been ruled out of any more preseason action, though there has been more optimism each day about Portis being able to play against the Vikings on Sept. 11. DE Phillip Daniels (back), CB Ade Jimoh (chest), RB Ladell Betts (hamstring) all have suffered nagging injuries, but none is considered terribly serious. Clemons, who at one point was thought to be a potential starter at LaVar Arrington's old spot, was waived after suffering a sprained medial collateral ligament.
Strongest position: With the injuries to Portis and Springs, running back and secondary -- two of the strongest positions -- have to be put on hold. It might be receiver, which was a one-trick pony last season with standout Santana Moss but has improved dramatically with the additions of Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El. Though Lloyd (hip flexor) missed a few practices, insiders say he still appears to be the front-runner to start outside. Randle El, meanwhile, has looked good out of the slot and on punt returns. Following the trade of Taylor Jacobs, David Patten (once he gets past a viral problem) and James Thrash give the team a very nice top five.
Weakest position: The feeling is that if Mark Brunell goes down for any significant stretch of time, the Redskins are in deep trouble. That's because backup QBs Jason Campbell and Todd Collins don't appear to be starting material. Collins is the most ready to step in for the short run, considering his experience in Al Saunders' offense in Kansas City, but Campbell is the more talented. These two must show something in the preseason. This position will be a season-long concern, considering the depth. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training camp closure: NFC South

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way, and as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final league-wide rundown of this year's training-camp action, we provide more than a few clues on what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse.
In the following NFC South report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason.<OFFER>

? NFC East | NFC North | NFC West
? AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West

Atlanta Falcons

Veteran to watch: QB Michael Vick. The enigmatic lefty enters his third year in Atlanta's hybrid West Coast system, and now is the time he's supposed to be getting a firm grip on things. He's got a new QB coach (Bill Musgrave), a tweaked system (shotgun, moving pocket), Pro Bowl TE Alge Crumpler and a year working with WRs Michael Jenkins and Roddy White. There aren't many more excuses left for Vick not to progress.
Rookie to watch: RB Jerious Norwood. This third-round pick could possibly take the league by storm. With blazing speed (4.31 at the combine), good size and very good hands, the Mississippi State product has dazzled at camp. In the preseason opener against New England, Norwood had nearly 100 total yards on nine touches, two of them screen passes he turned into 37- and 34-yard gains.
Injury update: The biggest blow came during the first week of training camp when reliable No. 3 WR Brian Finneran suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and dislocated kneecap in his right knee. Finneran, the Falcons' most productive receiver last season, was placed on the injured-reserve list. Starting MLB Ed Hartwell (right Achilles), backup MLB Jordan Beck (right foot) and S Kevin Mathis are returning from season-ending injuries in 2005.
Strongest position: Linebacker. OLB Demorrio Williams, who was second on the team in tackles last season (132), received Pro Bowl consideration and now can't even crack the starting lineup. Five-time Pro Bowler Keith Brooking, who plays on the weak side, headlines a group with Hartwell in the middle and potential big-timer Michael Boley on the strong side. Williams will play in nickel situations and 4-4 fronts. Beck is also a promising young prospect.
Weakest position: Wide receiver. Jenkins and White have promise, but to date, that's all they have. Neither has established himself, and that has hurt Vick's development in the offense. With Finneran out for the season, veteran Jerome Pathon is the No. 3 wideout, with rookie Adam Jennings occupying the fourth slot. The lack of depth and speed after the top two wide receivers is a huge shortcoming.

Carolina Panthers

Veteran to watch: MLB Dan Morgan. Morgan has never started all 16 games in a season, but when he is on the field, there aren't many middle linebackers better. With massive DTs Maake Kemoeatu and Kris Jenkins in front of him, Morgan should have plenty of space to roam from sideline to sideline and more freedom than ever. The Panthers need Morgan at the top of his game with new starters at each OLB position.
Rookie to watch: RB DeAngelo Williams. None of the Panthers' other rookies are expected to make an impact in his first season. But Williams should be on the field often as the team's No. 2 tailback and as a kick returner. With injury-prone RB DeShaun Foster as the starter, history says Williams should see plenty of action, and maybe a few starts, in his rookie campaign.
Injury update: WR Steve Smith missed a couple of weeks of practice while recovering from a left hamstring strain but was back on the practice field before the Panthers' second preseason game. Smith's injury was never considered serious, but the Panthers were overly cautious with their superstar wideout to ensure that the injury wouldn't linger into the regular season. Jenkins and FS Colin Branch are on the road to recovery from season-ending knee injuries in 2005.
Strongest position: The Panthers boast one of the premier defensive lines in the NFL. The offseason additions of veterans Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis added depth to an already healthy surplus at defensive tackle. Kemoeatu is seen as a significant upgrade over last year's starter, Brentson Buckner, and when lined up next to Jenkins, the Kemoeatu-Jenkins duo combine for nearly 700 pounds. DE Julius Peppers is a perennial All-Pro and one of the best pass rushers in the league. DE Mike Rucker is an underrated pass rusher and steady starter on the other side.
Weakest position: Linebacker. Morgan is a Pro Bowler, but the Panthers are breaking in new starters at both OLB spots. They replace emerging star WLB Will Witherspoon with veteran Na'il Diggs, who battled multiple knee injuries last season with the Packers. And steady SLB Brandon Short was let go in the offseason and will be replaced by second-year pro Thomas Davis. Davis spent most of his rookie year at safety and is somewhat undersized for the LB spot.

New Orleans Saints

Veteran to watch: OLT Jammal Brown. Just entering his second NFL season, Brown is the cornerstone of a Saints offensive line that could have four new starters. Brown started 13 games as a rookie at right tackle and played very well, but the new coaching staff has switched him to left tackle (where he had never lined up before) and entrusted him with protecting the blind side of prized free-agent acquisition Drew Brees. Brown has gotten favorable reviews on the switch so far, but he is learning on the job and will struggle from time to time.
Rookie to watch: This is a no-brainer. It's RB Reggie Bush. In his first preseason game (second carry, to be exact), Bush showed exactly why he's such a big deal, turning what should have been a run for a loss into a 44-yard gain. The addition of Bush instantly gives the Saints' offense credibility and opposing defensive coordinators a headache. On a team with a revamped offensive line, Bush can freelance when plays break down and make things happen all by himself.
Injury update: Players who suffered major injuries last season, like Brees (shoulder) and RB Deuce McAllister (knee), have come back healthy and ready to contribute in training camp. No. 3 RB Aaron Stecker hurt his ankle in the Saints' first preseason game, and he will be out for a couple of weeks. KR Michael Lewis, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Week 2 last season, had arthroscopic surgery to clean up the knee in June, and he has yet to practice in training camp because his knee hasn't healed. P Mitch Berger has missed most of training camp with a groin injury.
Strongest position: The Saints are set at running back, where they have one of the most potent 1-2 punches in the NFL with McAllister and Bush. With Bush in the fold, opposing defenses won't be able to stack the box against the run. McAllister should be more productive and durable while sharing the workload with Bush. Stecker is a pretty good third option at tailback. FB Mike Karney is an excellent lead blocker and should blossom in the West Coast offense.
Weakest position: For the second year in a row, it's linebacker. And scary as it sounds, the Saints got even worse when WLB Anthony Simmons, who was slated to start, abruptly retired at the start of training camp. SLB Scott Fujita is a stable and trusted starter, but he's not enough of a playmaker to be considered a top starter. Yet he's the best New Orleans has to offer. MLB Alfred Fincher underachieved as a rookie, but he'll get starting consideration for the LB-light Saints. WLB Tommy Polley, WLB Colby Bockwoldt and MLB Jay Foreman are decent, but there is no dynamic playmaker on the depth chart.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Veteran to watch: WLB Derrick Brooks. The elite player on Tampa's defense for the past decade took a pay cut in the offseason to ensure the team could keep principal contributors like DT Chris Hovan and CB Ronde Barber. Brooks is playing with a chip on his shoulder in training camp because he was angered that he didn't lead the team in tackles last season, and he's tired of critics wondering if he has anything left in the tank at age 33.
Rookie to watch: OG Davin Joseph, the team's first-round pick, should become a starter at some point this season because rarely do teams select an offensive guard that early in the draft and keep him on the bench. Joseph struggled early in camp, but he is developing quickly and challenging veteran Jeb Terry for the starting ORG spot.
Injury update: QB Luke McCown suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament a little more than a month before training camp began. McCown, who was the No. 2 QB before he got injured, is a month ahead of schedule in his recovery and will be put on the physically-unable-to-perform list instead of injured reserve to start the season. QB Jay Fiedler's shoulder still isn't 100 percent, and he likely won't play in the preseason, though he still claims he will be ready to go in Week 1. OT Torrin Tucker was brought to Tampa in the offseason to challenge for a starting job, but he has missed most of camp with tendinitis in his right knee.
Strongest position: For the first time since head coach Jon Gruden arrived in 2002, the Buccaneers have a deep and talented group of wide receivers. For Gruden's first few seasons, the Buccaneers had a patchwork WR corps. Not anymore. Joey Galloway remains the team's No. 1 wideout fresh off a career-best campaign in 2005. Michael Clayton is healthy and ready to rebound from his sophomore slump. And there's an intriguing battle for the No. 3 spot between former Pro Bowler David Boston, who came to Tampa to resurrect his career, and steady 10-year vet Ike Hilliard. Rookie Maurice Stovall has been impressive in training camp.
Weakest position: The Buccaneers have depth issues throughout their defense, but they are especially short-handed at safety. Starters Jermaine Phillips and Will Allen have had injury issues during their careers, and Allen has already been banged up this season, suffering a broken thumb in training camp. The backup safeties are inexperienced, and that's why Tampa made a strong push to sign Charles Woodson and Dwight Smith in the offseason.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training camp closure: NFC South

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way, and as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final league-wide rundown of this year's training-camp action, we provide more than a few clues on what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse.
In the following NFC South report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason.<OFFER>

? NFC East | NFC North | NFC West
? AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West

Atlanta Falcons

Veteran to watch: QB Michael Vick. The enigmatic lefty enters his third year in Atlanta's hybrid West Coast system, and now is the time he's supposed to be getting a firm grip on things. He's got a new QB coach (Bill Musgrave), a tweaked system (shotgun, moving pocket), Pro Bowl TE Alge Crumpler and a year working with WRs Michael Jenkins and Roddy White. There aren't many more excuses left for Vick not to progress.
Rookie to watch: RB Jerious Norwood. This third-round pick could possibly take the league by storm. With blazing speed (4.31 at the combine), good size and very good hands, the Mississippi State product has dazzled at camp. In the preseason opener against New England, Norwood had nearly 100 total yards on nine touches, two of them screen passes he turned into 37- and 34-yard gains.
Injury update: The biggest blow came during the first week of training camp when reliable No. 3 WR Brian Finneran suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and dislocated kneecap in his right knee. Finneran, the Falcons' most productive receiver last season, was placed on the injured-reserve list. Starting MLB Ed Hartwell (right Achilles), backup MLB Jordan Beck (right foot) and S Kevin Mathis are returning from season-ending injuries in 2005.
Strongest position: Linebacker. OLB Demorrio Williams, who was second on the team in tackles last season (132), received Pro Bowl consideration and now can't even crack the starting lineup. Five-time Pro Bowler Keith Brooking, who plays on the weak side, headlines a group with Hartwell in the middle and potential big-timer Michael Boley on the strong side. Williams will play in nickel situations and 4-4 fronts. Beck is also a promising young prospect.
Weakest position: Wide receiver. Jenkins and White have promise, but to date, that's all they have. Neither has established himself, and that has hurt Vick's development in the offense. With Finneran out for the season, veteran Jerome Pathon is the No. 3 wideout, with rookie Adam Jennings occupying the fourth slot. The lack of depth and speed after the top two wide receivers is a huge shortcoming.

Carolina Panthers

Veteran to watch: MLB Dan Morgan. Morgan has never started all 16 games in a season, but when he is on the field, there aren't many middle linebackers better. With massive DTs Maake Kemoeatu and Kris Jenkins in front of him, Morgan should have plenty of space to roam from sideline to sideline and more freedom than ever. The Panthers need Morgan at the top of his game with new starters at each OLB position.
Rookie to watch: RB DeAngelo Williams. None of the Panthers' other rookies are expected to make an impact in his first season. But Williams should be on the field often as the team's No. 2 tailback and as a kick returner. With injury-prone RB DeShaun Foster as the starter, history says Williams should see plenty of action, and maybe a few starts, in his rookie campaign.
Injury update: WR Steve Smith missed a couple of weeks of practice while recovering from a left hamstring strain but was back on the practice field before the Panthers' second preseason game. Smith's injury was never considered serious, but the Panthers were overly cautious with their superstar wideout to ensure that the injury wouldn't linger into the regular season. Jenkins and FS Colin Branch are on the road to recovery from season-ending knee injuries in 2005.
Strongest position: The Panthers boast one of the premier defensive lines in the NFL. The offseason additions of veterans Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis added depth to an already healthy surplus at defensive tackle. Kemoeatu is seen as a significant upgrade over last year's starter, Brentson Buckner, and when lined up next to Jenkins, the Kemoeatu-Jenkins duo combine for nearly 700 pounds. DE Julius Peppers is a perennial All-Pro and one of the best pass rushers in the league. DE Mike Rucker is an underrated pass rusher and steady starter on the other side.
Weakest position: Linebacker. Morgan is a Pro Bowler, but the Panthers are breaking in new starters at both OLB spots. They replace emerging star WLB Will Witherspoon with veteran Na'il Diggs, who battled multiple knee injuries last season with the Packers. And steady SLB Brandon Short was let go in the offseason and will be replaced by second-year pro Thomas Davis. Davis spent most of his rookie year at safety and is somewhat undersized for the LB spot.

New Orleans Saints

Veteran to watch: OLT Jammal Brown. Just entering his second NFL season, Brown is the cornerstone of a Saints offensive line that could have four new starters. Brown started 13 games as a rookie at right tackle and played very well, but the new coaching staff has switched him to left tackle (where he had never lined up before) and entrusted him with protecting the blind side of prized free-agent acquisition Drew Brees. Brown has gotten favorable reviews on the switch so far, but he is learning on the job and will struggle from time to time.
Rookie to watch: This is a no-brainer. It's RB Reggie Bush. In his first preseason game (second carry, to be exact), Bush showed exactly why he's such a big deal, turning what should have been a run for a loss into a 44-yard gain. The addition of Bush instantly gives the Saints' offense credibility and opposing defensive coordinators a headache. On a team with a revamped offensive line, Bush can freelance when plays break down and make things happen all by himself.
Injury update: Players who suffered major injuries last season, like Brees (shoulder) and RB Deuce McAllister (knee), have come back healthy and ready to contribute in training camp. No. 3 RB Aaron Stecker hurt his ankle in the Saints' first preseason game, and he will be out for a couple of weeks. KR Michael Lewis, who suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in Week 2 last season, had arthroscopic surgery to clean up the knee in June, and he has yet to practice in training camp because his knee hasn't healed. P Mitch Berger has missed most of training camp with a groin injury.
Strongest position: The Saints are set at running back, where they have one of the most potent 1-2 punches in the NFL with McAllister and Bush. With Bush in the fold, opposing defenses won't be able to stack the box against the run. McAllister should be more productive and durable while sharing the workload with Bush. Stecker is a pretty good third option at tailback. FB Mike Karney is an excellent lead blocker and should blossom in the West Coast offense.
Weakest position: For the second year in a row, it's linebacker. And scary as it sounds, the Saints got even worse when WLB Anthony Simmons, who was slated to start, abruptly retired at the start of training camp. SLB Scott Fujita is a stable and trusted starter, but he's not enough of a playmaker to be considered a top starter. Yet he's the best New Orleans has to offer. MLB Alfred Fincher underachieved as a rookie, but he'll get starting consideration for the LB-light Saints. WLB Tommy Polley, WLB Colby Bockwoldt and MLB Jay Foreman are decent, but there is no dynamic playmaker on the depth chart.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Veteran to watch: WLB Derrick Brooks. The elite player on Tampa's defense for the past decade took a pay cut in the offseason to ensure the team could keep principal contributors like DT Chris Hovan and CB Ronde Barber. Brooks is playing with a chip on his shoulder in training camp because he was angered that he didn't lead the team in tackles last season, and he's tired of critics wondering if he has anything left in the tank at age 33.
Rookie to watch: OG Davin Joseph, the team's first-round pick, should become a starter at some point this season because rarely do teams select an offensive guard that early in the draft and keep him on the bench. Joseph struggled early in camp, but he is developing quickly and challenging veteran Jeb Terry for the starting ORG spot.
Injury update: QB Luke McCown suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament a little more than a month before training camp began. McCown, who was the No. 2 QB before he got injured, is a month ahead of schedule in his recovery and will be put on the physically-unable-to-perform list instead of injured reserve to start the season. QB Jay Fiedler's shoulder still isn't 100 percent, and he likely won't play in the preseason, though he still claims he will be ready to go in Week 1. OT Torrin Tucker was brought to Tampa in the offseason to challenge for a starting job, but he has missed most of camp with tendinitis in his right knee.
Strongest position: For the first time since head coach Jon Gruden arrived in 2002, the Buccaneers have a deep and talented group of wide receivers. For Gruden's first few seasons, the Buccaneers had a patchwork WR corps. Not anymore. Joey Galloway remains the team's No. 1 wideout fresh off a career-best campaign in 2005. Michael Clayton is healthy and ready to rebound from his sophomore slump. And there's an intriguing battle for the No. 3 spot between former Pro Bowler David Boston, who came to Tampa to resurrect his career, and steady 10-year vet Ike Hilliard. Rookie Maurice Stovall has been impressive in training camp.
Weakest position: The Buccaneers have depth issues throughout their defense, but they are especially short-handed at safety. Starters Jermaine Phillips and Will Allen have had injury issues during their careers, and Allen has already been banged up this season, suffering a broken thumb in training camp. The backup safeties are inexperienced, and that's why Tampa made a strong push to sign Charles Woodson and Dwight Smith in the offseason.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training camp closure: NFC West

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way, and as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final league-wide rundown of this year's training-camp action, we provide more than a few clues on what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse.
In the following NFC West report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason.<OFFER>

? NFC East | NFC North | NFC South
? AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West

Arizona Cardinals

Veteran to watch: In his sixth season, massive OLT Leonard Davis enters his contract year with expectations higher than ever. Considered a potential chink in the team's armor, the Cardinals' offensive line is going to be under serious scrutiny. Davis has had a good camp, and he now needs to keep it up during the regular season and play close to a Pro Bowl level. The Cardinals are still trying to figure out whether he's worth re-signing, which could be a very pricey proposition.
Rookies to watch: Third-round TE Leonard Pope may not play all the time, but his huge frame (6-7, 256) should be a threat inside the red zone, where the offense needs to show major improvement getting into the endzone. If the Redbirds' run game continues to struggle, Pope will be even more important because defenses will concentrate on WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. In addition, although he's firmly entrenched behind starting QB Kurt Warner, the high-profile presence of first-round pick Matt Leinart will be impossible to ignore.
Injury update: Initially feared to be out 6-10 weeks, starting ORT Oliver Ross (knee) is hoping to return by the start of the season. Reserve DL Kenny King (hand) is expected to miss 8-12 weeks. Starting SLB Karlos Dansby was happy to find out that he probably won't need surgery on his bothersome left big toe, but a timetable for his return was undecided at presstime. FB James Hodgins (knee) and DE Anton Palepoi (shoulder) remained on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Strongest position: Wide receiver gets the no-brainer nod. In Fitzgerald and Boldin, the Cardinals have two potential Pro Bowlers coming off monster '05 campaigns. Bryant Johnson, a former first-round pick, isn't great, but he's not bad for a third wide receiver. Speedy No. 4 WR LeRon McCoy has some real upside, and No. 5 WR Troy Walters, a former Colt, is a solid veteran.
Weakest position: Offensive tackle. Davis is good, but there are questions about Ross even when he's healthy. The players currently replacing Ross are Jeremy Bridges, who was cut twice last season as a guard, and Fred Wakefield, who was originally a defensive end. If that isn't scary enough, there doesn't appear to be another competent tackle on the roster. Second-year pro Elton Brown has done some work there, but he's a guard.

St. Louis Rams

Veteran to watch: One of the keys to any success in the Rams' dramatically revamped defense will be how much life free-agent addition La'Roi Glover has left in his 32-year-old legs as the team's new starting defensive tackle alongside former first-round pick Jimmy Kennedy. With six Pro Bowl berths under his belt and an attitude that is still very hungry, Glover commands respect and has taken on a joint leadership role on the defense with fellow free-agent newcomers Will Witherspoon and Corey Chavous. A big part of that role is helping to groom Kennedy, a newcomer on the nose replacing the departed Ryan Pickett.
Rookie to watch: New Rams head coach Scott Linehan's offenses have always counted a great deal on tight ends, which was never the case in the previous regime under Mike Martz. That's why second-round pick Joe Klopfenstein, who has been the starter from the get-go this offseason, is a rookie worth watching. Intent on developing a strong intermediate passing attack, Linehan would like 40-plus catches from Klopfenstein, who also has to show he can block effectively at the pro level.
Injury update: The Rams had remained amazingly healthy approaching the preseason's halfway point. The only injury victims of note are OG Claude Terrell, whose nagging wrist ailment had him in limbo at this writing, and FB Madison Hedgecock, who could be out 2-6 weeks with a high-ankle sprain.
Strongest position: The same as it has been since 1999: wide receiver. No. 1 WR Torry Holt is a Pro Bowler in his prime, veteran No. 2 WR Isaac Bruce has had a strong camp, and a case can be made for fleet-footed Kevin Curtis as the best No. 3 wideout in the league. Shifty No. 4 WR Shaun McDonald, reliable No. 5 WR Dane Looker, ex-Colt Brad Pyatt and impressive-looking youngsters Dominique Thompson and Marques Hagans fill out a very deep and talented WR corps.
Weakest position: The most unproven position on the roster: tight end. Behind the rookie Klopfenstein are Aaron Walker, who has only six career starts and was released by an awful 49ers team, and third-round draft pick Dominique Byrd, who so far has struggled more often than not.

San Francisco 49ers

Veteran to watch: Fifth-year pro Brandon Moore has been put on the spot as the team's starting left outside linebacker, a position widely perceived as a weak link heading into camp, and so far he has responded well. In the preseason opener against Chicago, the Bears opted to run away from the right side occupied by first-round pick Manny Lawson and right at Moore, who more than held his own after primarily playing inside prior to this season. But can he keep it up?
Rookie to watch: Lawson, considered to be the key to any pass rush the Niners might be able to muster, has yet to really distinguish himself. Even though the Bears ran away from him in the preseason opener, Lawson was noticeably overmatched by Bears OLT John Tait. In Lawson's defense, he's being asked to play a very complicated position in the Niners' defensive scheme, and it's expected to take him awhile to get comfortable. There's no denying Lawson's speed, but he needs to show more explosiveness off the ball.
Injury update: Veteran C Jeremy Newberry was placed on injured reserve following surgery to his left knee. CB Shawntae Spencer (hamstring) and rookie DE-OLB Parys Haralson (sprained foot) were sidelined at presstime. Spencer is expected to be out until at least the start of the season, while Haralson could remain out a tad longer. WR Arnaz Battle has chronic knee problems and practices on a limited basis.
Strongest position: The Niners had such a well-stocked RB corps that they felt comfortable in trading away sixth-year pro Kevin Barlow for a draft choice. Up-and-coming second-year pro Frank Gore, who always picks up positive yardage, has won the starting job by default now that Barlow is gone. Elusive Maurice Hicks, who seems to take advantage of most of his playing opportunities, good-looking rookies Michael Robinson and Delanie Walker and special-teams savant Terry Jackson offer quality depth.
Weakest position: Outside of newcomer Antonio Bryant, who has drawn rave reviews as the team's new featured wideout, the Niners have very little in the way of established talent at wide receiver. Battle has talent but can't stay healthy, Bryan Gilmore is the epitome of an NFL journeyman pass catcher, and rookie Brandon Williams and second-year pros Marcus Maxwell and Rasheed Marshall are greener than Kermit the Frog.

Seattle Seahawks

Veteran to watch: Free-agent addition Mike Green had been getting nearly all the first-team reps at strong safety with incumbent Michael Boulware recovering from knee surgery. Boulware is getting healthier and is starting to practice, but Green, who led Seattle's defense with five first-half tackles in the preseason opener against Dallas, won't relinquish the starting job without a fight. Stay tuned.
Rookie to watch: Ben Obomanu, only a seventh-round pick, is the prohibitive favorite to lock down the Seahawks' sixth and probably final WR spot, unless the team opts to keep only five this year. Obomanu has an NFL body, but he just didn't get much experience in a pro-style passing game while at Auburn. He's not flashy, just very consistent. And his upside is evident.
Injury update: TE Jerramy Stevens will be out for at least six weeks after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee in one of the final training-camp practices. He underwent surgery the day after the injury. Veteran C Robbie Tobeck was expected to miss 7-10 days after undergoing surgery to remove bone fragments from his left elbow. DT Russell Davis might miss the rest of the preseason with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot. Starting OLG Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack was continuing to nurse a hamstring injury at presstime, while WR Darrell Jackson and DT Marcus Tubbs had yet to make an appearance this season following offseason knee and foot surgery, respectively. Jackson was expected to be ready by the third preseason game.
Strongest position: Assuming everybody stays healthy, it would have to be linebacker. Second-year pros Lofa Tatupu and LeRoy Hill and versatile free-agent addition Julian Peterson, a former Pro Bowler with the Niners, make for a mighty potent 1-2-3 punch. Certainly linebacker is the most talented position. If you're looking for the deepest position, it might be the offensive line or defensive tackle, even with some of the injury issues at both positions.
Weakest position: The DE position drops off sharply after the first three guys on the depth chart -- Grant Wistrom, Bryce Fisher and second-round draft pick Darryl Tapp. Tapp has shown promise, but the Hawks really need Wistrom, who missed much of camp recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and Fisher to stay healthy. Joe Tafoya and Kemp Rasmussen are adequate backups, but there really aren't more than two starting-caliber players at the position. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training camp closure: NFC West

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way, and as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final league-wide rundown of this year's training-camp action, we provide more than a few clues on what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse.
In the following NFC West report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason.<OFFER>

? NFC East | NFC North | NFC South
? AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West

Arizona Cardinals

Veteran to watch: In his sixth season, massive OLT Leonard Davis enters his contract year with expectations higher than ever. Considered a potential chink in the team's armor, the Cardinals' offensive line is going to be under serious scrutiny. Davis has had a good camp, and he now needs to keep it up during the regular season and play close to a Pro Bowl level. The Cardinals are still trying to figure out whether he's worth re-signing, which could be a very pricey proposition.
Rookies to watch: Third-round TE Leonard Pope may not play all the time, but his huge frame (6-7, 256) should be a threat inside the red zone, where the offense needs to show major improvement getting into the endzone. If the Redbirds' run game continues to struggle, Pope will be even more important because defenses will concentrate on WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. In addition, although he's firmly entrenched behind starting QB Kurt Warner, the high-profile presence of first-round pick Matt Leinart will be impossible to ignore.
Injury update: Initially feared to be out 6-10 weeks, starting ORT Oliver Ross (knee) is hoping to return by the start of the season. Reserve DL Kenny King (hand) is expected to miss 8-12 weeks. Starting SLB Karlos Dansby was happy to find out that he probably won't need surgery on his bothersome left big toe, but a timetable for his return was undecided at presstime. FB James Hodgins (knee) and DE Anton Palepoi (shoulder) remained on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Strongest position: Wide receiver gets the no-brainer nod. In Fitzgerald and Boldin, the Cardinals have two potential Pro Bowlers coming off monster '05 campaigns. Bryant Johnson, a former first-round pick, isn't great, but he's not bad for a third wide receiver. Speedy No. 4 WR LeRon McCoy has some real upside, and No. 5 WR Troy Walters, a former Colt, is a solid veteran.
Weakest position: Offensive tackle. Davis is good, but there are questions about Ross even when he's healthy. The players currently replacing Ross are Jeremy Bridges, who was cut twice last season as a guard, and Fred Wakefield, who was originally a defensive end. If that isn't scary enough, there doesn't appear to be another competent tackle on the roster. Second-year pro Elton Brown has done some work there, but he's a guard.

St. Louis Rams

Veteran to watch: One of the keys to any success in the Rams' dramatically revamped defense will be how much life free-agent addition La'Roi Glover has left in his 32-year-old legs as the team's new starting defensive tackle alongside former first-round pick Jimmy Kennedy. With six Pro Bowl berths under his belt and an attitude that is still very hungry, Glover commands respect and has taken on a joint leadership role on the defense with fellow free-agent newcomers Will Witherspoon and Corey Chavous. A big part of that role is helping to groom Kennedy, a newcomer on the nose replacing the departed Ryan Pickett.
Rookie to watch: New Rams head coach Scott Linehan's offenses have always counted a great deal on tight ends, which was never the case in the previous regime under Mike Martz. That's why second-round pick Joe Klopfenstein, who has been the starter from the get-go this offseason, is a rookie worth watching. Intent on developing a strong intermediate passing attack, Linehan would like 40-plus catches from Klopfenstein, who also has to show he can block effectively at the pro level.
Injury update: The Rams had remained amazingly healthy approaching the preseason's halfway point. The only injury victims of note are OG Claude Terrell, whose nagging wrist ailment had him in limbo at this writing, and FB Madison Hedgecock, who could be out 2-6 weeks with a high-ankle sprain.
Strongest position: The same as it has been since 1999: wide receiver. No. 1 WR Torry Holt is a Pro Bowler in his prime, veteran No. 2 WR Isaac Bruce has had a strong camp, and a case can be made for fleet-footed Kevin Curtis as the best No. 3 wideout in the league. Shifty No. 4 WR Shaun McDonald, reliable No. 5 WR Dane Looker, ex-Colt Brad Pyatt and impressive-looking youngsters Dominique Thompson and Marques Hagans fill out a very deep and talented WR corps.
Weakest position: The most unproven position on the roster: tight end. Behind the rookie Klopfenstein are Aaron Walker, who has only six career starts and was released by an awful 49ers team, and third-round draft pick Dominique Byrd, who so far has struggled more often than not.

San Francisco 49ers

Veteran to watch: Fifth-year pro Brandon Moore has been put on the spot as the team's starting left outside linebacker, a position widely perceived as a weak link heading into camp, and so far he has responded well. In the preseason opener against Chicago, the Bears opted to run away from the right side occupied by first-round pick Manny Lawson and right at Moore, who more than held his own after primarily playing inside prior to this season. But can he keep it up?
Rookie to watch: Lawson, considered to be the key to any pass rush the Niners might be able to muster, has yet to really distinguish himself. Even though the Bears ran away from him in the preseason opener, Lawson was noticeably overmatched by Bears OLT John Tait. In Lawson's defense, he's being asked to play a very complicated position in the Niners' defensive scheme, and it's expected to take him awhile to get comfortable. There's no denying Lawson's speed, but he needs to show more explosiveness off the ball.
Injury update: Veteran C Jeremy Newberry was placed on injured reserve following surgery to his left knee. CB Shawntae Spencer (hamstring) and rookie DE-OLB Parys Haralson (sprained foot) were sidelined at presstime. Spencer is expected to be out until at least the start of the season, while Haralson could remain out a tad longer. WR Arnaz Battle has chronic knee problems and practices on a limited basis.
Strongest position: The Niners had such a well-stocked RB corps that they felt comfortable in trading away sixth-year pro Kevin Barlow for a draft choice. Up-and-coming second-year pro Frank Gore, who always picks up positive yardage, has won the starting job by default now that Barlow is gone. Elusive Maurice Hicks, who seems to take advantage of most of his playing opportunities, good-looking rookies Michael Robinson and Delanie Walker and special-teams savant Terry Jackson offer quality depth.
Weakest position: Outside of newcomer Antonio Bryant, who has drawn rave reviews as the team's new featured wideout, the Niners have very little in the way of established talent at wide receiver. Battle has talent but can't stay healthy, Bryan Gilmore is the epitome of an NFL journeyman pass catcher, and rookie Brandon Williams and second-year pros Marcus Maxwell and Rasheed Marshall are greener than Kermit the Frog.

Seattle Seahawks

Veteran to watch: Free-agent addition Mike Green had been getting nearly all the first-team reps at strong safety with incumbent Michael Boulware recovering from knee surgery. Boulware is getting healthier and is starting to practice, but Green, who led Seattle's defense with five first-half tackles in the preseason opener against Dallas, won't relinquish the starting job without a fight. Stay tuned.
Rookie to watch: Ben Obomanu, only a seventh-round pick, is the prohibitive favorite to lock down the Seahawks' sixth and probably final WR spot, unless the team opts to keep only five this year. Obomanu has an NFL body, but he just didn't get much experience in a pro-style passing game while at Auburn. He's not flashy, just very consistent. And his upside is evident.
Injury update: TE Jerramy Stevens will be out for at least six weeks after suffering a torn meniscus in his left knee in one of the final training-camp practices. He underwent surgery the day after the injury. Veteran C Robbie Tobeck was expected to miss 7-10 days after undergoing surgery to remove bone fragments from his left elbow. DT Russell Davis might miss the rest of the preseason with a torn plantar fascia in his right foot. Starting OLG Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack was continuing to nurse a hamstring injury at presstime, while WR Darrell Jackson and DT Marcus Tubbs had yet to make an appearance this season following offseason knee and foot surgery, respectively. Jackson was expected to be ready by the third preseason game.
Strongest position: Assuming everybody stays healthy, it would have to be linebacker. Second-year pros Lofa Tatupu and LeRoy Hill and versatile free-agent addition Julian Peterson, a former Pro Bowler with the Niners, make for a mighty potent 1-2-3 punch. Certainly linebacker is the most talented position. If you're looking for the deepest position, it might be the offensive line or defensive tackle, even with some of the injury issues at both positions.
Weakest position: The DE position drops off sharply after the first three guys on the depth chart -- Grant Wistrom, Bryce Fisher and second-round draft pick Darryl Tapp. Tapp has shown promise, but the Hawks really need Wistrom, who missed much of camp recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and Fisher to stay healthy. Joe Tafoya and Kemp Rasmussen are adequate backups, but there really aren't more than two starting-caliber players at the position. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training camp closure: AFC East

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way -- and, as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final leaguewide rundown of this year's training camp action, we provide more than a few clues about what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse.
In the following AFC East report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason.<OFFER>

? AFC North | AFC South | AFC West
? NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West

Buffalo Bills

Veteran to watch: LB Takeo Spikes. Coming off a torn Achilles that cost him 13? games last season, Spikes has been limited in training camp with the goal of ensuring his health for Week 1. He only participates in 7-on-7 drills and won't play in any preseason games. Because Angelo Crowell played so well in his absence last year, Spikes has been moved to the strong side. How he performs will dictate how much the Bills' defense rises after ranking a dismal 29th overall last year.
Rookie to watch: S Donte Whitner has looked good since reporting after holding out in a contract dispute and missing the first 12 practices. Buffalo's No. 1 pick has been the unintentional beneficiary of a set of circumstances in which Coy Wire missed practice with lower back/rib problems and Matt Bowen suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason opener. Whitner is getting double the reps and is picking things up very well. The Bills want him to start, and he's certainly on pace to do so.
Injury update: The Bills have been fortunate that nothing serious has happened thus far. The biggest concern is Spikes' recovery from his Achilles injury. Backup QB Craig Nall hurt his hamstring early in camp and missed a couple of weeks, including the first preseason game, setting him back further in the battle for the starting QB job. We've already mentioned Bowen and Wire. DT Tim Anderson sprained the acromioclavicular joint in his shoulder, and WR Roscoe Parrish has a mild groin strain.
Strongest position: Defensive backfield. The draft energized an aging group, particularly at safety, where rookies Whitner and Ko Simpson have looked good. The Bills have been impressed with Simpson's ball skills, which they say are better-developed than expected, and he has been a playmaker, with a fumble recovery vs. the Panthers. Troy Vincent adds leadership, and Rashad Baker is still on the rise. The CB tandem of Nate Clements and Terrence McGee is one of the better duos in the league. Rookie Ashton Youboty has done well and is pushing Eric King for the dime corner spot. Promising Jabari Greer is locked in as the nickel corner.
Weakest position: The offensive line is a big concern. ORT Jason Peters is talented but still learning and really was exposed in limited plays vs. Julius Peppers in the preseason opener. C Melvin Fowler has been solid, but OLT Mike Gandy, OLG Tutan Reyes and ORG Chris Villarrial have been mediocre at best, which could make life difficult for Willis McGahee and the running game.

Miami Dolphins

Veteran to watch: The long-rumored deal that brought NT Dan Wilkinson to Miami finally transpired, and the Dolphins may have gotten a pretty good player at a bargain price. "Big Daddy," who stands to make $1.3 million this season, showed up in pretty good shape and with a great attitude. He could win the starting spot over aging Keith Traylor or, at the least, fill a regular role in a NT rotation. The Dolphins also boast a fearsome goal-line defense of Wilkinson, Traylor, Vonnie Holliday and Kevin Carter, which will be tough for opposing offenses to penetrate.
Rookie to watch: NT Fred Evans. The seventh-round pick has been a pleasant surprise, displaying good use of his hands and leverage. He flashed his potential in the preseason opener vs. the Jaguars when he had a sack and tackled Greg Jones for a loss after beating veteran C Brad Meester. He is vying for a spot in the NT rotation.
Injury update: Pro Bowl DE Jason Taylor missed a week of practice and the first preseason game with a sore back but is back at practice and doing well. ORG Seth McKinney had neck surgery and is out three months. The team has yet to decide if he'll go on injured reserve (costing him the season) or on the physically unable to perform list (potentially getting him back later in the season). CB Travis Daniels has missed a couple of weeks with a Grade 2 ankle sprain but is expected back in time to play again this preseason. CB Will Poole reinjured the knee that forced him to miss all of last season and was placed on IR. Rookie OG Joe Toledo injured a knee in practice and will miss an undetermined length of time. He had impressed the coaches with his versatility as an interior lineman before he got hurt. WR Kelly Campbell (quadriceps) has been out since early in camp, and it may cost him a roster spot if he can't get back on the field soon.
Strongest position: Following the Wilkinson signing, the defensive line looks outstanding. Even with the loss of young NT Manuel Wright and rookie DT Rodrique Wright, who's out for the year after shoulder surgery, the line is loaded. The biggest negative is the age of key contributors Wilkinson, Traylor, Taylor, Carter and Holliday. Can they stay healthy for the entire season?
Weakest position: Running back. For one thing, Ronnie Brown isn't a proven commodity. He had only two 100-yard games last year, and it's no sure thing he'll stay healthy the entire season. Secondly, there are concerns about the depth behind Brown. Sammy Morris, a special-teams ace, is the top backup, and no youngsters have really distinguished themselves. The team will likely be in the market to add a veteran before the preseason ends.

New England Patriots

Veteran to watch: S Rodney Harrison is the key figure on the Patriots' defense. The team gets its defensive personality, along with its confidence and intimidation factor, from the fiery Harrison and Tedy Bruschi. When Harrison went down for the season last year, the secondary really lagged. He's back at age 33, practicing following surgery last September that repaired major ligament damage in his knee. He has been running hard but hasn't appeared in full pads yet. He's expected back for the start of the season. Observers say every practice he spends on the field, the team gets better.
Rookies to watch: RB Laurence Maroney has been terrific so far, but that's to be expected from the team's first-round pick. Seventh-rounder Willie Andrews was brought in to return punts and kickoffs, as the team decided to let go of Tim Dwight and Bethel Johnson. The shifty, sure-handed Andrews' decision-making has been excellent. If he keeps it up, he'll handle the return duties, keeping valuable veterans Troy Brown and Kevin Faulk out of harm's way on returns. Andrews has also seen some action at wide receiver.
Injury update: Bruschi broke the scaphoid bone in his wrist early in camp and is out for the preseason and possibly longer. Fellow ILB Monty Beisel has missed several practices with a hand injury and could be moved to a reserve role upon his return. Those injuries led to the signing of veteran LB Junior Seau. S Tebucky Jones and DB Chad Scott also have suffered hand injuries that have hampered them in camp. Rookie WR Chad Jackson has barely practiced due to a hamstring injury, and that has been a huge setback in his development. OT Nick Kaczur (shoulder) and FB Patrick Pass (ankle) are still on the physically unable to perform list.
Strongest position: Running back. Veteran Corey Dillon has looked great in camp and will fill his role as a punishing, hard-charging runner. It looks like the quicker Maroney will be a nice complement who's very adept at turning the corner. He's got great speed and the toughness to run over and through tacklers. Faulk is a catalyst for the team. When he comes onto the field, he makes opponents pay attention to him as a receiving threat or an adept draw runner.
Weakest position: Wide receiver. With Deion Branch holding out, the top two receivers look to be Reche Caldwell and Troy Brown. Caldwell has done well in camp but made a glaring drop in the first preseason game, and his ability to consistently produce is still a question mark. Brown is a trusted and dependable veteran, but his hands aren't what they used to be. No-names like Bam Childress, John Stone and Kelvin Kight are also in the mix for an alarmingly thin WR corps.

New York Jets

Veteran to watch: QB Chad Pennington. So far, so good, when it comes to Pennington's recovery from two surgeries on his throwing shoulder. The Jets held their collective breath in the first preseason game when Pennington's throwing arm was hit awkwardly on a blitz, but he practiced the next day and apparently has passed the first test. He has taken control of the starting job with his leadership, accuracy and intangibles, though his arm strength is still less than ideal.
Rookie to watch: OLT D'Brickashaw Ferguson took over the starting spot from the get-go and has done well, though he's still learning. His athletic gifts have been on display, and his hardworking, studious nature is serving him well as he adjusts to the NFL. He more than held his own vs. Simeon Rice in the first preseason game, allowing Rice one batted pass.
Injury update: RB Curtis Martin has yet to practice, and there are serious doubts whether the 33-year-old's surgically repaired knee will allow him to play again. NT Sione Pouha injured his right knee the first week of camp and was forced to undergo season-ending surgery. CB David Barrett missed a couple of weeks of camp with a leg injury but recently returned to the practice field.
Strongest position: Special teams. P Ben Graham had a solid rookie year and is poised to have a better second season. PK Mike Nugent got better as his rookie season wore on. So did CB-KR Justin Miller, who returned a kickoff for a touchdown vs. the Bills in Week 17. Veteran Tim Dwight isn't spectacular, but he is dependable as a punt returner and has the speed and instincts to break a long one.
Weakest position: Nose tackle. The Jets lost Monsanto Pope early in camp when he left the team for personal reasons. Then, Pouha suffered a season-ending knee injury. Plus, Dewayne Robertson, who is undersized to play the nose, is being asked to play end more often, moving DE Kimo von Oelhoffen inside at those times. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training camp closure: AFC East

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way -- and, as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final leaguewide rundown of this year's training camp action, we provide more than a few clues about what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse.
In the following AFC East report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason.<OFFER>

? AFC North | AFC South | AFC West
? NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West

Buffalo Bills

Veteran to watch: LB Takeo Spikes. Coming off a torn Achilles that cost him 13? games last season, Spikes has been limited in training camp with the goal of ensuring his health for Week 1. He only participates in 7-on-7 drills and won't play in any preseason games. Because Angelo Crowell played so well in his absence last year, Spikes has been moved to the strong side. How he performs will dictate how much the Bills' defense rises after ranking a dismal 29th overall last year.
Rookie to watch: S Donte Whitner has looked good since reporting after holding out in a contract dispute and missing the first 12 practices. Buffalo's No. 1 pick has been the unintentional beneficiary of a set of circumstances in which Coy Wire missed practice with lower back/rib problems and Matt Bowen suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason opener. Whitner is getting double the reps and is picking things up very well. The Bills want him to start, and he's certainly on pace to do so.
Injury update: The Bills have been fortunate that nothing serious has happened thus far. The biggest concern is Spikes' recovery from his Achilles injury. Backup QB Craig Nall hurt his hamstring early in camp and missed a couple of weeks, including the first preseason game, setting him back further in the battle for the starting QB job. We've already mentioned Bowen and Wire. DT Tim Anderson sprained the acromioclavicular joint in his shoulder, and WR Roscoe Parrish has a mild groin strain.
Strongest position: Defensive backfield. The draft energized an aging group, particularly at safety, where rookies Whitner and Ko Simpson have looked good. The Bills have been impressed with Simpson's ball skills, which they say are better-developed than expected, and he has been a playmaker, with a fumble recovery vs. the Panthers. Troy Vincent adds leadership, and Rashad Baker is still on the rise. The CB tandem of Nate Clements and Terrence McGee is one of the better duos in the league. Rookie Ashton Youboty has done well and is pushing Eric King for the dime corner spot. Promising Jabari Greer is locked in as the nickel corner.
Weakest position: The offensive line is a big concern. ORT Jason Peters is talented but still learning and really was exposed in limited plays vs. Julius Peppers in the preseason opener. C Melvin Fowler has been solid, but OLT Mike Gandy, OLG Tutan Reyes and ORG Chris Villarrial have been mediocre at best, which could make life difficult for Willis McGahee and the running game.

Miami Dolphins

Veteran to watch: The long-rumored deal that brought NT Dan Wilkinson to Miami finally transpired, and the Dolphins may have gotten a pretty good player at a bargain price. "Big Daddy," who stands to make $1.3 million this season, showed up in pretty good shape and with a great attitude. He could win the starting spot over aging Keith Traylor or, at the least, fill a regular role in a NT rotation. The Dolphins also boast a fearsome goal-line defense of Wilkinson, Traylor, Vonnie Holliday and Kevin Carter, which will be tough for opposing offenses to penetrate.
Rookie to watch: NT Fred Evans. The seventh-round pick has been a pleasant surprise, displaying good use of his hands and leverage. He flashed his potential in the preseason opener vs. the Jaguars when he had a sack and tackled Greg Jones for a loss after beating veteran C Brad Meester. He is vying for a spot in the NT rotation.
Injury update: Pro Bowl DE Jason Taylor missed a week of practice and the first preseason game with a sore back but is back at practice and doing well. ORG Seth McKinney had neck surgery and is out three months. The team has yet to decide if he'll go on injured reserve (costing him the season) or on the physically unable to perform list (potentially getting him back later in the season). CB Travis Daniels has missed a couple of weeks with a Grade 2 ankle sprain but is expected back in time to play again this preseason. CB Will Poole reinjured the knee that forced him to miss all of last season and was placed on IR. Rookie OG Joe Toledo injured a knee in practice and will miss an undetermined length of time. He had impressed the coaches with his versatility as an interior lineman before he got hurt. WR Kelly Campbell (quadriceps) has been out since early in camp, and it may cost him a roster spot if he can't get back on the field soon.
Strongest position: Following the Wilkinson signing, the defensive line looks outstanding. Even with the loss of young NT Manuel Wright and rookie DT Rodrique Wright, who's out for the year after shoulder surgery, the line is loaded. The biggest negative is the age of key contributors Wilkinson, Traylor, Taylor, Carter and Holliday. Can they stay healthy for the entire season?
Weakest position: Running back. For one thing, Ronnie Brown isn't a proven commodity. He had only two 100-yard games last year, and it's no sure thing he'll stay healthy the entire season. Secondly, there are concerns about the depth behind Brown. Sammy Morris, a special-teams ace, is the top backup, and no youngsters have really distinguished themselves. The team will likely be in the market to add a veteran before the preseason ends.

New England Patriots

Veteran to watch: S Rodney Harrison is the key figure on the Patriots' defense. The team gets its defensive personality, along with its confidence and intimidation factor, from the fiery Harrison and Tedy Bruschi. When Harrison went down for the season last year, the secondary really lagged. He's back at age 33, practicing following surgery last September that repaired major ligament damage in his knee. He has been running hard but hasn't appeared in full pads yet. He's expected back for the start of the season. Observers say every practice he spends on the field, the team gets better.
Rookies to watch: RB Laurence Maroney has been terrific so far, but that's to be expected from the team's first-round pick. Seventh-rounder Willie Andrews was brought in to return punts and kickoffs, as the team decided to let go of Tim Dwight and Bethel Johnson. The shifty, sure-handed Andrews' decision-making has been excellent. If he keeps it up, he'll handle the return duties, keeping valuable veterans Troy Brown and Kevin Faulk out of harm's way on returns. Andrews has also seen some action at wide receiver.
Injury update: Bruschi broke the scaphoid bone in his wrist early in camp and is out for the preseason and possibly longer. Fellow ILB Monty Beisel has missed several practices with a hand injury and could be moved to a reserve role upon his return. Those injuries led to the signing of veteran LB Junior Seau. S Tebucky Jones and DB Chad Scott also have suffered hand injuries that have hampered them in camp. Rookie WR Chad Jackson has barely practiced due to a hamstring injury, and that has been a huge setback in his development. OT Nick Kaczur (shoulder) and FB Patrick Pass (ankle) are still on the physically unable to perform list.
Strongest position: Running back. Veteran Corey Dillon has looked great in camp and will fill his role as a punishing, hard-charging runner. It looks like the quicker Maroney will be a nice complement who's very adept at turning the corner. He's got great speed and the toughness to run over and through tacklers. Faulk is a catalyst for the team. When he comes onto the field, he makes opponents pay attention to him as a receiving threat or an adept draw runner.
Weakest position: Wide receiver. With Deion Branch holding out, the top two receivers look to be Reche Caldwell and Troy Brown. Caldwell has done well in camp but made a glaring drop in the first preseason game, and his ability to consistently produce is still a question mark. Brown is a trusted and dependable veteran, but his hands aren't what they used to be. No-names like Bam Childress, John Stone and Kelvin Kight are also in the mix for an alarmingly thin WR corps.

New York Jets

Veteran to watch: QB Chad Pennington. So far, so good, when it comes to Pennington's recovery from two surgeries on his throwing shoulder. The Jets held their collective breath in the first preseason game when Pennington's throwing arm was hit awkwardly on a blitz, but he practiced the next day and apparently has passed the first test. He has taken control of the starting job with his leadership, accuracy and intangibles, though his arm strength is still less than ideal.
Rookie to watch: OLT D'Brickashaw Ferguson took over the starting spot from the get-go and has done well, though he's still learning. His athletic gifts have been on display, and his hardworking, studious nature is serving him well as he adjusts to the NFL. He more than held his own vs. Simeon Rice in the first preseason game, allowing Rice one batted pass.
Injury update: RB Curtis Martin has yet to practice, and there are serious doubts whether the 33-year-old's surgically repaired knee will allow him to play again. NT Sione Pouha injured his right knee the first week of camp and was forced to undergo season-ending surgery. CB David Barrett missed a couple of weeks of camp with a leg injury but recently returned to the practice field.
Strongest position: Special teams. P Ben Graham had a solid rookie year and is poised to have a better second season. PK Mike Nugent got better as his rookie season wore on. So did CB-KR Justin Miller, who returned a kickoff for a touchdown vs. the Bills in Week 17. Veteran Tim Dwight isn't spectacular, but he is dependable as a punt returner and has the speed and instincts to break a long one.
Weakest position: Nose tackle. The Jets lost Monsanto Pope early in camp when he left the team for personal reasons. Then, Pouha suffered a season-ending knee injury. Plus, Dewayne Robertson, who is undersized to play the nose, is being asked to play end more often, moving DE Kimo von Oelhoffen inside at those times. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training-camp closure: AFC South

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way, and as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final league-wide rundown of this year's training-camp action, we provide more than a few clues on what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse.
In the following AFC South report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason. <OFFER>

? AFC East | AFC North | AFC West
? NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West

Houston Texans

Veteran to watch: All eyes are on RB Domanick Davis, who has been limited by a knee injury since the final weeks of the '05 season. With Davis out, the Texans' other tailbacks have had an opportunity to get more practice reps, and rookie Wali Lundy is among those who have done the most with their opportunity. Ideally, Davis, who's suffering from a bruised left knee, will get some playing time before the end of the preseason. Rookie to watch: DE Mario Williams has practiced well, and his talent is ample and obvious, but the No. 1 overall pick didn't show much in his preseason debut vs. Kansas City. Chalk his performance up to rookie jitters, but more will be expected from him in the weeks to come.
Injury update: Davis hadn't returned to practice at this writing, and the Texans were unsure when he would rejoin the lineup. CB Phillip Buchanon (hamstring) missed the preseason opener, and he's fallen behind Lewis Sanders on the depth chart for the moment. LB Wali Rainer (ankle) is out for the season. Rainer had been expected to provide depth. CB DeMarcus ***gins (foot) will miss at least the start of the regular season, as will KR-WR Jerome Mathis (foot). LB Kailee Wong (knee) is questionable for Week 1.
Strongest position: Wide receiver was once a position of weakness for the Texans, but the addition of Eric Moulds and Kevin Walter gives Houston two complementary receivers who can take some of the pressure off Andre Johnson. The group will be that much stronger once Mathis returns to the fold.
Weakest positions: The team's OT depth is questionable, and Seth Wand must make the most of another shot on the left side for the offensive line to rebound after a tough '05 season. The team's CB depth is also being put to the test with the loss of ***gins and with Buchanon, such a disappointment a season ago, being asked to be more consistent.

Indianapolis Colts

Veteran to watch: Memo to all the offensive linemen who will be facing the Colts this year: Three-time Pro Bowl DE Dwight Freeney could be better than ever in his fifth season. Freeney was having an outstanding camp, looking like a man playing against boys, before missing four practices with a sore left shoulder that isn't expected to be a major concern. Already having established himself as one of the league's toughest ends to block, Freeney has added some new moves to his arsenal, which could make him even more difficult to handle.
Rookie to watch: Even though Dominic Rhodes is expected to see a lot more action as the Colts' starting running back early in the season, first-round pick Joseph Addai may be pushing Rhodes hard for playing time sooner than later. Addai has proven himself to be more than just a big, powerful back. He has shown a great deal of quickness and a nice ability to get outside, and he has caught the ball extremely well, displaying the footwork of a receiver. Addai may not turn out to be a great back, but he already looks like a very good back in every facet of his position.
Injury update: Although the Colts' injury list is as long as any in the league, the vast majority of their injuries appear to be of the nagging variety. Brandon Stokley, the team's No. 3 wideout who missed the entire 2005 preseason with a dislocated shoulder, has a sprained left ankle that could sideline him the entire '06 preseason and force him to possibly miss the season opener against the Giants. Starting DLT Corey Simon remains out indefinitely with a left knee injury that may require surgery and force him to miss a couple of games. Starting OLG Ryan Lilja (knee) is expected to be ready for the Colts' third preseason game, as is backup DT Montae Reagor (knee) and CB Jason David (groin). Others continuing to nurse injuries at presstime were: PK Adam Vinatieri (left ankle), P Hunter Smith (strained groin), FS Mike Doss (calf), S Dexter Reid (dislocated shoulder), CB Tim Jennings (ankle), LB Freddie Keiaho (knee), DE Jonathan Welsh (knee), TE Ben Hartsock (hamstring), backup QB Jim Sorgi (right shoulder) and RS T.J. Rushing (leg).
Strongest position: At tight end, the Colts are deeper than a novel by Joseph Conrad, with starter Dallas Clark, Bryan Fletcher, Ben Utecht, Hartsock (when he's healthy) and 6-foot-9 NFL Europe stud Joey Hawkins collectively having a great deal to offer. Clark is big, fast and dangerous. Fletcher is a smaller version of former Colt Marcus Pollard. Utecht (6-6, 251) has the potential to be a big-time player before he's through.
Weakest position: Probably linebacker. The starters (ROLB Cato June, MLB Gary Brackett and LOLB Gilbert Gardner) are all quite capable, but just about all the 'backers behind them on the depth chart are very young and inexperienced.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Veteran to watch: RB Fred Taylor. He's being challenged for a starting job by Greg Jones, who seems to have finally overcome the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in his junior year at Florida State and is flashing the form he had before the injury. The last three years, Taylor has carried just 17 times in the preseason, four last year. But he was the automatic starter. Now he's got to do something in the preseason to keep his job.
Rookie to watch: RB Maurice Drew. The diminutive Drew took a short pass against the Dolphins in his first preseason game and turned it into a 55-yard touchdown, showing his explosive running ability in the open field. He could be the Jaguars' third-down back. Although Drew has had some trouble catching punts, the Jaguars also like him as a punt returner and kickoff returner.
Injury update: Two key players, rookie TE Marcedes Lewis and S Gerald Sensabaugh, have high-ankle sprains. The Jaguars hope to have them back by the start of the regular season, but with high ankle sprains, you never know. They hope Lewis will be a weapon as a pass-catching tight end, and they need Sensabaugh for depth at safety because Donovin Darius is coming back from a torn ACL.
Strongest position: Defensive line. DTs Marcus Stroud and John Henderson are the twin towers in the middle, and they use their massive frames and immense strength to break through most offensive lines. DE Reggie Hayward is a good pass rusher who led the team in sacks last season. DE Paul Spicer is more like a tackle playing on the end, which really helps the Jaguars against the run. DT Rob Meier and DE Bobby McCray give the Jaguars depth.
Weakest position: Wide receivers. With the retirement of Jimmy Smith in the spring, the Jaguars were left without a No. 1 receiver. Matt Jones is the most likely candidate to replace Smith, but he has only one year at wide receiver under his belt after playing quarterback in college. Reggie Williams has all the physical skills but hasn't been able to put it all together, and he was demoted to No. 3. Ernest Wilford made some nice plays last year, but he is slow and inconsistent. The big question is whether the Jaguars will bring in a veteran.

Tennessee Titans

Veteran to watch: Most observers, along with the coaching staff, were clear to note that this was a pivotal camp for third-year WR Tyrone Calico. But so far he has missed several practices with three nagging injuries and has done little when he has been on the field. So far, especially in recent practices, rookie Jonathan Orr has upstaged Calico, and the veteran now has to be considered seventh on the WR totem pole on a team that might not keep six wideouts.
Rookie to watch: RB LenDale White hasn't gotten off to a stellar start with the team, having been suspended for the first preseason game after getting into a fight and spitting in the face of teammate Donnie Nickey. That incident again raised questions about White's maturity, questions that had helped cause his draft stock to fall. White also has been the most impressive back at times in practice, according to observers, who say that he gets to the line of scrimmage faster than starter Chris Brown or backup Travis Henry, and that White appears to have an innate knack for finding holes and making something out of nothing. The final few weeks of the preseason will be critical in determining White's early-season role in a crowded backfield.
Injury update: TE Erron Kinney told PFW he's close to returning following arthroscopic knee surgery, but team sources are a little more bearish, saying he is starting to look a bit old for a seventh-year vet. OLG Zach Piller has a rib/chest injury that could linger and cause the team to do some shuffling up front. Most of the other injuries have been of the day-to-day variety, but DT Albert Haynesworth's back, DE Travis LaBoy's foot and WR Brandon Jones' knee are worth keeping an eye on.
Strongest position: The starting LB trio of Keith Bulluck, possibly the team's best all-around player, free-agent addition David Thornton and Peter Sirmon might be the most solid unit on the team now that it appears Sirmon is making a smooth transition from outside to the middle. Thornton has been as good as advertised, and the staff is excited about his potential. The depth here is pretty strong, too: Rookies Stephen Tulloch and Terna Nande have made impressions, and Cody Spencer is a valued veteran, especially on special teams. QB-turned-safety Marcus Randall has a third position -- outside 'backer -- but he must show something quickly to make the club.
Weakest position: Overall, cornerback has to be the shakiest spot, considering there are two second-year starters and little depth in tow. Though Pacman Jones appears much improved, and Reynaldo Hill has been OK so far, the reserves have yet to provide much in the way of insurance. Right now, seventh-round rookie Cortland Finnegan appears to be running third at corner, and he hasn't been outstanding. That doesn't say much about the futures of Andre Woolfolk and Rich Gardner, both one-time first-day draft picks who have underachieved, though Woolfolk has rebounded recently after a slow start. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training-camp closure: AFC South

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way, and as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final league-wide rundown of this year's training-camp action, we provide more than a few clues on what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse.
In the following AFC South report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason. <OFFER>

? AFC East | AFC North | AFC West
? NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West

Houston Texans

Veteran to watch: All eyes are on RB Domanick Davis, who has been limited by a knee injury since the final weeks of the '05 season. With Davis out, the Texans' other tailbacks have had an opportunity to get more practice reps, and rookie Wali Lundy is among those who have done the most with their opportunity. Ideally, Davis, who's suffering from a bruised left knee, will get some playing time before the end of the preseason. Rookie to watch: DE Mario Williams has practiced well, and his talent is ample and obvious, but the No. 1 overall pick didn't show much in his preseason debut vs. Kansas City. Chalk his performance up to rookie jitters, but more will be expected from him in the weeks to come.
Injury update: Davis hadn't returned to practice at this writing, and the Texans were unsure when he would rejoin the lineup. CB Phillip Buchanon (hamstring) missed the preseason opener, and he's fallen behind Lewis Sanders on the depth chart for the moment. LB Wali Rainer (ankle) is out for the season. Rainer had been expected to provide depth. CB DeMarcus ***gins (foot) will miss at least the start of the regular season, as will KR-WR Jerome Mathis (foot). LB Kailee Wong (knee) is questionable for Week 1.
Strongest position: Wide receiver was once a position of weakness for the Texans, but the addition of Eric Moulds and Kevin Walter gives Houston two complementary receivers who can take some of the pressure off Andre Johnson. The group will be that much stronger once Mathis returns to the fold.
Weakest positions: The team's OT depth is questionable, and Seth Wand must make the most of another shot on the left side for the offensive line to rebound after a tough '05 season. The team's CB depth is also being put to the test with the loss of ***gins and with Buchanon, such a disappointment a season ago, being asked to be more consistent.

Indianapolis Colts

Veteran to watch: Memo to all the offensive linemen who will be facing the Colts this year: Three-time Pro Bowl DE Dwight Freeney could be better than ever in his fifth season. Freeney was having an outstanding camp, looking like a man playing against boys, before missing four practices with a sore left shoulder that isn't expected to be a major concern. Already having established himself as one of the league's toughest ends to block, Freeney has added some new moves to his arsenal, which could make him even more difficult to handle.
Rookie to watch: Even though Dominic Rhodes is expected to see a lot more action as the Colts' starting running back early in the season, first-round pick Joseph Addai may be pushing Rhodes hard for playing time sooner than later. Addai has proven himself to be more than just a big, powerful back. He has shown a great deal of quickness and a nice ability to get outside, and he has caught the ball extremely well, displaying the footwork of a receiver. Addai may not turn out to be a great back, but he already looks like a very good back in every facet of his position.
Injury update: Although the Colts' injury list is as long as any in the league, the vast majority of their injuries appear to be of the nagging variety. Brandon Stokley, the team's No. 3 wideout who missed the entire 2005 preseason with a dislocated shoulder, has a sprained left ankle that could sideline him the entire '06 preseason and force him to possibly miss the season opener against the Giants. Starting DLT Corey Simon remains out indefinitely with a left knee injury that may require surgery and force him to miss a couple of games. Starting OLG Ryan Lilja (knee) is expected to be ready for the Colts' third preseason game, as is backup DT Montae Reagor (knee) and CB Jason David (groin). Others continuing to nurse injuries at presstime were: PK Adam Vinatieri (left ankle), P Hunter Smith (strained groin), FS Mike Doss (calf), S Dexter Reid (dislocated shoulder), CB Tim Jennings (ankle), LB Freddie Keiaho (knee), DE Jonathan Welsh (knee), TE Ben Hartsock (hamstring), backup QB Jim Sorgi (right shoulder) and RS T.J. Rushing (leg).
Strongest position: At tight end, the Colts are deeper than a novel by Joseph Conrad, with starter Dallas Clark, Bryan Fletcher, Ben Utecht, Hartsock (when he's healthy) and 6-foot-9 NFL Europe stud Joey Hawkins collectively having a great deal to offer. Clark is big, fast and dangerous. Fletcher is a smaller version of former Colt Marcus Pollard. Utecht (6-6, 251) has the potential to be a big-time player before he's through.
Weakest position: Probably linebacker. The starters (ROLB Cato June, MLB Gary Brackett and LOLB Gilbert Gardner) are all quite capable, but just about all the 'backers behind them on the depth chart are very young and inexperienced.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Veteran to watch: RB Fred Taylor. He's being challenged for a starting job by Greg Jones, who seems to have finally overcome the torn anterior cruciate ligament he suffered in his junior year at Florida State and is flashing the form he had before the injury. The last three years, Taylor has carried just 17 times in the preseason, four last year. But he was the automatic starter. Now he's got to do something in the preseason to keep his job.
Rookie to watch: RB Maurice Drew. The diminutive Drew took a short pass against the Dolphins in his first preseason game and turned it into a 55-yard touchdown, showing his explosive running ability in the open field. He could be the Jaguars' third-down back. Although Drew has had some trouble catching punts, the Jaguars also like him as a punt returner and kickoff returner.
Injury update: Two key players, rookie TE Marcedes Lewis and S Gerald Sensabaugh, have high-ankle sprains. The Jaguars hope to have them back by the start of the regular season, but with high ankle sprains, you never know. They hope Lewis will be a weapon as a pass-catching tight end, and they need Sensabaugh for depth at safety because Donovin Darius is coming back from a torn ACL.
Strongest position: Defensive line. DTs Marcus Stroud and John Henderson are the twin towers in the middle, and they use their massive frames and immense strength to break through most offensive lines. DE Reggie Hayward is a good pass rusher who led the team in sacks last season. DE Paul Spicer is more like a tackle playing on the end, which really helps the Jaguars against the run. DT Rob Meier and DE Bobby McCray give the Jaguars depth.
Weakest position: Wide receivers. With the retirement of Jimmy Smith in the spring, the Jaguars were left without a No. 1 receiver. Matt Jones is the most likely candidate to replace Smith, but he has only one year at wide receiver under his belt after playing quarterback in college. Reggie Williams has all the physical skills but hasn't been able to put it all together, and he was demoted to No. 3. Ernest Wilford made some nice plays last year, but he is slow and inconsistent. The big question is whether the Jaguars will bring in a veteran.

Tennessee Titans

Veteran to watch: Most observers, along with the coaching staff, were clear to note that this was a pivotal camp for third-year WR Tyrone Calico. But so far he has missed several practices with three nagging injuries and has done little when he has been on the field. So far, especially in recent practices, rookie Jonathan Orr has upstaged Calico, and the veteran now has to be considered seventh on the WR totem pole on a team that might not keep six wideouts.
Rookie to watch: RB LenDale White hasn't gotten off to a stellar start with the team, having been suspended for the first preseason game after getting into a fight and spitting in the face of teammate Donnie Nickey. That incident again raised questions about White's maturity, questions that had helped cause his draft stock to fall. White also has been the most impressive back at times in practice, according to observers, who say that he gets to the line of scrimmage faster than starter Chris Brown or backup Travis Henry, and that White appears to have an innate knack for finding holes and making something out of nothing. The final few weeks of the preseason will be critical in determining White's early-season role in a crowded backfield.
Injury update: TE Erron Kinney told PFW he's close to returning following arthroscopic knee surgery, but team sources are a little more bearish, saying he is starting to look a bit old for a seventh-year vet. OLG Zach Piller has a rib/chest injury that could linger and cause the team to do some shuffling up front. Most of the other injuries have been of the day-to-day variety, but DT Albert Haynesworth's back, DE Travis LaBoy's foot and WR Brandon Jones' knee are worth keeping an eye on.
Strongest position: The starting LB trio of Keith Bulluck, possibly the team's best all-around player, free-agent addition David Thornton and Peter Sirmon might be the most solid unit on the team now that it appears Sirmon is making a smooth transition from outside to the middle. Thornton has been as good as advertised, and the staff is excited about his potential. The depth here is pretty strong, too: Rookies Stephen Tulloch and Terna Nande have made impressions, and Cody Spencer is a valued veteran, especially on special teams. QB-turned-safety Marcus Randall has a third position -- outside 'backer -- but he must show something quickly to make the club.
Weakest position: Overall, cornerback has to be the shakiest spot, considering there are two second-year starters and little depth in tow. Though Pacman Jones appears much improved, and Reynaldo Hill has been OK so far, the reserves have yet to provide much in the way of insurance. Right now, seventh-round rookie Cortland Finnegan appears to be running third at corner, and he hasn't been outstanding. That doesn't say much about the futures of Andre Woolfolk and Rich Gardner, both one-time first-day draft picks who have underachieved, though Woolfolk has rebounded recently after a slow start. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training camp closure: AFC North

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way -- and, as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final leaguewide rundown of this year's training camp action, we provide more than a few clues about what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse. In the following AFC North report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason. <OFFER>

? AFC East | AFC South | AFC West
? NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West

Baltimore Ravens

Veteran to watch: RB Jamal Lewis impressed in the preseason opener vs. the Giants, gaining 34 yards on six carries. However, he's expected to miss Baltimore's last two preseason games while resting a hip injury. The Ravens expect Lewis to be ready for Week 1, but will this be an injury that lingers? Stay tuned.
Rookie to watch: WR Demetrius Williams has opened eyes with his play in camp and preseason games. Williams, a fourth-round pick from Oregon, has a chance to win the No. 3 WR job because of his talent and a lack of other qualified candidates for the position.
Injury update: Lewis (hip) is out for the rest of the preseason. WR Mark Clayton (hamstring) is practicing, but the Ravens worry about this injury following him into the regular season. OG Brian Rimpf has also been bothered by a hamstring injury. Rimpf is expected to be a key reserve along the interior of the offensive line. No. 1 pick Haloti Ngata missed the preseason opener with a knee injury, but he returned for the second game. WR Clarence Moore (hernia) is back practicing, but his role is uncertain. Finally, rookie David Pittman, expected to compete for the No. 3 CB role, was slowed by a hamstring injury early in camp, and he has fallen to fifth on the depth chart.
Strongest position: The Ravens like their depth at running back. Lewis, the starter, is three seasons removed from rushing for more than 2,000 yards. Former Broncos RB Mike Anderson, who may also see some time at fullback, could start for other teams. Also, the Ravens have been impressed with third-stringer Musa Smith, whose career has been marked by injuries.
Weakest position: Will a punter emerge in the battle between rookie Sam Koch and veteran Leo Araguz? It's thought that Koch holds an edge on the job, but he hasn't taken the job and run with it. That said, Araguz has been far from impressive.

Cincinnati Bengals

Veteran to watch: QB Carson Palmer is taking the majority of the practice snaps, and he has healed remarkably well, considering the serious knee injury he sustained in January. But will he be ready for Week 1? Palmer missed the Bengals' first two preseason games but targeted Cincinnati's third preseason game at Green Bay for a return.
Rookie to watch: Reserve LB Rashad Jeanty started the preseason opener, with strongside starter David Pollack slowed by an ankle injury, and the former CFL standout made the most of his opportunity, notching four tackles and a half-sack. Jeanty can also put his hand down and rush the passer, and his versatility will help his case to earn playing time in the coming weeks.
Injury update: Head coach Marvin Lewis won't rush Palmer back, but if the quarterback wants to play in the regular-season opener, he must play in the preseason. Other starters, like Pollack, OLT Levi Jones (ankle) and CB Deltha O'Neal (knee), have endured minor injuries. Reserve safeties Anthony Mitchell (foot) and Kevin Kaesviharn (back) have missed practice time. And oft-injured RB Chris Perry is battling an ankle injury. CB Rashad Bauman could be out for the season after suffering a knee injury in the second preseason game.
Strongest position: Even with Odell Thurman missing the first four weeks because of an NFL suspension, the team's LB corps boasts strong depth. Rookie Ahmad Brooks looks to have a bright NFL future, and Jeanty has been a pleasant surprise. Pollack appears ready to take a big step forward on the strong side, and fellow starters Brian Simmons and Landon Johnson are steady performers.
Weakest position: The Bengals' top two tight ends, Reggie Kelly and Tony Stewart, are not consistent pass-catching threats, and there is little depth behind them. Of course, any worries at tight end would be completely overshadowed if Palmer missed the start of the season, forcing backup Anthony Wright into the lineup.

Cleveland Browns

Veteran to watch: QB Charlie Frye has all of five career starts to his credit, but that's enough to give him veteran status. Frye's progress will determine how the Cleveland offense fares. With major questions about the offensive line, and with no dependable backup quarterback on the roster, there is much pressure on Frye's shoulders.
Rookie to watch: OLB Kamerion Wimbley has the ability to push for a major role as a rookie, and he could very well push veteran Matt Stewart for a starting position at some point. Wimbley played well in the preseason opener vs. Philadelphia, and it's hoped he can provide a consistent rush off the edge.
Injury update: Injuries have been the dominant story since C LeCharles Bentley suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first full training-camp practice. Unfortunately for Cleveland, Bentley wasn't the only starter to go down. CBs Gary Baxter (pectoral) and Daylon McCutcheon (knee) are also questionable for Week 1, as is ORT Ryan Tucker (knee). WR Braylon Edwards (knee) is practicing more and getting more work, but it's unclear whether he will be ready for the regular-season opener. Finally, OLB Willie McGinest is battling an elbow injury that isn't regarded as serious.
Strongest position: You could have made a case for center before Bentley's injury and Bob Hallen's retirement. Cornerback could also have drawn some consideration, but yet another pectoral injury for Baxter weakens that position. For now, the vote goes to tight end, a position bolstered by the return of Kellen Winslow and boasting strong depth in Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins.
Weakest position: Center, by a landslide. Losing Bentley was bad enough, but Hallen's decision to quit stunned the Browns. The team moved Alonzo Ephraim into the starting job for the preseason opener, and he fared well ? until word surfaced that he would be suspended four games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Former Patriots backup Ross Tucker is the starter for the moment, though you can bet GM Phil Savage is looking at other options.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Veteran to watch: RB Willie Parker has opened eyes at camp. Parker is a stronger, more patient runner than a season ago, and he's catching the ball better than he did in his first season as a starter. We already know about his excellent speed, but he has worked to become more than just a home-run hitter.
Rookie to watch: FS Anthony Smith picked off a pair of passes in his first preseason game. In addition to his ball-hawking ability, Smith has been strong vs. the run. Veterans Ryan Clark and Tyrone Carter have the edge to start, ahead of Smith, because of their experience -- the Steelers ask so much of their free safety -- but Smith could be tough to keep off the field if he keeps playing this well.
Injury update: Compared to some of their divisional rivals, the Steelers have had a relatively pain-free camp. WR Hines Ward is fighting a hamstring injury, but it's nothing serious. OLB Joey Porter, back from knee surgery, looks to be in good form. QB Ben Roethlisberger suffered a sprained ligament in his right thumb in preseason after having received head and facial injuries in a June motorcycle accident, but the thumb injury appears minor. He played in Pittsburgh's Aug. 19 game vs. Minnesota. Veteran reserve C Chukky Okobi (herniated disc in neck) will miss the start of the season.
Strongest position: The Steelers like their depth at safety. Clark, Carter and Smith give the team three different looks at free safety, and we've yet to talk about SS Troy Polamalu. Polamalu's top backup, Mike Logan, has had a nice camp. Also, the Steelers like what they've seen from undrafted free agents Mike Lorello and Zach Baker.
Weakest position: Running back could be a problem if Parker were lost for more than a couple of games. Verron Haynes has yet to prove he can be a dependable backup for an entire season, and Duce Staley hasn't had a strong camp. Nor has rookie Cedric Humes, whose fumbling woes have hurt his chances of contributing. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training camp closure: AFC North

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way -- and, as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final leaguewide rundown of this year's training camp action, we provide more than a few clues about what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse. In the following AFC North report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason. <OFFER>

? AFC East | AFC South | AFC West
? NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West

Baltimore Ravens

Veteran to watch: RB Jamal Lewis impressed in the preseason opener vs. the Giants, gaining 34 yards on six carries. However, he's expected to miss Baltimore's last two preseason games while resting a hip injury. The Ravens expect Lewis to be ready for Week 1, but will this be an injury that lingers? Stay tuned.
Rookie to watch: WR Demetrius Williams has opened eyes with his play in camp and preseason games. Williams, a fourth-round pick from Oregon, has a chance to win the No. 3 WR job because of his talent and a lack of other qualified candidates for the position.
Injury update: Lewis (hip) is out for the rest of the preseason. WR Mark Clayton (hamstring) is practicing, but the Ravens worry about this injury following him into the regular season. OG Brian Rimpf has also been bothered by a hamstring injury. Rimpf is expected to be a key reserve along the interior of the offensive line. No. 1 pick Haloti Ngata missed the preseason opener with a knee injury, but he returned for the second game. WR Clarence Moore (hernia) is back practicing, but his role is uncertain. Finally, rookie David Pittman, expected to compete for the No. 3 CB role, was slowed by a hamstring injury early in camp, and he has fallen to fifth on the depth chart.
Strongest position: The Ravens like their depth at running back. Lewis, the starter, is three seasons removed from rushing for more than 2,000 yards. Former Broncos RB Mike Anderson, who may also see some time at fullback, could start for other teams. Also, the Ravens have been impressed with third-stringer Musa Smith, whose career has been marked by injuries.
Weakest position: Will a punter emerge in the battle between rookie Sam Koch and veteran Leo Araguz? It's thought that Koch holds an edge on the job, but he hasn't taken the job and run with it. That said, Araguz has been far from impressive.

Cincinnati Bengals

Veteran to watch: QB Carson Palmer is taking the majority of the practice snaps, and he has healed remarkably well, considering the serious knee injury he sustained in January. But will he be ready for Week 1? Palmer missed the Bengals' first two preseason games but targeted Cincinnati's third preseason game at Green Bay for a return.
Rookie to watch: Reserve LB Rashad Jeanty started the preseason opener, with strongside starter David Pollack slowed by an ankle injury, and the former CFL standout made the most of his opportunity, notching four tackles and a half-sack. Jeanty can also put his hand down and rush the passer, and his versatility will help his case to earn playing time in the coming weeks.
Injury update: Head coach Marvin Lewis won't rush Palmer back, but if the quarterback wants to play in the regular-season opener, he must play in the preseason. Other starters, like Pollack, OLT Levi Jones (ankle) and CB Deltha O'Neal (knee), have endured minor injuries. Reserve safeties Anthony Mitchell (foot) and Kevin Kaesviharn (back) have missed practice time. And oft-injured RB Chris Perry is battling an ankle injury. CB Rashad Bauman could be out for the season after suffering a knee injury in the second preseason game.
Strongest position: Even with Odell Thurman missing the first four weeks because of an NFL suspension, the team's LB corps boasts strong depth. Rookie Ahmad Brooks looks to have a bright NFL future, and Jeanty has been a pleasant surprise. Pollack appears ready to take a big step forward on the strong side, and fellow starters Brian Simmons and Landon Johnson are steady performers.
Weakest position: The Bengals' top two tight ends, Reggie Kelly and Tony Stewart, are not consistent pass-catching threats, and there is little depth behind them. Of course, any worries at tight end would be completely overshadowed if Palmer missed the start of the season, forcing backup Anthony Wright into the lineup.

Cleveland Browns

Veteran to watch: QB Charlie Frye has all of five career starts to his credit, but that's enough to give him veteran status. Frye's progress will determine how the Cleveland offense fares. With major questions about the offensive line, and with no dependable backup quarterback on the roster, there is much pressure on Frye's shoulders.
Rookie to watch: OLB Kamerion Wimbley has the ability to push for a major role as a rookie, and he could very well push veteran Matt Stewart for a starting position at some point. Wimbley played well in the preseason opener vs. Philadelphia, and it's hoped he can provide a consistent rush off the edge.
Injury update: Injuries have been the dominant story since C LeCharles Bentley suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first full training-camp practice. Unfortunately for Cleveland, Bentley wasn't the only starter to go down. CBs Gary Baxter (pectoral) and Daylon McCutcheon (knee) are also questionable for Week 1, as is ORT Ryan Tucker (knee). WR Braylon Edwards (knee) is practicing more and getting more work, but it's unclear whether he will be ready for the regular-season opener. Finally, OLB Willie McGinest is battling an elbow injury that isn't regarded as serious.
Strongest position: You could have made a case for center before Bentley's injury and Bob Hallen's retirement. Cornerback could also have drawn some consideration, but yet another pectoral injury for Baxter weakens that position. For now, the vote goes to tight end, a position bolstered by the return of Kellen Winslow and boasting strong depth in Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins.
Weakest position: Center, by a landslide. Losing Bentley was bad enough, but Hallen's decision to quit stunned the Browns. The team moved Alonzo Ephraim into the starting job for the preseason opener, and he fared well ? until word surfaced that he would be suspended four games for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. Former Patriots backup Ross Tucker is the starter for the moment, though you can bet GM Phil Savage is looking at other options.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Veteran to watch: RB Willie Parker has opened eyes at camp. Parker is a stronger, more patient runner than a season ago, and he's catching the ball better than he did in his first season as a starter. We already know about his excellent speed, but he has worked to become more than just a home-run hitter.
Rookie to watch: FS Anthony Smith picked off a pair of passes in his first preseason game. In addition to his ball-hawking ability, Smith has been strong vs. the run. Veterans Ryan Clark and Tyrone Carter have the edge to start, ahead of Smith, because of their experience -- the Steelers ask so much of their free safety -- but Smith could be tough to keep off the field if he keeps playing this well.
Injury update: Compared to some of their divisional rivals, the Steelers have had a relatively pain-free camp. WR Hines Ward is fighting a hamstring injury, but it's nothing serious. OLB Joey Porter, back from knee surgery, looks to be in good form. QB Ben Roethlisberger suffered a sprained ligament in his right thumb in preseason after having received head and facial injuries in a June motorcycle accident, but the thumb injury appears minor. He played in Pittsburgh's Aug. 19 game vs. Minnesota. Veteran reserve C Chukky Okobi (herniated disc in neck) will miss the start of the season.
Strongest position: The Steelers like their depth at safety. Clark, Carter and Smith give the team three different looks at free safety, and we've yet to talk about SS Troy Polamalu. Polamalu's top backup, Mike Logan, has had a nice camp. Also, the Steelers like what they've seen from undrafted free agents Mike Lorello and Zach Baker.
Weakest position: Running back could be a problem if Parker were lost for more than a couple of games. Verron Haynes has yet to prove he can be a dependable backup for an entire season, and Duce Staley hasn't had a strong camp. Nor has rookie Cedric Humes, whose fumbling woes have hurt his chances of contributing. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training-camp closure: AFC West

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way, and as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final league-wide rundown of this year's training-camp action, we provide more than a few clues on what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse.
In the following AFC West report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason. <OFFER>

? AFC East | AFC South | AFC North
? NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West

Denver Broncos

Veteran to watch: The Broncos are extremely excited about new addition Javon Walker, but they are not going to press him and his surgically repaired knee into extended action until games actually mean something. He adds a playmaking, downfield element to an already solid offense and has been sharp thus far in camp.
Rookie to watch: TE Tony Scheffler will have a significant role in the offense from the outset, at the very least on passing downs and in two-TE sets with Stephen Alexander. He has looked good in the preseason, and his size and ability to earn extra yards after the catch make for an enticing target for Jake Plummer.
Injury update: Starting DLs Courtney Brown (knee surgery) and Gerard Warren (dislocated big toe) will miss the remainder of the preseason but should be fine for Week 1. Walker (knee) is being brought along slowly but is being counted on for the opener. Rookie WR Brandon Marshall should be back from knee problems in a couple of weeks.
Strongest position: The CB position looks strong, but there is no denying perhaps the best LB corps in the business. Al Wilson, Ian Gold and D.J. Williams are fast, versatile and aggressive, not to mention capable of covering up mistakes made elsewhere defensively. Depth at linebacker is not what it once was, but the starters are in the elite category.
Weakest position: At defensive end, the Broncos have a bunch of journeymen who are adequate but do nothing to truly stand out. If speedy rookie Elvis Dumervil becomes a factor, it would help provide a spark to an otherwise average bunch.

Kansas City Chiefs

Veteran to watch: Kyle Turley hasn't played football in two years because of back trouble, is some 25-30 pounds lighter than his prior playing weight and is being asked to step into the enormous shoes left by future Hall of Famer Willie Roaf at left tackle. Do you think his play will be under the microscope at all?
Rookie to watch: Safeties Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page have made some plays thus far in camp and will have roles, but an instant impact in the pass rush is expected out of DE Tamba Hali, who has been dinged up but will start opposite Jared Allen and shift inside on passing downs.
Injury update: CB Lenny Walls (hamstring) and rookie QB Brodie Croyle (shoulder) haven't practiced since early in camp. New RB Michael Bennett (hamstring) hasn't practiced since being acquired from the Saints. OG Brian Waters' foot problems are a concern, and Hali (ribs) and DTs John Browning (back) and Junior Siavii (knee) have missed a lot of time. RB Priest Holmes (head, neck) is expected to start the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Strongest position: Even with the uncertainty surrounding Holmes' future, we're going with running back, where Larry Johnson has skyrocketed to superstardom with an impressive blend of speed, power and attitude, and Bennett was added to provide some experience and game-breaking speed.
Weakest position: Defensive tackle. The Chiefs have some potential brewing outside with Jared Allen and the rookie Hali, but the interior is more about unfulfilled promise with early-round busts such as Siavii and Ryan Sims, an aging veteran in Browning and journeymen such as Lional Dalton and Ron Edwards. The position is truly lacking a difference-maker.

Oakland Raiders

Veteran to watch: PK Sebastian Janikowski is coming off his worst season as a pro and looked shaky early in camp, but since then, he's been stellar. If the Raiders' offense continues to sputter, Janikowski and his big leg could get plenty of long-range chances in 2006.
Rookie to watch: OLB Thomas Howard, taken in the second round, is going to be a key to whether the Raiders will be able to utilize a base 4-3 scheme more often defensively as opposed to the predominant 4-2-5 look shown last season. His speed has been phenomenal, but he remains a work in progress.
Injury update: Disgruntled WR Jerry Porter continues to nurse a strained calf but figures to get back in the mix soon. WR Ronald Curry is being brought along slowly, coming off a second Achilles injury in as many years, but he should be ready for the opener.
Strongest position: The WR corps has the makings of something special if everything comes together for the offense. But that's a mighty big "if," judging by what we've seen thus far. Trotting Randy Moss, Porter (provided he's focused and healthy), Curry, Doug Gabriel and other talented youngsters out there is enough to make a lot of defensive coordinators a little queasy, no matter who the quarterback is.
Weakest position: The whole offensive line, across the board. Former first-round pick Robert Gallery is struggling, as are the rest of the starters, and Oakland doesn't have much in the way of depth it can rely on. Overall, the cohesiveness is hurting offensively, and the line has been a primary culprit.

San Diego Chargers

Veteran to watch: Veteran OLT Roman Oben, in a bid to return to action after two offseason foot surgeries. He had only just begun running as of presstime, and it remains unknown whether he'll be ready for the opener. The Chargers' offense lost more than a step without him in the lineup last year.
Rookie to watch: Mammoth second-round pick Marcus McNeill could become a household name in San Diego if Oben's not ready. Leander Jordan is second on the depth chart at left tackle, but he's not considered a long-term answer. Don't be surprised if McNeill is worked into a rotation if Oben can't go.
Injury update: Oben's return is uncertain. Veteran LB Donnie Edwards was said to be close to returning from a bad back at presstime, but the team was being coy about his progress. Return man and backup RB Darren Sproles is done for the year with a broken leg. WR Vincent Jackson was hospitalized with a chest injury after the preseason opener but is OK. WR Eric Parker has been sidelined by a sprained thumb, and backup TE Aaron Shea hasn't played in the first two preseason games because of a back injury.
Strongest positions: Linebacker or running back, take your pick. At running back, San Diego boasts one of the league's best players in LaDainian Tomlinson and a backup who might be able to start on a lot of other teams in Michael Turner, who averaged 5.2 yards per carry last season. The Chargers' starting LB corps of Edwards, Steve Foley, Randall Godfrey and budding star Shawne Merriman is outstanding, and they potentially go eight or nine deep with players they feel like they can rely on if called to duty.
Weakest position: The safety position is considered a bit worse than the O-line at this point. Some combination of Marlon McCree, Terrence Kiel, Bhawoh Jue and Clinton Hart will start, but no one has done anything to stand out to this point. The Chargers need a playmaker back deep, but they have yet to find one. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Updated: Aug. 24, 2006
Training-camp closure: AFC West

Pro Football Weekly

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
The fine-tuning has just about reached the final stages.
In just a couple of weeks, the 2006 NFL regular season will be officially under way, and as usual, unpredictability is likely to abound, with lots of unheralded newcomers providing surprising impacts, while an equal number of established players raise our eyebrows with their surprising inability to live up to expectations.
In Pro Football Weekly's final league-wide rundown of this year's training-camp action, we provide more than a few clues on what to expect from every team in the mix this season -- for better or worse.
In the following AFC West report, we pick a veteran player and a rookie player from each team who deserves special notice, in addition to identifying each team's strongest and weakest positions and providing a comprehensive injury update of every roster through the first two weeks of the '06 preseason. <OFFER>

? AFC East | AFC South | AFC North
? NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West

Denver Broncos

Veteran to watch: The Broncos are extremely excited about new addition Javon Walker, but they are not going to press him and his surgically repaired knee into extended action until games actually mean something. He adds a playmaking, downfield element to an already solid offense and has been sharp thus far in camp.
Rookie to watch: TE Tony Scheffler will have a significant role in the offense from the outset, at the very least on passing downs and in two-TE sets with Stephen Alexander. He has looked good in the preseason, and his size and ability to earn extra yards after the catch make for an enticing target for Jake Plummer.
Injury update: Starting DLs Courtney Brown (knee surgery) and Gerard Warren (dislocated big toe) will miss the remainder of the preseason but should be fine for Week 1. Walker (knee) is being brought along slowly but is being counted on for the opener. Rookie WR Brandon Marshall should be back from knee problems in a couple of weeks.
Strongest position: The CB position looks strong, but there is no denying perhaps the best LB corps in the business. Al Wilson, Ian Gold and D.J. Williams are fast, versatile and aggressive, not to mention capable of covering up mistakes made elsewhere defensively. Depth at linebacker is not what it once was, but the starters are in the elite category.
Weakest position: At defensive end, the Broncos have a bunch of journeymen who are adequate but do nothing to truly stand out. If speedy rookie Elvis Dumervil becomes a factor, it would help provide a spark to an otherwise average bunch.

Kansas City Chiefs

Veteran to watch: Kyle Turley hasn't played football in two years because of back trouble, is some 25-30 pounds lighter than his prior playing weight and is being asked to step into the enormous shoes left by future Hall of Famer Willie Roaf at left tackle. Do you think his play will be under the microscope at all?
Rookie to watch: Safeties Bernard Pollard and Jarrad Page have made some plays thus far in camp and will have roles, but an instant impact in the pass rush is expected out of DE Tamba Hali, who has been dinged up but will start opposite Jared Allen and shift inside on passing downs.
Injury update: CB Lenny Walls (hamstring) and rookie QB Brodie Croyle (shoulder) haven't practiced since early in camp. New RB Michael Bennett (hamstring) hasn't practiced since being acquired from the Saints. OG Brian Waters' foot problems are a concern, and Hali (ribs) and DTs John Browning (back) and Junior Siavii (knee) have missed a lot of time. RB Priest Holmes (head, neck) is expected to start the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Strongest position: Even with the uncertainty surrounding Holmes' future, we're going with running back, where Larry Johnson has skyrocketed to superstardom with an impressive blend of speed, power and attitude, and Bennett was added to provide some experience and game-breaking speed.
Weakest position: Defensive tackle. The Chiefs have some potential brewing outside with Jared Allen and the rookie Hali, but the interior is more about unfulfilled promise with early-round busts such as Siavii and Ryan Sims, an aging veteran in Browning and journeymen such as Lional Dalton and Ron Edwards. The position is truly lacking a difference-maker.

Oakland Raiders

Veteran to watch: PK Sebastian Janikowski is coming off his worst season as a pro and looked shaky early in camp, but since then, he's been stellar. If the Raiders' offense continues to sputter, Janikowski and his big leg could get plenty of long-range chances in 2006.
Rookie to watch: OLB Thomas Howard, taken in the second round, is going to be a key to whether the Raiders will be able to utilize a base 4-3 scheme more often defensively as opposed to the predominant 4-2-5 look shown last season. His speed has been phenomenal, but he remains a work in progress.
Injury update: Disgruntled WR Jerry Porter continues to nurse a strained calf but figures to get back in the mix soon. WR Ronald Curry is being brought along slowly, coming off a second Achilles injury in as many years, but he should be ready for the opener.
Strongest position: The WR corps has the makings of something special if everything comes together for the offense. But that's a mighty big "if," judging by what we've seen thus far. Trotting Randy Moss, Porter (provided he's focused and healthy), Curry, Doug Gabriel and other talented youngsters out there is enough to make a lot of defensive coordinators a little queasy, no matter who the quarterback is.
Weakest position: The whole offensive line, across the board. Former first-round pick Robert Gallery is struggling, as are the rest of the starters, and Oakland doesn't have much in the way of depth it can rely on. Overall, the cohesiveness is hurting offensively, and the line has been a primary culprit.

San Diego Chargers

Veteran to watch: Veteran OLT Roman Oben, in a bid to return to action after two offseason foot surgeries. He had only just begun running as of presstime, and it remains unknown whether he'll be ready for the opener. The Chargers' offense lost more than a step without him in the lineup last year.
Rookie to watch: Mammoth second-round pick Marcus McNeill could become a household name in San Diego if Oben's not ready. Leander Jordan is second on the depth chart at left tackle, but he's not considered a long-term answer. Don't be surprised if McNeill is worked into a rotation if Oben can't go.
Injury update: Oben's return is uncertain. Veteran LB Donnie Edwards was said to be close to returning from a bad back at presstime, but the team was being coy about his progress. Return man and backup RB Darren Sproles is done for the year with a broken leg. WR Vincent Jackson was hospitalized with a chest injury after the preseason opener but is OK. WR Eric Parker has been sidelined by a sprained thumb, and backup TE Aaron Shea hasn't played in the first two preseason games because of a back injury.
Strongest positions: Linebacker or running back, take your pick. At running back, San Diego boasts one of the league's best players in LaDainian Tomlinson and a backup who might be able to start on a lot of other teams in Michael Turner, who averaged 5.2 yards per carry last season. The Chargers' starting LB corps of Edwards, Steve Foley, Randall Godfrey and budding star Shawne Merriman is outstanding, and they potentially go eight or nine deep with players they feel like they can rely on if called to duty.
Weakest position: The safety position is considered a bit worse than the O-line at this point. Some combination of Marlon McCree, Terrence Kiel, Bhawoh Jue and Clinton Hart will start, but no one has done anything to stand out to this point. The Chargers need a playmaker back deep, but they have yet to find one. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Ravens backfield is loaded

posted: Thursday, August 24, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Baltimore Ravens

Despite losing Chester Taylor to the Vikings this offseason, the Baltimore Ravens have a logjam of good, powerful running backs.

Smith

Musa Smith missed the majority of last season with a broken leg and has fought injuries for much of his career, but the Ravens saw glimpses of his ability and have stuck with him through his setbacks. Well, he is certainly healthy now and hs looked great in camp and in the preseason games thus far. Smith made some big plays against the Eagles and is running with passion. He has a very good burst for such a big runner. He keeps his feet moving on contact and is very quick to get north and south. He has a great body and is very strong while still showing some niftiness and light feet. Smith stands out this year and is running like he has something to prove.

Presently, Smith is third on Baltimore's depth chart behind Jamal Lewis and Mike Anderson, but it is conceivable that if he keeps it up, he could surpass Anderson as Lewis' backup. Lewis will not play the rest of the preseason due to a hip problem, but he has looked good, as well, and surely will enter the season as the starter. He could be primed for a big year himself, especially with an enhanced Ravens' passing game to pull defenders out of the box.
The Ravens also drafted P.J. Daniels from Georgia Tech in the fourth round. Where he fits in is unclear, but he is clearly fourth on the depth chart. Daniels had a history of injuries in college and had two fumbles against the Giants. He could be on the outside looking in. There are quite a few teams -- Eagles, Giants, Texans, Bills, Dolphins, Raiders and maybe now the Falcons and 49ers -- that could benefit from adding a power runner to their backfield. Baltimore certainly doesn't have to rush to make a move and may choose not to, but it could get very good trade value at this point for one of their running backs. If they do make a move, Anderson might be the most likely candidate to leave town, as it looks as though Smith is now a more than capable backup for Lewis.

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Ravens backfield is loaded

posted: Thursday, August 24, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Baltimore Ravens

Despite losing Chester Taylor to the Vikings this offseason, the Baltimore Ravens have a logjam of good, powerful running backs.

Smith

Musa Smith missed the majority of last season with a broken leg and has fought injuries for much of his career, but the Ravens saw glimpses of his ability and have stuck with him through his setbacks. Well, he is certainly healthy now and hs looked great in camp and in the preseason games thus far. Smith made some big plays against the Eagles and is running with passion. He has a very good burst for such a big runner. He keeps his feet moving on contact and is very quick to get north and south. He has a great body and is very strong while still showing some niftiness and light feet. Smith stands out this year and is running like he has something to prove.

Presently, Smith is third on Baltimore's depth chart behind Jamal Lewis and Mike Anderson, but it is conceivable that if he keeps it up, he could surpass Anderson as Lewis' backup. Lewis will not play the rest of the preseason due to a hip problem, but he has looked good, as well, and surely will enter the season as the starter. He could be primed for a big year himself, especially with an enhanced Ravens' passing game to pull defenders out of the box.
The Ravens also drafted P.J. Daniels from Georgia Tech in the fourth round. Where he fits in is unclear, but he is clearly fourth on the depth chart. Daniels had a history of injuries in college and had two fumbles against the Giants. He could be on the outside looking in. There are quite a few teams -- Eagles, Giants, Texans, Bills, Dolphins, Raiders and maybe now the Falcons and 49ers -- that could benefit from adding a power runner to their backfield. Baltimore certainly doesn't have to rush to make a move and may choose not to, but it could get very good trade value at this point for one of their running backs. If they do make a move, Anderson might be the most likely candidate to leave town, as it looks as though Smith is now a more than capable backup for Lewis.

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Saints 'O' must help the 'D'

posted: Thursday, August 24, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Each week during the regular season I will try to answer some of your NFL questions. Thanks for writing in, and enjoy a great weekend of preseason football starting tonight with the Miami Dolphins and the Carolina Panthers.

Jim, Laredo, Texas: It looked to me like the Saints-Cowboys game was closer than the score, with the Saints going fourth-and-goal twice and missing. Also, we didn't get a look at Deuce [McAllister] and Reggie [Bush] in backfield together. Do you think they will wait for the regular season before showing their cards with that set?
Keith: Hey, Jim: Preseason games are used to implement your offensive and defensive systems and evaluate personnel. Teams try to be as basic as they can during the preseason in order to a good job of evaluating their own team. Teams don't usually game plan until the third preseason game and usually don't show any new wrinkles (personnel groupings or schemes) until the bullets get live in the first regular-season games. I don't anticipate seeing Bush and McAllister in the same backfield until Week One against the Browns.
Nick, New Orleans, La.: I have been a huge Saints fan all my life, and I have lived in huge disappointment my whole life regarding my team. Reggie Bush is an amazing athlete, but if anybody could ruin something so great, it would be the Saints. I realize our offense may be electrifying and all, but how are they suppose to score points when the other team takes 15 plays and almost 10-minute drives? We could not stop the run if we were playing a playground team (I honestly believe that). The game against Dallas only confirmed our worst fears: We will get slaughtered if our offense doesn't score on almost every possession. My question is, basically, do the Saints have the worst defense this year (especially the linebacking corp)?
Keith: Thanks for the question Nick. Unfortunately in the NFL, you can't fix all your problems in one offseason. However, defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs is going to have his hands full installing his defensive game plans on a week-to-week basis. With the lack of impact playmakers at the linebacker and defensive tackle positions, the Saints are going to struggle throughout the year against the run.
Head coach Sean Peyton and his offensive staff are going to have to do a good job of creating ways to extend drives and shorten the game on offense in order to keep the defensive personnel off the field as much as possible. Special teams will be critical, too. Hopefully, they can get it figured out and win some ball games this year.
Seth Kidd, Austin, Texas: Keith, do you think Chris Simms will lead the Buccaneers to a playoff spot, or do you think he will fall victim to the same big-game letdowns the plagued him during his years at the University of Texas? Keith: Hey, nephew. I hope you're doing well at the University of Texas. If you remember last season, Simms replaced the injured Brian Griese in Week 7 and led his team to the divisional title. Head coach Jon Gruden is one of the best teachers in the NFL when developing and working with quarterbacks. Simms has a very good upside to develop into a solid starting quarterback in the NFL. With that said, I do think Simms can lead his team back to the playoffs in 2006

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Saints 'O' must help the 'D'

posted: Thursday, August 24, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Each week during the regular season I will try to answer some of your NFL questions. Thanks for writing in, and enjoy a great weekend of preseason football starting tonight with the Miami Dolphins and the Carolina Panthers.

Jim, Laredo, Texas: It looked to me like the Saints-Cowboys game was closer than the score, with the Saints going fourth-and-goal twice and missing. Also, we didn't get a look at Deuce [McAllister] and Reggie [Bush] in backfield together. Do you think they will wait for the regular season before showing their cards with that set?
Keith: Hey, Jim: Preseason games are used to implement your offensive and defensive systems and evaluate personnel. Teams try to be as basic as they can during the preseason in order to a good job of evaluating their own team. Teams don't usually game plan until the third preseason game and usually don't show any new wrinkles (personnel groupings or schemes) until the bullets get live in the first regular-season games. I don't anticipate seeing Bush and McAllister in the same backfield until Week One against the Browns.
Nick, New Orleans, La.: I have been a huge Saints fan all my life, and I have lived in huge disappointment my whole life regarding my team. Reggie Bush is an amazing athlete, but if anybody could ruin something so great, it would be the Saints. I realize our offense may be electrifying and all, but how are they suppose to score points when the other team takes 15 plays and almost 10-minute drives? We could not stop the run if we were playing a playground team (I honestly believe that). The game against Dallas only confirmed our worst fears: We will get slaughtered if our offense doesn't score on almost every possession. My question is, basically, do the Saints have the worst defense this year (especially the linebacking corp)?
Keith: Thanks for the question Nick. Unfortunately in the NFL, you can't fix all your problems in one offseason. However, defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs is going to have his hands full installing his defensive game plans on a week-to-week basis. With the lack of impact playmakers at the linebacker and defensive tackle positions, the Saints are going to struggle throughout the year against the run.
Head coach Sean Peyton and his offensive staff are going to have to do a good job of creating ways to extend drives and shorten the game on offense in order to keep the defensive personnel off the field as much as possible. Special teams will be critical, too. Hopefully, they can get it figured out and win some ball games this year.
Seth Kidd, Austin, Texas: Keith, do you think Chris Simms will lead the Buccaneers to a playoff spot, or do you think he will fall victim to the same big-game letdowns the plagued him during his years at the University of Texas? Keith: Hey, nephew. I hope you're doing well at the University of Texas. If you remember last season, Simms replaced the injured Brian Griese in Week 7 and led his team to the divisional title. Head coach Jon Gruden is one of the best teachers in the NFL when developing and working with quarterbacks. Simms has a very good upside to develop into a solid starting quarterback in the NFL. With that said, I do think Simms can lead his team back to the playoffs in 2006

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Seahawks vulnerable at tight end

posted: Thursday, August 24, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams

Seattle: Tight end woes
As reported by the Tacoma News Tribune, Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens is out six weeks with a torn meniscus in his left knee that will require surgery, and TE Itula Mili is nursing injuries dating back to the 2005 season that include intestinal blockage, a sore Achilles tendon and back issues. This leaves Seattle particularly vulnerable at the TE position and puts fourth-year pro Will Heller in a position to be a strong contributor in the Seahawks' offense. Heller has 15 career receptions for 114 yards and three career touchdowns. Not stellar stats, but not shabby for his amount of playing time. Seattle fans should not be too concerned, but if the injuries to Mili and Stevens persist, that could mean trouble for the running game.

San Francisco: Go west young man
Sources tell us that 49ers wide receivers coach Jerry Sullivan may have been very influential in the trade of wide receiver Taylor Jacobs for free safety Mike Rumph. Sullivan and 49ers head coach Mike Nolan are very close with Nolan valuing the opinion of Sullivan. During the 2003 NFL Draft, in Sullivan's first and only year as offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals, he heavily campaigned for the Cardinals to take Jacobs in the first round over WR Bryant Johnson.
It seems both the Redskins and Cardinals were wrong with their respective first picks at wide receiver. Johnson was drafted with the 17th overall pick by the Cardinals, Jacobs was drafted in the second round by the Redskins with the 46th overall pick, and [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6390"]Anquan Boldin[/URL] was drafted after both players by the Cardinals with the 54th overall pick in the second round. In three years, Jacobs has 30 receptions for 315 yards and one touchdown and Johnson has 124 receptions for 1,407 yards with three touchdowns. The player both teams missed on is Boldin, who has 259 receptions for 3,402 yards and 16 touchdowns with NFL Rookie of the Year honors and a Pro Bowl selection to his credit. Sullivan is considered one of the best and most respected WR coaches in the NFL. Hopefully he can polish off the tarnish of Jacobs and bring out his gold with the 49ers.
Arizona: Out of the doghouse?
With fourth-year pro [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6354"]Calvin Pace[/URL] showing his versatility at both defensive end and linebacker, he may have found a way to resurrect himself from the doghouse of Cardinals head coach Dennis Green. Pace has never quite lived up to his first-round draft status from 2003 and it did not help matters last year when the team placed him on the reserve non-football injury list after Pace suffered a lacerated forearm by falling into a glass window during the team's bye week, which left skeptics to question his commitment to the game.
Pace has taken on his role at strongside linebacker quite well and has secured the position from incumbent LB Karlos Dansby, who has been nursing a recent toe injury that is threatening his career. With Pace showing such progress, do not be surprised if he has forced a battle at the will (weak) linebacker spot between Dansby and Orlando Huff. This may ultimately be a better fit for Dansby since he has such tremendous athletic ability that can be utilized even more effectively allowing him to play more freely in space and not having to play the TE in coverage. St. Louis: Are things too good in St. Louis?
Where is the drama in St. Louis this year? Head coach Scott Linehan seems to have everyone happy and smiling in St. Louis. Wide receiver Torry Holt and quarterback [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5197"]Marc Bulger[/URL] are urging patience to everyone despite the first-team not scoring any touchdowns in the first two preseason games. They have had only seven series of offense together. This weekend's game against the intra-state rival Kansas City Chiefs should give the offense a good half of work to start the jelling process since most of the starters will rest again in Week 4 of the preseason.

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Seahawks vulnerable at tight end

posted: Thursday, August 24, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams

Seattle: Tight end woes
As reported by the Tacoma News Tribune, Seahawks tight end Jerramy Stevens is out six weeks with a torn meniscus in his left knee that will require surgery, and TE Itula Mili is nursing injuries dating back to the 2005 season that include intestinal blockage, a sore Achilles tendon and back issues. This leaves Seattle particularly vulnerable at the TE position and puts fourth-year pro Will Heller in a position to be a strong contributor in the Seahawks' offense. Heller has 15 career receptions for 114 yards and three career touchdowns. Not stellar stats, but not shabby for his amount of playing time. Seattle fans should not be too concerned, but if the injuries to Mili and Stevens persist, that could mean trouble for the running game.

San Francisco: Go west young man
Sources tell us that 49ers wide receivers coach Jerry Sullivan may have been very influential in the trade of wide receiver Taylor Jacobs for free safety Mike Rumph. Sullivan and 49ers head coach Mike Nolan are very close with Nolan valuing the opinion of Sullivan. During the 2003 NFL Draft, in Sullivan's first and only year as offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals, he heavily campaigned for the Cardinals to take Jacobs in the first round over WR Bryant Johnson.
It seems both the Redskins and Cardinals were wrong with their respective first picks at wide receiver. Johnson was drafted with the 17th overall pick by the Cardinals, Jacobs was drafted in the second round by the Redskins with the 46th overall pick, and [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6390"]Anquan Boldin[/URL] was drafted after both players by the Cardinals with the 54th overall pick in the second round. In three years, Jacobs has 30 receptions for 315 yards and one touchdown and Johnson has 124 receptions for 1,407 yards with three touchdowns. The player both teams missed on is Boldin, who has 259 receptions for 3,402 yards and 16 touchdowns with NFL Rookie of the Year honors and a Pro Bowl selection to his credit. Sullivan is considered one of the best and most respected WR coaches in the NFL. Hopefully he can polish off the tarnish of Jacobs and bring out his gold with the 49ers.
Arizona: Out of the doghouse?
With fourth-year pro [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6354"]Calvin Pace[/URL] showing his versatility at both defensive end and linebacker, he may have found a way to resurrect himself from the doghouse of Cardinals head coach Dennis Green. Pace has never quite lived up to his first-round draft status from 2003 and it did not help matters last year when the team placed him on the reserve non-football injury list after Pace suffered a lacerated forearm by falling into a glass window during the team's bye week, which left skeptics to question his commitment to the game.
Pace has taken on his role at strongside linebacker quite well and has secured the position from incumbent LB Karlos Dansby, who has been nursing a recent toe injury that is threatening his career. With Pace showing such progress, do not be surprised if he has forced a battle at the will (weak) linebacker spot between Dansby and Orlando Huff. This may ultimately be a better fit for Dansby since he has such tremendous athletic ability that can be utilized even more effectively allowing him to play more freely in space and not having to play the TE in coverage. St. Louis: Are things too good in St. Louis?
Where is the drama in St. Louis this year? Head coach Scott Linehan seems to have everyone happy and smiling in St. Louis. Wide receiver Torry Holt and quarterback [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5197"]Marc Bulger[/URL] are urging patience to everyone despite the first-team not scoring any touchdowns in the first two preseason games. They have had only seven series of offense together. This weekend's game against the intra-state rival Kansas City Chiefs should give the offense a good half of work to start the jelling process since most of the starters will rest again in Week 4 of the preseason.

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>NFL Rumor Central: Rams making move
</TD><TD align=right width="30%">Other Rumors: MLB | NBA
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>You are signed into Insider

and have access to this premium feature.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD colSpan=3>Thursday, August 24</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD width=65>WHO</TD><TD>INTERESTED</TD><TD>THE SKINNY</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD noWrap align=middle>

Stephen Davis
Panthers
</TD><TD>Eagles?
Redskins?
</TD><TD>Rams making move
<Aug. 24> After meeting with the Eagles on Monday, Davis worked out with the Rams on Wednesday, the St. Louis Dispatch reports. Infact, league sources said Davis received a contract offer.
Davis, 32, was released by Carolina on March 1 in a salary-cap move, but also because of chronic knee problems. It is believed Monday's session with the Eagles was the first meeting Davis had with a team since his release. With Clinton Portis sidelined with a shoulder injury, the Redskins are believed to be one of those teams. Davis played his first seven NFL seasons in Washington.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>NFL Rumor Central: Rams making move
</TD><TD align=right width="30%">Other Rumors: MLB | NBA
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle>You are signed into Insider

and have access to this premium feature.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD colSpan=3>Thursday, August 24</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD width=65>WHO</TD><TD>INTERESTED</TD><TD>THE SKINNY</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD noWrap align=middle>

Stephen Davis
Panthers
</TD><TD>Eagles?
Redskins?
</TD><TD>Rams making move
<Aug. 24> After meeting with the Eagles on Monday, Davis worked out with the Rams on Wednesday, the St. Louis Dispatch reports. Infact, league sources said Davis received a contract offer.
Davis, 32, was released by Carolina on March 1 in a salary-cap move, but also because of chronic knee problems. It is believed Monday's session with the Eagles was the first meeting Davis had with a team since his release. With Clinton Portis sidelined with a shoulder injury, the Redskins are believed to be one of those teams. Davis played his first seven NFL seasons in Washington.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Henson's release inevitable

| Print Entry
filed under: NFL, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, Terrell Owens

The only reason Drew Henson wasn't cut Wednesday was because the Cowboys wanted to check out his trade value. Considering his base salaries are guaranteed, don't expect any team to make a trade. That means he could be released as early as Thursday. It's pretty clear Henson never thrilled Bill Parcells -- and he controls who plays and who doesn't play in Dallas. Jerry Jones traded for Henson and thought he found his quarterback of the future. Parcells favored Tony Romo as his backup and wasted no time trying to convince Jones to sign Drew Bledsoe to try to take them to the playoffs. In the past couple years, for whatever reason, Henson got worse in Dallas instead of better.

Push comes to shove in Dallas: The strange part of Terrell Owens' stand on not practicing unless he's 100 percent healed from his hamstring injury is his insistence that Parcells need only look over his 10 years of game tape to see what he can do as a player. Parcells knows Owens is one of the most talented receivers in the league, but he would be looking at tape of a player who had been working in a West Coast offense. Parcells doesn't run the West Coast offense. Owens said he wasn't pressured to practice, but clearly he was. Parcells wanted to see him on the field last week. After Owens pushed to train on his own away from the Cowboys facility, Owens left himself vulnerable to a push by Parcells. Clearly, if Parcells and Owens are back together again next season -- which probably won't happen -- Parcells will probably insist Owens train in Dallas the entire offseason. Whatever Owens did for training didn't prevent him from pulling a hamstring. Owens' comment that he was on the field too long running too many routes last week was a clear shot at Parcells. What's that leave for Parcells? He can hold back playing time and a starting job if he doesn't see Owens on the field. Ah, the drama.
Falcons fill shopping cart: Grady Jackson was a good addition for the Falcons for several reasons. They have an undersized defense, and Jackson, who weighed in around 357 pounds, is an immovable force at the point of attack and should help a run defense that has been pushed around during the preseason. Jackson has also played with defensive tackle Roderick Coleman in Oakland. After picking up Jackson and wide receiver Ashley Lelie, the Falcons need only find a third safety to complete their pre-regular-season shopping list. T.O.'s time out: Back to T.O. for a second. Don't you think it's becoming clear Owens won't play 16 regular-season games for the Cowboys this season? He's missed 14 games in the past four seasons and he's had only one season during his entire career in which he stayed healthy and started 16 games. That year was 2001. With a hamstring injury that Owens doesn't think is getting better, you'd have to figure he's in for his usual 14-game season.

Hache Man · Aug 24, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. (5 New Articles Added 8/23/06)

Henson's release inevitable

| Print Entry
filed under: NFL, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, Terrell Owens

The only reason Drew Henson wasn't cut Wednesday was because the Cowboys wanted to check out his trade value. Considering his base salaries are guaranteed, don't expect any team to make a trade. That means he could be released as early as Thursday. It's pretty clear Henson never thrilled Bill Parcells -- and he controls who plays and who doesn't play in Dallas. Jerry Jones traded for Henson and thought he found his quarterback of the future. Parcells favored Tony Romo as his backup and wasted no time trying to convince Jones to sign Drew Bledsoe to try to take them to the playoffs. In the past couple years, for whatever reason, Henson got worse in Dallas instead of better.

Push comes to shove in Dallas: The strange part of Terrell Owens' stand on not practicing unless he's 100 percent healed from his hamstring injury is his insistence that Parcells need only look over his 10 years of game tape to see what he can do as a player. Parcells knows Owens is one of the most talented receivers in the league, but he would be looking at tape of a player who had been working in a West Coast offense. Parcells doesn't run the West Coast offense. Owens said he wasn't pressured to practice, but clearly he was. Parcells wanted to see him on the field last week. After Owens pushed to train on his own away from the Cowboys facility, Owens left himself vulnerable to a push by Parcells. Clearly, if Parcells and Owens are back together again next season -- which probably won't happen -- Parcells will probably insist Owens train in Dallas the entire offseason. Whatever Owens did for training didn't prevent him from pulling a hamstring. Owens' comment that he was on the field too long running too many routes last week was a clear shot at Parcells. What's that leave for Parcells? He can hold back playing time and a starting job if he doesn't see Owens on the field. Ah, the drama.
Falcons fill shopping cart: Grady Jackson was a good addition for the Falcons for several reasons. They have an undersized defense, and Jackson, who weighed in around 357 pounds, is an immovable force at the point of attack and should help a run defense that has been pushed around during the preseason. Jackson has also played with defensive tackle Roderick Coleman in Oakland. After picking up Jackson and wide receiver Ashley Lelie, the Falcons need only find a third safety to complete their pre-regular-season shopping list. T.O.'s time out: Back to T.O. for a second. Don't you think it's becoming clear Owens won't play 16 regular-season games for the Cowboys this season? He's missed 14 games in the past four seasons and he's had only one season during his entire career in which he stayed healthy and started 16 games. That year was 2001. With a hamstring injury that Owens doesn't think is getting better, you'd have to figure he's in for his usual 14-game season.

Hache Man · Aug 25, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 13 New Articles Added 8/24/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 13 New Articles Added 8/24/06)

TE could be impact position in East

posted: Friday, August 25, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins

Coaching on the defensive side of the ball for 15 years gives you a great appreciation for outstanding tight ends. You can gameplan much differently if there is not a threat in the passing game from the tight end position -- double-team wide receivers, cover the tight end with a linebacker, rather having to sub with a nickel back, etc.

Tight ends like Tony Gonzales (78 catches, 11.6 yard average), Todd Heap (75, 11.4) and Jeremy Shockey (65, 13.7) are the kind of weapons that give a defense nightmares. In fact, any player who cna average more than 10 yards per reception is dangerous. These players impact the game just by being on the field.
Lets take a look at the AFC East tight ends. I scouted most of these players in college and have studied them during their time in the league:
Buffalo Bills: The top two tight ends are Robert Royal and Kevin Everett. If used correctly, Kevin has a chance to be that impact player, but the previous Buffalo staff used the tight end position sparingly. New coach Dick Jauron's staff hasn't done much to exploit defenses thus far in the preseason, so the jury is still out where the Buffalo roam.
New York Jets: This is another new staff that might exploit defenses more in 2006, but they haven't shown it yet. The Jets have a couple of nice athletes who did a very solid job in 2005 in Doug Jolley (29 catches, 11 yard average) and Chris Baker (18 catches, 15 yard average). It will be interesting to see how coach Eric Mangini develops that position.
Miami Dolphins: Starter Randy McMichael is somewhat undersized and was an average blocker coming out of Georgia (though his blocking has improved since entering the league), but he can stretch the field in the passing game. Adding more talent on offense (especially quarterback Daunte Culpepper), may let McMichael shine in 2006.
New England Patriots: This team has the best trio of tight ends in the division in Ben Watson (29 catches, 15 yard average), Daniel Graham (16 catches, 14.7), and David Thomas (4 catches, 13 yard average). Remember, any average over 10 is very solid. All three players can hurt you, and QB Tom Brady has taken advantage of that so far in the preseason due to the lack of depth at the wide receiver position. The trio has combined for 10 catches for 145 yards in two games thus far. Keep an eye on this trend for the Pats, as they have flexibility in both the running and passing games with multiple tight-end packages.

Hache Man · Aug 25, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 13 New Articles Added 8/24/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 13 New Articles Added 8/24/06)

TE could be impact position in East

posted: Friday, August 25, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins

Coaching on the defensive side of the ball for 15 years gives you a great appreciation for outstanding tight ends. You can gameplan much differently if there is not a threat in the passing game from the tight end position -- double-team wide receivers, cover the tight end with a linebacker, rather having to sub with a nickel back, etc.

Tight ends like Tony Gonzales (78 catches, 11.6 yard average), Todd Heap (75, 11.4) and Jeremy Shockey (65, 13.7) are the kind of weapons that give a defense nightmares. In fact, any player who cna average more than 10 yards per reception is dangerous. These players impact the game just by being on the field.
Lets take a look at the AFC East tight ends. I scouted most of these players in college and have studied them during their time in the league:
Buffalo Bills: The top two tight ends are Robert Royal and Kevin Everett. If used correctly, Kevin has a chance to be that impact player, but the previous Buffalo staff used the tight end position sparingly. New coach Dick Jauron's staff hasn't done much to exploit defenses thus far in the preseason, so the jury is still out where the Buffalo roam.
New York Jets: This is another new staff that might exploit defenses more in 2006, but they haven't shown it yet. The Jets have a couple of nice athletes who did a very solid job in 2005 in Doug Jolley (29 catches, 11 yard average) and Chris Baker (18 catches, 15 yard average). It will be interesting to see how coach Eric Mangini develops that position.
Miami Dolphins: Starter Randy McMichael is somewhat undersized and was an average blocker coming out of Georgia (though his blocking has improved since entering the league), but he can stretch the field in the passing game. Adding more talent on offense (especially quarterback Daunte Culpepper), may let McMichael shine in 2006.
New England Patriots: This team has the best trio of tight ends in the division in Ben Watson (29 catches, 15 yard average), Daniel Graham (16 catches, 14.7), and David Thomas (4 catches, 13 yard average). Remember, any average over 10 is very solid. All three players can hurt you, and QB Tom Brady has taken advantage of that so far in the preseason due to the lack of depth at the wide receiver position. The trio has combined for 10 catches for 145 yards in two games thus far. Keep an eye on this trend for the Pats, as they have flexibility in both the running and passing games with multiple tight-end packages.

NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 7 New Articles Added 11/6/06

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