Philadelphia Eagles: Team Must Adjust to Offseason Changes

Last season, the Philadelphia Eagles clinched a playoff spot in one of the most bizarre ways we could have imagined.

In the final week of the season, the Eagles received unlikely help from the Oakland Raiders and Houston Texans just to be in contention for a wild-card spot in the playoffs.

After manhandling the Dallas Cowboys 44-6 at home, the Eagles found themselves heading to Minnesota to play the Vikings in the opening round of the playoffs.

With back-to-back wins against the Vikings and New York Giants, the Eagles surprised the world by reaching their fifth NFC Conference Championship game in eight years as a six seed.

Despite falling just short of the Super Bowl by losing 32-25 to the Arizona Cardinals, the Eagles were impressive toward the end of the season, winning six of their final eight games.

After a strong finish to last season and an offseason in which they took advantage of free agency and the draft, the Eagles are suddenly considered by some analysts as favorites in the NFC this season.

For some, this is an easy statement to believe considering the way the Eagles played at the end of last season. However, the road to the Super Bowl for the Eagles may be more challenging than people realize.

Sure, the Eagles were nothing short of impressive this offseason when it came to signing players through free agency and the draft. However, there were other moves made that may cause the Eagles to make adjustments they never thought they’d have to experience come September.

Whether they were for the best or for the worst, the Eagles offseason was filled with numerous changes that will have an impact on the upcoming 2009 season.

 

Jim Johnson takes leave of absence for chemotherapy

No matter what team you play or cheer for, we all hope for the best for Jim Johnson and his family during these difficult times.

In 1999, Jim Johnson was recruited by Andy Reid to take over as defensive coordinator for the Eagles. Ten years later, the two are still working together and have had plenty of success with the Eagles.

For the first time in his coaching career with the Eagles, Reid may have to start the regular season without Johnson by his side as defensive coordinator. In January, Johnson was diagnosed with melanoma for the second time since 2001.

He spent the final two games of the 2009 playoffs coaching from the press box since he was in too much pain to be on the field.

A few weeks ago, Johnson announced that he would be taking a leave of absence from the Eagles to undergo his second round of chemotherapy. Whether or not he will be able to return before the start of the season remains unknown.

Secondary coach Sean McDermott will take over the defense until Johnson’s return.

At issue is whether or not Johnson’s absence will have an impact on the Eagles’ defense. Johnson is known throughout the league as the coordinator who loves to blitz the quarterback on a consistent basis, and he has had the Eagles defense ranked near the top of the league each season.

In 2001, Johnson and the Eagles became the fourth team in NFL history to give up 21 points or less in 16 straight games in a season. Last season, his defense finished fourth in the league by giving up just 18.1 points per game.

Hopefully Johnson can make another full recovery and return to the Eagles as soon as possible. However, this is one of those situations where Johnson’s health is more important than whether or not he is on the sideline.

As much as the Eagles and their fans would love to see him back as soon as possible, we all want the best for Johnson. If this means his leave of absence is longer than expected, than the adjustments will be made.

The rest of the Eagles staff has adjusted to Johnson’s style of play on defense the last 10 years. McDermott should do a solid job as far as taking over the defense in the meantime.

 

Filling in the void at safety left by Brian Dawkins

For the last 13 seasons, Brian Dawkins, also known as Weapon X, was the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Eagles. Words can’t describe his passion for the game of football and the city of Philadelphia loved him for that.

Before the offseason, any Eagles fan would have laughed if you asked them if they thought Dawkins would ever play for a team other than Philadelphia. When March rolled around, those fans weren’t laughing anymore.

After 13 seasons that consisted of 545 total tackles, 21 sacks, and 34 interceptions, Dawkins and the Eagles went their separate ways when he signed a five-year deal worth $17 million.

The city of Philadelphia has seen its fair share of fan favorites depart over the last couple of decades. However, no departure of a fan favorite hurt more than Dawkins leaving for Denver.

Does this mean the city of Philadelphia will be mad at Dawkins? Of course not. The reasons behind his signing with the Broncos were fair. The Eagles front office felt that his gas tank was running out and weren’t going to offer him the contract he thought he deserved. The Eagles have 100 percent support behind Dawkins’ move.

Still, it’s hard to replace the leadership Dawkins provided for the Eagles during his 13-year career. The way he would flex his muscles after a tremendous hit on the opponent would send goose bumps to anyone, no matter where they were watching from.

The Eagles can search all they want for Dawkins’ replacement. No matter how many players try to fill his void, no safety will ever be able to fill his shoes in the city of brotherly love.

All the city of Philadelphia can do now is accept the fact that they have to adjust to life without Dawkins starting at safety every Sunday. Wish him the best of luck with his new team and welcome him when he returns to The Linc on Dec. 28.

 

The signing of Leonard Weaver at fullback should provide enough blocking to improve the running game

One of the most frustrating things about the Eagles last season was there third and fourth down plays for short yardage. Most of the time, they failed to convert in these situations simply because nobody was blocking the way for the running back.

This season, things should be a little different for the Eagles when they find themselves in these types of situations.

Last March, the Eagles signed former Seattle Seahawk Leonard Weaver to a one-year deal to provide the Eagles with the type of fullback they haven’t seen in years.

The most exciting feature about Weaver is that he is a fullback that can do whatever is necessary to help his team win. He can block the way for running backs. He can run and catch the ball.

Last season with the Seahawks, Weaver finished with 130 yards rushing and 222 yards receiving.

Weaver should be an immediate improvement for the Eagles at the fullback position this season. He may be seen by some as the “triple-threat” as he can provide help in any way possible on offense. Not to mention he will make a great fit for those third and short/fourth and short situations, an area where the Eagles struggled last season.

The one Eagle who should benefit the most from the signing of Weaver is Brian Westbrook. Weaver should provide excellent blocking for Westbrook and help him find the necessary holes to gain that extra yardage.

If everything goes according to plan, the Eagles may be looking to sign Weaver to a long-term deal after next season.

 

McNabb may not have landed the big name receiver he desired, but he has weapons.

During the offseason, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb made a statement that he would not negotiate a long-term deal until he saw what the team did in the offseason.

For most of his career, McNabb has been known to play without that “big name” receiver. Ever since the departure of Terrell Owens, the Eagles have made numerous attempts to land that big name wide receiver to play alongside McNabb.

Some of the receivers whose names have been thrown around include Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Obviously the Eagles have not landed that big name wide receiver. However, this may not be the worst thing in the world after the recent draft.

When Missouri wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was still available late in the first round, the Eagles knew they needed to take advantage of the opportunity and find a way to draft him.

After trading with the Cleveland Browns to move up two spots, the Eagles selected Maclin with the 19th overall pick. Maclin would be joining an Eagles receiving corps that consisted of DeSean Jackson and Kevin Curtis.

McNabb may not have landed the big-name wide receiver that he wished for in the offseason, but he was still happy with the moves the Eagles made in the draft.

All of a sudden, McNabb appears to have a group of weapons at the wide receiver position, which is something he isn’t used to having.

Jackson and Curtis have both proven they are capable of being 1,000-yard wide receiver. Maclin has the potential to have a similar rookie campaign we saw with Jackson last season. Now that McNabb appears to have a talented group of wide receivers, it’s up to him to show the rest of the league what he can do with them.

 

Jason Peters and Stacy Andrews should have an immediate impact on the offensive line

It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to see a family member go on to the NFL—it takes even more work to see two.

Eli Manning and Peyton Manning will always be compared to each other about who is the better quarterback.

Ronde will always be separated from his brother Tiki as the Barber brother who had the opportunity to win the Super Bowl.

Whether they are brothers or cousins, it’s always fun to compare members of the same family who play in the NFL. This is what happened for the last two years once offensive lineman Stacy Andrews was drafted by the Bengals. He and his brother Shawn would always be seen as the brothers who played on two different teams.

That is until this offseason.

Shawn and Stacy Andrews will share an experience that most brothers will never experience during their NFL careers—they will play together for the first time in their football careers by protecting Donovan McNabb.

Not only did the Eagles sign Stacy to a six-year deal this offseason, but they also traded for another offensive lineman in Jason Peters, who is seen by some as one of the best offensive lineman in football.

The Eagles surrendered the 28th overall pick and a fourth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills in last April’s draft to acquire the rights of Peters, who was threatening another holdout in Buffalo if he didn’t receive the contract extension he desired.

After the Bills made the trade, the Eagles immediately signed him to a six-year extension worth $60 million.

It might not seem obvious now, but the signing of Andrews and Peters should have an immediate impact on the offensive line. McNabb will have more protection in the pocket to find his open receivers. Running back Brian Westbrook should be able to find more holes to escape down field.

Offensive lineman in the NFL never receive all of the credit they deserve. Most of the time, the people watching the game couldn’t even tell you the names of the linemen in the game.

One thing is certain: people should know the names of Stacy Andrews and Jason Peters once they start watching the Eagles games come September.

 

“Dan Parzych covers the Eagles for NFLTouchdown.com.“

Oakland Raiders’ Offense Features Deep Threats and Long Balls

When you stop to consider the offseason moves the Raiders have made, it’s evident what the plans are on offense for 2009: Establish the run first then throw it deep downfield.

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

It’s been that way for the Silver and Black since 1963, when a 33-year-old Al Davis took what he learned from then-Chargers head coach Sid Gillman, and implemented an aggressive vertical passing attack that revolutionized the way football was played.

Strangers to the Raider Nation are quick to criticize Davis for insisting upon what they perceive to be bygone methods and philosophies.

But it’s easy to kick a man when he’s down.

When the Raiders have had the right players to play their brand of football, those teams have featured some of the most prolific offenses in league history, and have featured such stars as Kenny Stabler, Willie Gault, and Tim Brown.

The 2009 version of the Raiders hopes to do much of the same, but while there’s talent abound on offense, inexperience and inconsistency might prove to be the biggest deterrents to a productive offensive attack.

To address the issue of inconsistency, Davis’ first offseason move was to drop the “interim” title from Tom Cable and make him the Raiders’ official head coach. If the past six years of misfortunes has taught Raider fans anything, it’s that their young talent will never develop properly if there’s a high turnover ratio in the coaching staff.

Cable, who began with the Raiders in 2007 as an offensive line coach, took control of the team immediately after Lane Kiffin’s firing following a Week Four loss to the Chargers. By Week Nine, Cable also assumed offensive play-calling duties, taking over for then-coordinator Greg Knapp.

In 2009, Cable will continue to call the shots on offense, and that’s probably for the best when you consider how well he had the team playing in its final two games of 2008.

The philosophy will be the same, and that should definitely make things easier for third year quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

Russell, with his rocket arm and great height at 6’6”, is the prototypical Al Davis quarterback and in theory, the Raiders’ offense is perfectly tailored to his skill set. In practice, however, the early reports haven’t been encouraging.

Despite his strong arm, Russell has struggled with the deep ball during OTAs, particularly in the accuracy department.

Although he hasn’t completely let his quarterback off the hook, Cable insists that Russell’s struggles are partly due to slight changes in offensive scheming, and if that’s the case, you certainly hope the additions of Paul Hackett (quarterback coach) and Ted Tollner (passing game coordinator) will help accelerate Russell’s development and ease his transition.

When or if Russell becomes capable enough in Cable’s system, he will have the pleasure of throwing to a group of wide receivers that have been perfectly adjusted to his needs.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, despite any debate over his selection, is the type of deep threat wide receiver that can excel in such an offense as the Raiders. Heyward-Bey possesses an incredible combination of size (6’2” and 210 lbs.) and speed (4.3/40) that the Raiders hope to immediately utilize in their attack.

Needless to say, Heyward-Bey will not lead the Raiders in receptions or receiving yards. The advantage of having a receiver like Heyward-Bey is in the sheer threat of a home-run pass.

A legitimate deep-threat wide receiver has the ability to draw defenders in the secondary away from the action, opening up opportunities for the offense to gain major yards.

Some definite benefactors of Heyward-Bey’s skill might be Johnnie Lee Higgins and Chaz Schilens. Higgins, who has established himself as one of the league’s premier return men, is a big play waiting to happen at wide receiver, and Schilens, who impressed last season as a rookie, is a polished receiver who is a great target at 6’4”.

Ideally, the Raiders envision an offense where Heyward-Bey is able to draw defenders away, opening up huge holes for slot receivers like Higgins and Schilens.

The possibilities are enough to make a Raider fan salivate.

In one-on-one coverage, Higgins is the type of athlete with enough shake in his step to turn a modest gain into a big play. In that same regard, while Schilens might not have the agility of Higgins, he’s a sure-handed receiver who should be a favorite target of Russell’s in third down situations.

One player who is poised to have a big year for the Raiders is tight end Zach Miller. In 2008, Miller led the team in receptions and receiving yards, and if you ask anyone who knows a lick about football, a young quarterback’s best friend is often his tight end.

Unless he makes huge strides in his development this summer, Russell’s favorite target should remain Miller. Cable and company understand that the success of their offense will be predicated on Russell’s ability to handle pressure, and as such, they will put him in situations where he will always have an out—namely, Miller.

One of the hallmarks of Cable’s offenses when he was coordinator at UCLA was his ability to run a variety of plays in a single formation. With this in mind, it is likely we will see Miller on the field for the majority of plays because of his versatility as a skilled receiver and as an adept blocker.

In this way, Russell will often have the benefit of having his tight end as a security blanket.

The Raiders will always be a team predicated on the run. Cable’s offensive approach will be to run the ball, wear down opposing defenses, and control the clock.

With that said, if the running game is as good as advertised and the offensive line provides enough protection against the pass rush, the passing game will significantly improve from last season and 2009 will usher in the return of the long ball in Oakland.

After all, a wise man once said, “You can run for yards, but you can pass for miles.”

Five Packers Positional Battles To Watch Heading into Training Camp

The Green Bay Packers have a new defensive coaching staff that is charged with implementing a new defense. But while their role is perhaps the most prominent key to the success of the team in 2009, it comes down to the players on the field.

To that end, there are five positions that come in as potential weaknesses for the Packers. In each case, there are players on the roster the team realistically hopes can step up to keep them from being areas opponents can exploit.

The Packers have the potential of winning as many as 12 games between the regular season and playoffs. But essentially, each of these weaknesses is likely to cost them a win; thus, if none of them are shored up, the Packers could well finish with a losing record.

I will look at Mike McCarthy’s key personnel choices that will shape the season—the players involved, predict who starts, and declare whether that player will succeed.

Note: there will also be battles two other positional battles, but I will not be examining them in detail. Those positions are deep enough that whoever wins the starting job will be among the best at his position in the division, and the backup will add incredible depth. (The safety depth chart will read Nick Collins, Atari Bigby, Anthony Smith, and Aaron Rouse; the corner opposite Charles Woodson will remain Al Harris, with Tramon Williams being the nickelback.)

Martz vs Raye: How will the 49er Offense Change in 2009?

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Mike Martz’s and Jimmy Raye’s approach to the offensive coordinator job couldn’t be more different. 

Martz is a system guy. He brings his philosophy to whatever team employs him, and tries to fit his players into the scheme.  If those guys don’t fit, he’ll find other guys that do.  Just ask J.T. O’Sullivan.

Jimmy Raye builds his offensive approach around his roster.  His track record as an offensive coordinator is long; he’s run different systems in different cities, depending on his talent. 

In Los Angeles he had Eric Dickerson, and not much talent at receiver.  So he ran the ball 537 times, and Dickerson set the single season record for rushing yards.  Gotta play the hand you’re dealt, right?

In Oakland, Raye had zero talent at running back, but he did have Kerry Collins, Randy Moss and Jerry Porter.  So, in 2005 his team threw 591 passes, and ran just 367 times.  Those numbers would make Warren Moon proud.

One thing Jimmy Raye does do consistently is use his tight ends.  When Coach Raye’s calling the plays, his tight ends have ranked third or higher in pass receptions on 8 of the 14 offenses he’s led. 

Three times his tight end was his leading receiver, and Tony Gonzalez put up career numbers under Coach Raye.  In 2000, Gonzo led the Chiefs with 93 receptions for a ridiculous 1,203 yards and 9 touchdowns. 

That’s pretty good.

San Francisco has a tight end too. He’s supposed to be pretty good.  However Mr. Davis isn’t celebrated like Gonzo is.  In fact, his critics say he’s nothing but a workout warrior; some even call him a bust.  He’s been in the league for three seasons, and he hasn’t even sniffed the Tony Gonzalez standard. 

So what’s the problem with Vernon Davis?

Well, last year his problem (at least part of it) was his offensive coordinator.  Known for his disdain of the “undersized lineman”, Mike Martz never throws to his tight ends.  Never.

In 2008, the 49ers’ tight ends combined for a measly 41 receptions.  Their “star” tight end Vernon had only 31 catches for 358 yards.  Not gonna live up to the Tony Gonzalez comparisons with those kind of numbers.

In Detroit, Martz was even worse.  In 2007, his second year in “The D”, Martz’s tight ends combined to catch 28 passes.  The Lions threw 587 times that year.  His tight ends caught 13% of the team’s receptions.  Simply stunning.

With Jimmy Raye in the booth this season, things are looking up for Vernon Davis.  In a recent interview with Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Raye compared Davis to… you guessed it… Tony Gonzalez, and talked about Vernon’s potential role in this year’s offense.

“Just like Tony (Gonzalez) at Kansas City, he is a threat at that (tight end) position – a nightmare for some teams.  I would expect he will be a major part of what we do..”

“He looks like he has the ingredients to be a focal point in what we do.”

“Yeah, yeah..” you say,  “we heard that from Mike Martz last year.  He said he would build the offense around Frank Gore.  He said he would highlight Vernon Davis, too.”   

True, Martz promised us Vernon Davis and Frank Gore, but he gave us J.T. O’Sullivan instead.  The truth is, Martz’s system has little use for Davis, who although freakishly athletic for a tight end, does not create the mismatch in a Martz offense that he would in say, a Jimmy Raye offense.

Martz creates mismatches by running four or even five receiver sets.  This forces the defense to take talented linebackers off the field, and replace them with second and third-string defensive backs. 

If teams try to blitz Mad Mike, he teaches his quarterback to find the receiver left open by the blitzing defender.  Makes sense, right?

It does if your quarterback is good enough to find the open man.  It does if your receivers are good enough to get open in three to five seconds.  It doesn’t if you were coaching the 2008 49ers.

Last year, the 49ers started their third-string quarterback on opening day because the first and second-string guys couldn’t grasp the offense.  I’m pretty sure the team’s number one receiver was collecting social security. 

Mike Martz didn’t have the talent at quarterback or wide receiver to succeed with his system.  His two best players were de-emphasized by his scheme.  He should have recognized that.  He didn’t.  Or he wouldn’t.

Mike Martz is an offensive genius, a guru.  Jimmy Raye is an offensive facilitator.  However, Raye will succeed where Martz failed, because he will build an offense around the 49ers’ strengths.  He’ll compensate for their weaknesses. 

He’ll take pressure off the quarterback position, an area of weakness, by emphasizing the run game, an area of strength.  He’ll throw to his tight end, who’s almost always stronger and faster than the man trying to cover him.    

Jimmy will custom tailor a system for this team.  Mike tried to custom tailor the team to his system. 

Advantage:  Jimmy Raye.

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Bucs vs. Saints: Bucs, McCown Entering Bush League

Nov. 22, Bucs at Saints
Dec. 27, Saints at Bucs

By the time the Saints and Bucs finally get around to playing each other, the Bucs should at least have some idea of what the Saints will throw at them on defense.

For the Bucs, it could be a make-or-break game for Luke McCown, who has a chance to throw against a secondary that is shaky at best. If he can rise to the occasion, the Bucs might have a shot at sweeping the Saints, which are set on offense but are going through a severe change on the defensive side.

On one hand, new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is one of the most respected in the game and will have had most of the season to recreate the new Saints defense.

On the other hand, the Saints will enter training camp with no clear idea on what it will be throwing at the Bucs, not to mention the rest of the NFL.

The Saints offense was not the problem during last year’s 8-8 tailspin that kept them out of the playoffs. Quarterback Drew Brees threw for more than 5,000 yards.

The Saints struggled to run the ball and lost Deuce McAllister to free agency, but coach Sean Payton has said that the 2009 season is where former first-round pick Reggie Bush finally makes an impact.

It’s the defense that is suspect and, by the time the two teams meet in New Orleans, the Bucs should finally have an idea about the direction Williams has taken.

For the first part of the season, Williams will be trying to mix and match. After last year’s debacle where the Saints lost two of their final three games at the buzzer, including a crushing 33-31 loss to division rival Carolina in the final game of the season, Payton made changes. Gone are former defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs, along with three quarters of the secondary.

The Saints went out and spent a lot of money on Darren Sharper and Jabari Greer to reinforce the secondary, and Paul Spicer was brought in from Jacksonville to solidify the line. Williams has a whole new crew to work with, anchored by Jonathan Vilma at middle linebacker.
 
So what does that mean for the Bucs?

They will have plenty of time to scout the Saints. The NFC South schedule is backloaded so the Bucs be able to check out the Saints early and often. The week before their first meeting on Nov. 22, the Saints will be at St. Louis, which shouldn’t be a challenge, but the early part of the Saints schedule is difficult.

After a home opener against the Detroit Lions, the Saints travel to Philadelphia and Buffalo, neither of which should be easy games on the road.

Brees can light up any secondary and he has the receivers to work with. Brees isn’t known for firing deep, but Lance Moore and Marquis Colston are two of the more underrated wideouts in the league. If Bush is fine after his knee injury from last year, he also offers Brees an option than could sting the Bucs defense that is lacking in the secondary.

Also, don’t discount the signing of free agent fullback Heath Evans from the Patriots. His blocking will give Brees extra time and he can take on Bucs defensive ends Gaines Adams and Stylez White.

On defense, quarterbacks Luke McCown and Byron Leftwich won’t be able to take advantage of the Saints incohesiveness. New Orleans brought in veterans and first-round draft pick Malcolm Jenkins should be starting at cornerback by the time the teams meet.

The defensive line is lacking and Earnest Graham and Derrick Ward should be able to move the ball, especially if the Bucs go to the power game against a weak middle.

The Saints have a defense in transition, so it’s hard to tell what it will look like by the time the two teams face off in the second half of the season, but the Bucs can win both games. In the topsy-turvy NFC South, it’s typical for one team to be out of contention by Thanksgiving and it’s likely that one of these teams will be out of contention.

Too close to call, but, if the Bucs are still playing for January, there’s no reason they can’t sweep the Saints.

LAST SECOND SHOT: Do you remember that, for years, the Bucs couldn’t win a game in temperatures lower than 47 degrees? They went from 1976 until 2002 before they did. This year, the Bucs won’t have to play in any game where the temperature might dip below 70 degrees.

They play the Bills, Redskins, and Eagles on the road, but that ends in Philadelphia on Oct. 11. After that, the road games are in Miami, Atlanta (dome), Carolina, Seattle (maybe some rain), and New Orleans (dome).

Why Michael Vick Should Not Be Allowed Back into the NFL

Once again I have read an article written in an attempt to sway the public and the powers that be in the NFL to let Michael Vick return to Pro football.

The writer lists all of the terrible crimes that Michael Vick perpetrated against dogs but basically throws all the charges out the window, because they were, after all, “just dogs and not people.”

This is like the average Joe saying, “Aw, yeah, I did hit my wife, but everybody does it at least once in his life,”

No excuse is going to make what Michael Vick did insignificant enough for him to be allowed to play pro football ever again.

Yes, I love dogs, but I also love little children, women and men.

Crimes against animals are the gateway to cruelty and unspeakable crimes to human beings.

Devaluing life because it is not human life is still not justifiable.

Having worked many years in Adolescent and later Adult Psychiatry, I can attest to the fact that pulling the wings off flies, using a magnifying glass to fry ants and other so called “insignificant crimes” lead to animal abuse and are only a heartbeat away form ” hm, what would it be like to do this to another person?”

It is never good to turn your back on a crime and give your children the impression that some crimes are okay to ignore, “for the good of the team.”

They are not.

Crimes against animals lead to crimes against man.

Nobody wants Michael Vick to starve, but why should he be allowed to return to a lavish way of life after what he has done, when so many honest law abiding individuals are losing their jobs and unable to feed their families.

Why does Michael Vick deserve a pass?

If he was the greatest player to ever take the field it would just be wrong to reinstate him no matter how much time he has served for his crime.

To allow him to play in the NFL would be a mistake with many repercussions.

No, I am not saying that Michael Vick will start torturing and killing humans, but allowing him to be a respected player in the NFL would be sending the wrong message to our children and the rest of the world.

Football players are not gods. They do not deserve anything above what an ordinary person does.

You can not preach goodness to children and let an example of pure evil become an American idol as a NFL player.

Would you have your children worship the devil because he says he has changed his ways?

Evil is still evil, you can’t put a NFL jersey on it to dress it up and let it assume a heroic status.

The youth of America need good role models.

No one would let John Gacy or Jeffry Dahmer play in the NFL and make millions no matter how well they could play.

Why should Michael Vick be any different?

Please consider it an act of mercy that he was apprehended and punished the way he was. He has a chance to turn his life around and better himself, but does not deserve to do it on a national stage in the presence of impressionable young people.

There is a lot of talent in America yet waiting to be discovered.

Unless you would let a known sadist be your surgeon, do not allow Michael Vick to resume life in the spotlight of a sports arena.

Better choices exist and should be found.

 

 

Dallas Cowboys Scrap the Playbook, Hit the Drawing Board

Every year there are some adjustments and adaptations that coaching staffs have to make in order to stay competitive. Coming into this season, the Dallas Cowboys will be looking to revise their playbook on both sides of the ball to account for changes in personnel.

As the old saying goes, if you are not getting better, you are getting worse.

The Offensive Playbook

After a disappointing finish to 2008, a lot of blame was directed towards Jason Garrett and the Cowboys’ offense. While the defense improved last season, the offense’s performance did not live up to expectations.

In 2007, which was Garrett’s first season, the Dallas offense ranked thirdoverall in the NFL. They were number four in passing yards, and were the second best scoring team with 455 points. In 2008 the Cowboys offense fell to 13th overall with less passing and rushing yards. They also fell to 18th in the league with 362 points scored.

Offensively, the Cowboys must to adjust to the release of Terrell Owens. Hopefully letting go of Owens will not only improve team chemistry, but also make the Cowboys offense less predictable and harder to defend. Jason Garrett should look to spread the ball around more in 2008, after two seasons of making sure that T.O. was kept pacified by a certain number of targets each game.

Matters weren’t helped by the way Jason Garrett used the team’s top wideout either. No matter how much he tries to convince the world he is a speed demon, T.O. did not have the wheels to run past defensive backs and get separation. This resulted in too many passes forced to a big play receiver who was no longer making the big play.

I could never understand why the Garrett didn’t seem to pick up on the fact that Owens had lost a step, and kept using him on go routes and screens. T.O. should have been used as a possession receiver.

He should have been running slants and drags over the middle of the defense, where he could use his strength and run after catch skills to help the offense more.

This is part of the reason that I believe the Cowboys will be just fine moving forward without Terrell Owens at wide receiver.

Many think that this is a crippling loss, but I believe those people are thinking that the Cowboys just released the 2003 version of T.O. instead of the slow, pass dropping target that he has become. He still has a lot of talent, he’s just not what he used to be.

Look for Roy Williams to be used as more of a possession receiver than a deep threat. Roy is a big bodied, possession receiver with the skills to occasionally break the big play. If Garrett can use him correctly, Williams will be able to contribute and keep this passing game from falling off.  

There are some changes that need to be made to the Cowboys playbook in order to take full advantage of their current roster. Other than Williams, there are no new additions to the starting lineup. But after seeing some of the young talent perform last season, there is an opportunity to take advantage of a plethora of contributors.

First and foremost, Dallas needs to commit to the run more. Over the last two seasons, the Cowboys have ranked 17th and 21st in the NFL respectively in rushing.

Although they haven’t racked up a ton of yards in recent years, the Cowboys have a solid line and are effective on the ground. In both seasons under Jason Garrett, the Cowboys have been in the top 10 in the league in yards per carry.

Last season showed us that Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice all have what it takes to contribute on the ground. With three running backs that have the ability to make plays, Dallas could use more of a committee approach this season. This will be priceless if it means a healthier, fresher Marion Barber come playoff time.

The offensive playbook should also be tweaked a bit in regards to the passing game. With Martellus Bennett proving he could make plays as a rookie, don’t be surprised if the Cowboys run more two tight formations.

Jason Witten and Bennett are both able to make big plays in the air which gives Dallas more flexibility in its choices of packages and formations.

Felix Jones must get the ball more frequently in the passing game. It wouldn’t surprise me if Garrett occasionally lined him up in the slot and tried to get him the ball in the open field. Felix showed the ability to make big plays before he was injured last season, and should be even more effective in his second year.  

Speaking of Felix Jones, don’t be surprised if the Cowboys run a little “Wildcat” formation every now and then. If Isaiah Stanback is able to bounce back from season ending shoulder surgery, he just might find his niche. He’s a former college quarterback whose speed makes him the prototypical dual threat needed to run this formation.  

Jason Garrett will have to adjust his passing plays to gear towards a new primary target. His playbook will have to take advantage of the weapons he has a tight end, running back, and wide receiver to provide a more balanced approach. There were fans, critics, and even opponents who claimed that the play calling in Dallas had become predictable in 2008.

Spreading the ball around to open targets instead of forcing the ball to a select few and more emphasis on the run will keep defenses guessing in 2009. An offense becomes far less predictable when you aren’t forcing the ball to a certain wide receiver that has a fondness for popcorn.  

The Defensive Playbook

On the defensive side of the ball, Wade Phillips will be calling the plays as he did during the last half of 2008. With that in mind, I foresee the defense creating more sacks and turnovers than it did last year.

The Cowboys defense has improved each season since Wade Phillips was hired. In 2007 Dallas was ninth overall in total defense, and they finished eighth overall last year.

Although the Owens move gets all of the publicity, most of the roster turnover occurred on the defensive side of the ball. There will be five new starters on the defensive unit going into training camp.

Up front, Chris Canty has been replaced by Igor Olshansky after signing with the Giants. Greg Ellis is on the trading block which means Anthony Spencer will move into the starting outside linebacker position opposite DeMarcus Ware. Also, veteran linebacker Keith Brooking was brought in from Atlanta to replace the departed Zach Thomas.

With the acquisitions of Olshansky and Brooking, the Cowboys have stayed just as strong as they were last season at these positions. Both of these players are suitable replacements for the hole they were brought in to fill.

Olshansky had a statistically identical season to the Pro Bowler Canty, and Brooking is probably an upgrade from an aging Thomas.

The major questions on the defensive side of the ball concern the secondary. There will be a new starting safety, corner, and nickel back in Dave Campo’s defensive backfield.

Gerald Sensabaugh was brought in from Jacksonville to replace Anthony Henry. Henry was traded to the Lions in the deal that brought Jon Kitna to Dallas. Mike Jenkins will replace Pacman Jones at corner, and Orlando Scandrick will become the nickel back to replace Jenkins.

Along with Terrance Newman and Ken Hamlin, these new defensive backs will form a secondary that will be tested early and often. There will probably be some growing pains as this unit comes together, but Cowboy fans and coaches were filled with promise by the rookie campaigns of Scandrick and Jenkins.

To give these guys a chance to succeed, Wade Phillips will bring as much pressure as possible. Blitzing the quarterback throws off the offenses timing, and prevents the opponent’s passer from sitting in the pocket and picking the secondary apart. That pressure also leads to bad throws and more frequent interceptions as it did last year.

When Wade took over the play calling duties from Brian Stewart last year, the defense started getting to the quarterback with a lot more frequency. Under Phillips, the defense averaged more than four sacks per game compared to only two and a half while Stewart had control. By the end of the year the Cowboys led the NFL with 56 sacks.

The personnel are still in place to supply the Cowboys’ defense with plenty of pass rushing talent. Although Ellis is no longer in the team’s plans, the Cowboys are still deep enough to get the job done. IF Anthony Spencer can live up to his first round expectations, the Cowboys shouldn’t miss a beat.

Like the offense, there were times that players such as Terrence Newman have spoken out about how predictability of the defensive calls. Opponents were calling out what the Cowboys defense was doing before the play started at times.

This seems to be the common thread between both Jason Garrett and Wade Phillips. In order for the Cowboys to live up to their potential, the coaching staff is going to have to put these players in a position to win.

If Phillips and Garrett can take advantage of the talent on this team, and have less transparency in their play calling, there is no reason to believe that the Cowboys can’t at least return to the playoffs.

Throwing It Back: Inside the NY Giants’ 2009 Playbook

One begins to learn the basic philosophies of football in their formative years. They may or may not play a little Pop Warner, may or may not play high school ball, but for those who truly love to learn the game, they pick up a lot simply by watching their hometown team.

For this writer, that meant a full serving of Bill Parcells’ New York Giants every single weekend of the fall. It was throwback football, even for the 1980s: heavy ground attack, stifling defense, limiting turnovers and controlling the clock.

That was how it was done, that’s how teams won championships (or at least challenged the 49ers for them). To this day, I still view those characteristics as essential to winning teams and interestingly enough, we are seeing the Giants throw it back again under Parcells’ disciple Tom Coughlin.

It’s old school football for the new school G-Men.

Taking into account the offseason moves this far, here’s what to expect from the guys wearing the headsets in 2009:

 

OFFENSE

In 2008, the Giants became the first team with two running backs (Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward) to rush for over 1,000 yards in the same season since the 1985 Cleveland Browns (Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack).

The Giants’ 2,518 total rushing yards, 5.0 yards per carry average, and 13 turnovers were ranked No. 1 in the NFL- a clear emphasis on controlling the ball as well as the clock. The bottom line is this; the G-Men pound the ball down opponents’ throats—it’s what they do.

The 2008 formula led to 12 wins and a playoff appearance so I would expect more of the same in 2009, as they are stout up front with Pro Bowl offensive linemen Shaun O’Hara and Chris Snee opening holes.

While RB Derrick Ward is a significant loss in free agency, the combination of Ahmad Bradshaw, Danny Ware, and potentially rookie Andre Brown will be excellent compliments to bruising starter Brandon Jacobs.

The sky officially fell when WR Plaxico Burress was lost for the season and the Giants faded down the stretch but that trash has officially been taken out this offseason. Burress is gone forever as is long-time Giant Amani Toomer leaving holes where QB Eli Manning should be completing passes.

Third-year Offensive Coordinator Kevin Gilbride recently stated in an interview that every position at wideout is up for grabs which will create a competitive atmosphere this July, August, and beyond.

Steve Smith is the only WR assured touches when he lines up in the slot but the rest of the cast including Domenik Hixon, David Tyree, Sinorice Moss, Mario Manningham and talented rookies Hakeem Nicks and Ramses Barden will all be battling for throws courtesy of Eli.

Another nugget from Gilbride was that the draft addition of TE Travis Beckum was done in hopes of creating mismatches on the opposing defenses. He feels that Beckum can be a dynamic component opposite fellow TE Kevin Boss because his size/speed combination will give linebackers fits in coverage.

Gilbride also stressed the ability to specifically create personnel changes on the other side of the field and exploit them by changing play calls when the match-ups are to the Giants’ advantage.

This is obviously what coaches do each game but Gilbride put an emphasis on having those versatile players in the lineup and Beckum appears to be one of them with his ability to play TE or H-Back.

 

DEFENSE

Last season, the Giants stayed true to the philosophy that won them Super Bowl XLII—pressure the quarterback. Easier said than done with DE Michael Strahan retiring and his counterpart Osi Umenyiora suffering a season-ending knee injury in the preseason.

The rest of the cast filled in well, with Justin Tuck having a breakout season by contributing with 13 of the team’s 43 sacks placing them sixth in the league in that category.

They were not as opportunistic as they would have liked forcing 22 turnovers (20th in the league) and only one in the last month of the regular season, a sign of the late season swoon suffered by the entire team.

This season brings with it a change at the top as former LB coach Bill Sheridan takes over the defensive coordinator reins from the departed Steve Spagnuolo.

In a recent interview, Sheridan mentioned that he would be calling the plays from the coaches’ box as opposed to the sidelines like his predecessor. He mentions his business-like, organized approach as being the catalysts for this preference of game locale but we can expect schemes and philosophy to remain very much the same

As I have written before, a team can never have enough defensive linemen. The Giants’ additions of free agents Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard and more importantly the return of Umenyiora from injury will provide more depth at that position than any team in the NFL.

The mad dash to the opposing quarterback will continue as Tuck, Mathias Kiwanuka, and Fred Robbins round out the most talented defensive line in the NFL.

Free agent addition linebacker Michael Boley provides the Giants with a pass-coverage option better than anyone on last year’s roster and his athleticism should increase the number of plays being made by the Giants’ weakest unit.

Sheridan also spoke about rookie Clint Sintim’s size and ability to rush the passer on third downs being an asset to the team right from the start of his career.

In the defensive backfield, uber-talented Kenny Phillips steps in for free-agent loss James Butler that should be considered an upgrade despite the relative lack of experience. Michael Johnson, Aaron Ross, and Corey Webster all fill the same roles in what is shaping up to be a potentially special unit.

 

SUMMARY

The Giants will not be rocking the boat this season as the tweaks and additions that were made this offseason will be enough to get them back to the playoffs. The defense improves markedly with the return of Osi but the defining, potential title-winning change with this team will be how the wide receiver and tight end roles play out.

Regardless of who steps up into the top role, Eli will need to find a favorite target that can become a legitimate threat particularly deep in opponents’ territory in what Giants’ coaches like to call the ‘Green Zone’.

Oakland Raiders’ Defense in ’09: Position Battles Abound

Changes are in store for the 2009 Raiders defense. Virtually every defensive area is in flux and few players are a lock to start at a particular position. Captain Kirk Morrison could be on the move and there are four safeties vying for the two starting spots.

There is also a defensive line that hasn’t performed well in the past few seasons. If John Marshall wants to change it up, there could potentially be a few new starters on the defensive line as well. There have been Derrick Burgess trade rumors swirling and his mystery illness during mandatory mini-camp is troubling.

The only position that seems set is cornerback. Nnamdi Asomugha’s public relations campaign last season took him from As-Oh-Mooga to a household name, even though half of the play-by-play announcers still can’t pronounce Aso-MU-Wah.

In addition to Asomugha, Deion Sanders’ apprentice Chris Johnson took over the starting role and proved he was the real deal for the first time at age 28.

The key battles going into camp are free and strong safety, middle and SAM linebacker, 4-3 nose tackle and right and left defensive end.

 

Safety

Sixth overall pick Michael Huff must prove he isn’t a bust this season, because the label has already been applied. Luckily for him he might have a chance to prove people wrong.

His teammates rave about him. Asomugha thinks he will have a breakout year this year. Last season, Stanford Routt said that Huff was going to be the breakout player. Hopefully their confidence in Huff is not misplaced.

Another possibility is Hiram Eugene. He has filled in admirably for Huff over the past few seasons. His work ethic has been mentioned by coaches and Tom Cable made it a point to mention Eugene when he was talking about his team leaders. Leaders don’t typically sit on the bench.

NFL Sophomore Tyvon Branch is another candidate. This special teams star in the making might also be able to wrestle this position away from Huff and Eugene. If rookie Mike Mitchell proves he can start right away, Branch could slide over and start at free safety.

This is an interesting case study in position battles. Hard-working 2006 undrafted free agent Eugene vs. 2006 sixth overall pick Huff vs. 2008 fourth-round pick Branch. Two very different veterans versus a rising youngster should make for a lively camp battle.

Take Huff out of the equation at strong safety. The coaching staff is bent on keeping him at free safety. Both Eugene and Branch apply for the job at strong safety along with surprise second round pick Mitchell.

Mitchell has a chip on his shoulder, but will he be able to make reads in the NFL without making too many mistakes? Count on the Raiders to give him every opportunity to win the job, but don’t be surprised if he doesn’t.

The strong safety battle is more about the youngsters. If for some reason neither develop Eugene could step in a fill the void. The potential sleeper is free agent pickup Keith Davis.

 

Linebacker

The linebacker situation could quickly turn into the oddest battle on the team. Serviceable SAM linebacker Ricky Brown has moved to middle linebacker behind starter Kirk Morrison.

Jon Alson has taken most of the first team reps at SAM linebacker with Slade Norris playing second fiddle. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to re-sign Ricky Brown for him to play backup middle linebacker.

I expect one of Morrison or Brown to slide to SAM linebacker by training camp. If Brown is effective at middle linebacker, Morrison could thrive at the SAM spot. Brown would still be the player to leave the field when the Raiders go with a nickel package.

Expect Norris to get plenty of snaps at linebacker during camp. Lead-footed middle linebacker Frantz Joseph as also a wild card.

Overall this is relatively young group. If they can shed tackles and the defensive line can free them up to make plays this group could be special.

 

Defensive Line

Unfortunately there aren’t many options at the Three-Technique spot. Tommy Kelly is the starter and there really isn’t anyone behind him to push him to be better. Ryan Boschetti is the clear backup unless there are huge surprise in store.

However, the nose tackle continues to be up in the air. Gerrard Warren was the starter last season and was another one of the players Tom Cable has called a leader. Sands has never reached the potential many people believe he has.

Sands has dropped a significant amount of extra weight this offseason and hopefully that means he will regain the explosiveness he seemed to have in 2006. The competition should drive both lineman to be better. Better tackle play will be pivotal in improving the 31st ranked rush defense.

There is also an interesting battle brewing at defensive end. Trevor Scott looks primed to get more snaps and Burgess appears to be on an island by himself. Jay Richardson, Greyson Gunheim and rookies Stryker Sulak and Matt Shaughnessy will also battle for time.

The early favorites appear to be Burgess, Scott, Richardson, and Sulak. Of course, this could change dramatically should Burgess be traded.

Everyone seems to expect Scott to pick up more snaps, even potentially stealing them from Burgess. It will be interesting to see if Scott’s flashes in 2008 will translate to better production and more playing time in 2009.

The 2009 Raiders defense has the potential to look a lot different than the 2008 Raiders defense. It also has the potential to look very much the same as the 2008 defense.

This is the type of paradox you might only find in Oakland. Typically teams try to hold over a good defense or significantly change a bad one, but this is the Raiders, since when have they ever done anything typical?

Breaking Down Jason Campbell

If I had the chance to conduct a feature interview with any player on the Washington Redskins, I would choose starting quarterback Jason Campbell. To prepare for it, I would research his college days at Auburn, speak to his family and friends, and consult with his current teammates and coaches. 

 

But I would also seek the counsel of a very good psychologist.

 

Entering his fifth NFL season and third as a starter, Campbell is young, talented and mature. In press conferences, he says all the right things and on the field, he seems to have the respect of those around him.

 

But despite all of his potential, he has not earned the trust of a majority of fans or the confidence of those who run the team. 

 

Uncertainty within the organization became apparent before this year’s draft, when the Redskins made a play for Denver quarterback Jay Cutler. Cutler was eventually traded to the Chicago Bears, but Campbell got the message loud and clear. 

 

Despite his eagerness to develop into a franchise quarterback, the Redskins are too impatient to wait. Despite his willingness to learn under head coach and former quarterback Jim Zorn, his results have not been good enough.

 

And although Campbell has shown the ability to learn three offensive systems since arriving in Washington, it is assumed that he is not as intelligent as some other quarterbacks in the league. 

 

These opinions may prove to be false, but they certainly can have a detrimental effect on self-confidence and pride. Campbell may still be the starter in Washington. But how long will it take before he gets the hook? 

 

Coach Zorn continues to speak highly of Campbell, but he also answers to owner Daniel Snyder, who made an uncomfortable situation worse, in the week leading up to the draft. 

 

At that time, the Redskins revealed an interest in moving up in the first round to choose USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. Through his agent, Campbell responded by saying that he would request a trade to another team, if the Redskins got their wish.

 

Instead, Sanchez became a Jet, when New York traded up to land him and Campbell remained in Washington.

 

In my interview, I would attempt to examine the current psyche of Campbell, but I would do so cautiously.

 

Now 27, he has actually played in seven different offensive systems since his freshman year of college. That never-ending learning curve would force lesser athletes to quit. But Campbell is resilient. Instead, he has welcomed the challenges that he has faced and is determined to learn from them.

 

In a pair of recent interviews with the Washington Post, Campbell vowed to take a more commanding role in this year’s offense, as he looks forward to progressing in a system that will be familiar to him in 2009. 

 

“We understand that it was the first year in a new [West Coast] offense,” said Campbell. “Now the guys are excited about the opportunity we have coming back, with everybody knowing what to do in the offense.” 

 

Campbell also sounded re-energized in his quest to impress Snyder and a skeptical fan base.  “I’m very positive about what I’ve done and what I can do better,” he said.  “I’ve got to stay positive. I’m not going to let [criticism] break me, or even define me.”   

 

My other questions would go something like this: “What qualities do you possess and what steps have you taken to be a successful quarterback in the NFL?”  “How will the roles of those around you increase your chances of winning this year?”

 

“How would you describe your relationships with coach Zorn and Mr. Snyder?”  “Do you think that Jay Cutler was treated unfairly in Denver and how did your situation compare to his?” 

 

And finally, “What do you believe it will take to silence your critics?” 

 

The answers to these questions will reveal a lot about Jason Campbell, as a person and as an athlete. But no matter how he responds, he will have to back it up when training camp begins in July.     

 

Throughout his brief career, Campbell has shown flashes of brilliance, but he has also been inconsistent. Last year, he tossed six touchdowns in his first four games and had no interceptions during a 6-2 Redskins start. But he floundered in the season’s second half and so did Washington.

 

Campbell averaged 186 yards in the final eight games, threw six interceptions and added just five touchdowns, as the Redskins finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs.

 

Across the Internet and on sports radio, fans questioned his ability and his leadership skills. And Snyder must have been listening. Was the owner’s pursuit of a new quarterback a creative ploy to light a fire under the strong-armed Campbell? Or did it alienate the most important player on the team?     

 

Campbell’s performance next season should provide the answers, but with free agency looming, his future as a starter anywhere in the NFL will be on the line.

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