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

Hache Man · Oct 11, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Updated: Oct. 11, 2006, 11:44 AM ET
Does a Bear hit in the woods?

By Rachel Nichols
ESPN The Magazine





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Editor's Note: This story appears in the Oct. 23 edition of ESPN The Magazine. Click here to subscribe to the magazine.
Ron Rivera has yet to have a paper airplane thrown at his head, but he feels it is coming. Rivera is one of the NFL's more respected defensive coordinators -- the man did win a Super Bowl ring with the 1985 Bears -- yet he knows that, in Halas Hall, no one is safe from Brian Urlacher and his teammates.
Meeting rooms, especially, can be treacherous. A coach will think everything is going smoothly, the endless chatter and the boasting and hooting and hollering having finally come to an end, and then THUMP. The coach doesn't need to turn from the whiteboard to know that someone's playbook has been pushed off his desk and onto the floor, courtesy of the teammate sitting next to him. Then THUMP. There goes another one.
To many people older than 12, this little joke would lose its allure the third or fourth or 47th time. But many people are not the Chicago Bears defense, and if you are looking for stuffy maturity or quiet contemplation or the kind of detached professionalism that has seemed to choke the life out of modern sports, move on.

Football is a game, remember? And besides, Urlacher knows a secret about a bunch of guys having fun together: It's the only way you win.

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AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
The Bears have been doing a lot of celebrating on defense this season.

IT'S NOT like this in most sports. The Yankees snatched a handful of titles in the late 1990s by treating each other like business partners, venture capitalists spending their summers profiting from emerging home run markets. Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal won three NBA titles while at times barely speaking to each other. Then again, the NBA is a league for which the expression "12 players, 12 cabs back to the hotel" was invented.
But football is different. No football player can succeed without the help of those around him. Joe Montana would never have been the stuff of legend without Jerry Rice; Emmitt Smith doesn't get to the end zone without Daryl Johnston.
This truth is even more apparent on defense. As Urlacher puts it, "It's 11 guys, and if someone doesn't do his job, it screws the team. If one guy gets out of his gap, we're screwed." More politely, you have to be able to trust the guy next to you. And the more you like him, the easier that is.
"When I first got here, we didn't do anything together," says Urlacher, in his seventh season with the team. "The attitude was like, we work together all day, who wants to see each other more than that? But now that's changed. We're together all the time, at practice, outside of practice. And if we're not messing around, something is wrong."
The shift began nearly three years ago, with the arrival of Lovie Smith. The head coach made the Bears D younger -- the average age of the starting lineup is just 26.33 years, fourth youngest in the NFL -- and faster. That means everyone can finally keep up with Urlacher. Only 28 himself, Urlacher is an outrageous talent, the crown prince in a Bears middle linebacking dynasty that includes Mike Singletary and Dick Butkus, and he more than looks the part. He is a 6'4", 258-pound tree stump of a human being, the kind of specimen who, if he weren't playing football, might be off in Iceland lifting cars in the World's Strongest Man contest.
Urlacher's brute size, combined with his remarkable 4.5 40 speed, simply changes the way quarterbacks need to play. The middle of the field is no longer an option -- not to throw toward, not to scramble in, not to even look at. Film of Chicago's win over the Saints last November provides Zapruderlike evidence of this phenomenon. Go frame by frame through the second quarter, and watch a hapless Aaron Brooks physically recoil in the pocket after a play-action fake. Realizing Urlacher is in the way of his intended play downfield, Brooks is suddenly a bungle of arms and legs and nerves, looking to dump the ball to someone, anyone. He picks his tight end -- who happens to be blanketed by outside linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, who makes the interception.
All 11 guys, each trusting the other to do his job. Class dismissed.

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FIVE MEMBERS of the Bears defense were selected for the Pro Bowl this past February: Urlacher, the increasingly dominant linebacker Lance Briggs, tackle Tommie Harris, strong safety Mike Brown and cornerback Nathan Vasher.
It has escaped no one's attention in Chicago that the last time five Bears defenders were chosen was after the 1985 season, or that for the first time since then, the team also has an aerial attack that frightens opponents as much as its defense. Playing the part of sunglasses-wearing Jim McMahon is baby-faced Midwesterner Rex Grossman. His sure arm and -- so far this season -- ability to stay healthy have made Chicago an all-around threat. Grossman is someone the defense can rely on to actually do something with the ball if it forces a turnover. And he has his own plans to help the D. "What we hope to do is score some points so the defense doesn't think it has to be perfect anymore," Grossman says. "Then those guys can get more aggressive."
<TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=220 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000">BEST OF THE ... NOT SO GREAT</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=220>Funny thing about Rex Grossman. When he plays, the 2003 first-round pick is actually as good as the Bears thought he'd be. Maybe better. He throws the deep ball with touch (18 completions of 20 yards or more this season), puts points on the board (31.2 ppg) and walks with a swagger. He's been so off-the-charts special that, if he stays healthy, he might go down as one of the best passers in Bears history. Of course, the bar is low. Very low.
Sid Luckman -- 1939-50
Fifty-six years after his last game, the Hall of Famer's mark of 14,686 career passing yards is still Chicago's best.
Rudy Bukich -- 1958-59, 1962-68
Most memorable moment: played a gladiator in the movie Spartacus.
Vince Evans -- 1977-83
A silver lining: After a six-win, 20-INT season in 1981, he was replaced by Jim McMahon and Mike Ditka was hired as coach.
Jim McMahon -- 1982-88
In 1984, the punky QB started nine games, catapulting the Bears to the playoffs. The next season was even better.
Erik Kramer -- 1994-98
Monster year in '95 (3,838 yards, 29 TD passes, 10 INT). Monster ugly after that.
Cade McNown -- 1999-2000
Hours after the Bears gave him a deal worth up to $22M, he told a toll collector, "I have no cash," and didn't pay the 40 cents. By 2003 he was out of the league.
Craig Krenzel -- 2004
Won his first three starts while completing just 41.9% of his passes. Out of the NFL.
Kyle Orton -- 2005-Present
Current Bears third-stringer had 9 TDs, 13 picks, a 59.7 QB rating -- and 10 wins. Rex Grossman -- 2003-Present
With 10 TDs and more than 1,200 yards passing after five games, he's on pace to set single-season franchise records in both categories.

-- Lane Strauss
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>More aggressive? The Bears D is giving up just 7.2 points per game. With Harris (five sacks) slicing through the middle of the offensive line, and Alex Brown (three sacks) speed-rushing around it, the Bears' 18 sacks is among the best in the NFL. And while it's not the bring-the-house 46 D, the mentality of this team is remarkably similar to that of the last Bears squad to rule the NFL. Chicago's version of the Cover 2 is all about the attack, a read-and-react pack of bodies that simply smothers opponents into submission. Rivera, a linebacker on that '85 team, describes his group as "bullying." Urlacher calls his own unit "relentless."
"We're very aggressive," Alex Brown says. "We want to get to the quarterback, and everything is a competition with us. We're not just competing against the guys blocking us, we're also competing against each other to see who can get there first."
Rivera likes the comparisons between his current charges and the '85 group. Certainly his experiences give him a deep understanding of his players' playbook-on-the-floor antics. When Rivera was in shoulder pads, every practice felt like an episode of Circus of the Stars. Back then, it was the "Super Bowl Shuffle" and the nicknaming of one Mr. William Perry after a certain kitchen appliance. It was practice-field follies, like the snowy December afternoon when Rivera brought an armful of Presto Logs, threw them in a trash can and lit 'em up, so the team would have something to gather around between drills.
Now, with Urlacher's group, the clowning around is less flamboyant but just as rambunctious. "Brian's as big a kid as anyone I've seen, and the rest of them are right in line," Rivera says. "That doesn't mean they don't take a workmanlike attitude when it's time to buckle down. But when they're in the locker room, they have fun, they tease each other, they're all over each other. And those are the teams that win."
If that's the case, the collection of sports equipment the players have stashed around Halas Hall should make the Bears a shoo-in for the Lombardi Trophy. There are badminton rackets, a ball for dodgeball and the yellow plastic bat Urlacher keeps in his locker for spirited games of Wiffle Ball. (So far, no one has reported any injuries from these endeavors, although some of the inanimate objects in the locker room have not been so fortunate.)
And when no one is feeling Wiffle Ballish, a couple dozen players gather in a circle in the middle of the locker room and head a soccer ball to each other, seeing how many times they can pass it without the ball touching the ground. For a long time, the record was 32. Apparently, that's changed. "It's 34 now," Urlacher says, his tone giving the number as much import as any sack statistic. "Write that down, 34. We don't mess around."
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IF URLACHER is the instigator in much of this, it is not by accident. No one buys into his "the-defense-that-plays-together-wins-together" philosophy more than he does. That means off the field, and even out of season, he aims to foster as much of a Three Musketeers -- or in this case, 25 Musketeers -- atmosphere as possible.
When Urlacher held a birthday party for his 6-year-old daughter at a Chicago Chuck E. Cheese's late last year, half the team showed. And of course, as the little kids sat in their seats and ate cake and ice cream, the really big kids were grouped around the Pop-A-Shot and Skee-Ball stations, furiously comparing how many reward tickets they'd gotten the machines to spit out.
Things aren't that different in Urlacher's sprawling home, about five miles from the Bears' complex. Less Town & Country and more Pee-wee's Playhouse, the divorced Urlacher's house is where teammates often engage in spirited games of Ping-Pong, billiards and air hockey. In the woods out back, Urlacher has a full paintball setup, complete with camouflage gear.
But most notorious are the poker games that take place a few times each month, which often turn into drawn-out affairs. Explains Brown: "Brian doesn't let everyone leave until he's taken all their money." Safety Chris Harris is more blunt: "Brian is the most competitive person on earth."
Nowhere is this more evident than on the football field. Urlacher is one of the few Bears who hasn't watched film of the team's playoff loss to Carolina last season. He's seen some isolated plays selected by coaches, but has never popped in the tape himself because he finds it so gut-wrenching. And he's sworn that this season, the team will take care of its unfinished business. "I want to win it all," Urlacher says. "It's what everything we do is about -- the work and the fun stuff. It's about getting the ring. It's about winning."
As Urlacher speaks, he is in the process of putting several hundred dollars into Harris' gleeful palm. The two are at a bowling alley in suburban Chicago with a dozen other members of the D. Bowling was Urlacher's idea, but it is not going the way he planned. First Brown, and now Harris, have come up with better scores than his, and as the day wears on, his booming laugh and jack-o'-lantern smile become scarce.
By the time the afternoon is over, Urlacher is down to nearly monosyllabic sentences. He grunts a good-bye to a few players, leaving Harris to cackle over the day's winnings. Still, it may be Urlacher who has the last laugh. As Harris and Brown are bowling a few frames just for fun, the lights on the lanes suddenly click off. Harris swears it's Urlacher who, on his way out, must have told the manager to shut them down. "Yeah, we're going to have to get him back for that," Brown says, with a smile that must still show up in the nightmares of some substitute teacher he had in high school. "Just wait. It's on." Indeed it is. Let the playbooks fall where they may.
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Hache Man · Oct 11, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

<SCRIPT language=javascript src="http://ai059.insightexpressai.com/adServer/adServer.aspx?bannerID=7560"></SCRIPT> Meet Thomas Jones, Mr. Underappreciated

By Tristan H. Cockcroft
ESPN.com





<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=762 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=552>Everyone knows about the Chicago Bears' stellar defense, Rex Grossman's development into a reliable fantasy option and Bernard Berrian's emergence as one of the better young receivers in the league. But constantly overlooked in what has been an incredible start for these Bears is the value of running back Thomas Jones, a top-10 fantasy RB in 2005.
That Jones is one of the more underappreciated running backs in the NFL shouldn't come as much of a surprise. After all, the former No. 7 pick overall in the 2000 draft did nothing but disappoint in his three years in Arizona and one in Tampa Bay. It took a move to the Windy City for Jones to truly realize his potential, yet, despite his 1,335-yard, 9-TD season as a runner last season, he wasn't even considered the hands-down starter by his own team this preseason. No, that role was supposed to belong to sophomore Cedric Benson, long considered the running back-of-the-future in Chicago.
Unfortunately for Benson, health problems limited him in the preseason, as a shoulder issue cost him the entire exhibition schedule. Jones battled injury as well, as a hamstring problem limited him for much of August, but he was fortunate to escape the preseason the healthier of what looked at the time as two underachieving, brittle backs. Neither had stellar preseason numbers -- Benson had none at all -- and as should have been expected, Jones got off to a forgettable start to the regular season, rushing 60 times for 181 yards in three games.
As Week 6 approaches, though, Jones is getting nothing but healthier, and in the past two weeks, he has looked a lot more the every-week fantasy option he was in 2005, rushing 46 times for 207 yards and two scores combined. Suddenly, all the talk about Benson unseating him has disappeared, and those who look at Benson's 14 carries for 48 yards and two scores in Week 5 and wonder whether he's re-emerging as a fantasy factor aren't taking into account that most of Benson's work this year has come in garbage time.
Of course, there should be a fair share of "garbage time" in the Bears' future, as their dominant defense should help the team mount countless early leads facing such a favorable schedule, but that'll only play in Jones' favor. (For the record, it could help Benson sneak in as a "flex" option in some weeks.) Jones shouldn't have much trouble managing 20-plus carries most weeks, and he's a strong enough runner to regularly range 80-100 in the yardage department, while being a threat to score. That's not a bad fantasy player to own, especially if he's your No. 2. In fact, with Jones' stock only likely to rise with his numbers the next several weeks, he's sure looking like an attractive buy-low candidate. <STYLE> .headshot { visibility: visible; padding: 0px 5px 4px 0px; float: left;} .bottom { font: 10px verdana, san-serif; color: #fff; font-weight: bold; background: #006633; padding: 5px; } </STYLE>BETWEEN THE LINES
Bye weeks have a tendency to wreak havoc on a fantasy team, especially in the case of Week 6, where six, not four, teams will be off. And it's not a great week to be an early-round-pick quarterback, as the Colts' Peyton Manning, Patriots' Tom Brady, as well as matchups considerations Brett Favre (Packers) and Byron Leftwich (Jaguars) will all be on the sidelines. I know Friday is my normal day for recommending the bye-week subs, but quarterback is quite an important position, with the top three fantasy scorers overall and seven of the top 10 players (excluding kickers and defenses). As a result, Week 6 is a prime time to exploit the matchups, and if you're hurting due to the absence of a Manning or Brady, I'd consider the following, probably in this order: The Bears' Rex Grossman, the No. 3 fantasy scorer who should light up the Arizona secondary; Cowboys' Drew Bledsoe, whose interception problems should suddenly go away when he faces the league's worst pass defense (Houston); Chargers' Philip Rivers, not the centerpiece of the San Diego offense, but a reliable enough passer that he should capitalize on a favorable matchup at San Francisco; Broncos' Jake Plummer, a better passer than his numbers and one who should rebound against Oakland; and Bills' J.P. Losman, the winner of this week's "Luckiest to Be Facing the Lions" sweepstakes. Heck, I'd even think about using the Texans' David Carr, who has done a pretty good job airing it out while playing from behind this season.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Jamal Lewis, RB, Ravens
15 carries, 43 rushing yards, 0 TD
Whatever happened to that Baltimore Ravens team we saw the first two weeks of the season, you know, the one that racked up 46 points on offense combined those two games? At the time, QB Steve McNair was performing much closer to his 2003 MVP self than the brittle player he was the following two seasons, while Lewis was performing like a respectable, better-than-average NFL running back even if he wasn't quite up to his former 2,000-yard standards. Well, in the past two weeks, Lewis has managed a disappointing 30 carries for 77 yards and no scores combined, though, to be fair, he did have to face the Chargers and then the Broncos on the road. But tough matchups aside, in those games, Lewis has looked a lot closer to the shaky back who managed only two 100-yard rushing efforts, three touchdowns and a 3.4 yards-per-carry average in 2005. He's not capitalizing even on the most favorable of matchups, and despite his being only 27 years old, he's running like a player four or five years his senior, which makes sense considering the various bumps, bruises and off-the-field distractions he has endured in recent years. The Ravens might not be showing it in the box score, but Musa Smith's role is ever increasing, not to mention Mike Anderson's as well, and based on Smith's impressive preseason and Anderson's 2005, it might not be far off that either is being talked up as a potential Lewis replacement this year, ? la Chester Taylor in 2005. Baltimore faces an awfully tough schedule for a running back the remainder of the year, one that should take quite a physical toll on Lewis, so if you own him, now's a prime time to sell, hoping you can still get No. 2 RB value.
</TD><TD width=15><SPACER type="block" width="15" height="1"></TD><TD class=rightcell vAlign=top width=195>TOP LINES
<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD class=stathead align=middle bgColor=#555555 colSpan=6>Week 5</TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff>

</TD><TD colSpan=5>Matt Leinart, QB, Cardinals: Gradually improving, but faces the Bears next, without WR Larry Fitzgerald</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD>passYDS</TD><TD>passTD</TD><TD>INT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>253</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>2</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>4</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>18</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff>

</TD><TD colSpan=5>Noah Herron, RB, Packers: Ahman Green should be healthy for Week 7, but Herron's a nice handcuff for him</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD>ATT</TD><TD>rushYDS</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>20</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>106</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>20</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>18</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff>

</TD><TD colSpan=5>Greg Jennings, WR, Packers: Has 2 100-yard G and 3 TD in his last 4 contests; 4th among WR in points (56)</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>5</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>105</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>10</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>1</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>18</NOBR></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff colSpan=5 height=3></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffff>

</TD><TD colSpan=5>Randy McMichael, TE, Dolphins: If he's healthy and QB Joey Harrington starts Sunday, it can only help his cause</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD>REC</TD><TD>recYDS</TD><TD>TARGET</TD><TD>TD</TD><TD>FPTS</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD><NOBR>6</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>84</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>9</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>0</NOBR></TD><TD><NOBR>8</NOBR></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>



Surfin' the Scoreboard

Lineup Shuffling
? The Dolphins will start QB Joey Harrington in Week 6 at the Jets, and he'll continue to start ahead of QB Daunte Culpepper until the latter regains what coach Nick Saban calls his "explosion." Culpepper's knee and shoulder could both be bothering him, and if you own him, don't expect much from him in the near future. There's an ever-growing chance he might not offer fantasy owners any useful stats in 2006.

Trainer's Room
? Dolphins WR Marty Booker (pectoral) is expected to miss at least two weeks. WR Wes Welker, who had nine catches for 77 yards in Week 5, should continue to see more work while Booker is out, and is well worth a pickup now. Even if Harrington's starting status concerns you, he does seem to have a nice rapport with Welker.
? Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger has been dealing with a case of tennis elbow, but coach Bill Cowher said he's not overly concerned about it. Roethlisberger will start in Week 6 against the Chiefs, but his performance of late is far too shaky to use him.
? Lions WR Roy Williams (neck stinger) is expected to be listed as doubtful for Week 6 against the Bills. WR Az-Zahir Hakim, who had eight catches (he was targeted 12 times) for 92 yards in Week 5, would stand to see a larger role if Williams doesn't play, and would be worth a look as a No. 3 or 4 fantasy option if he gets the start. ? Tuesday Box | Monday Box | Karabell's Blog




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Hache Man · Oct 11, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Updated: Oct. 11, 2006, 3:56 PM ET
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Shockey, Heap feeling pain

By KC Joyner
ESPN Insider
Archive




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What in the world is wrong with the marquee tight ends this year? Take a look at the statistical lines for four of the best tight ends in the NFL:
Jeremy Shockey: 12 catches for 147 yards and one TD
Antonio Gates: 13 catches for 177 yards and two TDs
Tony Gonzalez: 18 catches for 172 yards and one TD
Todd Heap: 22 catches for 180 yards and three TDs
These numbers are much lower than would be expected. I decided to do a metric analysis to shed some light on why these great players are putting up these less than stellar statistics.
Here are Shockey's 2006 metrics.
<TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=420 border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000" colSpan=10>Jeremy Shockey</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Depth</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Att</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Comp</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Yds</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>TD</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>INT</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>YPA</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>2005</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Prorate</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>2005</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Short </TD><TD width=38>11 </TD><TD width=38>8 </TD><TD width=38>85 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>7.7 </TD><TD width=38>6.9 </TD><TD width=38>44 </TD><TD width=38>76 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Medium </TD><TD width=38>8 </TD><TD width=38>4 </TD><TD width=38>62 </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>7.8 </TD><TD width=38>4.4 </TD><TD width=38>32 </TD><TD width=38>19 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Deep </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>0.0 </TD><TD width=38>17.1 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>15 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Total </TD><TD width=38>19 </TD><TD width=38>12 </TD><TD width=38>147 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>7.7 </TD><TD width=38>7.7 </TD><TD width=38>76 </TD><TD width=38>110 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Shockey has been slowed by an ankle injury all year. It has hurt him mostly in the deep passing game, as he's had zero deep passes thrown to him this year. His medium yards per attempt total is actually even better than it looks, because of the number of medium passes Shockey has been thrown (eight).
When comparing his 2005 attempt totals by route depth to his 2006 totals if they were prorated over 16 games, it reveals that while Shockey might not be the deep threat or short-pass checkdown receiver he was in 2005, he seems to have found a niche by excelling at the medium routes.
Here are Gates' metric totals:
<TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=420 border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000" colSpan=10>Antonio Gates</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Pass</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Att</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Comp</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Yds</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>TD</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>INT</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>YPA</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>2005</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Prorate</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>2005</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Short </TD><TD width=38>7 </TD><TD width=38>5 </TD><TD width=38>28 </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>4.0 </TD><TD width=38>7.3 </TD><TD width=38>28 </TD><TD width=38>81 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Medium </TD><TD width=38>10 </TD><TD width=38>6 </TD><TD width=38>99 </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>9.9 </TD><TD width=38>8.8 </TD><TD width=38>40 </TD><TD width=38>39 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Deep </TD><TD width=38>6 </TD><TD width=38>2 </TD><TD width=38>50 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>8.3 </TD><TD width=38>13.1 </TD><TD width=38>24 </TD><TD width=38>16 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Total </TD><TD width=38>23 </TD><TD width=38>13 </TD><TD width=38>177 </TD><TD width=38>2 </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>7.7 </TD><TD width=38>8.4 </TD><TD width=38>92 </TD><TD width=38>136 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
It has been said that teams are scheming to take away Gates from the Chargers' passing game. This normally means the defense is going to place a linebacker on him short and a safety on him deep to provide bracket coverage, taking away medium and deep passes. This doesn't seem to be the case this year with Gates, as he is on pace to have more medium and deep passes thrown to him this season than he did in 2005.
The metrics indicate teams are scheming to take away Gates as a short pass, safety valve for Philip Rivers, as Gates is on pace to have his short pass attempts total drop by 53 from last year. Gates has been thrown only one short pass in three of the Chargers' four games this year. As long as his presence in the short passing game is eliminated, Gates' catch totals will continue to remain low.
Here are Gonzalez's metric totals:
<TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=420 border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000" colSpan=10>Tony Gonzalez</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Depth</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Att</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Comp</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Yds</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>TD</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>INT</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>YPA</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>2005</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Prorate</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>2005</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Short </TD><TD width=38>11 </TD><TD width=38>11 </TD><TD width=38>59 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>5.4 </TD><TD width=38>5.9 </TD><TD width=38>44 </TD><TD width=38>63 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Medium </TD><TD width=38>12 </TD><TD width=38>7 </TD><TD width=38>113 </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>9.4 </TD><TD width=38>11.3 </TD><TD width=38>36 </TD><TD width=38>40 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Deep </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>0.0 </TD><TD width=38>9.5 </TD><TD width=38>4 </TD><TD width=38>15 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Total </TD><TD width=38>24 </TD><TD width=38>18 </TD><TD width=38>172 </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>7.2 </TD><TD width=38>8.2 </TD><TD width=38>84 </TD><TD width=38>118 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Gonzalez's deep pass attempt total is what stands out here. The issue seems to be Kansas City's offensive line, as the Chiefs have attempted only three deep passes all season long.
The odd thing is that despite the low deep pass totals, Gonzalez is being flexed out as a wide receiver quite often. Of his 24 overall attempts, 15 have come when Gonzalez is lined up as a wideout, so the Chiefs are trying to find ways to get him the ball downfield.
Here are Heap's metric totals:
<TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=420 border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000" colSpan=10>Todd Heap</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Depth</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Att</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Comp</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Yds</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>TD</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>INT</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>YPA</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>2005</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>Prorate</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width=38>2005</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Short </TD><TD width=38>32 </TD><TD width=38>19 </TD><TD width=38>138 </TD><TD width=38>2 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>4.3 </TD><TD width=38>6.1 </TD><TD width=38>102 </TD><TD width=38>70 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Medium </TD><TD width=38>7 </TD><TD width=38>2 </TD><TD width=38>17 </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>2.4 </TD><TD width=38>8.6 </TD><TD width=38>22 </TD><TD width=38>21 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Deep </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>29 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>0 </TD><TD width=38>29.0 </TD><TD width=38>15.6 </TD><TD width=38>3 </TD><TD width=38>16 </TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=38>Total </TD><TD width=38>40 </TD><TD width=38>22 </TD><TD width=38>184 </TD><TD width=38>3 </TD><TD width=38>1 </TD><TD width=38>4.6 </TD><TD width=38>8.1 </TD><TD width=38>127 </TD><TD width=38>107 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Heap has been battling thigh and ankle injuries all season. The injuries have limited his deep pass abilities, but the short pass totals indicate the Ravens are finding a role Heap can fill as a possession receiver. The only problem is that Heap isn't doing a very good job. His short yards per attempt is quite poor (4.2 was the league worst in 2005), and his short pass success percentage (59) is also terrible. To put that percentage in perspective, the lowest percentage in that category among qualifying tight ends in 2005 was 66. The Ravens' passing game might not get on track unless Heap can improve all of his totals.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 11, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Oct. 11, 2006, 5:34 PM

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Engel: Daunte, Davenport and T.O.

By Scott Engel
ESPN Fantasy Games





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Each Wednesday, we take a quick-hitting, fantasy-style look at some of the most important stories and trends at the three critical positions in fantasy football.
Quarterbacks
The Dolphins still haven't recovered from the retirement of Dan Marino, it seems. Maybe until at least next season, Miami won't find out for sure if Daunte Culpepper can ultimately stabilize the position that once was the key to the team's success. It's certainly possible Joey Harrington could remain the Dolphins' starting QB not only for a few weeks but all season, which isn't a positive when you consider Harrington's record of failures as a starter in Detroit.
The Miami Herald has reported that Culpepper has been benched for an extended period of time until he can regain "explosion" in his surgically repaired knee. Coach Nick Saban says there is no timetable for Culpepper's return, and according to the Herald, Culpepper could be out of action for several weeks, or possibly until 2007 in a worst-case scenario. Harrington will continue to take the majority of snaps in practice while Culpepper works in a rehab program and does a reduced amount of work in practices.
"When he doesn't limp at all when he's playing, and he can move laterally and quickly," Saban said of when Culpepper might play again. "It's not just straight-ahead running, but in lateral explosive movements. That's what we will be looking for."
At this point of the season, fantasy leaguers can no longer waste a roster spot waiting for Culpepper to return. Even if he can play again this season, there are no guarantees that he will be able to play at a respectable level. Harrington is a risk, even as a fantasy backup. In his first start last week for the Dolphins, he looked tentative, indecisive and erratic. His decision-making skills have always been questionable, and there are no major indications that a change of scenery will help turn his career around. It's time to drop Culpepper for sure, but that doesn't mean you should add Harrington to your roster.
QB Audibles: It doesn't appear that Aaron Brooks, who is recovering from a pectoral injury, is ready to return anytime soon. There is no clear timetable for his return, and Andrew Walter will remain in the starting lineup. ... Keeper league owners take note: There are rumors that this could be Jake Plummer's final season as a Bronco, and Jay Cutler could be set to take over as the starter in 2007.
Running Backs
The Steelers have been searching for a complement to Willie Parker since the preseason, and they might have finally found their man. Najeh Davenport is becoming more comfortable in the Steelers' offense and seems to be in line to earn more playing time. Davenport caught a 32-yard pass Sunday night against San Diego, and the Steelers likely don't want to overwork Parker, who could get worn down if he is asked to carry a large load every week.
"We'll look at that as a possibility," Bill Cowher told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about finding more playing time for Davenport. "I was encouraged. He does give you some versatility. He's got excellent hands, so he could potentially be a third-down guy."
Fantasy owners want to hear that Davenport will be more than a third-down back and possible replacement for Verron Haynes in that role. Davenport has been a strong inside runner in the past when healthy, and many fantasy players would like to see him take over Jerome Bettis' old role as a goal-line runner. But Parker has given no indication yet that he can't handle carries near the end zone. Davenport might indeed become the needed backfield partner for Parker, who gets eight to 10 touches per game. Davenport could start to see more field time, but that doesn't mean he'll ideally fit in Bettis' old slot. He'll keep Parker fresh, which is good for Parker's owners, but Davenport will have little fantasy value if he doesn't steal some TD chances.
RB Cutbacks Chris Brown and his agent are still holding out hope that the Titans might deal Brown before the trading deadline. Brown has fallen to third on the depth chart behind Travis Henry and LenDale White, but his fantasy value could rise again if he is moved. ... The New York Daily News has reported that Curtis Martin will be eligible to resume practicing next week, but there have been no positive reports on his attempt to come back from a career-threatening knee injury.
Wide Receivers
It was a combination of factors that led to Terrell Owens' disappointing outing against Philadelphia. Yes, QB Drew Bledsoe was pressured often. Owens also ran some sloppy routes and faced double coverages. The Dallas Morning News noted that the Eagles gave their cornerbacks extra coverage help on 24 of Dallas' 48 attempted passing plays on Sunday.
"We had trouble getting him involved early," Bill Parcells said. "They put two guys over there. It's hard to force the ball over there."
Parcells added that the Eagles displayed more Cover 2 schemes, in which they played their safeties over the top. The News also noted that the Eagles played press coverage on Owens 53 times and blitzed Bledsoe 18 times. Owens wasn't open often, and when he was, pass pressure prevented Bledsoe from getting him the ball.
Owens has had some problems with his route running and making the adjustment to a different style of offense after being so used to the West Coast attack. You can't blame Bledsoe alone for not getting him the ball. Owens' missed practices and playing time earlier this year might be adversely affecting him.
"I think there are some things he is trying to still gain an understanding of here," Parcells told the News. Look for Owens to start making strides in a positive direction in Dallas' next game, as he faces Houston's weak secondary. WR Patterns: The Detroit News says Roy Williams (back) has not been ruled out for Sunday's game against Buffalo, even though he will be listed as doubtful. ... Koren Robinson has been notified of a one-year suspension by the NFL, but an appeal has allowed him to continue playing, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
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Hache Man · Oct 11, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Wednesday, October 11, 2006
<TABLE style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 7px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>

</TD><TD vAlign=top>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Scouting Matchups: Week 6

By Scouts, Inc.




<TABLE class=text11 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 width=552 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width="100%"><TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=162 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" colSpan=2>

</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=3> </TD><TD width=156>Only Insiders get access to all of Scouts Inc.'s, in-depth NFL coverage, as well as insight from ESPN's stable of football analysts.
? Take the Insider tour
? Become an Insider
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>NFL advance scouts watch games in person, studying everything from personnel packages to play-calling signals, and on film, looking at individual players, as well as a team's various schemes and recent trends. The goal? Provide their coaching staff with the best possible means of preparation during the week of practice. Scouts Inc. does the same thing, compiling the best advance scouting reports available and delivering them to you by Tuesday afternoon on ESPN.com Insider. On Friday, after breaking down more game film, Scouts Inc. files an updated report with a deeper look at each game, spotlighting key individual matchups and trends and predicting the final score.

<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD width=100>Matchup</TD><TD>Scouting</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD colSpan=2>SUNDAY OCTOBER 15, 2006</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Seattle
at
St. Louis
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Seahawks at Rams
The Rams are playing very good football this year and stand alone atop the NFC West. The Seahawks are coming off a bye week. Two weeks ago, they suffered a vicious beating by the Bears. Marc Bulger set a franchise record last week against the Green Bay Packers for most pass attempts without and interception.

Many have questioned the Rams' defense over the past few weeks, but the unit may have quieted some of the critics, as the Rams were able to add two more fumbles to their takeaway total and increase their turnover ratio to plus 10 on the year. The Seahawks have a great defense of their own, despite giving up big plays against the Bears. This will be a good defensive battle between both teams, as each team tries to break away in the NFC West race.
? Complete advance scouting report

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Philadelphia
at
New Orleans
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Eagles at Saints
This game features two of the top quarterbacks in the NFL in Drew Brees and Donovan McNabb, and two of the top passing offenses. This game could see a lot of scoring, and both teams have playmakers who can go the distance at anytime. The key for this game is which defense is going to make enough big plays The Eagles are 2-0 on the road and 3-0 out of the division, while the Saints have been tough at home, now that they have one.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Cincinnati
at
Tampa Bay
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Bengals at Buccaneers
Before the season started, this looked like an excellent matchup between up-and-coming teams. Then the season started. Times have changed -- for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay might have the worst overall offense in the league and its defense is starting to show its age, as it spends far too much time on the field. At 0-4, Tampa Bay's playoff hopes are now a real longshot after losing a close game to the Saints. The Bucs did show some progress on offense with Bruce Gradkowski, a rookie quarterback who started his first professional game last week.

Cincinnati, on the other hand, should be fresh and rested after its bye week, and that extra week allowed the Bengals to get some injured starters back on the field. The Bengals need this game to keep pace in the AFC North, while the Bucs try to get their first win.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Tennessee
at
Washington
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Titans at Redskins
Tennessee is coming off a moral victory of sorts, as it held the potent Indianapolis offense to just 14 points in Week 5. The Titans will need all the confidence they can muster against a Redskins team apt to come out with a lot of fire after getting embarrassed by the Giants.

Of the Redskins' eight possessions against the Giants, six lasted six plays or less, while the Giants had six of their 10 possessions last more than seven plays (five resulting in scoring drives). This was a complete turnaround from the previous week, when the Redskins played a very solid game, beating the Jaguars. Which Redskins team shows up will have a lot to do with the outcome of this game.
? Complete advance scouting report

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Carolina
at
Baltimore
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Panthers at Ravens
This game pits two physical clubs that pride themselves on playing great defense and controlling the line of scrimmage. Both teams will be in the playoff hunt and this is an important out-of-conference contest. This is a big game and the Baltimore crowd will be very loud.

After starting the season 0-2, Carolina has won three in a row, including last week's win over the Browns. Carolina controlled that game, but will have to play better than it did last week to knock off the Ravens in Baltimore. The Ravens face a short week after suffering their first loss at Denver. Despite sitting atop the AFC North, they have their share of offensive problems -- particularly stretching the field and producing in the red zone.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

NY Giants
at
Atlanta
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Giants at Falcons
The Giants seemed to have fixed their problems in Week 5 with an impressive divisional win. However, they must now go on the road and face a good Falcons team that leads the league in rushing offense. Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis will load up the box and force QB Michael Vick to attack through the air.

The Giants will rely on RB Tiki Barber to set up the play-action pass against a Falcons defense that is ranked in the top 10 and has allowed only 42 points in four games. Also, look for a high emphasis to be placed on special teams this week because field position will be critical to the outcome of this game.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Houston
at
Dallas
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Texans at Cowboys
The Texans went into their bye week feeling pretty good about themselves. They won their first game against the Dolphins and their defense finally stepped up to the plate with a solid performance. Now they travel up the road to Dallas for the championship of the state of Texas.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys are coming off a tough loss in Philadelphia. The Cowboys' offensive line took a beating, giving up seven sacks after giving up only three in the previous three games. Dallas coach Bill Parcells will be glad to have the media focus on the game rather than the circus surrounding Terrell Owens. The Texans will be chomping and the bit to prove they have started to turn the season around and are heading in the right direction.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Buffalo
at
Detroit
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Bills at Lions
Winless Detroit is a team still trying to find its an identity. Detroit seemed to have found some offensive balance, scoring 24 and 34 points in previous weeks, but that balance disappeared in Minnesota, with Jon Kitna throwing three interceptions. Detroit imploded, blowing a 17-3 lead in the fourth quarter. Can this team persevere and fight for 60 minutes to get a win?

The other question is which Buffalo team will arrive at Ford Field on Sunday? Will it be the explosive offensive machine racking up yards, both rushing and passing, while playing aggressive defense or the inconsistent offensive unit with a generous defense? Both teams have potential, but neither has successfully established itself under new leadership.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Kansas City
at
Pittsburgh
Sun 4:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Chiefs at Steelers
Kansas City has won two straight and veteran QB Damon Huard is getting the job done. He is making solid reads and coming up with big throws in critical situations. For the Chiefs, this marks the beginning of a tough, three-game stretch that could determine their playoff future.

For Pittsburgh, the season is on the line this week. Baltimore and Cincinnati are creating a lot of separation at the top of the AFC North. Ben Roethlisberger is still struggling, but the Steelers don't have a lot of answers, so he must get better in a hurry.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

San Diego
at
San Francisco
Sun 4:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Chargers at 49ers
The development of 49ers quarterback Alex Smith has been a big story line all season. He has improved from his rookie year, but he's still searching for consistency. 49ers head coach Mike Nolan is a gutsy coach who will roll the dice and make the tough calls in pressure situations. This is crucial for a young team like the 49ers because it gives the players confidence that the coach believes in his players.

The Chargers have been playing "Marty Ball" very well and will continue to do so with the running game behind LaDainian Tomlinson. Chargers QB Philip Rivers is showing he can lead his team to victory when the running game begins to struggle.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Miami
at
NY Jets
Sun 4:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Dolphins at Jets
The Dolphins have had a poor start to the season with four close losses. The Dolphins played good enough to win on defense vs. the Patriots in Week 5, but three turnovers gave New England 17 points. The Jets were embarrassed by the Jaguars in Week 5. They had their best rushing output of the season, but QB Chad Pennington had his worst performance.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Oakland
at
Denver
Sun 8:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Raiders at Broncos
This is a rivalry game and even though the Raiders have been struggling of late, they always seem to get up for the Broncos. There is some bad blood between Denver head coach Mike Shanahan and Oakland owner Al Davis, so hopefully there will be some good middle of the week comments to juice this game up a little. The Raiders' QB carousel may spin again this week. Andrew Walter has played well in spurts, but is making too many costly mistakes. Veteran QB Aaron Brooks (pectoral muscle) could be back this week, but he was not playing very well either prior to his injury.
? Complete advance scouting report

</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD colSpan=2>MONDAY OCTOBER 16, 2006</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Chicago
at
Arizona
Mon 8:30 PM ET</TD><TD>Bears at Cardinals
The Bears take their act to the Valley of the Sun, as Arizona fans get a chance to watch an elite team play football. Chicago is the most complete team in the NFL. Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart was very solid in his first start, tossing a pair of touchdown passes, and showing leadership and grit in running a two-minute drill to get in position to tie the game. Arizona has found ways to lose close games, but the promising rookie quarterback looks to have a bright future working with Arizona's bevy of offensive weapons, which should make Dennis Green smile.
? Complete advance scouting report
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 11, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Running games lacking punch

posted: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry

The NFL's two top rushers are San Francisco's Frank Gore and St. Louis' Steven Jackson. Each has played five games. Each has 465 yards. Note I didn't say "only 465 yards" because Gore and Jackson have played well, are having career years, and deserve their spot as league leaders. But take a look at these figures:

Top rushers through five games
2004: 1) Tiki Barber, 577 yards; 2) Chris Brown, 556 yards
2005: 1) Shaun Alexander, 574 yards; 2) Edgerrin James, 519 yards
The league's leading rushers at this point during the past two years averaged 111.3 yards a game. Gore and Jackson average 93. What's interesting is that teams are calling running plays slightly more often now than through Week 5 the past two years: 44.8 percent compared to 44.7 percent in 2004 and 43.9 percent in 2005. What this shows is that while teams still look to run, still want to run, handing off is less effective than it's been in awhile.
That's not to say that successful teams don't run. In fact, among the top 10 rushing offenses are Atlanta, San Diego, New England, Jacksonville, and Denver. But division leaders Indianapolis, New Orleans, St. Louis, Chicago, Philly, and Baltimore aren't in the top 10. That's right: Five of the eight division leaders aren't among the NFL's top 10 rushing offenses. Six of the top 10 scoring offenses (Bears, Eagles, Colts, Bengals, Saints and Rams) aren't in the 10 top in rushing, either. (Yup, despite having the one of league's leading rushers, the Rams aren't among the top 10 overall running teams in the league.) Note that all six of those teams have Pro Bowl-caliber QBs.
Moral of the story through five weeks?
You pass to score. You run to keep the lead.

Hache Man · Oct 11, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Updated: Oct. 11, 2006
Linehan leading Rams back to prominence

By Rodd Newhouse
Scouts Inc.
Archive




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Under first-year head coach Scott Linehan, the St. Louis Rams quietly have made their presence known in the NFC West, getting off to an impressive 4-1 start and a tie for first place in the division. The keys have been a balanced offensive attack and a new, aggressive defense implemented by defensive coordinator Jim Haslett.
After a disastrous 2005 season that was marred by constant tension between the front office and head coach Mike Martz, between Martz and his players, and between the front office and the media, the team underwent an offseason makeover. The hiring of Linehan, former offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins, was the cornerstone, but his hiring of Haslett cannot be overlooked.
The 2005 Rams ranked 22nd in rushing yards per game and fourth in passing yards. Linehan, though, has preached balance since the day he took over. Through five games, the Rams have 141 rush attempts and 169 passing attempts. Their league rankings illustrate the improved balance as well. St. Louis is 17th in rushing yards and eighth in passing yards.
Just as important, quarterback Marc Bulger has yet to thrown an interception, which is not only a career best but also a franchise record (214 attempts). Before this season, Bulger had averaged an interception every 29.7 pass attempts.

Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images
New coach Scott Linehan has the Rams playing well on both sides of the ball.

There were some doubts about the offense as it got off to a slow start, both in the preseason (when the first unit failed to score a touchdown) and in the first three games of the regular season (when the Rams managed just two touchdowns compared to five field goals). But the Rams won two of those games and currently are riding a three-game winning streak.
A big part of that is a defense that has kept the Rams in games while the offense was finding its way. One of the best moves Linehan made was hiring former New Orleans Saints head coach Haslett as defensive coordinator. A former head coach himself, Haslett understands what Linehan needs from his assistant coaches and how to help him get a team ready to play.
Haslett has his defense playing aggressive and with extreme confidence. The Rams currently share the NFL lead in takeaways with the Chicago Bears (15).
"The players were not having fun in last year's [defensive] system," said director of football operations Samir Suleiman. "But now I feel as though the players are flying around, something I have not seen since Lovie [Smith] left. They love playing for Haslett; like they did for Lovie."
In 2001, Smith, now head coach of the Bears, helped the Rams return to the Super Bowl after having missed the playoffs the previous season. The Smith-led defense improved in both points per game and yards per game. Smith has since taken his defensive scheme to Chicago, but this Haslett-led defense is showing the same kind of improvement the Rams made in 2001.
Last year, St. Louis ranked 30th in the league in yards allowed per game (350.1), 28th in rushing yards (136.1) and 31st in points allowed (26.8). Through five games this season, the Rams are 22nd in total yards allowed (334.4 per game), 20th in rushing yards allowed (120.6) and 15th in points (19.6).
By bringing in veteran leaders such as safety Corey Chavous, linebacker Will Witherspoon, defensive tackle La'Roi Glover and cornerback Fakhir Brown, Haslett has assembled a nucleus of players who are making plays when they matter most.
In the first quarter on Sunday, the Rams committed three penalties on a drive that resulted in a Packers' touchdown. In the fourth quarter, though, clinging to a 23-20 lead, the Rams forced a three-and-out with just over three minutes to play then ended Green Bay's threat with a sack of Brett Favre that caused a fumble and a turnover at the Rams' 11. When it counted, the Rams made plays.
Chavous has been the leader in a secondary that has accounted for seven of the team's eight interceptions thus far. His experience and understanding of the game enables him to make sure everyone is aligned properly on each snap.
Witherspoon, a weakside linebacker with the Carolina Panthers, has been outstanding in his move to the middle and is the leader of the defense with 36 total tackles and two forced fumbles. He has excellent speed and range to cover ground, making it hard for quarterbacks to know exactly where he is going to be on each play.
Glover is explosive and provides the upfield charge the Rams need to disrupt opponents' offensive schemes. Brown followed Haslett from New Orleans and is providing the physical force the Rams needed to match up against bigger receivers and allow Haslett to be more aggressive with his blitz packages. The changes in personnel and attitude have put the Rams in a great position to contend in the NFC West. With the defense playing as well as it has, the offense only needs to control the ball and avoid mistakes to produce a great recipe for success. The players have bought in to Linehan's style of balance and aggression with positive results
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 11, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Updated: Oct. 11, 2006, 9:57 AM ET
Auburn corner faces dual threat vs. Florida

By Steve Muench
Scouts Inc.
Archive




<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
<TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=200 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000">INSIDE THE NFL DRAFT</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=188>This season, DraftWatch will follow the paths of 15 senior prospects whose names should be called next April. Some project as early first-day picks and some as middle-to-late rounds picks, but all have the potential to move up or down draft boards over the next seven months. In this relatively brief time, these prospects must demonstrate the ability to work on their weaknesses while continuing to exhibit their strengths. In addition, they must deal with potential injuries and off-field incidents, postseason workouts and combine performances and all sorts of things that could affect their draft stock.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Tennessee LOT Arron Sears and Notre Dame WR Rhema McKnight are arguably the most improved players on this list, and both have this week off. With those two on the sidelines, it will be interesting to see which player helps himself the most this week. It could be Florida QB Chris Leak or Auburn DC David Irons, who face off in a SEC matchup that has national championship implications.
Here's a look at what we've seen so far from these 15 prospects:
QB Chris Leak, Florida
<OFFER>Freshman Tim Tebow, Leak's backup, shined in the Gators' home win over LSU, throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for another. Leak, meanwhile, threw an interception and had no touchdown passes. While it's important to remember that the Tigers' pass defense has been stingy, Leak needs to show NFL teams he can have strong games against the top pass defenses in the nation.
Fortunately for Leak, he has a chance to redeem himself at Auburn this week. The Tigers, who give up an average of just 156.5 passing yards per game, are coming off a disappointing loss, so the defense can be expected to play with a great deal of intensity. It's also important to mention the quarterback rotation. Though head coach Urban Meyer isn't expected to replace Leak, Tebow will continue to play a big role. Leak needs to show scouts he can handle the pressure of Tebow pushing for playing time and still perform well.
QB Kevin Kolb, Houston
Though Kolb had a strong game statistically against Louisiana-Lafayette last week, he was working against a weak pass defense. More importantly, the Cougars blew a 12-point fourth-quarter lead at home, and their inability to sustain drives in the second half cost them the game. That reflects poorly on Kolb, because it's ultimately the quarterback's job to keep the offense moving. In addition, Kolb took five sacks. He needs to do a better job of throwing the ball away when he feels pressure closing in on him.
Houston travels to Southern Mississippi this week. The Golden Eagles have yet to record an interception and haven't had much success getting to the quarterback. They don't have the depth at corner to match up with the Cougars' deep receiving corps, either. With that in mind, Kolb should play well, but it's more important he end Houston's two-game losing streak. Scouts want to see him step up and make plays when the game is on the line. QB Tyler Palko, Pittsburgh

Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Tyler Palko is showing maturity and patience in avoiding critical mistakes.

While Palko didn't throw for many yards against Syracuse last week, he did an outstanding job of managing the game on the road. He showed great accuracy, completing 20 of 24 passes, with one of the incompletions resulting from a drop. When nothing was available downfield, he used his mobility to buy more time or pick up important yards on the ground. In addition, his excellent ball fake on third-and-goal in the third quarter made it easier for TE Steve Buches to slip behind the defense for a 1-yard touchdown-reception.
Only six Division I teams give up more passing yards per game than Central Florida, and Golden Knights have recorded just nine sacks in five games. In addition, the run defense is surrendering an average of 4.2 yards per carry. That means Pittsburgh should have success in the running game to keep the UCF pass rush on its heels and keep Palko out of situations with pass-heavy tendencies. All Palko has to do is what he has done most of the season -- make sound decisions and take what the defense gives him. If he does, the Panthers should get another road win and his draft stock should continue to rise.
RB Lorenzo Booker, Florida State
Booker appeared more decisive when running between the tackles and showed good burst when he was able to get into the open field last week against North Carolina State. He also continued to catch the ball well and do an adequate job of picking up the blitz. However, he is still too easy to bring down, and his receiving numbers were inflated by a 73-yard reception. It's still important he show scouts that he can break tackles and consistently pick up 3-4 yards per carry. It doesn't help Booker that Florida State has lost two of its last three games. Scouts want to see top players help their teams win games.
Though he rushed for 130 yards on 15 carries against Duke just two seasons ago, don't expect Booker to put up big numbers this week. The Blue Devils are giving up an average of just three yards per carry, and their front seven is stout enough to control the line of scrimmage against a disappointing Florida State offensive line. Duke also has done a better job of covering backs out of the backfield as the season has progressed.
RB Tyrone Moss, Miami
Though an MRI showed no new damage, Moss is experiencing pain in the back of his reconstructed left knee and spent most of last week having the knee evaluated and didn't play against North Carolina. While he could return to face Florida International, it's highly unlikely. The coaching staff doesn't have any confidence in his ability to make certain cuts and doesn't have to rush him back, either, because Javarris James and Charlie Jones have played well in his absence. In fact, Moss will have a hard time getting carries when and if he is able to return, so his value in the eyes of scouts is plummeting.
WR Rhema McKnight, Notre Dame
McKnight continued to play a big role in the red zone against Stanford, catching a pass at the 7-yard line and avoiding CB Brendan Harrison on his way into the end zone. It was his fifth consecutive game with at least one touchdown reception. Though he has dropped passes he should have caught, he is showing scouts his hands are reliable enough and his routes sharp enough to make him an effective target near the goal line. Notre Dame is off this week.
WR Paul Williams, Fresno State
Williams missed Fresno State's game at Utah State because of a hip injury and is listed as questionable for this week's home game against Hawaii. It's important he get back on the field quickly, because he has caught just 16 passes and has been inconsistent thus far. Though he continues to show his big-play ability, he needs to be more productive.
If Williams is able to play against the Warriors, he frequently will line up opposite CB C.J. Hawthorne. Williams is 49 pounds heavier than Hawthorne and needs to take advantage by using his wide frame to shield Hawthorne from the ball. If he can provide struggling QB Tom Brandstater with a reliable short-to-intermediate safety valve as well as a deep threat, his draft status should improve despite missing last week.
TE Martrez Milner, Georgia
Milner caught just one pass for nine yards last week, and Georgia lost a tough game to Tennessee at home last week. However, scouts want to see players who are always looking to throw blocks, and Milner threw a devastating block on an eight-yard touchdown reception by RB Brannan Southerland in the second quarter. Milner doesn't have great size or lower-body strength, so it's important he continue to take advantage when he gets chances to blindside defenders in the open field. It's also worth noting that he held his own when asked to help out in pass protection.
Don't look for Milner to put up big receiving numbers at home against Vanderbilt this week. Commodores SS Reshard Langford has three interceptions and is big enough to match up with Milner. FS Ryan Hamilton is a big hitter who also has good size and shows above-average range, so QB Joe Tereshinski might be hesitant to throw over the middle. However, Milner can make an impact as a blocker, as the Commodores don't have great size at defensive end or outside linebacker. OT Justin Blalock, Texas

G. Newman Lowrance/WireImage.com
Justin Blalock is showing versatility this season, dominating at both tackle and guard.

The loss of Cedric Dockery to a knee injury forced Texas to move Blalock from tackle to right guard in the second quarter of the Oklahoma game. Blalock didn't flinch, showing the ability to drive defensive tackles off the ball and to pull effectively. While DT Stephen Coleman lined up opposite Blalock when he recorded the Sooners' only sack, the play was a screen pass, and QB Colt McCoy should have thrown the ball away. In fact, Blalock did well in pass protection and remains a first-round prospect at this point.
X-rays revealed no major damage to Dockery's knee, and he is currently listed as the starting right guard, so Blalock is expected to start at right tackle when Baylor comes to town this week. However, Dockery left the Oklahoma game twice, and there is a chance he won't be able to finish the game if he is able to start, so Blalock could see time at guard. Expect Blalock to dominate wherever he lines up. Baylor's undersized defensive ends will have a hard time holding their ground when Texas runs, and they have combined to record just 1.5 sacks. Blalock also has the lower-body strength to drive the Bears' defensive tackles off the ball and enough lateral mobility to keep them out of the backfield when QB McCoy drops back to pass.
OT Arron Sears, Tennessee
Ankle and elbow injuries almost prevented Sears from playing against Georgia last week, but he played with pain and did an excellent job against a talented Bulldogs defensive line. While he didn't play with great technique on every play, he attacked his assignments and held his own in pass protection. He also drove defenders off the ball and finished his blocks once in position. Tennessee is off this week, giving Sears a much-needed opportunity to get healthy.
DE Loren Howard, Arizona State
Arizona State did not play last week and travels to USC this week, but don't expect Howard to make the trip. Howard hasn't played a snap this season because of a quadriceps injury, and there has been no indication he will return. In fact, there is a chance he might sit out the rest of the season and seek a sixth-year of eligibility. While that route may be his best option, it's a big gamble. If he isn't granted another year of eligibility, he will have missed two seasons of football and sustained three serious injuries. Scouts naturally will wonder if he can stay healthy and return to the form he showed earlier in his career.
DE/OLB LaMarr Woodley, Michigan
Woodley recorded just one tackle against Michigan State and hasn't recorded a sack the past two games. He also is getting turned outside too easily when teams run at him, but that doesn't mean he isn't making an impact. Last week he frequently flushed QB Drew Stanton out of the pocket or forced him to get rid of the ball quickly. He is showing good closing speed and an effective club move. In addition, Michigan is showcasing his versatility by moving him all around.
Michigan travels to Penn State this week, and Woodley has an excellent opportunity to improve his draft status. Penn State is hopeful that LOT Levi Brown will be able to return from a knee injury that has kept him out of the past two games. Brown is one of the best in the nation, and scouts will be interested to see how Woodley matches up. Even if Brown can't play, the Nittany Lions' offensive line has allowed just six sacks all year, so it sill poses a substantial challenge. Woodley ending his sack drought in this game would be impressive.
LB Kevin "Boo" McClee, West Virginia
McClee is West Virginia's leading tackler and has improved his ability to shed blocks somewhat, but he still isn't making enough of an impact. He recorded just four tackles against Mississippi State last week and has yet to force a fumble, record a sack or intercept a pass. The fact he has just one tackle for loss indicates he isn't reading his keys quickly enough.
McClee is at his best attacking the line of scrimmage, and the Mountaineers play host to a run-heavy Syracuse offense that is averaging just 3.5 yards per carry this week, so he should have a strong game. However, Syracuse doesn't throw to its backs very often. While that means McClee's lack of awareness in coverage won't be exposed, it also means he won't get chance to show his cover skills are underrated. CB David Irons, Auburn

Kevin C. Cox/WireImage
Against Florida, Auburn's David Irons must defend the passing of QB Chris Leak and the running of QB Tim Tebow.

Irons continued to show good quickness and agility at home against Arkansas last week, but he and his teammates could have done a better job of preventing long runs. The secondary is the last line of defense, so Irons has to help prevent those kind of gains by shedding his blocks, taking sound pursuit angles and wrapping up when he gets to the ball carrier.
Florida's spread offense and talented receiving corps could be a good test for Irons, who likely will line up opposite either WR Dallas Baker or WR Jemalle Cornelius. Irons must get physical with the bigger Baker (6-foot-3, 207) and keep the explosive Cornelius in front of him. The problem is that QB Chris Leak is doing a fairly good job of taking what the defense gives him and probably won't throw in Irons' direction very often because of more favorable matchups elsewhere.
It's also important to note that the running ability of backup QB Tim Tebow will put a great deal of pressure on Irons, who must fill hard. He can't be too aggressive, though, because Tebow has the arm strength to find receivers downfield when the corners come up to defend the run prematurely.
CB Daymeion Hughes, California
Hughes, who is playing with great confidence, did a good job of using positioning and physical play to overcome a size disadvantage against Oregon WR Jaison Williams last week. He also shed a Williams' block and made a tackle on a critical third-down play in the third quarter. Cal travels to Washington State this week, and Hughes will line up opposite WRs Jason Hill, Michael Bumpus and Brandon Gibson. Hill and Gibson both have big-play ability, so expect Cal defensive coordinator Bob Gregory to play both safeties deep. That means Hughes must slow down the receivers at the line of scrimmage by jamming them. He excelled in press coverage last week, and a similar performance should cause his draft status to improve, especially in the eyes of teams that run a lot of Cover 2.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 11, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Fans react to Miami's QB switch

posted: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins' quarterback switch didn't produce a victory last Sunday, but it did produce a reaction from the fans. Here are some of the comments I found in my inbox:

Culpepper

RC, Charlotte: Ken: I could not agree with you more. The Dolphins have had so many negative plays on offense due to Daunte Culpepper's lack of mobility and poor decision-making. They blew games against Houston, Pittsburgh and Buffalo (all of which they were leading), with Culpepper either throwing picks or making mental errors at critical points. I think Nick Saban stayed with him too long, but I understand why. Culpepper is our new Dan Marino, and you don't bench a guy like that. Well, I am glad he did bench Culpepper, and I believe the Dolphins will do better with Joey Harrington at the helm than they would with this version of Culpepper. Sorry, Daunte.

Ken: RC, remember, I believe Culpepper's play was only one of the causes in those losses. (The defense gave up the longest touchdown passes to a tight end in NFL history to put the Steelers on top, for one example.) It is extremely tough to bench a high-profile, high-paid player in any sport, but it had to be done. Culpepper will play and play well for some team in the future.
Zach, New York, NY: I actually hate the Dolphins. I'm a huge Jets fan, and the way I see it, it really doesn't matter who starts at quarterback for the 'Phins as long as their offensive line is injured and can't block anybody. If Ronnie Brown doesn't get going and the Jets can get to Harrington consistently, he won't do any better than Culpepper would have. I also think Harringon can't be an effective leader on a very immature offense and team.
Ken: Zach, you make the same point I've made for weeks. Any team, including the Jets, will have a tough time winning with out an effective ground attack. Brown is a fine back and has had a few creases, but if you break the games down, he has not been hitting the hole with much conviction or demonstrating much inline cutting ability. He needs to use his talent for better, timely cuts.

Harrington

Matt, Brooklyn: Let Harrington play. Can't do much worse than we did with Culpepper. Let Daunte heal, and see what Harrington's got. At this point, we don't have much to lose, so give him a chance to succeed. On a side note, [offensive coordinator Mike] Mularkey is a terrible play-caller.

Ken: Matt, most who follow the Dolphins believe the same way you do. I don't think you can understate the loss of an excellent offensive coordinator like Scott Linehan, who became head coach of the Rams. It's not easy to just plug another coach in and still move forward. It would have been great to see Culpepper and Linehan reunite from their days in Minnesota, when Daunte was playing at a high level and Scott was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Kathy, Torrance, Calif.: I still think the Culpepper signing was a good move; an excellent one. And when healthy, he will be extremely productive with WR Chris Chambers. But this is why they signed Harrington. Culpepper is not completely healthy, and until he is, it will be nice to see the chains move once in a while on offense.
Aaron, Plantation, Fla.: I am a huge Daunte fan and was ecstatic when I heard he was coming here. Unfortunately, Joey Harrington ran the offense much better than Daunte had as of yet, and until Daunte proves that he can run the offense more efficiently, Harrington should be the starter.
Ken: Kathy and Aaron, I'm glad there are at least two other football fans who believe Culpepper was a good acquisition. I wrote back in August about what a nice pickup it was to get both Culpepper and Harrington. I had the opportunity to study both players coming out of college and believe they can play at a high level if healthy and with some support from other areas of the team (ground attack and offensive line). It's tough to be a Miami fan right now, but I still believe they will be a contender in 2007 and beyond. I love to get feedback from readers on your favorite AFC East teams. We still have a long way to go with this season, and I'm sure there will be some surprises in the coming weeks. Sound off whenever it feels right.

Hache Man · Oct 11, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Titans learn rebuilding takes time

posted: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans are 0-5 and heading up to Washington DC to play the Redskins. Few are giving the Titans much of a chance to win this game and for good reason. Tennessee is averaging 12 points a game while giving up 24. The Titans have a new starting running back and quarterback and neither has proven that they can be the man. The Titans offense is near the bottom of the league in total yards per game, rushing yards per game, passing yards per game, converting on third down and quarterback rating. The only good news is that they are one of the better teams at not getting the quarterback sacked. On defense, they are 30th in total yards allowed, 18th at passing yards allowed and last at rushing yards allowed. Only six teams have fewer sacks and only three teams have fewer interceptions. When you are 27th in scoring defense and tied for 30th in scoring, you aren't going to win many games.

How did they get this way? In the past five years they have gone from 7-9 to 11-5 to 12-4 to 5-11 to 4-12. This year, they may have a hard time winning any games. After they lost the AFC championship game to the Raiders in the 2002 playoffs, and then lost to the New England Patriots in the '03 playoffs, they decided the only way to stay under the salary cap was to basically dismantle the team and rebuild.
When you approach the owner and say you are going to have to go through a year or two of rebuilding due to salary cap concerns, he must understand that there are no shortcuts. When you have to replace a franchise running back (Eddie George), a franchise QB (Steve McNair), core offensive and defensive linemen as well as other skill players, it can take a long time to get back to being a playoff team. Team officials feel like they have the quarterback of the future in Vince Young and solid, young defensive and offensive lines. Just plug in a top running back and a key player here and there and you have a playoff team again. The problem is that they are still a year or two away from getting those holes plugged up.
The sad thing is that the coach that should benefit from this rebuilding process, but Jeff Fisher may not be around to see it through to the end. People are calling for his job and he is being blamed for the Titans' lack of success. One of the trademarks of great dynasties is consistency. Teams that are always changing the coaching staff, trying to find the answer, are generally staying at the bottom. Championships are usually won with consistency. The Dallas Cowboys were led by Tom Landry and the Green Bay Packers had Vince Lombardi.
No team is apt to win consistently, like the Cowboys or the Packers did in their heyday. The draft and the salary cap were designed to produce parity across the board. Fisher deserves a chance to finish what he started, but if he doesn't, he won't be unemployed for long. He is too good a coach.

Hache Man · Oct 11, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Cards' Dansby drawing interest

posted: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks

The NFL trading deadline is next week. Here are a couple of things to ponder as it approaches.

Arizona: With all the attention paid to the recent quarterback switch between Kurt Warner and Matt Leinart, don't overlook potential trade value of other players on the Cardinals' roster. One player who might be gaining some momentum in trade talks is current backup linebacker Karlos Dansby.
In recent weeks, Danbsy has been working his way out of the doghouse with the Cardinals' coaching staff. Dansby has been slowed by nagging injuries, including a toe injury that was reported as potentially career threatening, but he has had to play due to an injury sustained by James Darling.
The Cardinals are thin at linebacker, which has been a sore spot with head coach Dennis Green. Last year, the Cardinals drafted Darryl Blackstock in the third round, and he has been slow to grasp the strongside linebacker position. At outside linebacker, Orlando Huff is in the last year of a two-year deal and there are no current plans to extend him. This year, Arizona drafted linebacker Brandon Johnson in the fifth round, but he has yet to see any substantial action.
Seattle: Though there are trade rumors swirling around wide receiver Darrell Jackson, do not be surprised if the interest dies down as the deadline approaches. Jackson still is recovering from offseason knee surgery, and that might slow any interest other teams might have in him. Jackson's production decreased drastically from 2004 to 2005. In 2004, Jackson played in all 16 games, leading the team with 87 receptions for 1,199 yards. However in 2005, his production was nearly cut in half as he only had 38 receptions for 482 yards while playing in only six games due to injury. For all his production, Jackson could be even more productive if not for the dropped balls he has had in his career. Nevertheless, Jackson does make some big plays when it counts.

Hache Man · Oct 11, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/6/06)

Special teams key in NFC East

posted: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles

The NFC East has some good special teams players who are fun to watch on game day because of their high intensity level. When I refer to special teams, I am talking about the coverage and return units only. I have no desire to talk about kickers or punters as they have cost me a game or two in my 13 years as a NFL coach.

Dallas Cowboys

When free agent Sam Hurd made the Cowboys' active roster it took some people by surprise. But not only did he play well as a receiver, he played even better on special teams. Hurd has quietly come on the scene with his excellent play. He is fast, aggressive and has a nose for the football. After being inactive in Week 1, Hurd has registered four solo tackles and one forced fumble. Not bad for a free agent wide receiver. The best Cowboys special teams player is free safety Keith Davis who is a good blocker as well as a tough physical tackler who gets double teamed a lot. OLB Kevin Burnett is big, fast and has good instincts for teams. He is tough to block because of his size and speed. Other players to watch are SS Abram Elam and CB Jacques Reeves.

New York Giants

Wide receiver David Tyree is the Giants' best special teams player. Tyree has good size for a receiver and is built more like a safety. He is a core cover guy who has a knack for finding the ball and making plays in the open field. Tyree excels as a head hunter on the punt team were is skills as a wide receiver come in handy getting off double press. The Giants' leading tackler is linebacker Reggie Torbor who has six solo tackles after four games. Torbor is a good athlete with a passion for special teams. He plays with a mean streak and reckless abandon. Another linebacker to watch is Chase Blackburn. Blackburn is a tough, physical player with good size and speed. Keep an eye on RB Brandon Jacobs and DE Mathias Kiwanuka as both have seen duty on teams and both have had solid games so far.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles have a good mix of both offensive and defensive players who contribute on special teams. Two of the top three players are safeties Quintin Mikell and Sean Considine. Mikell is the leading tackler with seven and has excellent quickness to avoid blocks. Considine is smart, tough and instinctive. Jason Short is the third top player who plays like a mad man and plays hard until the whistle blows. All three are explosive tacklers and will knock the taste out of your mouth. Omar Gaither struggled early in the season but has stepped up his level of play in recent games. The Eagles have a number of offensive players who are solid teams players that I need to point out and they are RB Ryan Moats, WR Greg Lewis and WR Jason Avant.

Washington Redskins

The best special teams player for the Redskins is Khary Campbell. He is a smart, instinctive player who makes plays week in week out. Campbell excels in both aspects of special teams play by being a punishing blocker and tackler. Fellow back up Rocky McIntosh is a down hill physical player that does not stay blocked. Two offensive players that are solid on teams are Mike Sellers and Rock Cartwright. Sellers is a core speical teams player who does a good job as a blocker and can deliver some big hits. Cartwright is an excellent kick returner who is also good at covering kicks and punts. Redskins starting safeties Sean Taylor and Adam Archuleta both contribute on teams and are productive as you would expect for these two competitive players.

Hache Man · Oct 12, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 12 New Articles Added 10/11/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 12 New Articles Added 10/11/06)

Thursday, October 12, 2006
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Scouting Matchups: Week 6

By Scouts, Inc.




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</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=3> </TD><TD width=156>Only Insiders get access to all of Scouts Inc.'s, in-depth NFL coverage, as well as insight from ESPN's stable of football analysts.
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>NFL advance scouts watch games in person, studying everything from personnel packages to play-calling signals, and on film, looking at individual players, as well as a team's various schemes and recent trends. The goal? Provide their coaching staff with the best possible means of preparation during the week of practice. Scouts Inc. does the same thing, compiling the best advance scouting reports available and delivering them to you by Tuesday afternoon on ESPN.com Insider. On Friday, after breaking down more game film, Scouts Inc. files an updated report with a deeper look at each game, spotlighting key individual matchups and trends and predicting the final score.

<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD width=100>Matchup</TD><TD>Scouting</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD colSpan=2>SUNDAY OCTOBER 15, 2006</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Seattle
at
St. Louis
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Seahawks at Rams
The Rams are playing very good football this year and stand alone atop the NFC West. The Seahawks are coming off a bye week. Two weeks ago, they suffered a vicious beating by the Bears. Marc Bulger set a franchise record last week against the Green Bay Packers for most pass attempts without and interception.

Many have questioned the Rams' defense over the past few weeks, but the unit may have quieted some of the critics, as the Rams were able to add two more fumbles to their takeaway total and increase their turnover ratio to plus 10 on the year. The Seahawks have a great defense of their own, despite giving up big plays against the Bears. This will be a good defensive battle between both teams, as each team tries to break away in the NFC West race.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Seahawks must force turnovers

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Philadelphia
at
New Orleans
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Eagles at Saints
This game features two of the top quarterbacks in the NFL in Drew Brees and Donovan McNabb, and two of the top passing offenses. This game could see a lot of scoring, and both teams have playmakers who can go the distance at anytime. The key for this game is which defense is going to make enough big plays The Eagles are 2-0 on the road and 3-0 out of the division, while the Saints have been tough at home, now that they have one.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Saints must contain McNabb

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Cincinnati
at
Tampa Bay
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Bengals at Buccaneers
Before the season started, this looked like an excellent matchup between up-and-coming teams. Then the season started. Times have changed -- for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay might have the worst overall offense in the league and its defense is starting to show its age, as it spends far too much time on the field. At 0-4, Tampa Bay's playoff hopes are now a real longshot after losing a close game to the Saints. The Bucs did show some progress on offense with Bruce Gradkowski, a rookie quarterback who started his first professional game last week.

Cincinnati, on the other hand, should be fresh and rested after its bye week, and that extra week allowed the Bengals to get some injured starters back on the field. The Bengals need this game to keep pace in the AFC North, while the Bucs try to get their first win.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Gradkowski faces tough test

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Tennessee
at
Washington
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Titans at Redskins
Tennessee is coming off a moral victory of sorts, as it held the potent Indianapolis offense to just 14 points in Week 5. The Titans will need all the confidence they can muster against a Redskins team apt to come out with a lot of fire after getting embarrassed by the Giants.

Of the Redskins' eight possessions against the Giants, six lasted six plays or less, while the Giants had six of their 10 possessions last more than seven plays (five resulting in scoring drives). This was a complete turnaround from the previous week, when the Redskins played a very solid game, beating the Jaguars. Which Redskins team shows up will have a lot to do with the outcome of this game.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Running game key for both teams

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Carolina
at
Baltimore
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Panthers at Ravens
This game pits two physical clubs that pride themselves on playing great defense and controlling the line of scrimmage. Both teams will be in the playoff hunt and this is an important out-of-conference contest. This is a big game and the Baltimore crowd will be very loud.

After starting the season 0-2, Carolina has won three in a row, including last week's win over the Browns. Carolina controlled that game, but will have to play better than it did last week to knock off the Ravens in Baltimore. The Ravens face a short week after suffering their first loss at Denver. Despite sitting atop the AFC North, they have their share of offensive problems -- particularly stretching the field and producing in the red zone.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Ravens' offense must step up

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

NY Giants
at
Atlanta
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Giants at Falcons
The Giants seemed to have fixed their problems in Week 5 with an impressive divisional win. However, they must now go on the road and face a good Falcons team that leads the league in rushing offense. Giants defensive coordinator Tim Lewis will load up the box and force QB Michael Vick to attack through the air.

The Giants will rely on RB Tiki Barber to set up the play-action pass against a Falcons defense that is ranked in the top 10 and has allowed only 42 points in four games. Also, look for a high emphasis to be placed on special teams this week because field position will be critical to the outcome of this game.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Falcons will lean on Dunn

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Houston
at
Dallas
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Texans at Cowboys
The Texans went into their bye week feeling pretty good about themselves. They won their first game against the Dolphins and their defense finally stepped up to the plate with a solid performance. Now they travel up the road to Dallas for the championship of the state of Texas.

Meanwhile, the Cowboys are coming off a tough loss in Philadelphia. The Cowboys' offensive line took a beating, giving up seven sacks after giving up only three in the previous three games. Dallas coach Bill Parcells will be glad to have the media focus on the game rather than the circus surrounding Terrell Owens. The Texans will be chomping and the bit to prove they have started to turn the season around and are heading in the right direction.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Cowboys on the rebound

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Buffalo
at
Detroit
Sun 1:00 PM ET</TD><TD>Bills at Lions
Winless Detroit is a team still trying to find its an identity. Detroit seemed to have found some offensive balance, scoring 24 and 34 points in previous weeks, but that balance disappeared in Minnesota, with Jon Kitna throwing three interceptions. Detroit imploded, blowing a 17-3 lead in the fourth quarter. Can this team persevere and fight for 60 minutes to get a win?

The other question is which Buffalo team will arrive at Ford Field on Sunday? Will it be the explosive offensive machine racking up yards, both rushing and passing, while playing aggressive defense or the inconsistent offensive unit with a generous defense? Both teams have potential, but neither has successfully established itself under new leadership.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Lions desperate for first win

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Kansas City
at
Pittsburgh
Sun 4:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Chiefs at Steelers
Kansas City has won two straight and veteran QB Damon Huard is getting the job done. He is making solid reads and coming up with big throws in critical situations. For the Chiefs, this marks the beginning of a tough, three-game stretch that could determine their playoff future.

For Pittsburgh, the season is on the line this week. Baltimore and Cincinnati are creating a lot of separation at the top of the AFC North. Ben Roethlisberger is still struggling, but the Steelers don't have a lot of answers, so he must get better in a hurry.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Gut check time for defending champs

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

San Diego
at
San Francisco
Sun 4:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Chargers at 49ers
The development of 49ers quarterback Alex Smith has been a big story line all season. He has improved from his rookie year, but he's still searching for consistency. 49ers head coach Mike Nolan is a gutsy coach who will roll the dice and make the tough calls in pressure situations. This is crucial for a young team like the 49ers because it gives the players confidence that the coach believes in his players.

The Chargers have been playing "Marty Ball" very well and will continue to do so with the running game behind LaDainian Tomlinson. Chargers QB Philip Rivers is showing he can lead his team to victory when the running game begins to struggle.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: QB Smith's safety in jeopardy

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Miami
at
NY Jets
Sun 4:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Dolphins at Jets
The Dolphins have had a poor start to the season with four close losses. The Dolphins played good enough to win on defense vs. the Patriots in Week 5, but three turnovers gave New England 17 points. The Jets were embarrassed by the Jaguars in Week 5. They had their best rushing output of the season, but QB Chad Pennington had his worst performance.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Harrington improves Miami's chances

</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Oakland
at
Denver
Sun 8:15 PM ET</TD><TD>Raiders at Broncos
This is a rivalry game and even though the Raiders have been struggling of late, they always seem to get up for the Broncos. There is some bad blood between Denver head coach Mike Shanahan and Oakland owner Al Davis, so hopefully there will be some good middle of the week comments to juice this game up a little. The Raiders' QB carousel may spin again this week. Andrew Walter has played well in spurts, but is making too many costly mistakes. Veteran QB Aaron Brooks (pectoral muscle) could be back this week, but he was not playing very well either prior to his injury.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Raiders won't go down easy

</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD colSpan=2>MONDAY OCTOBER 16, 2006</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD align=middle>

Chicago
at
Arizona
Mon 8:30 PM ET</TD><TD>Bears at Cardinals
The Bears take their act to the Valley of the Sun, as Arizona fans get a chance to watch an elite team play football. Chicago is the most complete team in the NFL. Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart was very solid in his first start, tossing a pair of touchdown passes, and showing leadership and grit in running a two-minute drill to get in position to tie the game. Arizona has found ways to lose close games, but the promising rookie quarterback looks to have a bright future working with Arizona's bevy of offensive weapons, which should make Dennis Green smile.
? Complete advance scouting report
? Take 2: Leinart will be feeling heat
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 12, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 12 New Articles Added 10/11/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 12 New Articles Added 10/11/06)

Poison pills here to stay

posted: Thursday, October 12, 2006 | Print Entry

Poison pills here to stay: Attempts to fix the poison pill problem like the one used by the Vikings when they signed guard Steve Hutchinson are failing. The Management Council and the NFLPA are in the final stages of completing a lengthy document that will be distributed to teams. While fixing the poison pill concept was one of the league's priorities, the NFL deemed the trade off to fixing the pill too steep. Hutchinson signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Vikings, after being designated a transition player by the Seahawks. As a transition player, Hutchinson was allowed to sign with another team as long as the Seahawks had a chance to match.

The Vikings put clauses in the deal called poison pills that would have forced the Seahawks to guarantee all $49 million of the contract. The Seahawks and the league were furious. The union put a high price on eliminating those types of poison pills. In the end, the NFL felt so few players are affected that it wasn't worth giving more to the players in the CBA extension.
While the NFL won't be able to prevent teams from using poison pill clauses to steal restricted free agents, the league believes it won't be a big issue during the CBA extension. First, the Seahawks experience taught teams to franchise key free agents, instead of transitioning them. Second, more and more teams signed rookies to four-year contracts, eliminating many of the restricted free agents of the future. Third, the new CBA added a second-round designation that gives teams the chance to ward off offers on key special teams, and undrafted or low round draft choices, when they reach their restricted free agent years. NFC facing conference call: This will be a key weekend for the NFC in its battles with the AFC. The AFC has dominated for several years, but better quarterback play in the NFC may be cutting the difference. The NFC leads this year's series 9-6, and there are six interconference games this weekend. The AFC is becoming the defensive conference this season, even though it boasts some of the NFL's best quarterbacks. This year, NFC teams are scoring three points a game more than AFC teams, in what has been a low scoring start to the season.

Hache Man · Oct 12, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 12 New Articles Added 10/11/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 12 New Articles Added 10/11/06)

Updated: Oct. 12, 2006
Caldwell is borderline Day 1 pick

By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.
Archive




<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Andre Caldwell is Florida's second-leading receiver with 21 catches through six games. He has not, however, shown the same burst and explosiveness since returning from a 2005 season-ending leg injury. He is averaging just nine yards per reception this season and has been relieved of his return duties due to durability concerns.
Caldwell lacks ideal size and elite speed, which also places a ceiling on his draft potential. He has one more year of eligibility remaining after the 2006 season, but he is expected to leave school early. With some unexpected senior wide receivers rising up the board (e.g. East Carolina's Aundrae Allison, Notre Dame's Rhema McKnight and LSU's Dwayne Bowe) and several elite junior receivers expected to declare early (e.g. Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson, USC's Dwayne Jarrett and Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr.), Caldwell will be fortunate if taken in the first three rounds of the 2007 NFL draft.
Underrated: Aaron Ross, CB/PR, Texas
Ross is coming off the best game in what has been the best season of his career. The 6-foot, 190-pound senior played a significant role with two interceptions and a fumble recovery in Texas' second consecutive victory over Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry.
Outside of surrendering a touchdown catch to Ginn Jr. (Ohio State) in the second week of the season, Ross has been nearly flawless when left alone in man-to-man coverage. He possesses adequate size and speed to go along with his playmaking instincts. Ross also has value as a punt return specialist that is averaging 13.8 yards per attempt this season, including a long of 58 yards he returned for a score. If he turns in good postseason workouts to go along with his strong senior campaign, Ross can elevate his draft stock to the late second- or early third-round range.

Sleeper of the week: David Ball, WR, New Hampshire
Ball notched his 51st touchdown reception in last Saturday's win over Richmond, which broke the Division I career record held by Jerry Rice. Ball's below-average speed generates concerns regarding his potential to separate from man-to-man coverage versus faster NFL defensive backs. Then again, the same was said about Rice when he was coming out of Mississippi Valley State before he went on to break NFL records for career receptions, yards and receiving touchdowns.
By no means does Ball compare to Rice in terms of skill-sets as a draft prospect. However, Ball's strong hands, athletic ability and route-running skills make the possession receiver worthy of a sixth- or seventh-round pick in next April's draft.
Can't miss individual matchup:
Auburn RB Kenny Irons vs. Florida WLB Earl Everett
Irons has struggled through somewhat of an injury-riddled first half to his senior season. The 200-pound senior has rushed for 514 yards on 108 carries in five games played -- he sat out the Buffalo game attempting to rest lingering toe and ankle injuries.
Despite his up-and-down production, Irons remains the top senior running back prospect in the 2007 draft class. He is capable of wearing down a defense if he gets enough carries, as his shifty, cutback running style can exploit defensive fronts that tend to be overaggressive.
Unfortunately for Irons, he must get back on track this Saturday against a Florida run defense that ranks fourth nationally, allowing just 56.8 yards per game. There are several standouts on the Gator defense but Everett has emerged as the top run-stopper with 36 total tackles through six games as a senior. Everett possesses an outstanding combination of size and speed, and his recognition skills continue to improve. Not only will this one-on-one matchup give NFL scouts something to monitor in the ground game, but it also will serve as a good litmus test for Irons' abilities as a receiver and blocker, as well as Everett's abilities as a pass rusher and in coverage.
The following is an early look at the top 32 NFL draft prospects in the 2007 class. For the first time this season I have included eligible underclassmen to this list:
<TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=430 border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000" colSpan=5>Scouts Inc.'s Top 32</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width="5%">RANK</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width="35%">NAME</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width="10%">POS</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width="10%">CLASS</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width="30%">SCHOOL</TD><TD style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #999999" width="10%">PREV</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">1.</TD><TD width="35%">Joe Thomas</TD><TD width="10%">OT</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Wisconsin</TD><TD width="10%">2</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">2.</TD><TD width="35%">Brady Quinn</TD><TD width="10%">QB</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Notre Dame</TD><TD width="10%">1</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">3.</TD><TD width="35%">Calvin Johnson</TD><TD width="10%">WR</TD><TD width="10%">JR</TD><TD width="30%">Georgia Tech</TD><TD width="10%">NR</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">4.</TD><TD width="35%">Adrian Peterson</TD><TD width="10%">RB</TD><TD width="10%">JR</TD><TD width="30%">Oklahoma</TD><TD width="10%">NR</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">5.</TD><TD width="35%">Gaines Adams</TD><TD width="10%">DE</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Clemson</TD><TD width="10%">9</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">6.</TD><TD width="35%">Leon Hall</TD><TD width="10%">CB</TD><TD width="10%">RB</TD><TD width="30%">Michigan</TD><TD width="10%">5</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">7.</TD><TD width="35%">Brian Brohm</TD><TD width="10%">QB</TD><TD width="10%">JR</TD><TD width="30%">Louisville</TD><TD width="10%">NR</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">8.</TD><TD width="35%">Dwayne Jarrett</TD><TD width="10%">WR</TD><TD width="10%">JR</TD><TD width="30%">USC</TD><TD width="10%">NR</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">9.</TD><TD width="35%">Quentin Moses</TD><TD width="10%">DE</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Georgia</TD><TD width="10%">4</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">10.</TD><TD width="35%">Marcus McCauley</TD><TD width="10%">CB</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Fresno State</TD><TD width="10%">3</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">11.</TD><TD width="35%">Kenny Irons</TD><TD width="10%">RB</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Auburn</TD><TD width="10%">6</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">12.</TD><TD width="35%">Quinn Pitcock</TD><TD width="10%">DT</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Ohio State</TD><TD width="10%">7</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">13.</TD><TD width="35%">Levi Brown</TD><TD width="10%">OT</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Penn State</TD><TD width="10%">8</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">14.</TD><TD width="35%">Paul Posluszny</TD><TD width="10%">LB</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Penn State</TD><TD width="10%">10</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">15.</TD><TD width="35%">Ted Ginn Jr.</TD><TD width="10%">WR</TD><TD width="10%">JR</TD><TD width="30%">Ohio State</TD><TD width="10%">NR</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">16.</TD><TD width="35%">Sam Baker</TD><TD width="10%">OT</TD><TD width="10%">JR</TD><TD width="30%">USC</TD><TD width="10%">NR</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">17.</TD><TD width="35%">Drew Stanton</TD><TD width="10%">QB</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Michigan State</TD><TD width="10%">11</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">18.</TD><TD width="35%">Glenn Dorsey</TD><TD width="10%">DT</TD><TD width="10%">JR</TD><TD width="30%">LSU</TD><TD width="10%">NR</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">19.</TD><TD width="35%">LaRon Landry</TD><TD width="10%">S</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">LSU</TD><TD width="10%">12</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">20.</TD><TD width="35%">Jake Long</TD><TD width="10%">OT</TD><TD width="10%">JR</TD><TD width="30%">Michigan</TD><TD width="10%">NR</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">21.</TD><TD width="35%">Jeff Samardzija</TD><TD width="10%">WR</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Notre Dame</TD><TD width="10%">13</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">22.</TD><TD width="35%">LaMarr Woodley</TD><TD width="10%">DE</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Michigan</TD><TD width="10%">14</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">23.</TD><TD width="35%">Patrick Willis</TD><TD width="10%">ILB</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Mississippi</TD><TD width="10%">15</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">24.</TD><TD width="35%">Adam Carriker</TD><TD width="10%">DE</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Nebraska</TD><TD width="10%">16</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">25.</TD><TD width="35%">Ryan Harris</TD><TD width="10%">OT</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Notre Dame</TD><TD width="10%">17</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">26.</TD><TD width="35%">Zach Miller</TD><TD width="10%">TE</TD><TD width="10%">JR</TD><TD width="30%">Arizona State</TD><TD width="10%">NR</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">27.</TD><TD width="35%">Alan Branch</TD><TD width="10%">DT</TD><TD width="10%">JR</TD><TD width="30%">Michigan</TD><TD width="10%">NR</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">28.</TD><TD width="35%">Brandon Meriweather</TD><TD width="10%">S</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Miami-FL</TD><TD width="10%">19</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">29.</TD><TD width="35%">Justin Blalock</TD><TD width="10%">OT</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Texas</TD><TD width="10%">20</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">30.</TD><TD width="35%">Daymeion Hughes</TD><TD width="10%">CB</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Cal</TD><TD width="10%">NR</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">31.</TD><TD width="35%">Tom Zbikowski</TD><TD width="10%">S</TD><TD width="10%">SR</TD><TD width="30%">Notre Dame</TD><TD width="10%">23</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="5%">32.</TD><TD width="35%">Frank Okam</TD><TD width="10%">DT</TD><TD width="10%">JR</TD><TD width="30%">Texas</TD><TD width="10%">NR</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" vAlign=top></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
The following is a ranked list of 30 additional underclassmen that did not make the top 32 list but remain on the NFL scouting radar as we approach the second half of the 2006 college football season: 1. Marshawn Lynch, RB, Cal; 2. Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia; 3. Sidney Rice (X), WR, South Carolina; 4. Kirk Barton, OT, Ohio State; 5. Lawrence Jackson, DE, USC; 6. Limas Sweed, WR, Texas; 7. Greg Olsen, TE, Miami-FL; 8. Eric Wright, DC, UNLV; 9. Andre Fluellen, DT, Florida State; 10. Keith Rivers, OLB, USC; 11. Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee; 12. Brandon Siler, ILB, Florida; 13. Chad Henne, QB, Michigan; 14. Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College; 15. Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida; 16. Antoine Cason, CB, Arizona; 17. Reggie Nelson, S, Florida; 18. John David Booty, QB, USC; 19. Vince Hall, ILB, Virginia Tech; 20. JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU; 21. Dan Connor, OLB, Penn State; 22. Barry Richardson, OT, Clemson; 23. Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh; 24. Andre Brown (X), RB, N.C. State; 25. Jonathan Goff, ILB, Vanderbilt; 26. Antonio Pittman, RB, Ohio State; 27. Lawrence Timmons, OLB, Florida State; 28. Chris Ellis, DE, Virginia Tech; 29. Dennis Dixon, QB, Oregon; 30. Mike Hart, RB, Michigan.
(X) -- indicates third-year sophomore
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Hache Man · Oct 12, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 12 New Articles Added 10/11/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 12 New Articles Added 10/11/06)

'Browncos' key to Denver defense

posted: Thursday, October 12, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Denver Broncos

I said it a few weeks back and received some negative responses in my mailbag, so I will reiterate the point again this week. The Denver Broncos are one of the elite defenses in the NFL. I don't care that their overall ranking is 12th. They are first in red-zone defense and second in points allowed. Your opponent can't win if it doesn't score, and that has been the name of the game for Denver.

While a lot of the credit for the defense's success is rightly given to an athletic, fast linebacker unit and a secondary led by Champ Bailey and John Lynch, there are some other guys getting the job done too.
I like to call the guys up front the "Browncos," because they are all Cleveland castoffs. Gerard Warren, Courtney Brown, Michael Myers and Ebenezer Ekuban all arrived from Cleveland before the 2005 season. Kenard Lang lasted one more year as an OLB with the Browns before coming to Denver before this season.
Yes, I know Cleveland made the change from the 4-3 defense to the 3-4, and some of these guys might not have fit what the coaching staff wanted. We will never know, though, because new GM Phil Savage got rid of the majority of them without even consulting new coach Romeo Crennel, the man implementing the new defensive system.
I still remember when the Broncos were acquiring all these players. There were laughs, giggles and finger-pointing at Denver, with people saying, "You'll be sorry." I also remember a lot of people in league circles saying Mike Shanahan was allowing new defensive line coach Andre Patterson to sway his opinions. See, Patterson was the defensive line coach in Cleveland when all these guys were there.
Now it is Patterson and the Broncos who are getting the last laugh. Unfortunately for Patterson, he is not getting nearly the recognition he deserves for helping acquire these players, then molding them into one of the most underrated defensive line units in the NFL. Patterson is a great coach and has the respect of every one of those guys. That is why even though they are not the most athletic or most physical unit in the league, it is one of the hardest-working. Middle linebacker Al Wilson, weak-side linebacker D.J. Williams and strong-side linebacker Ian Gold make a ton of plays every Sunday. But ask any of them why that is, and they will tell you it is a lot easier to make plays when you have the "Browncos" up front dominating the line of scrimmage.

Hache Man · Oct 12, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 12 New Articles Added 10/11/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 12 New Articles Added 10/11/06)

Fans sounds off on NFC South

posted: Thursday, October 12, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons

Last week, I asked you, the fans, some questions about the NFC South. There was a lot of interaction and some interesting thoughts and opinions about your favorite teams. Thanks again for interacting.

Joe, New Orleans

Hey Keith, I love your response of putting the fans in the hot seat. As you know, I am a big Saints fan. I totally disagree with you and your opinion about the Saints not making the playoffs. Without a doubt, the Saints are the best team in the NFC South. With the addition of Brees, this team has positioned itself to be the clear favorite in the South. The Bucs stink and the Panthers and Falcons will show their true colors late in the season. Just remember I told you so when the Saints win the NFC South divisional crown.

Hank, Charlotte

Keith, I think Jake Delhomme has what it takes to lead this team to the big game. He is a great leader, does a good job managing a game and he can make big plays when needed. He is pretty accurate, but what stands out to me, considering playing two games without Steve Smith, is he only has one interception after the first five games. So he is not giving up the big plays that hurt. We can't say the same about the running backs as they've had five fumbles lost. I think Smith has the biggest impact on this team and he could make plays if he were playing with a walker. He is so quick and explosive that defenses have to pay a lot of attention to him. Even so, he has still been productive and he has opened things up for Keyshawn Johnson. I think right now, the defense is more suited at stopping the run, which they did a good job of against New Orleans. I think it will be a matter of time as teams continue to try to stop Julius Peppers that the other linemen will get more pressure.

Kyle, Florida

In terms of evaluating a quaterback, I would have to go with intelligence as my No. 1 requirement. The ability to see things on the field, process and make smart decisions is critical. Plus, if the QB has some smarts, you are able to run a more complex system. Obviously, there are a number of important traits, but I feel the intelligence of the QB is of the utmost importance.

Mark, Richmond, Ky.

Michael Vick has too much athletic ability for his own good. He is an Indy car with loose steering. He looks great going 230 miles per hour down the stretch but ugly when it wrecks in the turn. No matter how much the the fans enjoy him, Vick is an NFL QB not a running back. I would make Vick into a drop back pocket passer and utilize his running skills only as a last option. If the Falcons could turn Vick into a traditional NFL QB and not the next "bad experiment," then the Falcons go to the Super Bowl and Vick's career will be lengthy and full of success. I know it sounds boring, but the NFL has shortened or ruined the career of many QBs who thought they could become great runners in the NFL. Vick has a great arm and super feet. He needs to use them both to be the next great NFL QB.

Brian, Southern California

Hey Keith, great idea letting us have a chance to throw our two cents in. I'm a Falcons fan and I have my doubts about Vick's ability to get them deep into the playoffs. I'm no expert but it seems to me that he does not have the pocket presence that other quarterbacks have. Most QBs have first, second and third options in their passing game. Vick seems to have a first option and then he looks to scramble. The Saints did an amazing job of not attacking Vick from the outside, leaving the lanes to daylight obstructed. I think the spread option is an easy thing to defend at the pro level so going forward the Falcons will need Vick to be a better QB when it comes to employing more options into his passing game. Then he will be even more dangerous when he runs. Just my thoughts. Thanks.

Nick, Louisville, Ky.
Drew Brees has been a difference-maker for the Saints, a far contrast from the days of Aaron Brooks. No matter the lead, under Brooks the team never knew if it would hold up because of Brooks' poor decision-making. Every game was a wild ride. Credit has to go to head coach Sean Payton as well for bringing accountability. Former Saints' coach Jim Haslett did a poor job of holding the team accountable for its actions, and apathy set in as a result. None of the players really cared if the Saints won or lost because it didn't have any impact on their jobs or futures.

Hache Man · Oct 12, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 12 New Articles Added 10/11/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 12 New Articles Added 10/11/06)

Battered Lions must adjust, adapt

posted: Thursday, October 12, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Detroit Lions

Detroit is a beaten, battered and defeated team. Head coach Rod Marinelli is not a man of excuses, but of accountability and action, so look for his team to begin to take on more of his personality -- one of toughness and perseverance.

Was Marinelli excited to see his offensive guru Mike Martz completely abandon the running game with a 17-3 lead going into the fourth quarter? Sure Minnesota's interior tackles Pat "The Destroyer" Williams and All-Pro Kevin Williams were dominating inside, but a two-touchdown lead deserves more than three second-half carries, if for nothing more than keeping the defense honest and burning up the clock and resting the defense, which had been playing at a high level. The defense effectively adjusted its scheme playing more zone coverage.
Was Marinelli excited to see his quarterback give up two fourth-quarter turnovers that Minnesota returned for touchdowns? When Detroit completely gave up on the run and became one-dimensional, it allowed the Vikings to tee off, creating penetration problems and turnovers.
Martz made a tactical error that led to the loss in Minnesota, and that cannot be repeated or Buffalo will leave Ford Field with a win this Sunday.
Considering the multiple problems on the offensive line that got even worse when Damien Woody was ruled out for the season, Detroit must adjust the offensive game plan and get away from Martz' preference to go down the field passing the ball. The Lions need to get into more two back sets, attacking the defense and the line of scrimmage with Cory Schlesinger lead blocking and Kevin Jones aggressively running downhill.
This approach will allow the revamped offensive line to fire off the ball, get in sync with each other and let Kitna utilize the play-action passing game to keep the defense honest. Against the small but speedy Buffalo defense, this will be an especially effective approach.
Also look for Detroit to utilize the quick screen package, throwing to the backs, tight ends and wide receivers. This will help Kitna get the ball out of his hands quickly and let the skill-position players make plays and avoid the protection problems that have yielded 19 sacks, caused six interceptions and seven fumbles and led to 26 punts. Staying committed to the run and throwing quick screens and play-action passes will extend drives and eventually allow Martz to call a few of his favorite drop-back passes and throw down the field. This Detroit team has a chance to take on Marinelli's personality and be tough, persevere and even get a win if it adjusts the offensive philosophy to cover for the current personnel situation.

Hache Man · Oct 13, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Updated: Oct. 13, 2006
Gradkowski showing promise

By Gary Horton
Scouts Inc.
Archive




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Three rookie quarterbacks started in Week 5, and each showed positive signs for the future. In all three cases, the young QB was expected to sit and learn this season, but poor play from the starter led to him being thrown into the fire.
Does a rookie QB benefit by playing early and taking his knocks, or is it best to learn by holding a clipboard and playing behind an experienced veteran? There is no definitive answer, but very few young QBs have immediate success.
First of all, they are usually on bad teams with few playmakers. Secondly, the game is so much faster and more complex than they are used to on the college level, they struggle with the mental aspects. I don't think a player learns a lot by watching on the sidelines. The only way to get used to the speed of the game is by actually playing.
However, I will admit that some talented young QBs thrown into the action too early have never been the same. Three teams appear willing to take that risk this season. Let's look at Vince Young (Tennessee), Matt Leinart (Arizona) and Bruce Gradkowski (Tampa Bay).
Vince Young -- Tennessee Titans
Young is probably the least ready of all the rookie QBs, yet he was the first one to start. The scary thing is there is no backup plan in Tennessee if he struggles. You cannot question his physical skills and athleticism, but the transition from his run-oriented college offense at Texas to a complex NFL offense at Tennessee is huge. Right now, his best plays are being made with his feet.
The option/read scheme he ran in college has been incorporated into the Titans' offense. Young's ability to read the defensive end and either hand the ball off, if the DE rushes wide, or keep the ball and run, if the DE crashes, not only led to a Young rushing TD last week, but also gave a big boost to a struggling Tennessee run game. This play is so successful that Michael Vick has copied it in Atlanta.
Young is most dangerous in the passing game when he is on the move, and he can be effective when the play starts to break down and he can just play catch with his receivers. However, when he stays in the pocket and tries to be a dropback QB, he is not the same threat. His biggest problem right now is that he locks on to his primary receiver, and he has no concept of looking a safety off or reading his progressions.
As a result, defenders will read his eyes to get to the ball and Young will try to force too many throws into double and triple coverage. While he has the ability to throw a nice deep ball, Young's coaches have made this a simple passing attack with dump-offs to backs, screen passes and easy throws.
Only three of his passes last week at Indianapolis went to WRs, and as a result, defenses don't respect the Titans' vertical passing game and are simply squeezing Young, attacking the running game and short passing game. He will continue to be an erratic QB, with some big plays and some big mistakes.
He is still learning to take the snap from center after a college career in which he played primarily out of the shotgun, and his ability to process information before the snap and make good decisions is a work in progress. It will be a long time before we can put a definitive grade on this report card.
Matt Leinart -- Arizona Cardinals
In his first start last week, a loss to St. Louis, Leinart played well enough to give Arizona fans hope for the future. In his first five passing attempts, he threw two touchdowns, and his touch and accuracy were outstanding.
He has an excellent grasp of this offense for a young player. Unlike most situations when a rookie QB is starting, head coach Dennis Green has given Leinart his full game plan, not taking anything out of the playbook or dumming down the offense. In fact, Green can actually expand some of the things the Cardinals want to do offensively, because of Leinart's mobility. Green could not do that with the much less mobile Kurt Warner at the helm.
While we don't think of Leinart as a running QB, he has a knack for moving around in the pocket, not only to buy time while his receivers get open, but also to find better passing lanes as the pocket collapses. When you play behind an offensive line that can't pass protect, and when you have big, physical receivers who need time to separate, those movement skills become a precious commodity.
You also have to like the way he is able to audibilize at the line of scrimmage. His first TD in Week 5 came on an audible, where he read the blitz with eight defenders in the box and knew he had single man-to-man coverage on the perimeter. Leinart also did a good job of running the two-minute drill, and his poise and confidence is really a positive factor.
However, Leinart may be in for some rough days. He has no running game, is playing behind the worst offensive line in the NFL, and will be without WR Larry Fitzgerald indefinitely because of a hamstring injury. That does not bode well when you are getting ready to face the Chicago Bears' dominating defense on "Monday Night Football."
Leinart is the real deal, and is ready mentally to play and be productive. However, he took a lot of hits from Kansas City and his toughness will really be put to the test until the Cardinals upgrade their offensive line, which will hopefully lead to better pass protection and an improved running game.
Bruce Gradkowski -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He is the least-known of the rookie QBs, but he may have played the best on Sunday in his first start, a losing effort against New Orleans. As a sixth-round draft pick from Toledo, he was expected to sit for a long time behind Chris Simms, but an injury to Simms changed all of that. For the rest of the 2006 season, this is Gradkowski's team.
Jon Gruden is tough on his QBs because he demands perfection, but he seems to be legitimately excited about developing this young guy. Gruden's offense forces quarterbacks to read defenses in layers, and it takes a guy who can process information quickly and read his progressions. Gradkowski is doing a good job of that.
Gruden also uses a lot of personnel groupings to confuse defenses. His young QB was able to adjust to those groupings and even made some quality audibles. He ran the no-huddle offense on occasion, and did a good job of getting the ball to his best playmaker, WR Joey Galloway. Gradkowski moves very well in the pocket and seems to have a natural feel for the rush. He is not afraid to hang in there and take a hit, while waiting for his receivers to separate and get open. His most impressive quality may be his command in the huddle. He is very calm, and it seems to be rubbing off on his teammates. Gruden falls in and out of love with QBs, but Gradkowski has a lot of skills his head coach likes, and this could turn into a long-term relationship.
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Hache Man · Oct 13, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Updated: Oct. 13, 2006
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Peterson eyeing spot with contending team

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Archive




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When last we wrote about former Giants cornerback Will Peterson, back in early June, the four-year veteran was facing the daunting challenge of recovering from a back injury that forced New York to release him a few weeks earlier, and hoping to return to the NFL in 2007.
This update is in order: After months of treatments and rehabilitation -- but note, please, no surgery -- Peterson was cleared by specialists in late September to return to the football field and will begin auditioning for teams in a few weeks. Why the delay before working out? Because Peterson, who has not played in a game in 13 months, wanted a few weeks to get himself back into some semblance of football shape before putting himself in front of scouts to be scrutinized.
And when he's ready to work out, there figure to be plenty of personnel directors and scouts who will want to eyeball Peterson, since more than a dozen franchises have been in touch with agent Ron Slavin to inquire about the cornerback's status.
But come November, Slavin told ESPN.com this week, only teams in playoff contention need call.

Ralph Waclawicz/WireImage.com
Will Peterson expects to hear from a lot of teams when he's ready to work out.

"If he is going to play half a season, Will wants to get to a winning situation, one where he has a real shot to contribute to a franchise's success and to re-establish himself," Slavin said. "Those are pretty much the ground rules. Hopefully, he can get back [on a one-year contract], show people he can play again, and then make some real money in free agency [next spring]."
One might suggest that, in the case of Peterson, beggars shouldn't be choosers. But if Peterson is fully recovered, and even remotely approximates the skill level of his past, he might be able to choose from among a few teams seeking a quality cornerback for the playoff stretch run. After all, where else, at the mid-point of the NFL year, is a team going to be able to locate a corner of Peterson's caliber?
The story of Peterson, as related in this space in the past, is equal parts intriguing and bizarre. A third-round selection in the 2001 draft, Peterson missed 11 games in 2003 after suffering a stress fracture to the right transverse process, a small bone in the lower back. He returned to camp the following summer and was so highly regarded that the Giants signed him to a five-year, $27 million contract extension.
Peterson responded by playing in all 16 games in 2004, arguably the best season of his career. But then last season, the back problems flared up in camp, worsened early in the season, and eventually forced Peterson onto injured reserve. The diagnosis: An old displaced fracture and so-called "hot spots," an auguring of a potential stress fracture to the left transverse process. Unlike the 2003 injury, this one wasn't a full-blown fracture.
"Basically, they told him it would be better if it had been broken all the way," Slavin said at the time. "So one of the things that they suggested was that he do some hard running, hoping to break the bone. Instead, with all the running he did, the area around the bone got stronger. But it didn't make his back any stronger, at least in terms that would allow him to play."
Surgery was out of the question, because it would have ended Peterson's career. But through hard work, his back is stronger now, and he's prepared to resume a career that stalled when the Giants released him in May, after a two-day battery of tests.
There is still some discomfort for Peterson, allowed Slavin, but it's mild compared to the once-debilitating pain he experienced. At age 27, and even though Peterson has played in just 23 games the past three seasons, he is almost certain to garner interest. Experienced cornerbacks are hard to find at any time of the season, let alone halfway through one.
So if Peterson is as healthy as Slavin suggests he is, there figures to be a playoff contender looking for depth or maybe a nickel cornerback, and willing to take a chance on him.

Around the league

? One veteran cornerback who appeared to be available and was drawing some trade inquiries was Jerametrius Butler of St. Louis, a former starter and an accomplished cover defender who has slipped to No. 5 on the Rams' depth chart. St. Louis wasn't especially inclined to deal Butler, a sixth-year veteran, but might have been tempted if the price was right -- at least until a spate of recent injuries hit the secondary. Butler, an emerging player in 2003-2004, but sidelined for all of 2005 by a knee injury, didn't even dress for the first four games of this season. But he played last week in a victory at Green Bay, and could be forced into the starting lineup for Sunday's game against Seattle because of injuries to starters Travis Fisher (groin) and Fakhir Brown (ankle).
Butler wouldn't mind moving on, particularly if it meant a chance to start, and Sunday might provide an opportunity for St. Louis to showcase him to any potential suitors. But unless the Rams convince themselves their starters are healthy, and that they have ample depth, they probably won't deal Butler, who at 27 should still have some good years in front of him. Besides falling behind Fisher and Brown on the depth chart, Butler has been playing behind first-round draft choice Tye Hill and second-year veteran Ron Bartell.

? Amid all the rhetoric about wide receiver Randy Moss wanting out of Oakland, perhaps the most interesting name being kicked around in the rumor mill as next Tuesday afternoon's trade deadline (4 p.m. Eastern) nears is that of Arizona Cardinals left offensive tackle Leonard Davis. The team's first-round choice in the 2001 draft, and the second prospect taken overall that year, Davis never has lived up to that lofty billing. He was supposed to have been the cornerstone for the rebuilding of the Cardinals' offensive line but has fallen shy of that. Still, the former University of Texas star is a solid and durable veteran, a mammoth blocker with good feet, and the best player on an otherwise dreary and underachieving unit.
So why entertain trade offers for a guy who, at age 28, still has a lot of football ahead of him? Well, Davis is in the final season of his original rookie contract, earning $9 million-plus this year, and the Cardinals apparently feel there is no way they can retain him. Arizona, which went into the season wanting to see how Davis played this season before making him an extension offer, has not initiated contract talks. While every other team in the league seems hell-bent on locking up their left tackles with long-term deals -- Jeff Backus (Detroit), Levi Jones (Cincinnati) and Bryant McKinnie (Minnesota) were all potential free agents for next spring and all signed lucrative extensions in the last four months -- Arizona apparently didn't see that as prudent. But rather than allow Davis to walk away in free agency next spring, when he would be, by default if nothing else, the top veteran left tackle available, the Cardinals might now think it is wiser to try to get something in exchange for him. And, make no mistake, the Cardinals have not only fielded inquiries about Davis, but have made a few calls of their own to gauge potential suitors. Problem is, any team interested in acquiring Davis, who started mostly at right guard before he was switched to left tackle by coach Denny Green in 2004, will want him to sign an extension before completing a trade. And, to this point, the Cardinals haven't given his agents permission to talk to anyone. Second, Arizona really doesn't have an adequate replacement on its roster. So it appears, unless something happens quickly, that Davis, who has 80 starts on his r?sum? and has never started fewer than 14 games in a season, probably will finish the year in Arizona. And then a team that has allowed talented players to escape via free agency will let another one depart.

? While the offseason trade market in the NFL has increased dramatically over the past three years, it will be surprising if there are any blockbuster swaps before Tuesday's deadline. From a technical standpoint, it is far easier to trade now, because changes in the collective bargaining agreement allow teams to delay the so-called "acceleration" of prorated signing bonus money into the current's year's salary cap. And with the cap set at a record $102 million this season, there are several teams with ample room to take on a pretty healthy contract. But the reality is, most personnel directors and coaches are inclined to stay the course with their current rosters, and there aren't -- beyond a guy like Moss or even fellow Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter -- many difference-makers available in trades anyway.
What probably will transpire are a few deals involving offensive and defensive linemen, two areas where several teams are shopping because of injuries, but the odds of a true eye-opening trade aren't good. There were three trades last year on "deadline day," involving four players, three of them backup quarterbacks. There were also three deadline trades in 2004. Still, even with that relative flurry of action in the past two years, there have been just 20 deadline deals since the Halloween Day 1987 megaswap that sent Hall of Fame tailback Eric Dickerson from the Los Angeles Rams to the Indianapolis Colts. Most of the players who have changed addresses in deadline deals -- a litany that includes guys like quarterback Steve Pelluer, linebacker Alex Gordon, defensive lineman Stalin Colinet, guard Kelvin Garmon and tailbacks Tim Worley, Karim Abdul-Jabbar and Napoleon McCallum -- were forgettable. San Diego did land wide receiver Keenan McCardell in a deadline deal two years ago, a trade that helped the Chargers advance to the playoffs in 2004, but such beneficial deals in October are rare, indeed. One name to watch on Tuesday: Philadelphia defensive tackle Sam Rayburn, a fourth-year veteran but the odd-man out in the eight-player rotation that coordinator Jim Johnson has been using with the Eagles' down linemen.

? When punter Todd Sauerbrun was released on Tuesday by the Denver Broncos, after he returned from a four-game suspension for a violation of the NFL's banned substances policy, agent David Canter settled himself near a telephone and awaited a flurry of calls. Sauerbrun, after all, is a three-time Pro Bowl performer and one of the elite punters in the league over the past decade. A few days later and, while Canter has gotten some return calls from the several messages he left with friendly personnel directors around the league, his phone has been strangely silent.
Sauerbrun has been difficult to deal with at times, and the suspension for using a supplement that contained ephedra isn't the kind of r?sum? entry anyone wants. But the guy is still a choir boy compared to some people earning paychecks around the league. Canter is justifiably mystified by the inexplicable lack of interest in his client. Said Canter:
"About the only calls I got were from friends in the business, basically saying, like, 'We can't touch that guy.' I mean, there are a lot of players who have done worse and are still in the league. I can't figure it out."
It's hard to believe that Sauerbrun won't be punting somewhere in a few weeks. The Redskins, where incumbent Derrick Frost is nursing a minor injury, auditioned the ageless Sean Landeta this week, and owner Dan Snyder is always tempted by big-name free agents, even punters. For now, though, the market for the 12-year veteran Sauerbrun is a quiet one.

? His first two starts demonstrated considerable promise, but also displayed that Tennessee Titans first-round quarterback Vince Young has plenty of work to do in a lot of areas. Among them: Dealing with the pressures of being a franchise savior and of handling the media. Young declined to speak with the local reporters before his first regular-season start two weeks ago. And then after Sunday's difficult loss at the RCA Dome, where the Titans came within minutes of upsetting Indianapolis, he stiffed reporters again. Young was 30-2 as a starter at the University of Texas, and now has equaled that number of losses in his first two NFL starts. Given the current state of the Titans, Young, the third overall choice in this year's draft, better warm to the idea there are going to be a few more losses hung on him. And he needs to get used to the notion that dealing with the pressures inherent to his job are part of the job description at the NFL level.

? Indianapolis used its bye this week to, among other things, audition 16-year veteran wide receiver Ricky Proehl, and the Colts could be interested in signing him if Brandon Stokley doesn't quickly get over the strained knee that is the latest in a nagging litany of physical woes to inflict him this season. After releasing kicker Martin Gramatica, an insurance policy no longer needed now that Adam Vinatieri appears to be fully recovered from a groin injury, the Colts have an opening on their roster. And Proehl, inarguably one of the elite slot receivers in league history, would be a good fit. Indianapolis loves to spread the field, with either Stokley or tight end Dallas Clark working out of the slot inside starters Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, and the frequent absences of Stokley take a key element away from the offense.
In 16 seasons, and with five different teams, Proehl caught 666 passes for 8,848 yards and 54 touchdowns. More than 60 percent of his receptions resulted in first downs. The guy works the middle of the field like a magician, catches everything, and still has some run-after-catch skills left, even at 38 years of age. A few teams showed some offseason interest in Proehl, who had 25 catches and an impressive 17.6-yard average while playing for Carolina in 2005, and he has kept himself in good shape. No one should be surprised if he is on the field when the Colts resume play against Washington on Oct. 22.
<TABLE class=tableheadFixWidth cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=200 align=right><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD class=whitelink colSpan=2>Desmond Clark</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>

Tight end
Chicago Bears

Profile</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD align=middle><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width=190 bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead align=middle><TD align=middle colSpan=5>2006 SEASON STATISTICS</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" align=right><TD width="17%">Rec</TD><TD width="17%">Yds</TD><TD width="17%">Avg</TD><TD width="17%">Long</TD><TD width="17%">TD</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#999999><TD>16</TD><TD>244</TD><TD>15.3</TD><TD>33</TD><TD>1</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
? There's no doubt that, after the performance of quarterback Rex Grossman, who is finally healthy for the first time in his career, the most important new component to the Chicago Bears' suddenly potent passing game is the vertical dimension provided by wide receiver Bernard Berrian. The third-year pro is averaging a gaudy 21.7 yards per catch through five games and, as testimony to his big-play skills, he has six touchdowns on just 47 career catches. Not to be overlooked, though, is the contribution of tight end Desmond Clark in bringing consistent production to a position that has long been an area of deficiency in the Windy City. Clark has 16 catches for 244 yards and one touchdown and, extrapolated over an entire season, that would give him 51 receptions for the year. That would tie Clark's career-high, established while playing with the Broncos in 2001. It would be three more receptions than the eighth-year veteran posted in the past two seasons combined. And it would be more catches than the Chicago tight end contingent, as a whole, has managed since 2003. Oh, yeah, the Bears haven't had a tight end catch 50 or more passes since the 1970 merger.
"He's a pretty clever [receiver]," said one NFC defensive coordinator whose team faces the Bears later this season. "He isn't the kind of guy who controls the middle of the field, like the bigger and more athletic tight ends. But with the way Clark is playing right now, he does give them a presence in there that they were lacking. And it's clear, just from the little bit of tape I've watched, that he's got a good feel going with [Grossman]."
General manager Jerry Angelo was castigated by local fans for not choosing a tight end in the draft. But Bears' management apparently saw in Clark this spring a rededication to getting himself in shape and becoming a contributor again. They might not have predicted this kind of success but were willing to gamble, it seems, that Clark could regain his old form. Not since Ryan Wetnight had 46 catches in 1997 have the Bears had a right end with 45 receptions or more. In fact, since 1998, Chicago tight ends have averaged just 41.1 receptions per year. In the past 20 seasons, the average is 41.2 catches.

? When the Bears defeated the Buffalo Bills by a 40-7 count last Sunday, it marked the first time in 214 games, since a 47-17 rout of Tampa Bay on Sept. 26, 1993, that Chicago had scored 40 points in a game. The connection between those two contests? Ron Turner was the Bears' offensive coordinator in both games. He served in that capacity on Dave Wannstedt's staff in Chicago between 1993-1996, and then, after eight years as the head coach at the University of Illinois, was hired by Lovie Smith in 2005.

? The Atlanta Falcons' defensive coaches face a tough call for Sunday's game against the New York Giants at the Georgia Dome. Middle linebacker Ed Hartwell, who hasn't played yet this season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on both knees late in training camp, seems recovered and prepared to return to the starting lineup. The problem? The Atlanta run defense, among the worst in the league in 2005, is playing exceptionally well without him. And the coaching staff might not want to mess with a good thing. When Hartwell underwent the surgeries, the Falcons moved weakside linebacker Keith Brooking to the middle, as they did with their Pro Bowl star in 2005, when Hartwell ruptured his Achilles in the fifth game of the year. Brooking, who has played in the middle before, doesn't exactly love the position. But he plays it well and Demorrio Williams, who slid into Brooking's weakside spot, is on a tear right now.
The trio of Brooking, Williams and second-year strongside linebacker Michael Boley, who is getting some snaps now as a rush-end on third down, has proven to be a winning combination. To break up that group now might be a big mistake. The Falcons signed former Baltimore Raven Hartwell to a six-year, $26.5 million contract as an unrestricted free agent in the spring of 2005 and he was supposed to have been the team's most significant offseason addition that year. But even before his season-ending Achilles injury, Hartwell wasn't making many plays, even versus the run, which is his strength. Now, with the Falcons playing the run so much more effectively, it might be tough for even a healthy Hartwell to get back into the lineup.

? Now the fun starts in Dallas and, no, we're not talking about anything involving Terrell Owens. Coach Bill Parcells released backup kicker Shaun Suisham earlier this week, meaning that Mike Vanderjagt now has to handle the kickoffs in addition to placements. It is not a chore that Vanderjagt, the most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history, particularly relishes. And there will be some concerns that Vanderjagt, who missed much of camp and the preseason with a strained groin, might aggravate the injury. Parcells, though, basically has endured enough of carrying two kickers on the roster. Vanderjagt has not kicked off full-time since 2003, when he averaged 60.3 yards. He did kick off 32 times in 2004 in Indianapolis, but the Colts eventually (and mercifully) relieved him of those duties. Suisham had averaged 62.3 yards on 15 kickoffs this season.

? A terrific gesture this week by New England coach Bill Belichick, who announced that he will donate his family's extensive collection of mostly football-related books to the United States Naval Academy this weekend. Belichick's late father, Steve Belichick, who passed away last year, served as an assistant at the Naval Academy for 33 years.
"My father and I often discussed consolidating our collection and making [the books] available for others to enjoy," Belichick said in a statement this week. "Because of our ties to the Naval Academy and the Annapolis area, they will now have a perfect new home."
Steve Belichick began collecting football-related books in the 1950s while scouting college football games. To supplement his father's collection, Bill Belichick became a collector in the '70s. The collection is one of the largest of its kind and features over 400 books, many of them first-edition, including classic works from football legends like Amos Alonzo Stagg and Walter Camp.

<TABLE class=tableheadFixWidth cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=200 align=right><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD class=whitelink colSpan=2>Chad Johnson</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow align=right><TD align=left>

Wide receiver
Cincinnati Bengals

Profile</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow><TD align=middle><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width=190 bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR class=stathead align=middle><TD align=middle colSpan=5>2006 SEASON STATISTICS</TD></TR><TR style="BACKGROUND: #bcbcb4" align=right><TD width="17%">Rec</TD><TD width="17%">Yds</TD><TD width="17%">Avg</TD><TD width="17%">Long</TD><TD width="17%">TD</TD></TR><TR align=right bgColor=#999999><TD>18</TD><TD>201</TD><TD>11.2</TD><TD>18</TD><TD>1</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
? Going into Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, a defense that doesn't surrender many deep balls while playing its trademark Cover 2 scheme, Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Johnson has just 18 catches for 201 yards and one touchdown. His longest reception is for 18 yards, and half of Johnson's catches have been for nine yards or fewer. Through the first four games in 2005, Johnson had 26 catches for 374 yards and three touchdowns. He had seven receptions of 18 yards or more, including touchdown grabs of 40 and 70 yards. Johnson's 11.2-yard average at the quarter-pole of this season is more than three yards less than his career average of 14.7 yards per reception. Give credit to Johnson for this much: The characteristically loquacious wide receiver hasn't vented publicly about the drop-off in his numbers.

? Now in his ninth season, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has never missed a game, having made 133 consecutive starts. That's the most ever for a quarterback at the start of his career. Maybe even more impressive perhaps is that Manning, until Wednesday, had never missed a single practice. That is unheard of in the NFL, where even the toughest quarterbacks have to take a day off once in a while. Manning missed the bye-week practice to attend the funeral of his maternal grandmother, Frances Thomas Williams, who passed away this week at age 86. Manning returned for the Thursday practice.

? The two biggest rubs on the other half of the NFL's most famous quarterback sibling tandem was that Eli Manning wasn't decisive enough and that the Giants' star went through long stretches of inaccuracy. Four games into his second season as the full-time starter, Manning seems to have addressed both those issues.
"His focus has been excellent," said one Giants assistant. "He's been able to make himself oblivious to the peripheral stuff that kept him from pulling the trigger at times. And so that has improved his decision-making, his mechanics, and his accuracy."
Coming into this season, Manning's career completion rate was just 51.6 percent. In 2005, his first season as the starter, it was a pedestrian 52.8 percent. In four outings this season, though, Manning has completed 67.1 percent of his attempts.

? Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris, the team's first-round choice in the 2004 draft, is having a Pro Bowl-type season so far. Harris has five sacks already, after netting only 6? sacks in his first two seasons, and is playing at an incredibly high level. Now the Bears might add a wrinkle to his r?sum?. Harris spent some time this week taking handoffs, and the Chicago coaches are flirting with the idea of turning back the clock, and using him in the backfield, the way Bears coach Mike Ditka did with tackle William "The Refrigerator" Perry in the mid-1980s.

The list: Given the itinerant nature of defensive back Hank Poteat's nomadic NFL career, it's surprising this hasn't occurred before. But when Poteat lines up as a reserve for the New York Jets on Sunday, it will mark the second week in a row in which he has played against the Miami Dolphins. The six-year veteran faced the Dolphins last Sunday as a member of the New England Patriots, who then released him a day later. Poteat will be the sixth player since 1970 to face an opponent two weeks in a row, but while playing for two different teams. The others: wide receiver Eric Crabtree (Cincinnati versus Houston on Oct. 31, 1971 and New England versus Houston on Nov. 7, 1971); running back Theotis Brown (St. Louis Cardinals against New York Giants on Oct. 11, 1981 and Seattle against the Giants on Oct. 18, 1981); running back Herschel Walker (Dallas against Green Bay on Oct. 8, 1989 and Minnesota versus the Packers on Oct. 15, 1989); kicker Tony Zendejas (Atlanta against St. Louis Rams on Nov. 19, 1995 and San Francisco versus the Rams on Nov. 26, 1995); safety Jarrod Cooper (Carolina versus San Diego on Oct. 24, 2004 and Oakland against San Diego on Oct. 31, 2004).

Stat of the week: The six losing teams on Monday Night Football (remember, there were two MNF games in the opening week) have combined for just one offensive touchdown, a 5-yard run by Washington tailback Clinton Portis in the Sept. 11 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Since then, the last five Monday Night Football losers, beginning with the Oakland Raiders, who played the late prime-time game in the first week of the schedule, have scored a total of just 15 points. In those games, the losers scored 0, 0, three, nine and three points. That means the six MNF losers have averaged a paltry 5.2 points per game. The last five teams to lose on Monday night have averaged a microscopic 3.0 points. The Redskins outscored the next five Monday night losers by a 16-15 count.

Punts: With the five-year extension to which center Dan Koppen agreed on Thursday afternoon, the Patriots now have locked up their top seven blockers for the long term. Koppen is now under contract through 2011. Starting left tackle Matt Light is signed through 2010. Starting guards Logan Mankins and Stephen Neal, rookie starting right tackle Ryan O'Callaghan and No. 3 tackle Nick Kaczur are all signed through 2009. Backup guard/center Russ Hochstein is under contract through 2008. At a time when the league lacks continuity on its offensive line units, the Patriots have taken a rare but very wise approach. ? With Koppen's long-term status now addressed, look for the Pats, who still have plenty of salary cap room, to turn to tight end Daniel Graham and cornerback Asante Samuel. Both are eligible for unrestricted free agency next spring and New England would like to complete extensions that would keep them off the market. ? Jets officials are a little concerned about the inability of left offensive tackle and first-round pick D'Brickashaw Ferguson to maintain his weight. The fourth overall choice in the draft, and a starter from the moment the Jets turned in the card with his name on it on draft day, Ferguson struggled to get much above 290 pounds during his college career at the University of Virginia. At the scouting combine, he was up to 312 pounds, but now is believed to have slipped under 300 pounds again. ? Three-year veteran linebacker Chris Clemons, released by Washington before the start of the regular season, has recovered from the nagging injuries that slowed him in camp and should begin working out for teams next week. Clemons, only 24, played in just 15 games in three seasons with the Redskins, but he flashed some pass-rush skills, with five sacks in scant playing time. Some team looking for a situational rusher and special teams player could sign him. ? St. Louis quarterback Marc Bulger, who has yet to throw an interception this season, has been picked off just four times in his last 10 home games. The Rams, who play host to Seattle on Sunday, are 22-4 in Bulger's home starts. ? Heady move by the Bears this week to sign tight end Bennie Joppru to their practice squad after the Houston Texans released him. Houston chose Joppru in the second round of the 2003 draft, but the star-crossed former University of Michigan standout, arguably the top tight end prospect three years ago, suffered season-ending injuries in each of his first three years in the league. First-year coach Gary Kubiak tried to convert Joppru to fullback in camp, but the experiment didn't work, and he never played in a regular-season game for the Texans before being waived. Houston hoped to re-sign Joppru to its own practice squad, but he chose to join the Bears instead. If he is healthy, and that is always a big if with Joppru, he eventually could emerge as a player. For just $4,700 per week, the salary for a practice squad player, the Bears could end up getting a solid player. ? The sibling tailback tandem of Thomas Jones of Chicago and Dallas' Julius Jones has each rushed for 388 yards. ? Here's why so many teams backed off tailback LenDale White in the draft: The Titans had planned to increase the playing time of their second-round pick, and he got his most extensive action of the season in last week's loss at Indianapolis. But now White, whose suspect work ethic has been a source of consternation, is nursing a stomach virus and could miss this week's game. ? Look for the Pittsburgh Steelers to create more playing time for first-round wide receiver Santonio Holmes real soon. One reason that the Pittsburgh offense has struggled is that opponents simply don't feel the Steelers have a wide receiver who can beat them deep. Holmes might be able to provide more of a vertical threat.
The last word: "I sit in my house in the dark. I don't go nowhere. I don't do nothing. It's frustrating. My way of venting is going out there on Sunday and trying to win ball games. We haven't done that." -- Dallas wide receiver Terrell Owens on his lack of catches through the first four games of the season.
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Hache Man · Oct 13, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Wick's Picks: Week 6

posted: Friday, October 13, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Anthony Marshall, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, NFC All-Stars, NFC NFC, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins

This week's rant is about some of the reaction to Cory Lidle's tragic death. It has to do with those who dropped the "athletes think they're invincible" card in trying to explain how Lidle could crash his plane into a skyrise. Comparing Lidle - a licensed pilot who was flying with an instructor - to guys like Kellen Winslow, Jason Williams and Ben Roethlisberger, as many commentators sadly have, is just insane, not to mention disrespectful to Lidle's life.

Two years ago, I hopped into a plane owned by Falcons DE Patrick Kerney, a good guy, a responsible pilot, and not a guy who thinks he's invincible by any means. I wasn't scared flying with Kerney, either. He knew what he was doing. He was extremely careful. And he, like Lidle, had an instructor with him.
People need to breathe deeply and think before they spin off into how millionaires need million-dollar hobbies and athletes aren't worried about safety. Sure, that's true for some guys, but for most it's a lazy stereotype to overcome.
There's no doubt that the questions surrounding Lidle's death need answering, but let's not label all athletes irresponsible and reckless until we know the answers. Let's not lump Lidle into a group of guys he doesn't belong with. He deserves better.
Onto Wick's Picks, Week 6 edition. A 12-2 record last week raises my season-long mark to 52-22.
Bills 20, Lions 16: The Bills need a rebound win. Fortunately, the Lions are the league's rebound.
Panthers 21, Ravens 19: Might be worth giving Kyle Boller another crack at the starting job, Mr. Billick. By the way, I just finished Next Man Up, John Feinstein's book on the 2004 Ravens season. Terrific read, even if it's taken me a while to get to it.
Bengals 30, Bucs 20: I'm normally a huge fan of the creativity of the Bucs' website cartoons. But I can't imagine this week's cartoon - in which Carson Palmer plays a gameshow-type contest in which numerous Bucs players injure him - was the wise message to send to a guy who is coming off an embarrassing loss and a bye.
Cowboys 24, Texans 10: Wow, T.O. came this close to throwing Drew Bledsoe under the bus when he said that of the 13 balls thrown his way not many were catchable. I was very disappointed. We were so very close to the T.O. blowup we've been waiting for. So close.
Falcons 27, Giants 20: By allowing only three points the past two times Washington has visited, the Giants clearly own the Redskins. But I'm not ready to declare NY's defense "back." And I don't think it'll get any closer facing a dangerous Falcons team coming off a bye.
Eagles 23, Saints 14: Reggie Bush, watch how hard it is to release out of the backfield when Jim Johnson is throwing blitzes every which way.
Rams 33, Seahawks 20: If you could hire a Harvard grad who has just spent six years with your chief division rival, you'd sign him, right? The Rams did. Smartly. LB Isaiah Kacyvenski helps the Rams to a big win.
Redskins 24, Titans 12: Do the Giants just own the Redskins, or is this offense maddeningly inconsistent?
Chiefs 19, Steelers 9: Maybe I should be pitching Damon Huard to my ESPN The Magazine editors as this year's NEXT coverguy.
Jets 20, Dolphins 17: Nick Saban walks off the field thinking, "I lost to a guy who was 22 and an administrative assistant on our staff in Cleveland while I was the defensive coordinator??
Chargers 23, Niners 21: If I'm a Chargers fan, I'm still concerned on the reliability of my offense. Take away LT's season-long 58-yard run, and he's averaging 3.1 a carry.
Broncos 38, Raiders 20: If the Bears, say, didn't exist, folks would be talking about how Denver's defense is the best in the NFL. Bears 29, Cardinals 17: But, sadly for Arizona, the Bears do exist

Hache Man · Oct 13, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Updated: Oct. 13, 2006, 3:03 PM ET
Leinart will be under fire

By Gary Horton
Scouts Inc.
Archive




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After watching a lot of film on both the Bears and Cardinals and talking to coaches and scouts, here are some key things to watch in their Monday night game (ESPN 8:30 p.m. ET).
Chicago Bears

The Bears are generating a great pass rush without a lot of blitzing. By only rushing four, they have the luxury of dropping seven defenders into coverage, and they can play any coverage scheme they want.
They also have a great defensive line rotation, which keeps everyone fresh. They have dominated the offensive lines they have faced and Arizona's line should be easy pickings. When Matt Leinart sees seven defenders in coverage, he will be forced to look at other options in the passing game, rather than his primary target.
? The more you watch the Chicago secondary, the more you appreciate its versatility. While the Bears use a base Cover 2 defense, they can play those zone schemes to perfection. They also can play aggressive man-to-man techniques.
Starting DCs Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman are solid cover guys, but the wild card is No.3 DC Ricky Manning Jr. He can line up against slot receivers or cover on the perimeter, and he is an excellent matchup corner against the No.3 receiver on any offense the Bears will face. He has good ball skills and excellent instincts, and very few defenses have three quality corners.
? A big key to the success of the Bears has been the outstanding play of their special teams. Their cover teams are among the best in the NFL and do a great job of establishing positive field position.
KOR Rashied Davis and PR Devin Hester are capable of making plays, and the kicking game is rock solid. PK Robbie Gould is a perfect 17-for-17 on field goals and punter Brad Maynard is one of the best, with a 44.7 gross average and eight punts inside the opponent's 20. Excellent drafts have produced a lot of young backup players who excel on special teams.
? After watching a lot of film on the Bears' defense, it is amazing how simple they are, while trying to convince opposing offenses they are very complex. They will put as many as eight defenders in the box before the snap, and the QB doesn't really know who is attacking and who is dropping into coverage.
On the snap of the ball, they usually only rush four, but they love to utilize a lot of twists, stunts and loops with their quick defensive line, giving opposing offensive lines fits.
? Look for the Bears to run the ball a lot early to set up play action opportunities. They now have a two-headed monster at running back with Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson, and they will face a Cardinals' run defense in the bottom third of the NFL.
If the Bears run well early, it will force SS Adrian Wilson into the box for run support, leading to excellent matchups on the perimeter against two corners who will have only one safety to help over the top. Nobody is throwing the deep ball better right now than Rex Grossman, and he will get his shots in this game.
? While WR Bernard Berrian is considered a vertical threat, he is turning into a complete receiver. He has become a workout warrior in the weight room and has added almost 15 pounds of muscle. He is now better at coming over the middle and catching the ball in traffic, and with his speed, slants and quick crossing routes will lead to a lot of YAC (yards after catch)
? The Bears are second in the NFL in time of possession. This keeps their great defense fresh. The Bears already have a strong defensive line rotation and if this group is well rested, it might post some huge sack numbers as the season progresses.
? The Bears are the soundest team in the NFL. They have only two fumbles and three interceptions in five games. They make opposing offenses work for everything they get, forcing them to drive the entire length of the field.
? The Bears have added some variety to their running game, with a package that includes some misdirection plays, including some counters. It should work well against an active but undersized Arizona defensive line that can get caught overpursuing. The Chicago offensive line does a nice job of sealing off cutback run lanes.
? The Bears have to be aware of where Arizona's Wilson lines up at all times. He is an excellent run defender and the Cardinals love to play him in the box, putting him in position to be an effective blitzer. If the Bears read blitz, Grossman can change the the protection, keeping RB Jones, who is an underrated pass blocker, in to block.
Arizona Cardinals

? RB Edgerrin James is spending extra practice time working with rookie QB Matt Leinhart on play-action fakes. Leinart is a good ball handler, but James worked at Indianapolis with the best play action QB of all-time in Peyton Manning. The problem is that without a run game, no defense respects the play-action package.
? The Cardinals must figure out a way to block DT Tommie Harris and not allow him a lot of inside penetration. Offenses are so concerned with getting to MLB Brian Urlacher with second-level blocks, they wind up single blocking Harris. The Cardinals would be wise this week to utilize double teams with either one of their OGs and OC Alex Stepanovich. Once they have neutralized Harris, one of the two blockers (probably Stepanovich) can try to chip on Urlacher.
? A big question Arizona has this week is how it is going to utilize James. Running the ball successfully against this Bears' front won't be easy. He could have success as an outlet receiver on dump offs and screens, and really be a security blanket for Leinart. Unfortunately, the pass protection might be so bad the Cardinals will be forced to keep him in to block in blitz pickup, turning a potential offensive difference maker into nothing more than a pass blocker.
? A big concern for the Cardinals is how well their defensive line will hold up. Their defensive tackles, Darnell Dockett and Kendrick Clancy, are adequate versus the run, but their defensive ends, Bertrand Berry and Chike Okeafor, are better pass rushers than run defenders. This is a unit with little depth and not much of a rotation. Look for the Bears to run a little wider than usual, not only negating the athleticism of the DEs, but also wearing them down.
? How bad is the pass protection for the Cardinals? Their QBs have been sacked 17 times in five games. Leinart was sacked four times last week. If you are going to play QB in the desert, you better be a tough guy.
? FS Robert Griffith has a lot of pressure on him against the Bears' improving passing game. With SS Adrian Wilson likely to play a lot in the box and be utilized as a blitzer, Griffith will be the only single safety covering the deep middle of the field, but he can only help one defensive corner at a time over the top.
Berrian has become an excellent deep threat and Grossman looks to him for big plays. Griffith will have to be aware of him, especially off play-action fakes, because right now Berrian is a tough matchup for any corner. This week, Antrel Rolle will do his best to prevent him from getting clean releases.
? Because the Arizona run game is almost non-existent, the Bears can take some liberties with their defensive schemes this week. Right now, the Cardinals have much more confidence in their passing game and the Bears will try to take that away. They will start with their Cover 2 shell, but the safeties can widen to the perimeter and help the corners over the top, eliminating deep routes and allowing the corners to be very aggressive.
Urlacher is the best in the NFL at his position in pass defense, and as the Cover 2 requires, he will patrol the deep middle of the field to free up the safeties. With a terrific pass rush and seven defenders in coverage, this is not an easy defense for Leinart to be looking at in passing situations.
? The Cardinals like to play a cover 2 scheme. They have big corners and safeties, which is excellent against the run and allows them to play a physical style of pass defense, but there is concern about Wilson in coverage. The Bears will try to find Wilson in passing situations, but Arizona might counter by bringing him into the box on the snap and rolling to a Cover 1 or man free scheme. This secondary does not match up well versus the Bears' playmakers.
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Hache Man · Oct 13, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Friday, October 13, 2006
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Bears look to keep rolling

By Scouts, Inc.





<TABLE class=text11 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=0 width=552 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD width="100%">Why To Watch
The Bears take their act to the Valley of the Sun, as Arizona fans get a chance to watch an elite team play football. Chicago is the most complete team in the NFL. Arizona quarterback Matt Leinart was very solid in his first start, tossing a pair of touchdown passes, and showing leadership and grit in running a two-minute drill to get in position to tie the game. Arizona has found ways to lose close games, but the promising rookie quarterback looks to have a bright future working with Arizona's bevy of offensive weapons, which should make Dennis Green smile.

When the Bears have the ball
Rushing: Thomas Jones gained an impressive five yards per carry on his way to a 109-yard day, while Cedric Benson added another 48 yards on 14 carries, including a pair of touchdowns. Chicago's running game was especially impressive, considering the Bills' defense had completely shut down the Vikings running game a week earlier. Chicago is extremely dangerous when its run game is going.
Arizona had not been stout all season, ranking 27th in the NFL against the run, but it did hold Larry Johnson and Kansas City's rushing attack to only 39 total yards this week. Arizona will need a tremendous defensive effort to contain the Bears' one-two punch in the run game. While it is dangerous to bring an extra defender down to play the run, the Cardinals must make Chicago one dimensional to have a chance at slowing down this potent Bears' offense.

Passing: Rex Grossman was very effective throwing the ball once again, connecting with Bernard Berrian for a 62-yard score, as well as another shorter touchdown pass. That combination has been lethal for the Bears, but Grossman has done an excellent job of utilizing all of his receivers each week. The Cardinals are forced to defend the vertical speed of Berrian and rookie Rasheed Davis, as well as the consistency of veteran Muhsin Muhammad and tight end Desmond Clark.
Arizona will work to make the Bears one dimensional, but the Cardinals are also very suspect defending the pass, ranking 25th in the league and yielding 231 yards per game. Look for the Cardinals to bring zone coverage dogs and blitzes for additional pressure, without getting locked into man coverage to avoid poor coverage matchups giving up big plays in the pass game.

When the Cardinals have the ball
Rushing: Many observers are disappointed in Edgerrin James' production since his arrival in Arizona, but the problem is the horrible performance of the Cardinals' offensive line. As huge as this line is, it is extremely ineffective at maintaining blocks in the run game, regularly getting beat at the point of attack by quicker, more athletic defenders. The unit will face a tremendous challenge this week, going up against a dominant defensive front seven of the Bears. Arizona's linemen will struggle against the quickness of DT Tommie Harris and the high motor of NG Ian Scott or Tank Johnson, and they have no chance of stopping the speedy and athletic Bears' linebackers -- Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. If James can get past the line of scrimmage, the Cardinals' big receivers do an excellent job of downfield blocking.

Passing: The first quarter of quarterback Matt Leinart's initial NFL start was very impressive. Leinart led the Cardinals on nice drives, throwing a pair of touchdowns and looking in control until crunch time. Leinart forced a pass late against a veteran corner, throwing an interception. After losing the lead in the fourth quarter, Leinart showed maturity in the two-minute drill, driving his team in position to attempt a field goal to tie the game. This week, the rookie will face an outstanding Bears' defense that will bring constant pressure and disguise coverages to test Leinart. Look for Chicago to bring a barrage of aggressive blitzes for pressure, as well as various drops in coverage, looking to snare passes with the ball hawking linebackers and secondary. The Cardinals' offensive line has struggled in protection each week and will have to battle on every play against the Bears' athletic front four. Arizona will have to move Leinart around, changing his launch points and utilizing play action, bootleg and waggle passes to keep Chicago guessing.

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Hache Man · Oct 13, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Friday, October 13, 2006
Take 2: Bears vs. Cardinals

By Scouts, Inc.





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Earlier this week, our scouts filed their advance scouting report on this week's matchup between the Bears and Cardinals. Now they're back with a second look.

This dominant Chicago defense starts upfront with its athletic defensive line. The Bears' front will create matchup problems across the board against Arizona's offensive line. Big Leonard Davis cannot handle the athleticism of Alex Brown or the quickness of rookie Mark Anderson.
Protecting the left-handed Leinart's backside is ROT Oliver Ross, who will face the challenge of either Adewale Ogunleye or Israel Idonije. Tommie Harris, Tank Johnson and the return of Ian Scott will cause plenty of problems inside. This Arizona offensive line has struggled to protect the quarterback, giving up 17 sacks, and on Monday night will face possibly the best defensive front in football.
? The defensive front's ability to supply pressure without having to bring the linebackers will pose some serious coverage problems for Leinart. Arizona will be without exceptional wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald due to a hamstring injury, which could hamstring the Cardinals' passing attack.
Expect Arizona to throw quick three-step passes and quick receiver screens to get the ball on the perimeter quickly, taking the pressure off Leinart. Chicago will be able to disguise various zone coverages, attempting to confuse the quarterback while keeping the talented Cardinals' receivers in front of the ball hawking secondary and linebackers. This group of Chicago defenders has the speed and experience to give Leinart tough reads, forcing him to either hold the ball or throw into tight coverage, creating turnovers.
? Arizona had high hopes of a balanced offense when they signed Pro Bowl running back Edgerrin James. So far, the offensive line performance has limited James' production and the Cardinals' rushing offense is next to last in the NFL averaging a paltry 70 yards per game.
If they want to have a chance, the Cardinals must call downhill runs straight at Chicago, using they're size advantage and minimizing the superior speed and athleticism of the Bears' defensive front seven. Expect to see the aggressive Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs smothering James, getting to the ball carrier before Cardinals' blockers can get to the linebackers.
? It is not shocking to anyone that Chicago is fielding a dominant defense, but the balanced and explosive offense sure has been a bit of a surprise. Young, untested Rex Grossman was the man that Lovie Smith and general manager Jerry Angelo wanted to lead this team, yet as insurance they signed proven veteran quarterback Brian Griese in the offseason.
After five consecutive weeks of outstanding performances and leadership, everyone in Chicago is pleased with Grossman at quarterback. Grossman has tossed 10 touchdowns compared to only three interceptions. He has completed 61 percent of his passes for 1,243 yards, and a quarterback rating of 100.8.
? Chicago has reversed its offensive attack, now ranking as one of the top passing teams in the NFL, averaging 247 yards per game, while gaining 109.4 yards rushing per game. This combination has produced the highest scoring offense in the NFL after five games, putting up an average of 31.2 points per game. Stopping this balanced offense is quite a tall order for a Cardinals' defense ranked 25th in the league in points allowed per game.
Arizona will avoid single coverage matchups against the explosive Bernard Berrian, keeping safety help over the top. To create pressure and keep Grossman from getting into a rhythm, Arizona will send linebackers in a zone blitz scheme, keeping zone coverage behind the various combinations of defenders rushing the passer.
? The offensive talent is not limited to receivers Muhsin Muhammad, Berrian and tight end Desmond Clark, but also includes a pair of talented running backs in Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson. Benson saw some extended action and responded by scoring two touchdowns and gaining 48 rushing yards, while Jones gained 110 yards. This is a formidable one-two punch in the run game to keep defenses honest and make the play action passing game even more dangerous.
Three of Arizona's top four tacklers are secondary players, which is generally not good, especially defending the run. The key for the Cardinals will be movement upfront, so look for the defensive line to stunt, getting on the edge of the Bears' offensive linemen and penetrating the line of scrimmage, while allowing the linebackers free access to make tackles.

Special Teams
Arizona usually fields excellent coverage teams, but that has not necessarily been the case this season. The Cardinals have given up over 12 yards per punt return, as well as almost 24 yards per kick return. Punter Scott Player is only netting 32 yards on his punts.
The Cardinals' special teams must do a better job in coverage to win the field position battle against the Bears' explosive return men. Kicker Neil Rackers has the leg to make long field goals, getting Arizona much needed points against the high scoring Chicago team. Bears' kicker Robbie Gould has been perfect this season, making 17 field goals and 15 extra points, while punter Brad Maynard has dropped eight punts inside the opponents' 20. Chicago also has two excellent weapons in Devin Hester, who had an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown at Lambeau Field, and Rashied Davis, who took a kick off back during the preseason, showing his dangerous return skills. The Bears' coverage teams must beware of Arizona's little Troy Walters, who has the quickness and change of direction ability to be dangerous on punt returns, and J.J. Arrington, who runs hard returning kick offs. A special teams score would be the kind of boost that could give the Cardinals momentum.

Matchups
? Chicago MLB Brian Urlacher vs. Arizona RB Edgerrin James
? Chicago DT Tommie Harris vs. Arizona OGs Reggie Wells and Milford Brown
? Arizona CB Eric Green vs. Chicago WR Bernard Berrian
? Arizona SS Adrian Wilson vs. Chicago TE Desmond Clark
? Chicago DEs Alex Brown and Mark Anderson vs. Arizona LOT Leonard Davis

Scouts' Edge
Chicago rolls into Arizona playing outstanding football in all phases of the game to face a Cardinals' team that has somewhat self destructed late in several games. On paper, this Bears' team should dominate Arizona, as the Cardinals have lost an excellent receiver, has a terrible offensive line and is starting a rookie quarterback. The undefeated Bears will remain that way, upping their record to 6-0.

Prediction: Bears 27, Cardinals 13

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

Hache Man · Oct 13, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Trade rumblings in Oakland

posted: Friday, October 13, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers

In talking with a source within the Raiders organization, they are trying to move WR Joey Porter prior to the October 17th trade deadline. The biggest obstacle? There has been little to no interest. That might pick up depending on what happens in the games this weekend, but the last call they received was from the Detroit Lions and that was about three weeks ago.

In the case of WR Randy Moss, the Raiders are not actively shopping him. They will however, listen to offers. To this point however, there have been none.
I think the Raiders need to try to unload both of these players. Porter is just taking up space at this point. Head coach Art Shell seems no closer to playing him, so at this point he is just dead weight on a bad football team.
In the case of Moss, I would move him, too. Though he does dress on a weekly basis, he is having little to no impact. Some of that is out of his control. What is under his control is the ability to give a good effort and act like he wants to be on the field. When you put the tape on, you do not see that. There is a lack of effort with his route running. There is a lack of effort to try to get open and there is a lack of effort in trying to make plays on the football.
The Raiders are not a good team. Whether Moss plays or not, this is still a 2-win football team on its best day. It is time to clean house and give more opportunities to guys like Ronald Curry and Johnnie Morant who actually want to put their Raider uniform on each week.
Curry and Morant are just two examples of players that actually care. Despite the fact that they can't get their offense going, the defense shows up and gives 100 percent every week. So if Moss and Porter don't want to be there, then it is time to say good riddance. They could just as easily lose with other players. Nobody wants to lose every week but in the case of the Raiders, it would be much better to lose with players that are putting their best foot forward.

Chargers 2-back sets tough to prepare for
The Chargers are using more sets that involve both LaDainian Tomlinson and Michael Turner at the same time. Expect to see more of the same this week as head coach Marty Schottenheimer wants to get his five best skill players on the field at the same time.
Last week on more than one occasion we saw Tomlinson lined up as a receiver with Turner aligned at RB. In both instances it really spread out the defense and created some nice inside running room for Turner.
Tomlinson is such a threat in the passing game; it forces a team to bring that OLB wide into the slot. If he is flanked wide it forces a defense to commit a safety out there to cover him.
All of these looks force someone out of the box and that really opens up the inside run game or in passing situations the middle of the field for TE Antonio Gates. We can expect to see even more of this two-headed monster vs. the 49ers this week.

Chief's vertical passing game will be key this week
Look for offensive Coordinator Mike Solari to come out and test the Pittsburgh secondary down the field early this week. Even if they can't connect it will serve a great purpose.
When facing Pittsburgh you know you are going to get a lot of Cover 3. In that scheme, SS Troy Polamalu will be in the box with FS Ryan Clark playing the deep middle.Stretching the field vertically will force Clark to start cheating over towards the sidelines. This should open up the middle of the field. TE Tony Gonzalez had one catch last week in Arizona. They still won, but you can't beat good teams on the road with limited production from your best players. If Kansas City is going to steal this game on the road, he has to be more of a factor. The best way to do that will be by creating opportunities in the middle of the field. An early vertical attack should accomplish that goal.

Hache Man · Oct 13, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Jets struggling to pressure QBs

posted: Friday, October 13, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets

Pressuring the opposing quarterback is one of the most important parts of a football game. The quarterback sack is right up there with interceptions in terms of changing momentum. Many quarterbacks are great in the pocket when not forced to improvise and make throws off balance or in an unconventional way. Taken out of that comfort zone, though, not many quarterbacks can thrive.

When teams are unable to pressure the opponent's passer, it makes things tough on the defensive coverage. The more a team has to bring linebackers or defensive backs to pressure the quarterback, the greater the chance that team will get burned with a big play. Most defensive philosophies try to force the opposing offense to make precise plays and work a long field to score. But when the field and clock shrink, many coordinators feel the need to take calculated chances. If a team can sack the quarterback using only its base defensive scheme, it is most advantageous to the overall success of the defense.
Let's take a look at the AFC East teams and where their pressure comes from:
? The New York Jets have the fewest sacks through Week 5, with nine, and they are spread equally, with three each by the defensive line, linebackers and secondary. It is not a good sign when more than half of a team's sacks come from positions other than the defensive line. That usually means the team is having to gamble some, bringing defensive backs or linebackers to get pressure.
? The New England Patriots have the second-fewest sacks with 12. The good news is that 10 of the sacks have come from their defensive front and the other two split between linebackers Mike Vrabel, Rosevelt Colvin and Tully Banta-Cain. New England tends not to gamble to pressure opposing quarterbacks, and getting pressure without having to blitz gives defensive coordinator Dean Pees more options to double receivers or disguise coverages.
? The Miami Dolphins have 13 sacks, with nine of them coming from the defensive line and the other four from the linebacker and secondary. Miami defensive coordinator Dom Capers shows a good mix of base fronts, zone blitzes and all-out blitzes. Capers is not afraid to gamble some to pressure the quarterback, with many of Miami's blitzes coming when an opponent crosses the 50-yard line into Dolphins territory. ? The Buffalo Bills lead the division through Week 5 with 14 quarterback sacks. The defensive line has eight big plays, and the remaining six are listed under team, secondary and linebacker. Head coach Dick Jaurons' background is mostly on defense, and he and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell have a calculated game plane involving pressure from several different areas depending on field position and down-and-distance.

Hache Man · Oct 13, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Intriguing matchups in Week 6

posted: Friday, October 13, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons

We will learn a lot about the NFC South this weekend. Let's take a closer look at four matchups that could determine the outcomes:

Philadelphia Eagles at New Orleans Saints

The Saints have been without a doubt the surprise team in the NFL. If there ever was an opportunity to silence the doubters (including me) and really establish themselves as a playoff contender, this would be it. They need to beat the Eagles, but they really will be tested against the No. 1 offense in the NFL. QB Donovan McNabb is hitting on all cylinders and must be licking his chops as he prepares for a Saints defense that has been exposed over the last few weeks.

Drew Brees

The interesting matchup revolves around New Orleans QB Drew Brees and Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. The Eagles love to bring different pressure packages, while the Saints thrive on exploiting individual matchups by design. How Brees protects the ball and handles the Eagles' pressure packages could determine whether the Saints improve to 5-1 on Sunday afternoon.

Carolina Panthers at Baltimore Ravens

How will one of the leagues most explosive playmakers in Steve Smith match up against the Ravens defense that is ranked No. 2 in the NFL? Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is one of the best young coordinators in the NFL. He presents a lot of problems for offenses by using multiple fronts and pressure packages.

Reed

The Panthers have yet to face a secondary as good as Baltimore's, which has FS Ed Reed in the middle and two outstanding corners in Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle on the perimeter to match up with WRs Smith and Keyshawn Johnson. Look for the Ravens to use Reed as a robber or spy in coverage, showing straight zone coverage but ready to jump Smith's routes. An inside-out bracket on Smith, with either McAlister or Rolle on the outside, could take Smith out of the intermediate and deep areas of the passing game.

The Ravens also will rely on a lot of single safety looks that allow both McAlister and Rolle to be physical on the outside from a press position, which allows Reed to react off QB Jake Delhomme. Look for Ryan to really pressure Delhomme in heavy passing situations to disrupt the flow and timing of the Panthers' passing game.
New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons

Michael Vick

This game features two quarterbacks with completely different styles. The Giants' Eli Manning is a prototypical pocket passer, while the Falcons' Michael Vick is anything but. In fact, Vick leads all quarterbacks in the NFL in rushing with 333 yards.

Vick puts a lot of pressure on defenses with his unbelievable athleticism in open space, and with his arm strength. Manning is a young, developing quarterback with a tremendous upside who is best suited to attacking defenses off play-action. Both quarterbacks have a strong supporting cast, but the Giants have the more experienced skill players, and that goes along way in developing young quarterbacks.
Cincinnati Bengals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gradkowski

The interesting storyline in this game will be the progress rookie QB Bruce Gradkowski makes after last week's impressive performance against the Saints. The Bengals have an aggressive defense that will show multiple fronts, unique blitz packages and do a good job of disguising coverages on the back end. Pressure and confusing coverages often result in game-changing turnovers.

Gradkowski will need to be patient and take what the defense gives him. Look for Bucs head coach Jon Gruden to continue to rely on RB Cadillac Williamsagainst a run defense that is ranked 27th in the league (allowing 144 yards per game) to take pressure off his young signal caller. Also, the Buccaneers will utilize some no-huddle offense to try and keep the Bengals off balance. Week 6 NFC South predictions:
? Philadelphia 31, New Orleans 24
? Cincinnati 28, Tampa Bay 20
? Carolina 17, Baltimore 14
? Atlanta 26, New York Giants 21

Hache Man · Oct 13, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Having depth is key to success

posted: Friday, October 13, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers

As the season enters Week 6, this is the time of year where depth can carry teams through the hard times. Teams can either win games they were supposed to win or lose games they were supposed to win. Depth is one of the most important parts of developing a winning franchise. Good depth on a football team will help sustain solid levels of play and keep teams balanced through injury plagued times.

Take a look at the average age of each NFC West team and a strong argument can be made that depth is the reason for the success or failure of each team so far this season. The average age of the San Francisco 49ers is 26.5-years-old, the Arizona Cardinals, 26.6, the Seattle Seahawks, 27.2 and with and average age of 27.6 , the St. Louis Rams are the division's oldest team. Now, look at the winning percentages of each team through five games of play and you will see the younger teams have the worst win-loss records in the division. Many people tend to overlook this important factor when trying to develop a winning franchise. Because of the age and experience factor, the Rams are off to a strong start to this season.

As I said, solid depth will help carry teams over the hump. Teams such as the Cardinals and 49ers, who are young at a lot of their positions, will seem to continually struggle. Conversely, the Rams and Seahawks both have taken the recipe of depth to heart and should continue to battle for the NFC West title.

Hache Man · Oct 13, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Owens need help

posted: Friday, October 13, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles

I hate doing it but I need to talk about [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=3664"]Terrell Owens[/URL]. Another person asked me what the Cowboys can do to get the double coverage off Owens. When teams double cover a receiver, they usually do it with a corner and a safety, with the corner taking away any low routes and the safety protecting the corner deep.

Defensives can do this out of a three deep or a two deep look, either with man or zone. The one draw back is the defense has to take a safety out of run support to get good coverage on the intended target.
The Cowboys need [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6802"]Julius Jones[/URL] or Marion Barber to provide some explosive runs. It is not enough to run the ball for over a hundred yards, it is about scoring rushing touchdowns. The defense is giving up the run to stop the pass. Being explosive running the ball will get a defensive coordinator to give up the double coverage to stop the run.
Dallas must also move Owens around, getting creative with its formations by putting him in the slot with a back or tight end outside of him. Against zone coverage, Owens would be covered by a linebacker, a matchup he should win. In man coverage, a linebacker or safety would be on an island outside, with little help against a back or tight end. Either situation favors the Cowboys.
Another formation that is good against man or zone coverage is a bunch look that puts three receivers close together near the offensive tackle. These tight formations force teams to make an adjustment so they don't get picked off in man coverage, and they also flood zone coverages by getting three receivers into a single zone covered by a linebacker or DB. If a team is man blitzing like the Eagles were last Sunday, the Cowboys could have forced them to check out of it, or risk getting picked.
The other receivers on the Cowboys' roster have to step up their level of play and take some of the pressure off Glenn and Owens, who are both seeing a lot of double coverage. Tight end [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6405"]Jason Witten[/URL] needs to get more involved in the pass offense. The same goes for running backs Jones and Barber. [URL="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=2359"]Drew Bledsoe[/URL] has only thrown to his backs on 22 of his 129 pass attempts. Either Jones or Barber are poor route runners, or the Cowboys do not include their backs in the passing game.

Hache Man · Oct 13, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Bye-week check-up for Pack, Vikes

posted: Friday, October 13, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

With two of the NFC North teams on bye weeks this Sunday, let's take a look at each team and the performance of each unit.

Green Bay Packers

Quarterback: Brett Favre still has the juice. In the opener, Favre looked impatient, making poor decisions and throwing bad passes like last season. Since then, he has been very patient in leading a very young offensive group and putting up good yardage, but his completion percentage must improve to keep his offense on the field.

Green

Running back: Noah Herron stepped in last week and proved he is more than just a third-down running back. Ahman Green has reverted to his fumbling ways and struggles to be healthy. It might be time to move on and play the younger, less-expereinced Vernand Morency and Herron.

Tight ends: Bubba Franks has 11 catches but also some drops and has disappeared in the red zone, where he earned his Pro Bowl votes with a lot of 1-yard touchdown catches. Donald Lee provides some big-play ability but is not yet dependable. With his inexperienced line, Favre needs more production the tight ends.
Offensive line: The offensive line epitomizes a youth movement. Three different rookies have started at guard, with a relatively inexperienced center and a pair of veterans playing tackle. This unit is learning a new zone run-game scheme and has given up only seven sacks. A work in progress, but this unit is showing flashes.

Kampman

Defensive line: High-motor defensive end Aaron Kampman has been the bright spot on a struggling line. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila has shown up, but only in flashes and needs to be more consistent as well as much better against the run. Inside, the tackles need to be stouter against the run and get better interior push on the pass rush.

Linebackers: A very athletic group led by Nick Barnett has been active, and rookie A.J. Hawk is improving weekly. The liability of this unit has been Brady Poppinga in pass coverage. Good tight ends and running backs have matched up against and taken advantage of Poppinga.
Defensive backs: Toast. Ranking 31st in pass defense, this unit is generously giving up 378 yards per game through the air. The secondary has been terribly inconsistent and regular gives up explosive plays. The safeties are constantly out of position, and good play-action by opposing quarterbacks finds them dropping down and giving up deep plays. The nickel position was playing so poorly that the Packers cut former first-round pick Ahmad Carroll after his penalties and getting burnt lost another game.
Specialists: Punter Jon Ryan has been good but needs more punts downed inside the 20. The coverage teams must improve to help win the field-position battle and not lose games. Don't forget the 84-yard touchdown return the punt coverage team gave up to Devin Hester of the Bears in Week 1. Kicker David Raynor needs to be better on the long-distance field goals, as Green Bay needs to convert every scoring opportunity to have a chance to win. The kickoff return unit is average, gaining only 20 yards per return, while Charles Woodson has been very good, getting 13 yards per return. He does take some chances, having only fair caught one punt.
Minnesota Vikings

Quarterback: Brad Johnson is a winner with a fantastic track record on several teams, running different styles of offense. In this version of the West Coast offense, head coach Brad Childress should give Johnson more freedom to change plays and audible as the quarterback gets a feel for the flow of the game, keeping the Vikings out of bad plays.

Taylor

Running back: Chester Taylor has done everything asked of him and then some. He is not flashy, but he is a workhorse with the durability to handle 30-plus carries a game while getting stronger as the game goes on. Several of his explosive runs have been to close out games after wearing down opponents. Mewelde Moore is an elusive third-down back with excellent receiving skills and the ability to make defenders miss.

Tight ends: Jimmy Kleinsasser is a dominating point-of-attack blocker but only an average receiver. Jermaine Wiggins has improved as a blocker and is an outstanding receiver who is clutch in moving the chains. Look for Wiggins to be utilized much more in the pass game after the bye week.
Offensive line: Much has been said about this line with the offseason addition of powerful left guard Steve Hutchinson and veteran Artis Hicks and the healthy return of All-Pro center Matt Birk. This group should dominate but has been hurt by untimely penalties, especially by young right tackle Marcus Johnson. The line has improved its continuity, though, as last week the Vikings gave up no sacks and rushed the ball for 135 yards.

P.Williams

K.Williams

Defensive line: Right now the duo of huge NG Pat Williams and All-Pro Kevin Williams are my vote for the best interior tandem in the NFL. Big Pat Williams' penetrating quickness forces double teams, allowing Kevin Williams to wreak havoc. He has racked up 32 tackles, 3 sacks, 6 tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hurries. The young defensive end position has played well, rotating Kenechi Udeze, Darrion Scott and rookie Ray Edwards.

Linebackers: Behind a dominant defensive line, this athletic group has excelled. Defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin's version of the Tampa Cover 2 scheme is very aggressive, utilizing the speed of Napoleon Harris and E.J. Henderson both to pressure the quarterback and drop into coverage. Strong-side linebacker Ben Leber is a good matchup against tight ends in the pass game.
Defensive backs: Antoine Winfield is the best tackling corner in the league, and Fred Smoot has matured enough to play both zone and man coverage. Ball-hawking veteran safeties Darren Sharper and Dwight Smith keep everything in front of them and fill with force against the run. However, the secondary depth gets very young after the starting unit. Specialists: Ryan Longwell has been solid, even throwing a touchdown pass on a fake field goal. Second-year punter Chris Kluwe is coming off of serious knee surgery and has been terribly inconsistent, even horrific at times, including a 9-yard punt the contributed to his NFL-worst worst average. The return units have been spotty, with RB Moore flashing his explosive ability then making a critical mistake by fumbling. The special teams must improve and win the field-position battle with an offense that struggles to score touchdowns.

Hache Man · Oct 13, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 6 New Articles Added 10/12/06)

Manning starting slow, Llyod not starting at all

posted: Friday, October 13, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Redskins

I was asked by someone recently about the lack of production from Redskins' wide receiver Brandon Lloyd. First of all, there is only one football to go around and the Redskins have a lot of hungry mouths to feed.
Offensive coordinator Al Saunders has a pecking order in terms of distributing the ball -- Clinton Portis, Santan Moss, Chris Cooley, Antwaan Randle El and Lloyd. Another factor could be that Lloyd has not been coming up with the balls thrown at him.
Lloyd has only caught six of the 16 passes thrown his way this season. By comparison, Randle El has caught 16 of the 19 passes thrown his way.
New York Giants

Giants quarterback Eli Manning is the talk of the NFL right now. His completion percentage is up and he has matured as a quarterback. Manning has been playing well, and has impressed me with his ability to stand in the pocket and take a hit. He has also been more consistent with his throws.
However, one thing not talked about is the fact that Manning has started games poorly, contributing to the Giants falling behind early in games. In the first quarter, Manning has completed 12 of 23 passing attempts (52.2 percent), way below his average of 67.1 percent. Manning has only thrown one touchdown pass compared to two interceptions, posting a QB rating of 49.7 in the first quarter of each of his games. Brunell is completing 69.2 percent of his passes, with a QB rating of 97.4 in the first quarter. The Giants need to run the ball more and give Manning some quick, medium range throws to get him in a rhythm early in games.

Hache Man · Oct 14, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 13 New Articles Added 10/13/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 13 New Articles Added 10/13/06)

Updated: Oct. 14, 2006
Gradkowski showing promise

By Gary Horton
Scouts Inc.
Archive




<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-TOP: 10px" vAlign=top>
Three rookie quarterbacks started in Week 5, and each showed positive signs for the future. In all three cases, the young QB was expected to sit and learn this season, but poor play from the starter led to him being thrown into the fire.
Does a rookie QB benefit by playing early and taking his knocks, or is it best to learn by holding a clipboard and playing behind an experienced veteran? There is no definitive answer, but very few young QBs have immediate success.
First of all, they are usually on bad teams with few playmakers. Secondly, the game is so much faster and more complex than they are used to on the college level, they struggle with the mental aspects. I don't think a player learns a lot by watching on the sidelines. The only way to get used to the speed of the game is by actually playing.
However, I will admit that some talented young QBs thrown into the action too early have never been the same. Three teams appear willing to take that risk this season. Let's look at Vince Young (Tennessee), Matt Leinart (Arizona) and Bruce Gradkowski (Tampa Bay).
Vince Young -- Tennessee Titans
Young is probably the least ready of all the rookie QBs, yet he was the first one to start. The scary thing is there is no backup plan in Tennessee if he struggles. You cannot question his physical skills and athleticism, but the transition from his run-oriented college offense at Texas to a complex NFL offense at Tennessee is huge. Right now, his best plays are being made with his feet.
The option/read scheme he ran in college has been incorporated into the Titans' offense. Young's ability to read the defensive end and either hand the ball off, if the DE rushes wide, or keep the ball and run, if the DE crashes, not only led to a Young rushing TD last week, but also gave a big boost to a struggling Tennessee run game. This play is so successful that Michael Vick has copied it in Atlanta.
Young is most dangerous in the passing game when he is on the move, and he can be effective when the play starts to break down and he can just play catch with his receivers. However, when he stays in the pocket and tries to be a dropback QB, he is not the same threat. His biggest problem right now is that he locks on to his primary receiver, and he has no concept of looking a safety off or reading his progressions.
As a result, defenders will read his eyes to get to the ball and Young will try to force too many throws into double and triple coverage. While he has the ability to throw a nice deep ball, Young's coaches have made this a simple passing attack with dump-offs to backs, screen passes and easy throws.
Only three of his passes last week at Indianapolis went to WRs, and as a result, defenses don't respect the Titans' vertical passing game and are simply squeezing Young, attacking the running game and short passing game. He will continue to be an erratic QB, with some big plays and some big mistakes.
He is still learning to take the snap from center after a college career in which he played primarily out of the shotgun, and his ability to process information before the snap and make good decisions is a work in progress. It will be a long time before we can put a definitive grade on this report card.
Matt Leinart -- Arizona Cardinals
In his first start last week, a loss to St. Louis, Leinart played well enough to give Arizona fans hope for the future. In his first five passing attempts, he threw two touchdowns, and his touch and accuracy were outstanding.
He has an excellent grasp of this offense for a young player. Unlike most situations when a rookie QB is starting, head coach Dennis Green has given Leinart his full game plan, not taking anything out of the playbook or dumming down the offense. In fact, Green can actually expand some of the things the Cardinals want to do offensively, because of Leinart's mobility. Green could not do that with the much less mobile Kurt Warner at the helm.
While we don't think of Leinart as a running QB, he has a knack for moving around in the pocket, not only to buy time while his receivers get open, but also to find better passing lanes as the pocket collapses. When you play behind an offensive line that can't pass protect, and when you have big, physical receivers who need time to separate, those movement skills become a precious commodity.
You also have to like the way he is able to audibilize at the line of scrimmage. His first TD in Week 5 came on an audible, where he read the blitz with eight defenders in the box and knew he had single man-to-man coverage on the perimeter. Leinart also did a good job of running the two-minute drill, and his poise and confidence is really a positive factor.
However, Leinart may be in for some rough days. He has no running game, is playing behind the worst offensive line in the NFL, and will be without WR Larry Fitzgerald indefinitely because of a hamstring injury. That does not bode well when you are getting ready to face the Chicago Bears' dominating defense on "Monday Night Football."
Leinart is the real deal, and is ready mentally to play and be productive. However, he took a lot of hits from Kansas City and his toughness will really be put to the test until the Cardinals upgrade their offensive line, which will hopefully lead to better pass protection and an improved running game.
Bruce Gradkowski -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He is the least-known of the rookie QBs, but he may have played the best on Sunday in his first start, a losing effort against New Orleans. As a sixth-round draft pick from Toledo, he was expected to sit for a long time behind Chris Simms, but an injury to Simms changed all of that. For the rest of the 2006 season, this is Gradkowski's team.
Jon Gruden is tough on his QBs because he demands perfection, but he seems to be legitimately excited about developing this young guy. Gruden's offense forces quarterbacks to read defenses in layers, and it takes a guy who can process information quickly and read his progressions. Gradkowski is doing a good job of that.
Gruden also uses a lot of personnel groupings to confuse defenses. His young QB was able to adjust to those groupings and even made some quality audibles. He ran the no-huddle offense on occasion, and did a good job of getting the ball to his best playmaker, WR Joey Galloway. Gradkowski moves very well in the pocket and seems to have a natural feel for the rush. He is not afraid to hang in there and take a hit, while waiting for his receivers to separate and get open. His most impressive quality may be his command in the huddle. He is very calm, and it seems to be rubbing off on his teammates. Gruden falls in and out of love with QBs, but Gradkowski has a lot of skills his head coach likes, and this could turn into a long-term relationship.
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Hache Man · Oct 14, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 13 New Articles Added 10/13/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 13 New Articles Added 10/13/06)

Updated: Oct. 14, 2006, 5:40 PM ET

New wave of quarterbacks

By Joe Theismann
ESPN Insider
Archive




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Two weeks ago "Monday Night Football" covered the Green Bay Packers playing the Philadelphia Eagles and as is always the case with the Packers, the bulk of the coverage pertained to Brett Favre and his seeming impending retirement. That got me to thinking about the next wave of signal callers and how those young guys are doing and if I should be worried about whose hands my position will be led by. After watching guys like Favre, Dan Marino, John Elway, and Steve Young give way to great players like Donovan McNabb and Peyton Manning, I wonder about who is behind Manning and McNabb if they should falter. Will it be a series of just game managers or will it be a crew of gunslingers who challenge the records that Favre and Marino have set?
So let's take a look at that next generation of guys who've only been in the league for a couple seasons and just are getting their feet wet this season. It's a group that will be very good and will definitely win some hardware.
Philip Rivers: I spoke with some of the Baltimore Ravens defensive players after they played against Rivers and they were quite impressed by his mobility. Quarterback mobility has become a large part of today's game and he has enough to be dangerous. He knows how to move around in the pocket to buy himself time and he isn't afraid to take off downfield to get positive yardage instead of just throwing the ball away as some quarterbacks are prone to do.
The young San Diego Chargers quarterback obviously was learning while sitting behind Drew Brees last season because he seems very confident out on the field and is making excellent decisions. Marty Schottenheimer hasn't let him take full control of the offense just yet and is instead feeding him new stuff slowly. He's doing a great job taking what he's learned and bringing out on the field every game. He's definitely a gamer.
Vince Young: I'm rooting for this guy to succeed because so many people complained he wasn't a prototypical thrower when he came out of the University of Texas. If I remember correctly, there were even skits about how he threw like the Uncle Rico character from the movie "Napoleon Dunamite." What is ignored in all the hoopla about his throwing motion is that this kid is a heck of a talent. He oozes leadership and has done a good job segueing into the starter role for the Tennessee Titans after watching the franchise play musical quarterbacks during the offseason.
Alex Smith: Here's a kid who had never played with his back to the line of scrimmage before his pro career started and now he's out there winging the ball like he's been doing it his entire life. It's an extremely difficult transition from college to the pros for a quarterback and it's much more difficult when you have to learn something so integral to playing the position in the pros. The young San Francisco 49ers' starter adapted extremely well, though, and it's been fun watching him grow from week to week.
Matt Leinart: Coming into the season, the biggest issue people had with Leinart was with his perceived lack of arm strength. He dispelled that misconception quickly and easily in his debut. The Arizona Cardinals rookie has the arm to make pretty much any throw. That arm strength, coupled with his strong grasp of the offense, could make Leinart the favorite to be the guy who takes off first out of this group. He played the role of the good soldier during the preseason and early in the season as he sat on the bench, but he was soaking up everything he could and it shows. He understands the schemes that he's supposed to execute and what the defense is throwing at him every game. For a guy that young to come in and pick up these concepts so quickly is amazing. Rex Grossman: My favorite part of his game is the amount of confidence he has in himself. It's borderline cockiness and I love it! You don't see this type of confidence out of such a young guy especially one who has suffered through the injuries that Grossman has, but this kid believes he's the leader of this offense. He knows that he's giving the Chicago Bears the big-play ability they've sorely needed the past few seasons to go with their excellent defense.
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Hache Man · Oct 14, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 13 New Articles Added 10/13/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 13 New Articles Added 10/13/06)

<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>NFL Rumor Central: Peterson plotting comeback
</TD><TD align=right width="30%">Other Rumors: MLB | NBA | NHL
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<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD colSpan=3>Saturday, October 14</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD width=65>WHO</TD><TD>WHAT</TD><TD>THE SKINNY</TD></TR><TR class=oddrow vAlign=top><TD noWrap align=middle>

Will Peterson
Giants
</TD><TD>Comeback?
</TD><TD>Peterson plotting comeback
<Oct. 14> Peterson, released by the N.Y. Giants before this season because of serious back problems, was cleared by specialists in late September to return to the football field and will begin auditioning for teams in a few weeks, according to ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli. The former Giants cornerback has not played in a game in 13 months.
More than a dozen franchises have been in touch with agent Ron Slavin to inquire about the cornerback's status, but come November, Slavin told ESPN.com this week, only teams in playoff contention need call.
"If he is going to play half a season, Will wants to get to a winning situation, one where he has a real shot to contribute to a franchise's success and to re-establish himself," Slavin said. "Those are pretty much the ground rules. Hopefully, he can get back [on a one-year contract], show people he can play again, and then make some realy money in free agency [next spring]."

</TD></TR><TR class=colhead><TD width=65>WHO</TD><TD>INTERESTED</TD><TD>THE SKINNY</TD></TR><TR class=evenrow vAlign=top><TD noWrap align=middle>

Leonard Davis
Cardinals
</TD><TD> </TD><TD>Cards dangling Davis?
<Oct. 14> Perhaps the most interesting name being kicked around in the rumor mill as the trade deadline nears is that of Davis, writes ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli. Davis is in the final season of his original rookie contract, earning $9 million-plus this year, and the Cardinals apparently feel there is no way they can retain him. And, make no mistake, the Cardinals have not only fielded inquiries about Davis, but have made a few calls of their own to gauge potential suitors. Problem is, any team interested in acquiring Davis, who started mostly at right guard before he was switched to left tackle by coach Denny Green in 2004, will want him to sign an extension before completing a trade. And, to this point, the Cardinals haven't given his agents permission to talk to anyone. Second, Arizona really doesn't have an adequate replacement on its roster.

</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>

Jerametrius Butler
Rams
</TD><TD> </TD><TD>Butler on the block?
<Oct. 14> Until a spate of injuries hit the Rams' secondary, Butler appeared to be a viable trade option, writes ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli. Butler wouldn't mind moving on, particularly if it meant a chance to start. But unless the Rams convince themselves their starters are healthy, and that they have ample depth, they probably won't deal the sixth-year cornerback, who at 27 should still have some good years in front of him. Besides falling behind Travis Fisher and Fakhir Brown on the depth chart, Butler has been playing behind first-round draft choice Tye Hill and second-year veteran Ron Bartell.

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Hache Man · Oct 16, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 10/14/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 10/14/06)

<TABLE width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>NFL Rumor Central: Niners eyeing Vincent
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<TABLE class=tablehead cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3><TBODY><TR class=stathead><TD colSpan=3>Monday, October 16</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>

Troy Vincent
Bills
</TD><TD>49ers?
</TD><TD>Niners eyeing Vincent
<Oct. 16> Look for the Niners to go after Vincent in an attempt to bolster their undermanned secondary, according to Pro Football Weekly. Vincent, recently released by Buffalo, spent the majority of his career as a cornerback but was moved to safety after joining the Bills in 2004. With several teams expected to make a run at Vincent, the 49ers plan to offer the four-time Pro Bowler plenty of playing time as a selling point.

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Hache Man · Oct 16, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 10/14/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 10/14/06)

Young gets Titans on right track

posted: Monday, October 16, 2006 | Print Entry

Titans quarterback Vince Young suffered only a minor ankle injury Sunday. With a bye week ahead, Young should be fine for the Oct. 29 start against Houston. For the Titans (1-5), it was huge for Young to win before the bye. The Titans' opening schedule was tough (Chargers, Cowboys, Colts and Redskins), but the 25-22 victory over Washington gives them hope. Young passed for 161 yards and showed great leadership. The running attack was led by Travis Henry's 178 yards. Unfortunately for Tennessee, the schedule doesn't get much easier after the bye. The Titans have a good chance of beating the Texans at home, but they have Jacksonville, Baltimore, Philadelphia, the Giants and the Colts before they play the Texans again. If Young can finish the season with five or six wins, it would be a big boost for the franchise.

? Vikings guard Steve Hutchinson's first return to Seattle next Sunday became more interesting because of some of the things that happened during the Seahawks' 30-28 victory over the Rams. First, Chris Spencer, his replacement at left guard, struggled. He had a false start and his holding penalty wiped out a 32-yard touchdown run by fullback Mack Strong. Spencer also struggled with his blocking. Former Vikings receiver Nate Burleson, who signed a $49 million poison pill-laden contract to get out of Minnesota, started, but his role continues to diminish. Deion Branch had two touchdown catches and is established as the team's No. 2 receiver. D.J. Hackett, who wouldn't have played were it not for Bobby Engram's thyroid condition, made big catches down the stretch. Burleson didn't have a catch against the Rams.
? Jerry Porter's four-game team suspension by the Raiders may actually hurt his chances of being traded. A team that was interested probabyl won't be any longer because of news that Porter acted up in practice and was suspended by coach Art Shell for conduct detrimental to the team. Al Davis wants Porter to pay back a portion of his signing bonus in order to be traded. It's going to be hard for something to happen by Tuesday, the trading deadline. Ditto for Randy Moss.
? Don't expect a quarterback change right away in Washington, but one might not be too far down the line. Mark Brunell completed 16 of 30 passes for 180 yards against the Titans and isn't lighting up the offense. He also has suffered leg injuries, and once Brunell's legs go, you can expect his performance level to drop. Brunell had a toenail ripped off toward the end of the first half, and both feet were bothering him toward the end of the game. Joe Gibbs said he's not going to get involved with the play-calling, but he is going to try to find ways to help the offense. ? Good thing Bucs wide receiver Michael Clayton isn't superstitious. He celebrated his 24th birthday on Friday the 13th. That's pretty dangerous for a player who caught 80 passes for 1,193 yards and seven TDs as a rookie in 2004, but hadn't found the end zone in 19 games. Knee problems bothered him throughout the 2005 season. But Clayton's wife sent him a note before Sunday's game against Cincinnati that said she had good thoughts about his chances. Clayton said he had good thoughts, too. The Bucs' receiver caught six passes for 55 yards and the winning touchdown in the final minutes. For a player who celebrated a birthday on the worst possible day for luck, Clayton's fortunes might be turning more positive.

Hache Man · Oct 16, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 10/14/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 10/14/06)

Leinart will be under fire

By Gary Horton
Scouts Inc.
Archive




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After watching a lot of film on both the Bears and Cardinals and talking to coaches and scouts, here are some key things to watch in their Monday night game (ESPN 8:30 p.m. ET).
Chicago Bears

The Bears are generating a great pass rush without a lot of blitzing. By only rushing four, they have the luxury of dropping seven defenders into coverage, and they can play any coverage scheme they want.
They also have a great defensive line rotation, which keeps everyone fresh. They have dominated the offensive lines they have faced and Arizona's line should be easy pickings. When Matt Leinart sees seven defenders in coverage, he will be forced to look at other options in the passing game, rather than his primary target.
? The more you watch the Chicago secondary, the more you appreciate its versatility. While the Bears use a base Cover 2 defense, they can play those zone schemes to perfection. They also can play aggressive man-to-man techniques.
Starting DCs Nathan Vasher and Charles Tillman are solid cover guys, but the wild card is No.3 DC Ricky Manning Jr. He can line up against slot receivers or cover on the perimeter, and he is an excellent matchup corner against the No.3 receiver on any offense the Bears will face. He has good ball skills and excellent instincts, and very few defenses have three quality corners.
? A big key to the success of the Bears has been the outstanding play of their special teams. Their cover teams are among the best in the NFL and do a great job of establishing positive field position.
KOR Rashied Davis and PR Devin Hester are capable of making plays, and the kicking game is rock solid. PK Robbie Gould is a perfect 17-for-17 on field goals and punter Brad Maynard is one of the best, with a 44.7 gross average and eight punts inside the opponent's 20. Excellent drafts have produced a lot of young backup players who excel on special teams.
? After watching a lot of film on the Bears' defense, it is amazing how simple they are, while trying to convince opposing offenses they are very complex. They will put as many as eight defenders in the box before the snap, and the QB doesn't really know who is attacking and who is dropping into coverage.
On the snap of the ball, they usually only rush four, but they love to utilize a lot of twists, stunts and loops with their quick defensive line, giving opposing offensive lines fits.
? Look for the Bears to run the ball a lot early to set up play action opportunities. They now have a two-headed monster at running back with Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson, and they will face a Cardinals' run defense in the bottom third of the NFL.
If the Bears run well early, it will force SS Adrian Wilson into the box for run support, leading to excellent matchups on the perimeter against two corners who will have only one safety to help over the top. Nobody is throwing the deep ball better right now than Rex Grossman, and he will get his shots in this game.
? While WR Bernard Berrian is considered a vertical threat, he is turning into a complete receiver. He has become a workout warrior in the weight room and has added almost 15 pounds of muscle. He is now better at coming over the middle and catching the ball in traffic, and with his speed, slants and quick crossing routes will lead to a lot of YAC (yards after catch)
? The Bears are second in the NFL in time of possession. This keeps their great defense fresh. The Bears already have a strong defensive line rotation and if this group is well rested, it might post some huge sack numbers as the season progresses.
? The Bears are the soundest team in the NFL. They have only two fumbles and three interceptions in five games. They make opposing offenses work for everything they get, forcing them to drive the entire length of the field.
? The Bears have added some variety to their running game, with a package that includes some misdirection plays, including some counters. It should work well against an active but undersized Arizona defensive line that can get caught overpursuing. The Chicago offensive line does a nice job of sealing off cutback run lanes.
? The Bears have to be aware of where Arizona's Wilson lines up at all times. He is an excellent run defender and the Cardinals love to play him in the box, putting him in position to be an effective blitzer. If the Bears read blitz, Grossman can change the the protection, keeping RB Jones, who is an underrated pass blocker, in to block.
Arizona Cardinals

? RB Edgerrin James is spending extra practice time working with rookie QB Matt Leinhart on play-action fakes. Leinart is a good ball handler, but James worked at Indianapolis with the best play action QB of all-time in Peyton Manning. The problem is that without a run game, no defense respects the play-action package.
? The Cardinals must figure out a way to block DT Tommie Harris and not allow him a lot of inside penetration. Offenses are so concerned with getting to MLB Brian Urlacher with second-level blocks, they wind up single blocking Harris. The Cardinals would be wise this week to utilize double teams with either one of their OGs and OC Alex Stepanovich. Once they have neutralized Harris, one of the two blockers (probably Stepanovich) can try to chip on Urlacher.
? A big question Arizona has this week is how it is going to utilize James. Running the ball successfully against this Bears' front won't be easy. He could have success as an outlet receiver on dump offs and screens, and really be a security blanket for Leinart. Unfortunately, the pass protection might be so bad the Cardinals will be forced to keep him in to block in blitz pickup, turning a potential offensive difference maker into nothing more than a pass blocker.
? A big concern for the Cardinals is how well their defensive line will hold up. Their defensive tackles, Darnell Dockett and Kendrick Clancy, are adequate versus the run, but their defensive ends, Bertrand Berry and Chike Okeafor, are better pass rushers than run defenders. This is a unit with little depth and not much of a rotation. Look for the Bears to run a little wider than usual, not only negating the athleticism of the DEs, but also wearing them down.
? How bad is the pass protection for the Cardinals? Their QBs have been sacked 17 times in five games. Leinart was sacked four times last week. If you are going to play QB in the desert, you better be a tough guy.
? FS Robert Griffith has a lot of pressure on him against the Bears' improving passing game. With SS Adrian Wilson likely to play a lot in the box and be utilized as a blitzer, Griffith will be the only single safety covering the deep middle of the field, but he can only help one defensive corner at a time over the top.
Berrian has become an excellent deep threat and Grossman looks to him for big plays. Griffith will have to be aware of him, especially off play-action fakes, because right now Berrian is a tough matchup for any corner. This week, Antrel Rolle will do his best to prevent him from getting clean releases.
? Because the Arizona run game is almost non-existent, the Bears can take some liberties with their defensive schemes this week. Right now, the Cardinals have much more confidence in their passing game and the Bears will try to take that away. They will start with their Cover 2 shell, but the safeties can widen to the perimeter and help the corners over the top, eliminating deep routes and allowing the corners to be very aggressive.
Urlacher is the best in the NFL at his position in pass defense, and as the Cover 2 requires, he will patrol the deep middle of the field to free up the safeties. With a terrific pass rush and seven defenders in coverage, this is not an easy defense for Leinart to be looking at in passing situations.
? The Cardinals like to play a cover 2 scheme. They have big corners and safeties, which is excellent against the run and allows them to play a physical style of pass defense, but there is concern about Wilson in coverage. The Bears will try to find Wilson in passing situations, but Arizona might counter by bringing him into the box on the snap and rolling to a Cover 1 or man free scheme. This secondary does not match up well versus the Bears' playmakers.
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Hache Man · Oct 16, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 10/14/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 10/14/06)

Broncos offense stuck in neutral

posted: Monday, October 16, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders

In watching the Denver Broncos' dismal offense Sunday night, it occurred to me that this is pretty much going to be the norm for the rest of the season. Sunday was a perfect opportunity for them to get their lackluster offense on track, and they could not do it.

Plummer

The Raiders defense has continued to play hard, but it also plays all man-coverage. For a quarterback, it gets no easier than that -- facing a defense that does not get pressure on the QB and with your receivers locked up in man-coverage. No extra reads need to be made, and there are no real surprises, so to see Jake Plummer and the pass offense once again sputter was very disappointing.

Plummer looks like a shell of the quarterback he was last season. He is hesitant and looks like he has very little confidence in his ability to make plays. He appears to be playing scared right now. Perhaps having rookie QB Jay Cutler behind him is to much for him to handle. While I'm not suggesting a quarterback change, Plummer is very tough to watch right now. Plummer wins, so for now that is the best Denver fans can hope for.

Smith

Even though Plummer should shoulder a lot of the blame, there are a few other things hindering the offense, as well. First and foremost, veteran WR Rod Smith, at age 36, has hit the wall. It is not that Plummer can't get him the ball; it is that Smith can't get open any more. Oakland's young corners pretty much smothered him Sunday night.

Second, the tight end has disappeared from the offense. Denver's West Coast offense relies on production from the tight end position. Stephen Alexander and Tony Scheffler have combined for just seven receptions for 72 yards and no touchdowns. The tight end always has been a staple of this offense, and the lack of production to this point is alarming.
So, while Plummer has not been great, there is plenty of blame to go around on the offensive side of the ball for Denver. This team is good enough on defense to win a lot of games this season. However, it will be tough to beat the best teams in either the AFC or NFC if the offense does not hit its stride soon.

Hache Man · Oct 16, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 10/14/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 10/14/06)

Rams headed in right direction

posted: Monday, October 16, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: St. Louis Rams

The Rams now sit in second place in the NFC West after coming up just a bit short in a disappointing loss to the Seahawks on Sunday. But is this enough to discredit the turnaround they have made thus far? In recent weeks I have informed many readers that the Rams are playing very good football, even though many critics and experts questioned the winning records of their opponents. Not sure if anyone saw Marc Bulger's brief interview on NFL countdown on Sunday, but to the surprise of a few people, he said the old regime of the Rams, under Mike Martz, was not concerned about the turnover ratio. Bulger even admitted in the interview that he would often just heave the ball downfield if he saw man coverage without really seeing if the player was open or not. Through my time of scouting the Rams in past years, I was not surprised at the comments of Bulger. It looked as the Rams played that way and I do know that, under Martz's philosophy, it was worth the risk to throw the ball deep and risk the interception. Martz saw the deep ball as being just as good as a punt, and if there was a pass interference call or a play that went for a touchdown, that was just as valuable.

Nonetheless, even with this loss against the Seahawks, the Rams are still gaining favor with me. I have been impressed with their play all season long, but did not think that they matched up well on paper against the Seahawks and was not shocked that they lost. They got hit in their Achilles' heel and turned the ball over, which is something a rebuilding team can't afford to do if they want to win close games. I still have the Rams challenging for a wild card spot, but they must get back to protecting the ball which will help them win the close games. Their Rams' defense is still playing well, and their aggressive style will start to become the team's identity.

Hache Man · Oct 16, 2006

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 10/14/06)

Re: 2NFL - ESPN Insider Writeups, etc. 3 New Articles Added 10/14/06)

Titans enter bye on high note

posted: Monday, October 16, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
filed under: Tennessee Titans

As the Tennessee Titans enter their bye week, they can feel good about themselves for the first time all season. They defeated the Washington Redskins 25-22 for their first win of the season and did so with reasonable hope for the future.

The Titans ran the ball 41 times for a total of 194 yards, easily their best running total for the season. Running back Travis Henry finished with 178 yards on 32 carries. Averaging 4.7 yards per carry as a team allows the Titans to throw the ball when they want, rather than allowing which down it is to determine when they are going to pass. When a defense has to respect the run game, it forces them into single coverage and opens up favorable matchups in the perimeter passing game.

Titans quarterback Vince Young was given time to view the field and throw the ball and as a result, he did great job of maintaining ball security and had no interceptions. For the first time this season he looked poised in the pocket and in control. He spread the ball around to seven receivers, not allowing the Redskins' defense to key on any specific target. Young was also able to throw the ball downfield as four wide receivers caught passes of 20 yards or more. The ability to throw downfield with any success forces teams to loosen up their coverages.

While most teams like to give their players a few days off during the bye week, expect the Titans to keep Young in town to increase the size of his playbook. In order to continue this kind of success, they need to allow the rookie to use more of the throwing package to keep defenses off stride. While it is too early to say that we may be witnessing the emergence of a star quarterback, at least the signs are encouraging. But even more encouraging could be the hope of a running game that has been dormant for the first five games.

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

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"

"Seven Days Without Gambling Makes One Weak"