Ten Questions For Matt Ryan

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan shocked the world last year with his performance as he led the team to an 11-5 record. 

Statistically, Ryan was solid as he passed for 3,440 yards with a 61.1 completion percentage and 16 touchdowns.  He matured into a leader on the team and played his way to rookie of the year honors.

 

Ten Questions For Matt Ryan

1. Growing up, as an aspiring NFL quarterback, who did you imitate or idolize and who would you say your playing style and talent is most like?

2. What was the biggest challenge for you in your rookie year as you transitioned from the college game to the professional level?

3. There has been a lot of talk about the two young quarterbacks Mathew Stafford and Mark Sanchez and the impact they will have in 2009.  What advice would you give to them as they start to lead an NFL franchise?

4. As you experienced the gauntlet of an NFL season for the first time last year, was there a particular coach or teammate who mentored you and helped you acclimate to the system?

5. Last year you entered a great situation as a rookie quarterback because you had a solid offensive line, a Pro Bowl running back, and a Pro Bowl wide receiver.  What piece of the offense was the biggest help to you?

6. One of the fears that fans in Atlanta have is that last year was a fluke and you will not be able to live up to expectations in 2009.  What steps are being taken that will allow you to improve off of your early success and avoid the sophomore slump?

7. This year in the draft, the Falcons used their first six picks on the defensive side of the ball.  What was your reaction to so much focus being on the defense and would you rather see more pieces added to the offense?

8. One of the biggest moves this offseason for the Falcons was the addition of Tony Gonzalez from Kansas City.  How will he improve the team as a whole and what does he bring to the table that is an asset to your play?

9. As you look around the NFC South at the Panthers, Saints, and Bucs, which team to do you view as the biggest threat to the Falcons winning the division and which defense is the toughest opponent for you?

10. The Falcons this year have made it a goal to win the NFC South and advance in the playoffs.  Aside from the team goals, what personal goals have you set for yourself in 2009 that you want to achieve?

Running To The Top: A Look at The Giants Top Offensive Play Calls

For the third time of the night, John Madden predicted the play moments before it transpired. With 1:39 remaining in the first half in a battle for the top seed in the NFC with the Carolina Panthers in December, the Giants lined up in a shotgun formation with three wide receivers. The scoreboard read, Panthers 21 Giants 10, 1st and 10 from the Giants 45-yard line. Madden turned to partner Al Michaels and said “this is the perfect time for the Giants to run a draw.”

On the sidelines, Giants coach Tom Couglin had a similar train of thought. With Domenik Hixon to his right on the outside, Steve Smith to the left on the outside, and Amani Toomer in the slot, quarterback Eli Manning handed the ball to running back Derrick Ward on an inside handoff. Right guard Chris Snee pulled to the left and delivered a key block five yards down the field.

When the play was finally whistled dead, Ward had gained 34 yards and put his team in field goal range.

The run was one of the five most effective plays utilized by the Giants in 2008. It was also the set in which the team predominantly used Ward, a backup running back who ran for more than 1,000 yards last season. With Ward off to Tampa Bay for the 2009-2010 season, the role will likely be assumed by Ahmad Bradshaw, last year’s third back on the depth chart. Still, the formation is not the team’s primary set.

The presence of Madison Hedgecock, one of the top fullbacks in the league, enables the Giants to run its offense primarily through a power-I set. In this formation the Giants use two running backs, two wide receivers, and a tight end. Hedgecock typically lines up just behind Manning and in front of 6’4”, 264-pound running back Brandon Jacobs.

The formation also has a number of variations. From the base set, the Giants can run a Strong I, with Jacobs positioned to the side of the tight end, a Weak I, with Jacobs positioned away from the tight end, a Big I, with two tight ends, and a Power I, with three backs in the backfield.

Along with the Panthers, the Giants are the only team in the league to use the set as their primary formation. One reason the team depends heavily on the run, he said, is because of its quick, dominant offensive line. The ability of guards Rich Seubert and Snee to quickly emerge off the line and block downfield allows the Giants to use the run as a foundation for nearly every play in its playbook.

“The Giants are a team that runs a lot of counter and a lot of misdirection,” Cosell said in a mid-May phone interview. “Not a lot of teams have centers and guards that are very good on the move on the perimeter, so that limits what they can do in the run game. The Giants are able to do that because their O-line is very versatile and very athletic.”

It is difficult to identify a team’s five most effective plays, Cosell said, because there are a multitude of factors that influence a team’s play-calling pattern. In the week before a game, a head coach can spend in excess of 70 hours breaking down film and determining the tendencies of his opponent. Through such preparations, a coach might factor anything from personnel packages to defensive alignments to down, distance, and field position when selecting a play.

Still, the Giants found success in 2008 with a diverse playbook that defenses found difficult to decipher. A handful of the team’s top plays on the season came from a wide range of formations and distinct play-calls. It might explain why the team finished third in the league with an average of 26.7 points per game.

Against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 21, Toomer hauled in a critical 31-yard pass from Manning in overtime that helped the Giants prevail 26-23. Toomer lined up to the left of the quarterback and faked a Bengals defensive back with a slant-and-go route along the left sidelines. More than two months later against the Redskins, Manning connected with Toomer on a 40-yard fly route for a touchdown down the right sidelines.

The play contrasted starkly with Toomer’s overtime catch against the Bengals. This time, Manning drew the Washington defense in with a play-fake to Jacobs, as Boss went in motion from left to right. The Giants ran the former from a single-back set, but the latter from the I-formation.

More than any other team in the league, the Giants’ coaching staff excels at varying the direction and type of running plays it calls.

Last season, the Giants ran the ball 178 times to the left, 84 times down the middle, and 222 times to the right according to statistics compiled by the Elias Sports Bureau. The team also does a masterful job at spreading its run distribution. Of more than 80 running plays first month of last season, the Giants called 12 different types of runs. The team ran 19 counters, 14 slants and went off tackle 11 times en route to a 4-0 start.

“This is impressive on multiple levels,” Joyner wrote in the New York Times blog The Fifth Down. “The 12 run types are atypical not only because of their volume but also because each play was run more than once. I should also point out that very few teams ever try to run an inside counter draw which the Giants ran twice), as it requires very coordinated blocking that can easily be screwed up if the blockers aren’t in total synchronicity.”

The offense can also confuse defenses with its three-wide, shotgun alignment. In the first quarter of the Panthers game, Manning eluded a probable sack and connected with Hixon on a 40-yard deep route. But on four separate occasions against Carolina, Ward completed substantial gains from the same formation. In overtime, he set up the winning touchdown with a 51-yard run. 

Instead of reacting to the defensive alignment presented, the Giants attempt to force defenses to adjust to its offensive sets. When New York faced the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 16 the offense did not abandon the run, even though the Ravens had one of the top run defenses. Operating mostly under the I-set, three backs combined for 207 yards rushing.

Jacobs set the tone on the first drive when he spun left to break a tackle and powered 36 yards up the middle for a first down. In the process, Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis nearly tripped over himself.

The reliance on the formation was present in nearly every Giants game plan. Against Carolina, the Giants ran nearly half of its plays, 33 of 68, from the I-set. On such plays, the team ran the ball more than two-thirds of the time, 21 of 33. The formation also allows the Giants to run play action and throw downfield.

“There is a domino effect to all this,” Cosell said. “The Giants have a very simple pass game, if you’re able to run the ball well and you’re able to run strong side well in particular that forces the defense to defend your tendency to run. They have to bring down a safety to the strong side – their strong safety. Now what happens is the weak safety drops into the deep middle and on the weak side, you get your X receiver (the weak side receiver) in one-on-one coverage.”

Another necessity for a successful strong side running attack, according to Cosell, is the tight end’s ability to block a defensive end one-on-one. Cosell believes Boss, the Giants starting tight end, has become a superior run blocker. He points to several occasions during the 2008-09 season when Boss dominated the opposing defensive end on the line.

“He handled Trent Cole in one of the games against the Eagles and he manhandled Chris Long against the Rams,” Cosell said. “The bottom line is if you want to have a good strong side run game your tight end has to block defensive ends one-on-one.”

The departure of Burress and Toomer could alter the Giants’ offensive attack drastically. Without Burress, the Giants might struggle to establish a deep threat. This also might affect their play-calling before the snap.

“I think because the receiving corps is average they’ll probably have to do more things with motion and movement – maybe some more shifting,” Cosell said. “They might have to create and dictate some matchups with motion and shifting because their receivers will not be able to win matchups on the outside.”

Fleur-De-Lis Fever | What If…Mike Vick In a New Orleans Saints Uniform

Peter King of SI.com is one of the most respected NFL writers on the planet, and his column is always a must read.  In an article he wrote last week http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/05/20/vick/index.html, he listed the New Orleans Saints as the top possible destination for Vick to land.

Run that by me again?

I had to scroll back to the top to make sure the article wasn’t about the least likely destinations for Mike Vick. 

I had thought all along that Vick just wouldn’t fit in New Orleans.  The Saints already have one of the best, if not the best, offenses in the league.  They have a bonafide top three quarterback in 2008 Offensive Player of the Year Drew Brees.  Brees has an arsenal of weapons with Reggie Bush, Pierre Thomas, Lance Moore, Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Jeremy Shockey and more.

The more I thought about it, though, the more I warmed up to the idea of Vick donning the black and gold.  The Saints have so much talent offensively and have rebuilt their defense that this year is playoffs or bust.  Some may say playoff wins or bust.  He would increase the Saints’ chances of making a deep playoff run.

If the Saints indeed sign Mike Vick, there are several factors they have to consider:

 

1) Will the city of New Orleans welcome Mike Vick?

In a word: Yes.

More specifically, the city of New Orleans is starving for a champion.  The Saints have been in existence since 1967 and have yet to make it to the Super Bowl.  None of the city’s former or current basketball franchises have won titles either. 

The only professional championship belonging to New Orleans was won in 1998 by the New Orleans Zephyrs (then the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros).

New Orleans is ready for a major league winner.

There will be legions of hometown skeptics, but those naysayers will jump on the bandwagon the first time he turns a nothing play into a 40-yard, ankle-breaking touchdown scamper.

 

2) Can Vick handle all of the scrutiny and boos he will receive on the road?

The intensity of the local and national media Monday through Saturday will be nothing compared to the negativity that welcomes him on the road on Sundays.

If Vick does join the Saints, every football fan will have December 13 circled on their calendar.  That’s when Saints visit the city that idolized Vick and play his former team, the Atlanta Falcons. 

I’m not sure how Vick will be received in Atlanta, but I do know that atmosphere will be electric.

 

3) Can the Saints’ locker room handle all of the baggage that comes with Mike Vick?

While the Saints have a lot of young players on the team, they also have a lot of strong, veteran leaders.  Brees, Billy Miller, Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith, Scott Fujita, and Darren Sharper all bring well-grounded leadership to a cohesive locker room.  They will allow Vick to find his niche with the Saints.

 

4) How would head coach Sean Payton use him and what position would he play?

Mike Vick was a quarterback at Virginia Tech and for the Falcons.  The problem with making him a quarterback if/when he returns is that he would have to be the number two quarterback for the Saints. 

NFL rules stipulate that if a team uses its number three quarterback before the fourth quarter, they cannot re-insert the first- or second-string quarterback. 

I don’t think Vick’s style of quarterback play suits the Saints.  The Saints passing attack is predicated on pinpoint accuracy.  Vick’s career completion percentage of 53.8 is unacceptable by NFL standards and is ten percentage points lower than Brees’ career mark.  If you add in the fact that he has missed two full NFL seasons, and he would have had virtually no reps with the receivers, then he is not a viable option as a backup quarterback if Brees goes down for significant time,

The Saints should use Vick the same way they use Bush.  They would have to get the man in space to create one on one match-ups. 

Saints fans, just imagine a formation with Brees under center, Colston and Moore and the speedy Henderson split out wide, Bush at tailback and Vick in motion out of the backfield.  This would present match-up nightmares for any defense. 

If Payton decides to use the Wildcat, Vick would be in an offense tailor-made for his unique skill set.  Despite some problems with accuracy, his threat as a passer would make him the most dangerous player in the NFL.

NFL and Saints fans must get this straight first: Before fans can even think about Mike Vick joining their team, he must complete a long and strenuous road. 

He must finish out the remaining two months of his house arrest, be reinstated into the NFL by commissioner Roger Goodell, and agree upon a release settlement with the Atlanta Falcons.  Upon reinstatement to NFL, Vick will owe the Falcons between $6.5 million and $7.5 million before he can sign with another team.

Mike Vick would give the Saints the undisputed most explosive offense in the NFL and make them the most talked about team this side of Dallas. 

Is Mike Vick worth them gamble and headache?  We may all find out this summer.

Aggressive Offense in Buffalo? You Better ‘Bill-eve’ It

Woody Hayes, the man responsible for turning the Ohio State Buckeyes into the college football powerhouse it is today, became a coaching legend through his ultra-conservative offensive philosophy known as “three yards and a cloud of dust.”

The bread and butter play in Hayes’ playbook was a fullback off-tackle run, one his teams executed so flawlessly that it earned him 205 wins, 13 Big Ten Conference championships and five national titles in 28 seasons at the helm in Columbus.

Call it passive, boring or redundant, or whichever adjective you prefer, but place your label knowing that all NFL coaches would accept being called “boring” if it added a few Lombardi trophies to their legacy.

And while the Buffalo Bills of present day would never be confused with Hayes’ Buckeyes of the 70’s, in terms of success or style, when was the last time you used the words aggressive or exciting to describe their offense? Probably 1993, the last great year in the Jim Kelly-Andre Reed-Thurman Thomas era.

The odds of the 2009 Bills being as prolific as the ’93 team are slim, but there is reason to believe they will be much closer to the Greatest Show on Turf than three yards and a cloud of dust.

Buffalo’s most glaring issue on offense the past 10 years or so has been its predictability. How many times did you find yourself watching the game and on a 3rd-and-2, saying without hesitation, “Here comes a run up the middle”?

Or on 2nd or 3rd-and-long you could yell out the name of the receiver the quarterback was targeting, whether it was Eric Moulds, Peerless Price, or Lee Evans?

Aside from the lack of creativity, the Bills have also been short on viable options. Every offensive coordinator would love to use three or four wide receivers in a game, but at the end of the day, they are going to call plays for the players they trust the most.

Offensive coordinator Turk Schonert will have plenty of dependable options to work with this year, so any vanilla scheme or return to predictability should be deemed inexcusable.

Trent Edwards is entering his third professional season and showed Pro Bowl potential in spurts during the 2008 season. He is smart, poised, and very accurate, and seems to have earned the trust of the coaching staff.

He will be throwing to arguably the deepest foursome of pass-catchers in the NFL in Terrell Owens, Lee Evans, Josh Reed, and James Hardy. 

The thing that makes the offense scary is that it also has a loaded backfield with Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, and former Indianapolis Colt, Dominic Rhodes.

This group will force defensive coordinators to lose sleep at night. There are playmakers (Owens and Evans), possession receivers (Reed), running backs with speed (Jackson), and ones with a more bruising style (Lynch). 

For the first time in years the Bills are—say it with me now—versatile.

If the defense puts eight in the box, they can spread you out. Show five or six defensive backs, they can expose you with the run. 

Some will look at the numbers and say the offensive philosophy won’t change much from a season ago. That’s because the numbers will show Buffalo to be a pass-first offense. 

The Bills ran 956 plays on offense in 2008 and dropped back to throw on 54 percent of them.

That pass-run ratio is about as close to 50/50 as you will see in the NFL, and while they passed more than they ran, consider that Buffalo was often playing from behind, forcing them to play catch up.

In 16 games last season, the Bills never led in six and were tied or trailed in the fourth quarter of four of their seven victories. Such situations force an offense to become one dimensional. 

With an inexperienced Edwards under center, Schonert wanted a run-first offense in ’08. While he and head coach Dick Jauron will talk all summer about how they will run to set up the pass, make no mistake the Bills will throw first to open running lanes in 2009.

Edwards is ready for increased responsibility and has all the weapons he needs to succeed, which is why I expect him to put the ball in the air on 57 or 58 percent of downs this season. Who knows what the results will be, but at the very least, the approach will be fearless and aggressive.

With Lynch, Rhodes, and Jackson, the Bills have a backfield capable of carrying them on any given Sunday, but expect the heavy lifting to be done by Edwards, Owens, and Co.

The NFL is a passing league, and Buffalo is finally catching up with the times, further distancing itself from the days of Woody Hayes.

 

Top Five Training Camp Position Battles

Several key position battles highlight last weekend’s beginning of organized team activity for the Cleveland Browns. New head coach Eric Mangini and his coaching staff have cleared the depth charts, eliminated bias, and promoted open competition at virtually every position. Drafted or undrafted, rookie or veteran, each player will have a chance to make an impact on the coaching staff and earn a spot on the roster.

Let the best man win.

While no roster spot is completely secure, some positions are more hotly contested than others.

Here’s a look at the top five position battles heading into training camp.

5. Defensive end

In order to improve upon last year’s 28th rated rush defense, the Browns will need stout play along the defensive line from all three down linemen. Former Jets C.J. Mosley and Kenyon Coleman join Robaire Smith, Corey Williams, and Shaun Smith in a competition for the two end spots in Rex Ryan’s 3-4 defense.

Coleman and Mosley appear to be the odds on favorites, due to their experience and success with Eric Mangini in New York. At 6’4″, 320 pounds, Corey Williams possesses the ideal bulk and strength for the position.

He and Robaire Smith will need to prove themselves fully recovered from season-ending surgeries to make a strong run at a starting position. Due to his confrontational demeanor, Shaun Smith has all but fallen out of this regime’s good graces. He will vie for a backup role with the team.

Projection: Kenyon Coleman and C.J. Mosley were part of a Jets rush defense which finished seventh overall in rush defense. Look for that experience to earn both players starting spots with the Browns this fall.

4. Wide receiver

Trading  Kellen Winslow to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers left the Browns shallow at an already thin position. Winslow’s size, hands, and toughness allowed the Browns to use the tight end as a receiver and create mismatches in the passing game.

In light of Winslow’s absence, Browns GM George Kokinis wasted little time in assembling a talented cast to help fill that void.

Braylon Edwards will continue to serve as the team’s primary receiver as he looks to regain his Pro Bowl form. Kokinis has turned to a pair of second round receivers to step in alongside Edwards.

Ohio State’s Brian Robiskie and Georgia’s Mohammed Massaquoi will compete for a starting position through training camp and the preseason. Both rookies have great size (6’3″) and awareness to play split end in Brian Daboll’s system.

Newly acquired veterans Mike Furrey and David Patten will compete with Syndric Steptoe and Donte Stallworth for time in the slot. The ever-dangerous Josh Cribbs may see time as a receiver, depending on where he best fits into the system.

Projection: It’s hard to imagine a scenario where Brian Robiskie doesn’t see immediate action on the field. His father, a receiver coach in the NFL, has worked with him and developed the OSU standout into one of the most polished receivers coming out of college.

His size, route running, and intelligence should give him the nod over Massaquoi, who will provide the Browns with depth in his first year out of Georgia. Mike Furrey has made a name for himself as a slot receiver, so look for him to get the start in the slot.

3. Center

When Eric Mangini took over the Jets, the first move he made was to find a premiere left tackle to go along with a dominant center. That blueprint allowed Mangini to turn the then 4-12 Jets into a 10-6 playoff contender within one season.

For the Browns to achieve similar success, Mangini will need a center to match up alongside Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas.

Incumbent Hank Fraley will try to fend off first round draft choice Alex Mack and hold on to his role as a starter. Fraley isn’t the dominant center he once was with the Eagles years ago, but he still possesses the intelligence to make all the calls up front. His three years in Cleveland have enabled the 10-year veteran to establish chemistry with the other offensive linemen—something that cannot be taken for granted.

Projection: Eric Mangini and his coaching staff seem to value size and strength in offensive linemen. That bodes well for rookie Alex Mack, as he possesses the edge in both those departments.

However, Mangini favors intelligence over strength, and Fraley’s experience in the AFC North should give him the edge heading into the regular season. He will start for the Browns.

2. Outside linebacker

Outside linebacker is said to be the most important position in the 3-4 defense. Defensive pressure created through a tenacious pass rush forces opposing offenses into mistakes and subsequently causes turnovers. The Cleveland Browns have struggled with this for years. In order for Rex Ryan’s defense to be successful, two outside linebackers will need to emerge as legitimate pass rushing specialists.

Eric Mangini brought David Bowens along with him from New York to compete for a starting spot. Bowens is a smart player with limited upside, but his presence ensures Cleveland will have solid play from at least one of the linebacker positions.

Kamerion Wimbley has seen a drop-off in production, partially due to Mel Tucker’s defensive scheme and a suspect secondary play.

Cornerbacks Eric Wright and Brandon McDonald have gained an additional year of starting experience. This should allow Rex Ryan the confidence to commit several linebackers to the quarterback and generate the pass rush this team sorely needs.

Projection: Kamieron Wimbley will likely start as the team’s weak side outside linebacker. Rookie David Veikune will compete with Bowens for the job, however it is unlikely either player will prevail.

Second year player Alex Hall looks to be the favorite to start on the strong side. The physically imposing seventh round pick from St. Augustine’s has really impressed the coaching staff thus far. He has worked with the first team defense for the majority of OTAs, so don’t be surprised if he lines up for Cleveland on Opening Day.

1. Quarterback

The quarterback competition will undoubtedly determine how the Browns fare in 2009. Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson have much to prove to the new coaching staff. From here on out, every throw, decision, and read will be heavily scrutinized by offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, quarterback coach Carl Smith, and head coach Eric Mangini.

At some point before the preseason, all three men will come together and decide which player is the best fit for the Cleveland Browns.

Projection: When Eric Mangini evaluates a player during a press conference, he refers to what he saw when he coached against him as a member of the New York Jets.

In 2007, Derek Anderson threw for two scores and led the Browns to victory over Mangini’s Jets. During the 2008 preseason, Anderson completed four of five passes and a touchdown against the Jets last season. Derek Anderson has more starting experienced than Brady Quinn, and in the end, that will be the difference in the competition.

NFL Whirlwind Previews: Cleveland Browns

Cheer up, Cleveland! Things could be worse…

Oh, who am I kidding? You guys up by the lake have had it rough; rougher than any other city in the States.

But you know what? There really is reason to feel good about your Browns. No, there’s no real chance for the postseason this coming campaign, and no, you guys won’t be a dominant offensive or defensive team.

But ownership does finally have it’s head on straight, and recent drafts and roster decisions have you lookin’ not so bad at all to more than a few analysts.

You’re sick of hearing this, but give it some time, and you’ll be pleased.

 

Offense: Alright Already

It took long enough, but the Browns seem to finally have determined their direction on O. It all started with head coach Eric Mangini making it clear early in spring that he favors Brady Quinn in the battle for starting quarterback.

It’s not that Quinn’s been that impressive when he has gotten snaps, but moving forward with the signal-caller position is paramount. Brady deserves a chance after being drafted so high a couple years ago, and if that chance happens to come now, that’s just fine. Derek Anderson is still here just in case, though now that he’s a backup, he’s ridiculously overpaid.

Brady certainly won’t be able to fault his protection if he fails; the O-line is a definite strength of this club, and I’m not just referring to cornerstone LT Joe Thomas (what a brilliant pick that’s turned out to be, huh?).

LG Eric Steinbach deserves all the credit he gets, and the two right spots will be well-manned by a combo of any of the following (in order of probable depth listing): Floyd Womack, Ryan Tucker, John St. Clair, and Rex Hadnot. All of these guys are flexible enough to go between both tackle and guard, as are both center candidates, the first-year favorite Alex Mack and incumbent Hank Fraley.

Also easing the former Irish’s (true) introduction will be his talented corps of targets. Even if worst comes to worst in the Stallworth situation, Braylon Edwards will be complemented by someone competent: Word is Brian Robiskie currently holds the slight edge for the No. 2 role, but David Patten is definitely capable.

Too bad that optimism can’t be stretched to the ground game. Jamal Lewis had a bit of a career revival in 2007 after arriving from Baltimore, but he regressed last season to the tune of about 400 yards fewer than the previous year. All indications are that it isn’t a physical matter at all; seems Lewis must build up his self-belief and trust in teammates to take the next step.

The good news is that apparently Jerome Harrison has been running with the first unit in OTAs, and rookie James Davis appears to be a serviceable worker. I doubt either was meant to be a feature back in the League, but they may well get an opportunity to carry a lot.

The tight end position is doing just fine, despite the departure of Kellen Winslow. The starter will be one of two experienced and well-rounded guys: either Robert Royal (the more likely) or Steve Heiden (an “on-field coach” type). Expect to see both, though, sometimes on the field together.

The talent is there, at least in the arena of the air, but with Quinn taking so much on his shoulders at once, consistent production is not a promise.

 

Defense: Generic Brand’s Just As Good

I bet you know Shaun Rogers, former Lions nose tackle, who came over to Cleveland last season and did just fine in his new home (don’t listen to all the haters; he was an anchor and posted a four sacks despite chaos around him).

At the same time, I’d also wager that you don’t know a whole lot of other Brown defenders. That’s OK; their names aren’t all that well-known, but they are creeping into the spotlight. This D ranked a respectable 17th last year, but you’ll recognize a couple more of these guys soon enough.

On either side of Rogers could be any number of starting-caliber ends. Everybody’s got ’em ranked differently right now (makes sense considering how early it is), but I’ll give you my stab at the rotation: Look for Kenyon Coleman and Corey Williams to be your Week One starters, backed up by Shaun Smith and C.J. Mosley (and maybe even Robaire Smith, depending on how he does up until then).

No matter who’s out there, though, the unit will be improved over last season simply because Rogers will be more comfortable and the increased competition will push each individual. But on to the ‘backing corps, which is less of a circus, more set-in-stone, and might just have even more potential than the corral of linemen.

First off, you got D’Qwell Jackson, a star in waiting. He led the team in solo tackles in ’08 (95!) and has quickly matured into a leader. He’ll be even better this year for having former Jet Eric Barton next to him on the inside, and behind them both is promising Beau Bell.

Outside there’s David Bowens (also a former Meadowlands denizen) and a name you know for the wrong reasons to this point, Kamerion Wimbley. The hope is that Mangini can milk the best out of the already-proclaimed bust, but Alex Hall is fresh and energetic behind him should he falter for the last time. I’ve personally got some confidence in Wimbley, though; 52 solos and four sacks last season showed more promise than any of his previous numbers.

So all that’s left is the secondary, and I can sum up up their penchant for performance pretty easily. How’s about three of the team’s top six tacklers came from that unit, and it was a down year for two of them?

CBs Brandon McDonald and Eric Wright along with strong safety Brodney Pool were all pretty productive in ’08 and made pass defense the only category in which Cleveland ranked in the top half of the league. The two former were supposedly having their “sophomore slumps,” yet still pulled off 64 and 61 solo tackles, respectively, and McDonald had five picks.

The starting free safety spot will almost surely go to Abram Elam (yet another acquisition from the Jets, and perhaps the most important), though Mike Adams will get burn too.

In summary, the faces on this defense are not all that familiar, but just watch the progress they make under defensive coordinator Rob Ryan (a former Pats LB coach).

 

Overall Outlook: I Will Promise You Something

The Browns won’t be nearly as painful to watch this year as they were in ’08 (or ’06, or ’05…).

Ha, not quite the playoff guarantee you were looking for, right? Well, what about record?

The .500 mark would be so doable if it weren’t for some teams named “Steelers” and “Ravens” appearing twice apiece on the schedule. But there’s always the Bungals (who are headed in the opposite direction of this Cleveland franchise) to beat up on, and there are other winnables out there (the Chiefs, Raiders, and Bills all appear).

Keep the candle burning, Cleveland. I for one will refrain from using the phrase “Mistake by the Lake” as long as guys are developing and the brass seem interested in improvement.

The 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Taking A Step Back

Rebuilding—the most hated word for any sports fan to hear. It is a word that comes with struggles and hardships, and in the sports world it means a lot of losing.

For the fans of the Buccaneers who witnessed that collapse after beginning 9-3 a season ago, it will only get worse before it gets better.

The Buccaneers, coming off the biggest letdown in franchise history, made a lot of changes in the off-season. They fired both Head Coach Jon Gruden and General Manager Bruce Allen. They lost Defensive Coordinator Monte Kiffin to the University of Tennessee.

More imporantly, however, they cut veteran players including franchise legend Derrick Brooks.

Losing such veterans means you get younger, and more importantly less experienced. The Bucs cut ties with quarterback Jeff Garcia, and have handed the reigns to…well, no one knows. The Bucs drafted Josh Freeman with their first round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, and could very well make him their starting quarterback when the season starts.

Making such a move means you are willing to go with the growing pains that most rookie quarterbacks go through. It is the ultimate sign of a franchise starting over.

Tampa has made additions as well, bringing in running back Derrick Ward from the Giants, and trading for tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. from the Browns. Winslow is still a question mark though, and staying healthy will be the biggest factor for him.

The Buccaneers have one of the toughest schedules in 2009. In the first half of the season the Bucs could struggle to just win two games, including losing a home game in London to the New England Patriots.

What gets worse for the Buccaneers is the back half of the schedule does not get much easier. Realistically the Bucs could be staring at a 4-12 season.

So what will these Buccaneers have to do to have any hope in the 2009 season? The biggest thing needed will be maturity on the field. These young Bucs will have to grow up, and grow up fast.

Doing so could lead the Bucs closer to an 8-8 record, and while it seems like that would be taking a step back, for this young team it would actually be a step forward.

Unfortunately, I do not see that happening, and 2009 will be filled with rough seas for these Buccaneers.

Rebuilding. God, I hate that word.

Tom Brady Returns, Raises Expectations for the 2009 New England Patriots

With a few simple throws on Monday, Tom Brady put rumors of a delayed recovery to rest, as ESPN cameras caught the Patriots’ Quarterback throwing some passes at Gillette Stadium. 

After undergoing season ending knee surgery last season, some wondered if Brady would ever be the same.  Some talk show callers even called to keep Matt Cassel on the roster, just in case Brady goes down with another knee injury.

However, after taking a look at the ESPN footage, it seems pretty clear that Brady has no discomfort in his injured knee.  He will be taking part in the Patriots’ offseason workouts this week, with reporters viewing the session on Thursday.

Brady’s return also brings with it a sense of excitement to Patriot Nation.  Last year was a fun ride, but it just wasn’t the same without number 12 under center.  Seeing Brady on the field for the Patriots’ full squad practices this week has to energize the players, the coaches, and the fans.

After an 11-5 season that saw the Patriots just miss a playoff spot, Brady’s return brings up a few questions.

 

1.) How big of an impact can one player have on an organization? 

While Matt Cassel performed better than most had anticipated last season, he had some giant shoes to fill.  Tom Brady is a world-class athlete, and one of the most successful Quarterbacks of all time, and with his return comes a sense of vindication, another chance for him to lead his team to the playoffs. 

However, it was only a few seasons ago when Pro Bowl Quarterback Carson Palmer went down with a knee injury, and upon his return he saw his team go 8-8 one year after their first playoff run in decades.

The Bengals haven’t reached the playoffs since then. Playing with the same weapons, plus guys like Joey Galloway and Fred Taylor, Brady will have another chance to reenact his amazing 2007 season, and will probably have much better results than Palmer and the Bengals. 

 

2.) Will Brady play this preseason?

The preseason always poses some interesting questions when it comes to personnel decisions and playing time.  Preseason contests are a good chance for the coaching staff to weed out the players that cant hack it in the NFL, as well as settle any possible positional battles.

However, when a player that is guaranteed a starting spot comes back after an injury, there is always a debate about how many snaps he should get, if any.

Last season, we saw Colts QB Peyton Manning undergo two knee surgeries, causing him to miss training camp and all five of the Colts preseason contests.  Missing all this time caused Manning to be less than stellar in his first few games, as he stressed the importance of being available in the preseason saying:

“I guess in some ways, this really is like the first week of the season for me,” he said. “All I’ve ever known is taking every rep at every practice and playing in all the preseason games, so I did miss some time there and I’ve been working through that.”

With Brady missing the entire 2008 season, it is absolutely imperative that he participate in the Patriots preseason games to get used to the speed of the game, making adjustments, and making good throws under pressure. 

 

3.) Can Tom Brady shake the Hollywood image?

In recent years, we have seen our working class quarterback morph into this Joe Dimaggio-like figure, being seen on the town with his supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen.  Brady has reached a level of super stardom that transcends football in that everything he does is newsworthy, whether its on the field or not.

Some doubters have said that Brady may not be focused anymore.  I strongly disagree. 

This season is the perfect opportunity for Brady to prove that he is a football player first and foremost, and a damn good one at that. 

This isn’t Dallas, where a certain quarterback’s girlfriend can disrupt an entire franchise from her box seat.  No, this is New England, where the Patriots organization is second to none in dealing with the media machine. 

In his time off, newspapers have covered Brady doing everything but playing football, but this year, it will be business as usual.

 

4.) How will Brady react to a different offensive system without Josh McDaniels?

In 2007, Brady had the luxury of an offensive coordinator who wasn’t afraid to spread the field early and often, letting him throw deep to Randy Moss and short to Wes Welker.  Brady and the 2007 Patriots shattered tons of NFL records, as he was named NFL MVP.

Fast-forward to the present.

McDaniels is gone, and the Patriots’ running game is more loaded than it has been in years.  The depth at the running back position will surely take some of the pressure off of Brady early on in the season, allowing him to get used to the flow of the game. 

Brady won’t have to throw the ball 40 times a game this year if the running backs can use their depth to move the chains and keep defenses tired. 

Don’t get me wrong, the Patriots air attack will be extremely effective this year, as long as the running game is solid and the offensive line does their job.

 

5.) Can the Patriots go undefeated?

Naturally, the return of Brady takes us back to the main storyline of the 2007 season, can the Patriots run the table?

It says a great deal about a player when his mere presence can make people wonder if a team can go 19 games without a loss.

We saw the pressure mount with each victory in 2007, and by Super Bowl Sunday, the pressure was at a fever pitch. We all know what happened that day, and after the Giant upset, many fans and media members let it be known that as magical as the season had been, they would have traded a regular season loss or two for a win in the Super Bowl.

I don’t think the Patriots will go undefeated this season, but they won’t have to in order to win the division and get back into the postseason.

With Brady back in action, a revamped defense, and a loaded running game, I expect the Patriots to be the best team in the AFC this season. There is no doubt in my mind that a healthy Patriots team will be able to lock up a playoff bye, and possibly get home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Early season odds-makers have made the Patriots heavy favorites to win the Super Bowl, and I believe that they can capture a fourth Lombardi Trophy.

Getting there might be a bit of a problem, however, as the Patriots are facing quite a few obstacles this season, especially in the first half of the schedule.

Brady and Co. are slated to face the Bills on Monday, Sept. 14, as newly acquired WR Terrell Owens makes his Buffalo debut.  This is followed by a week two battle against the rival New York Jets and their revamped defense.  These two games will go a long way in determining the AFC East playoff picture.

The Pats are also in a unique position this year, playing Tampa Bay in London on Oct. 25. It will be hard to stay focused during this extensive travelling, as teams that have played international games in the past have documented. However, if any team is equipped to deal with this situation, its the Patriots and Tom Brady.

Early on in the season the Patriots also host the Atlanta Falcons and Tennessee Titans, two teams that played very well last season.

Two road games that will test the Patriots come against old Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels and the Denver Broncos on Oct. 11, and against the Indianapolis Colts on Nov. 15, two games that will help shake out the AFC playoff picture.

If the Patriots can get out of the gate to a fast start and stay healthy, there is no reason that they can’t make it back to the AFC Championship game, and maybe even beyond. 

However, with Brady back the Patriots will take it one game at a time, and it will be business as usual in Foxboro this year.

Heisler’s Headlines: May 27

Well, the Memorial Day weekend is officially over and its back to the grind for the most of us.

I hope that all of the men and women that are serving or have served our great country enjoyed the holiday.

My weekend went well, until yesterday when I started coughing and sneezing. And then today it has become full blown with a cough, sinus congestion, sore throat, ect… I feel like I have something between the swine flu and SARS.

I hope the picture of Sara Jean Underwood can make me feel better.

But enough about me, lets get to some of the headlines of the past few days.

The Fall Of Jeremy Shockey

Booze, Poor Decisions Taking Down A Potential Hero

When Jeremy Shockey was in New York, he was one of Giants’ owner Wellington Mara’s favorite players.  The wild, impressionable Shockey who grew up without a father became a surrogate son to the great man they called “The Duke”.

After the Giants made the Miami TE the 14th overall selection in the 2002 NFL Draft, Mara took the 6’5″. 250 lb manchild under his wing. He saw great things for the unbridled Shockey; and for awhile instilled a pride and work ethic that turned this misguided kid from Ada, Oklahoma into a budding NFL superstar. 

Shockey became invaluable to his new ‘family’. His demostrative, vocal style infused life into the sagging Giants.  He immediately became a favorite target of another player the Giants took a gamble on – QB Kerry Collins.  He caught 74 passes in 2002 for 894 yards – good enough to make 1st Team All Pro as a rookie.  The Giants went 10-6 and were back in the playoffs.

The next season, 2003, Shockey only played 9 games due to injury.  The Giants fell to 4-12 and Jim Fassel was fired as head coach. Somehow, Shockey was voted to the Pro Bowl.  He would be voted to the Pro Bowl twice more in his Giant career.  He had become the one star the team could hang its hat on.

The change in Jeremy Shockey began in 2004 when the Giants hired Tom Coughlin and drafted Eli Manning. He seemed to resent the attention being heaped upon the young quarterbacking scion. He felt hindered by the stringent regulations enacted by Coughlin.

More dissent came in 2005, with the death of Wellington Mara.  It was public knowledge that Shockey took Mara’s death hard.

Wellington Mara was the only father figure that Jeremy Shockey had in his life. In 2003, when the injured Shockey partied too hard in New Orleans the night before a game, Mara was not happy, and Shockey knew it.  He vowed to atone. 

At the time of Mara’s death, Shockey had just signed a $26.38 million, six-year extension to stay a Giant. With Mara gone, he would lose his mentor and protector – and his way.

In 2006, Shockey would openly criticize the coaching staff after games and scream at QB Eli Manning on the field and on the sidelines. His vow to Mara to act like a Giant and play like a Giant was suddenly a thing of the past.  He had stopped attending voluntary practices and team activities.  He had become a prima donna.

In 2007, humility would come knocking.  On his way to another trip to the Pro Bowl, Shockey broke his leg in a December game against the Redskins, ending his season. The Giants would lose only one more game without him in their stretch run to becoming Super Bowl Champions.

Shockey did not travel to the Super Bowl with the team. It was said that he needed extra space because his leg was in a cast.  He did not participate in may team meetings and activities. During the game, he sat in a luxury suite because it was deemed ‘too hazardous’ for him to be on the Giants sideline.

TV scans of the booth showed empty beer bottles and cups in front of Shockey and others in the booth. Had Mara been alive, that would not have been permitted. When the Giants won, Shockey did not attend the parade through the Canyon of Heroes.

He also opted out of the Super Bowl ring ceremony at Tiffany’s and the team celebration at The White House. He apparently was upset the team succeeded without him. His understudy, rookie Kevin Boss, filled in quite nicely – even making a key reception in the Super Bowl.

His detachment from the club had been years in the making.  Rumors circulated that the Giants wanted to trade Shockey.  Instead of looking to make peace, he fought back in the media. The last straw was a shouting match in training camp with GM Jerry Reese. The blowout made Shockey look like a spoiled child. Resse asserted his authority and traded Shockey to New Orleans for two future draft choices.

New Orleans was the worst place for Shockey, who has always shown poor impulse control. He loves to party,  in case you haven’t heard.

The 2008 season turned out to be a waste for the hulking tight end. Reunited with former Giant OC Sean Payton, Shockey seemed to be on the verge of having a breakout season.  After a great opening game, it appeared he and QB Drew Brees hit it off.  But that changed quickly when Shockey was sidelined for 5 weeks with a sports hernia.

Of course, he looked for someone to blame, pointing fingers at the staff for not providing the proper treatment.  During his time off, he slunk back into his depression – or paranoia – whichever you prefer. When Shockey returned to the lineup, he did little to impress.

What he needed was for Mara to come along with some words of encouragement. Unfortunately for Shockey, Mara had done that years before. It apparently did not take.

Now we see him back in the news for another off-field incident. Dehydrated in Las Vegas and hospitalized.  That can only happen one way.  He drank too much in the sun.

I hate writing articles such as this one.  The type about fallen heroes. In this case, Jeremy Shockey may not have even been a hero.  Some say he never reached his potential, so his fall isn’t really that far.

I hope he succeeds. I hope he reaches back in the recesses of his memory and revisits those moments Mara spent with him.  He needs to grow up.  It turned out that he was never meant to be a lifelong Giant. 

Right now, all we can ask is that he live up to the potential that Wellington Mara had seen in him seven years ago. I hope he will.

 

 

 

 

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