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May 2009 News
Hackett and Tollner Must Develop JaMarcus Russell for Raiders to Succeed
Published: May 27, 2009
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Sometimes a team shows confidence in a player through their efforts to build around that player. A team will devote the majority of its efforts to provide an environment for success. But sometimes it can also signify a lack of trust if the team tries too hard.
The Oakland Raiders’ decision to hire essentially two quarterbacks coaches is probably a mixture of both.
Quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett is the man officially tasked with the growth and development of quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Helping Hackett is passing game coordinator Ted Tollner. Tollner is not the offensive coordinator, he’s just there to work on the passing game.
Or reading between the lines, he’s there to be another babysitter for Russell.
There’s actually very little to criticize with that decision. It’s mostly just an unusual situation. But there is no denying that the Raiders fully understand that the franchise goes wherever Russell can take it.
And both Hackett and Tollner have been fairly successful with their quarterbacks in their previous jobs this decade.
Paul Hackett
Hackett was the offensive coordinator for the New York Jets from 2001-2004. After that stint, he spent the 2005-2007 seasons as quarterbacks coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In both stops he’s done a good job with the quarterbacks for the most part.
With the Jets, the worst season was 2001 when Hackett had an aging Vinny Testaverde running the offense. But even then Testaverde was throwing at a 59 percent completion rate.
He just had a poor touchdown to interception ratio (15-14), which was always a problem for him. Once Chad Pennington took over in 2002, Hackett had him playing as one of the better quarterbacks in the league.
Granted, Pennington and Russell are very different quarterbacks.
But it is nonetheless positive that Pennington’s lowest completion percentage under Hackett was a respectable 63.6 percent in 2003. Hackett can help to work on Russell’s accuracy, which has been his biggest problem so far.
If Russell can even improve his completion percentage to 60 percent, that would be a major increase over his 2008 rate of 53.8 percent.
And this jump isn’t totally unfeasible.
When Hackett moved to Tampa Bay in 2005 he guided Chris Simms to a 61 percent completion rate in his first year as a starter. So Hackett is capable of helping a young quarterback get to that 60 percent plateau.
The only concern is current Raiders third stringer Bruce Gradkowski, who had Russell-like numbers during his starting stint under Hackett in 2006. Gradkowski only completed 54 percent of his passes that season with a measly 65.9 quarterback rating.
Granted his only legit receiver was Joey Galloway and he had no real second option, but Russell also faces similar issues in Oakland.
It will be up to Hackett to mold Russell into a quarterback more likely to mimic Simms’ season and not Gradkowski’s. Improving Russell’s accuracy will help the Raiders sustain drives and prevent teams from stacking the box to stop the run.
Unless Russell is able to hit his receivers, it will be another long year on offense.
Ted Tollner
Tollner has not been as statistically successful as Hackett, but he’s also worked with inferior talent. He was the San Francisco 49ers’ quarterbacks coach in 2002-2003, offensive coordinator in 2004, and quarterbacks coach again in 2008. Between those jobs he was the offensive coordinator for the Detroit lions for 11 games in 2005.
He’s also worked with another Raiders backup, coaching Jeff Garcia for two years in San Francisco. Garcia was an average quarterback for those years, hitting lows in 2003 with a 57.4 completion percentage and 80.1 quarterback rating. In 2004 Tim Rattay was the leading quarterback with a 60.9 completion percentage and 78.1 rating.
Those three years can only be summarized as inconsistent, but again the Rattay situation bears more weight. Tollner is looking to develop Russell in the passing game, and again there’s hope that he can reproduce a 60 percent completion rate for a young player.
Even Tollner’s short stint in Detroit has some positives. Then quarterback Joey Harrington had a pedestrian year with a 72 quarterback rating while completing just 57 percent of his passes. The absurd note here is that Harrington’s 57 percent rate in 2005 was actually the highest during his time with the Lions.
So if Tollner can improve Joey Harrington with the Lions, there shouldn’t be anything stopping him from helping Russell.
Last season was just another example of a young quarterback having some success under Tollner. 49ers leading quarterback Shaun Hill was 12th in the league with an 87.5 quarterback rating and 62.8 percent completion rate. Solid numbers for a quarterback getting his first chance to start some games.
It is still not quite clear what Tollner’s exact role is in Oakland. But even if he’s just there to be another pair of eyes to harp on Russell’s fundamentals, it will still be a positive influence.
Overall the Raiders have brought in experienced coaches in Hackett and Tollner with successful track records with quarterbacks. So there is reason to believe that JaMarcus Russell might turn the corner and develop into a consistently solid player. But the pressure will be on the two coaches to improve Russell’s game in 2009.
Help him, Hackett and Tollner, you’re the only hopes.
AFC East Shows NFC West Has Wild Potential
Published: May 27, 2009
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The NFC West hasn’t always produced the most exciting, competitive division.
Next season could be different.
The Arizona Cardinals will begin favorites as defending champions Super Bowl XLIII runners-up.
However, there’s cause for optimism amongst the other three teams hoping to hit back from a disappointing 2008.
Is it possible we could see a three way battle for division title?
Let’s use the AFC East as an example.
This time last year, like Arizona the New England Patriots had just lost the Super Bowl.
Their 16-0 regular season and domination of the AFC made them a sure-fire bet for the playoffs and another placing atop the division.
In contrast, the other three teams combined for a 12-36 record. Miami and New York picked in the draft’s top 10, whilst Buffalo picked at No. 11.
It seemed like a foregone conclusion as the 2008 season kicked off that history would repeat.
Then Tom Brady landed on injured reserve, the Bills started 4-0, Miami first introduced the ‘wildcat’, and the Jets had Brett Favre.
What was expected to be one of the most predictable division’s in the NFL proved anything but.
Inter-division play was thrilling, Miami losing to the Jets in week one before later ending the Favre era in New York by winning the division title at Meadowlands.
The Dolphins’ recovery first started when, at 0-2, they won in New England 38-13 thanks to the wildcat debut and Ronnie Brown’s five touchdowns.
Overall Miami, New England and New York all went 4-2 in division play. Only the Dolphins made the playoffs as division winners, the Patriots missed out cruelly on a tiebreaker whilst the Jets ended a season of promise at 9-7.
Buffalo, despite enjoying the best start, lost every single one of their AFC East matches—clearly the determining factor in their downfall.
The closeness of the AFC East last year and Miami’s revival from 1-15 to 11-5 showed once again how unpredictable the NFL can be.
Will the same happen in the NFC West in 2009? There are plenty of comparisons.
The NFC West contains the Super Bowl loser.
Like the Dolphins last year, the three other NFC West teams are taking in a new era.
Seattle, San Francisco and St Louis all recently appointed a new head coach.
The records are similar too:
Like Miami, New York and Buffalo last year, the NFC West teams all picked within the top eleven of the 2009 draft.
Of course, most of this is purely coincidental, but the way the AFC East panned out in 2008 also proves anything could happen in the NFC West this year.
Arizona deserve their favorites tag, they won the NFC and very nearly became World Champions.
But as with Brady last year, it’d only take an unfortunate injury to Larry Fitzgerald or Kurt Warner to bring the Cardinals back down to earth with a bang.
Seattle, one year removed from four successive division titles will be hoping to hit back after an injury plagued 2008.
The 49ers made the right decision to extend Mike Singletary’s contract and will likely incorporate their head coaches attitude and discipline onto the field.
St. Louis made a steal, naming Steve Spagnuolo as the man to lead the Rams into a new era and his CV contains a Super Bowl XLII ring.
It could be a much tighter division, with as many as three teams challenging for the postseason.
Not something we’ve come to expect from the NFC West.
Inter-division records could be crucial.
Arizona went 6-0 in the NFC West last year. Lower that record and they would have been in competition with San Francisco and possibly even Seattle.
In week one of the new season, St Louis travel to Qwest Field to take on the Seahawks whilst Arizona host San Francisco on the same day.
A week later, Seattle travel to face the 49ers.
By facing two division rivals early, the Seahawks have a chance to set the tone.
Defeat for the Seahawks in both of those two games would put them at a severe disadvantage.
It could be whoever comes out with the best record in the divisional matches, will win it.
So will we see a more competitive NFC West in 2009?
Anything is possible, the AFC East proved that last year.
Anquan Boldin: Life without Drew Rosenhaus
Published: May 27, 2009
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There is light at the end of tunnel. On Tuesday, media reports surfaced that Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin informed the NFL Players Association, in a letter, that he intended to replace Drew Rosenhaus as his agent. The letter was sent on Friday the 22nd, and after the mandatory five-day waiting period, Boldin will be able to hire a new agent on Thursday.
Tuesday was latest twist in the ongoing Boldin contract drama that has hovered over the organization since last offseason. Boldin had been represented by Rosenhaus since 2003 when he was drafted by Arizona in the second round following a successful career at Florida State.
Now with a fresh voice at the bargaining table, perhaps Boldin and the Cardinals are one step closer to coming towards an agreement. Throughout this whole process, Rosenhaus has been the mouth piece voicing his displeasure about Boldin’s contract.
Q has remained relatively quiet and from a PR perspective he may need to come out and tell his side of the story. For his first interview since the firing of long time agent Drew Rosenhaus a few key issues would need to be addressed.
How is the hamstring feeling?
Has it been hard sitting out OTA’s while your teammates are on the field?
When did you decide it was in your best interest to part ways with Drew Rosenhaus?
What was Drew’s initial reaction when you told him you wanted to part ways?
Your brother D.J plays for the Detroit Lions and is still signed with Drew Rosenhaus, what advice would give him on working with an agent
When do you expect to be signed with a new agent?
Would you still welcome a trade to a new team or are you now more open to sitting down with the Cardinals to discuss a new deal?
Are you still planning on reporting to training camp in July?
If, a deal or a trade is not reached would you be willing to sit out any regular season games?
Is there a message you would like to give to fans of the Arizona Cardinals?
Dom Capers, Green Bay Packers: A Welcome Change?
Published: May 27, 2009
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As we get ready to usher in a new season filled with hopes and promises, one thing on the minds of Packers fans is whether or not the new 3-4 defense will pay dividends or whether it will be a bust.
Last year, the Pack finished 6-10; a record that was bitter sweet.
On the sweet side, the Packers produced a 4,000 yard passer, a 1,200 yard rusher (despite hamstring issues and holding out in OTAs) and not one, but two 1,000 yard receivers for the first time in team history.
On the bitter side however, the Pack endured game after game of closing moment losses. Despite being in the thick of these games, we just couldn’t seal the deal when it came to crunch time. We saw blown leads, long passes on our secondary and poor mechanics late in the game.
But all of that is about to change says Capers.
Today we’ll take a focused look on the transition to 3-4 and what it means to our beloved Packers and why the new defense could, in fact, go a long way.
Concepts of the 3-4:
In a nut shell, the 3-4 is specifically designed for flexibility in lateral coverage of the field while also giving flexibility to stopping the run. It also utilizes many different looks to help keep the proper amount of pressure on a QB; particularly effective against rookies.
With the added flexibility, the 3-4 can better utilize Zone schemes while giving multiple looks and even multiple assignments.
Unlike its 4-3 counterpart, the Zone Blitz out of a 3-4 alignment allows more areas of the field to be covered, limiting the passing lanes and down field plays exposed by a traditional 4-3; a problem the Pack had no answer for last year.
In traditional Zone coverage out of the 3-4, the same applies.
Last year, the defense was constantly stretched and exposed, by the end of the year they were simply out of gas. The reason for this was an ailing line that needed an additional rusher to apply pressure, this in turn, created more real estate to cover for the secondary and they just couldn’t do it.
The 3-4 should fix those problems.
But as good as this all sounds there are concerns as well. “Kamp” now becomes an outside LB which means he may be flanked by Poppinga; this is where the apprehension begins.
There are additional concerns at the NT position. There are plenty of options for the Pack to look at, but whether any of them will work for 16 games is left to be seen. Ryan Pickett is the primary focus along with Raji.
Pickett is aging, but probably could make the transition while Raji learns the position from the pro perspective; either player could be a fine fit.
Positions and Responsibilities:
Nose Tackle:
As we just hinted at, the NT is crucial for the Pack and VERY crucial in the success of the 3-4; without a good NT the defense fails.
The primary focus of the NT is to force double coverage on himself in an effort to free up the gaps for the inside backers or the “Jack” backers. A good NT will hold the line and embrace two gap responsibilities.
Pickett has the experience to handle all of this but his endurance is a bit of a concern.
He has broken down before and isn’t quite what he once was which raises concerns as to whether or not he is a risk. Also, does he have enough presence to actually garner double coverage from the O-Line? Teams may not consider him that much of a threat and may focus on outside pocket protection rather than one single man.
Raji will spend most of his time learning how to convert from DT to NT and it would be idiotic to put him right in. Sure, he has the stuff, but there is a huge learning curve there and I don’t think he’ll be ready by opening day.
Defensive Ends:
The 3-4 allows a DE to focus more on space occupation and disrupting the remaining gaps rather than having to make play after play, this in turn also works hand in hand with the Linebackers affording them better lateral coverage.
Jolly and Jenkins are the runner-ups but don’t rule out Justin Harrell and Mike Montgomery just yet. Jolly and Jenkins have the experience while Harrell and Montgomery have the athleticism. This combination could allow the Packers to mix and match, keeping the line fresh throughout the game.
Linebackers/ Inside and Outside:
The linebackers are very essential for the 3-4 to work in Green Bay; luckily for us we have some good names out there. Kamp and Poppinga will anchor the outside, although, don’t rule out Matthews as a possible start.
The outside, or “Mike” backer has a duel responsibility: Additional pass rusher, and sideline to sideline coverage. Poppinga trailed off at the end of the year, so having him as the fourth or even fifth pass rusher is a worry.
Kamp should enjoy running buck wild all over the field in his new found position but with it comes more toll on the body so he will need to play smart and stay healthy.
The outside backer can play outside the tackles which will allow the Packers to shut down the horizontal running game. The outside backers can also sacrifice the flair and screen passes for attacking the QB in the zone; something Kamp should excel at.
Poppinga, on the other hand, will have to step things up if he is to keep Matthews off his back. But perhaps he shouldn’t? Matthews will probably have no trouble fitting right in which would relegate Poppinga to situational downs and help bolster the depth chart.
So many decisions.
The Inside linebackers or “Jack” backers primary focus will be holding the line of scrimmage, being utilized in various blitz schemes, and disrupting pre-snap read; something Hawk and Barnett will have no trouble doing.
Along with all of this comes the dirty work as well, and considering how athletic Hawk and Barnett are, the Packers can also flirt with a 3-4 version of man-to-man while mixing up the blitz schemes.
Corners and Safeties:
Last year Woodson and Harris had a pretty good year and had it not been for the added stress on the defense, Collins and Rouse would have had better years.
That should come to fruition this year.
With so much chaos going on in the front lines and some much land being occupied, the 4 horseman should have no trouble cleaning up any loose ends. In addition, they should have better numbers this year, and with that will come the added threat.
The four horsemen will be allowed to fully focus on their style of play while leaving QBs out of options; all the while raking in the INTs. Depth however could be a concern.
The Capers Factor:
Dom Capers is a defensive mastermind fully experienced with the 3-4 alignment. He pioneered the invention of the Blitzburgh defense passing it on to Dick Le Beau for further development, and in his tenure has created 4 top 10 defenses most recently with New England and Miami.
He basically made Tony Brackens and has the ability to utilize a crew already primed for implementation. With Brackens mentioned, you can bank on Capers looking at “Kamp” as his newest version, but he also has another ability shown in Miami.
Capers can take the various different 3-4 alignments and create hybrids out of all of them making him and his players a nightmare for Offensive coordinators. In addition to all of this, the offense will get to practice against the 3-4 look; something they haven’t had too much exposure to in the past two year.
So why is that a benefit?
Green Bay this year will face: Cleveland, Dallas, San Fran, Baltimore and Pittsburgh,; all teams running a 3-4 scheme and you can bet by game time they will more than ready to go toe to toe.
Under Capers the defense should be fit to defend, have better end of game resolve, and be better able to deal with higher powered offenses than last year. Considering the division alone, and what kind of competition they will face this should be very encouraging.
The one glaring concern for Capers will be facing the type of runners offered by the division this year; Peterson and Forte to name a few. If Capers can unfold his magic and tighten up the loose ends, the Packers could be a force to reckon with.
In Summary:
With an Offense returning from a banner year and working exclusively with a defensive alignment they will face six times, the Pack are primed for the postseason. With a defensive guru such as Capers at the helm, the Pack will have no excuses BUT to roll into the postseason with no trouble.
Getting Personal with Darren Sproles
Published: May 27, 2009
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After watching Darren Sproles play against the Colts the second week of November in 2007, I had this insatiable desire that “this is an athlete I have to meet”.
Interviewing Sproles is definitely something I intend to do. To prepare for that interview, I have compiled a list of questions that I feel the sporting world needs to know.
Below are my questions:
Who was your favorite pro football team growing up?
Wouldn’t it be funny if he said the Oakland Raiders? I kid, I kid.
Why did you put off the NFL and go back to college?
Looking back, was there a moment in your life that you felt represented a turning point in your football career that led you to the NFL?
While playing at Kansas State, was there a player(s) at the professional level that you most wanted to emulate either on the field or off, or both? What most impressed you with that person and have you had the opportunity to meet that player?
What was it like to be mentored by two incredible athletes like LaDainian and Michael Turner? Is there a specific lesson from either of those two players that dramatically changed how you play the game today?
How explosive do you see the Chargers’ offense being this season and what are your goals going into a new season?
Looking back on any game in your past, is there one specific game that stuck out so much, that you wished it was you playing in that game?
You have been known to avoid interviews and not a lot of people know it is due to your stuttering problem you have had since a child. Are you more comfortable now in front of a camera?
Would you mind sharing a little about how it feels to be the national spokesman for The Stuttering Foundation, a non-profit organization that works towards the prevention and treatment of stuttering after enduring some of the challenges you personally went through?
Thoughts on Brett Favre un-retiring once? And possibly a second time? Can you see yourself contemplating something similar?
I cant wait to ask this, as I really am curious to know what players, not fans, think about his in-decisions about retirement.
Interviewing Sproles would be an amazing experience. I am so excited to see how well he plays this season and what his future holds. He is a class act on and off the field, and to be honest we need more players like him as role models.
He is what an athlete should be, and to think, he is just getting started.
AFC West: Breaking Down the Division by Team Part One
Published: May 27, 2009
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Lately trying to get any bit of football news that is not related to No. 4 or Brady is harder than calculus. So I’ve decided to do my own research and write this article about the position standings (or battles) in our division; The AFC West.
In writing this article and doing my research, I have tried to stay completely un-biased toward the team that I adore, which is the Denver Broncos. This, above all,was the hardest thing to do, but I have stayed the course and I believe that I have written and researched a fare and balanced article, one which I sincerely hope you enjoy.
I decided to work from the top down, meaning I will start with the division winner San Diego Chargers and end with the last place Kansas City Chiefs. I will break down each team including coach and rate them on a scale of 1-10. I will break the teams down in the following manner, HC, QB, RB, WR, OL, DL, LB, DBs and ST.
CHARGERS:
Coach: This is where the Bolts’ biggest weakness is. Even most Charger fans will agree that while Norv is an outstanding OC, his head coaching skills are lacking. Norv is just to passive to be a good HC in this league, let me elaborate.
While most HCs in the NFL are defined by a certain style, i.e. emotional, mastermind, quite, ect… Norv does not fit into any of this qualities. He has been the reason, at least on paper, for the Bolts slow starts.
His lack of aggressiveness at the start of the season and “safe/predicteble” game plans at the start have caused the Bolts to fall behind early. It is only when the Chargers have their backs against the walls and people start questioning why is he a HC only then does he go into attck mode and takes advantage of the Bolts’ talent.
The Chargers let Marty ball go so they could take the next step, then they hire Norv. If you look at his play calling as an OC while in Dallas and San Fran, you’ll realize that the Chargers made a lateral move, and did not get the HC that will max out the talent that they have.
HC: 5
QB: When it comes to young QBs the Chargers, as much as it pains me, have one of the best if not the best. Rivers’ accuracy and decision making have kept the Bolts from falling apart. He has also cooled his mouth off as of late. He has the arm, accuracy, poise and vision to take the next step and be completely dominant in his position.
The one negative that I see in Rivers, is his ability to deal with pressure up the middle. Rivers is one of the best at avoiding pressure from the edges and stepping up in the pocket to make the throw, he is particularly good at always knowing where his outlet is, but when you cover the flat and collapse the pocket from the middle his numbers change dramatically.
This is where he will have to improve, to truly be in the upper echelon of QBs.
Another chip in the armor is, ever since Rivers came into the league, defenses have very rearly game planned around Rivers. It has always been stop LT and Gates first then we worry about Rivers.
How is Rivers going to handle defenses game planning soley around him, and trying to take advantage of his weaknesses ( side arm throwing, lack of mobility, inability to deal with pressure up the middle). I believe he will fare well.
QB: 8
RB: This is another area of concern for the Chargers. LT is on the decline whether fans will admit it or not, the numbers don’t lie, and Sproles’ lack of size worries me a lot. They will share backfield duties this coming season, that means for the first time since LT arrived the Chargers will truly have a two back system.
The main problems I foresee in this particular situation are, will LT stay healthy? How will the extra carries affect Sproles in the return game (Hester)? And finally, will Sproles be up to the task when it comes time for blitz pick up? This are the questions that still bother me at this point.
RB: 6
WR: When it comes to WR the Chargers don’t have much in terms of proven players, however, they do have talent. Jackson has the ability to be a fine receiver in the league, not great but well above average. Chambers is an enigma, sometimes he shows up and others he doesn’t.
Also I think is safe to say the Osgood and Craig Davis are not as good as advertised and will remain special teamers, while Naanee and Floyd have shown flashes they need to be more consistent to be factors with this team.
All in all the chargers have a pretty average group here unless Gates can get back to his previous form and dominance of the middle of the field, the WR will continue to be just that, average.
WR: 5
OL: Here is a big question mark for the Bolts. Will the new acquisitions translate, or will they take another step backwards? Last season the Bolts OL was lacking. They were good, but not as good as in the recent past. The lack of depth and experience in this area makes it a big question mark.
At center Hardwick is coming of an average season and his back up looks to be McDonald a rookie out of Illinois. The guard position is in worse shape, Dielman for some odd reason took a step backwards while Forney is getting up there in age, worse yet, there is nothing but rookies behind them.
The tackles are a mystery to me, age shouldn’t be a factor, yet, both McNeill and Clary digressed last season, with their lack of depth at this position, this could be a real problem for the Bolts.
OL: 7
DL: The loss of Igor is not a big deal, he was serviceable at best. Luis Castillo in the other hand, has a loads of talent yet he seems incapable of translating that talent onto the field.
Jamal Williams is and will again be a beast at NT, which is good news for the Bolts since they have virtually no body behind him. All that said, there is not much to report in this area, besides that Williams will again dominate and make this DL seem a lot better than they will look without him.
JW: 9
rest of DL: 5
LB: This is the area where San Diego both shines and gives reason to cringe. Their entire pass rush depends on the return to form of Shawn Merriman. Last year proved that while Phillips is great with Merriman on the other side he is ordinary with out him.
History says that athletes with the type of injury that Merriman had, are never the same, Shawn is special and with toady’s medical advances he does have a great opportunity to come back and be a dominant force against the pass.
At ILB, however, there is a different story. Cooper and Burnett are average at best and while Wilhelm is better against the run he is a liability in coverage. More often than not he gets burned and beaten by backs and tight ends. I will hold my grade of Merriman until we can see him play, so I will score the LB core without Merriman.
LB: 6
DB: Jammer. He is the only bright spot in the defensive backfield for the Chargers. Cromartie said he played with a hip injury most of the season, while rookie Cason outplayed him yet is un-proven. This year Cromartie will be on a short leash, especially if Cason has a good pre-season.
At safety, the Bolts have two young players that have proven to be liabilities, both against the run and pass, they are constantly out of position and are overly aggressive against the run leaving cut back lanes for the opposing RB.
The Bolts will let the youngsters at safety develop for another season, but there is little hope that they will. They actually got worse as the season went on and when Rivera took over as DC they kept switching them in and out with their respective back ups.
DB: 5 (7 depending on pass rush)
ST: The Bolts have in my opinion the best punter in all of football and one of the better kickers. The return game is where the questions are. As I previously stated before it all depends on Sproles. Will he be able to handle the extra work? History says no. Other than Sproles the Bolts don’t have another explosive returner in their roster.
ST: 9
Returner: 5 (it depends on Sproles ability to handle the extra work in the backfield)
Well Hope you like part one of this four part series.
Ten Minutes With Kansas City’s Mark Bradley
Published: May 27, 2009
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Mark Bradley joined this Kansas City team in September last year, and made his first appearance in week seven against the Titans. He made an immediate and impressive impact on the offense, as he caught a touchdown in three of his first six games before suffering from injuries to both calf muscles.
If given the chance to interview him, I would have several questions to ask him about both his NFL and college playing experience.
(1) How do you think Todd Haley’s background in wide receivers will help you this year? Do you think he can help you reach that next level as a player?
(2) What can you gain from an experienced wide receiver like Bobby Engram being here in Kansas City?
(3) How does this team replace the offensive leadership lost with the trade of Tony Gonzalez?
(4) What do you think the acquisition of Matt Cassel brings to this team?
(5) The pass you threw last year to Tyler Thigpen against the Buccaneers was the most memorable play of the entire season for Chiefs fans, what was going through your mind when Jamaal Charles tossed you that ball?
(6) You had a unique path in becoming a Sooner, playing two years at Arkansas-Pine Bluff before walking on at Oklahoma, and eventually earning a scholarship. How has that route changed the way you play the game?
(7) You and your father both played in the Orange Bowl while attending the University of Oklahoma. What was it like playing in that game and experiencing what your father did 20 years prior?
(8) You were called the “best athlete on the team” by coach Bob Stoops while at Oklahoma, and you played quarterback, cornerback, and wide receiver in high school. How did you come to decide your future in football was at wide receiver?
(9) As a former Oklahoma Sooner, how heartbreaking was it to watch the NCAA Championship game against Florida this past year?
(10) You played against teammate Derrick Johnson in college while he was playing for your rival, Texas. You got the the better of him in the red river rivalry both years you attended Oklahoma, have you given him a hard time about that?
Washington Redskins Should Continue .500 Ways in 2009
Published: May 27, 2009
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The 2009 Washington Redskins will be about a .500 team.
I say this with confidence and not because I possess a crystal ball that allows me to peer into the future and see events to come with clarity. It’s because I can see the past and recognize that a .500 team is what the Redskins are.
From 1995 through 2008, a span of 14 seasons, the Redskins have been within two games of the break even mark every year but two. Those two years, 2003 and 2006, they were just three games off the mark of mediocrity, finishing 5-11.
The Redskins are so average, in fact, that they are distinctively mediocre. Since 1995 every NFL team has either lost 12 or more games in a season or has won 12 or more at least once. Every team, that is, with the exception of the Redskins.
They are the NFL’s perpetually half-full, half-empty glass.
They have tried to break out and either fill or empty the glass but the fates work against them.
The ‘06 team could easily have dropped a dozen games but Troy Vincent blocked a late game-winning field goal attempt against Dallas and Sean Taylor’s brilliant scramble—and a face-mask penalty committed in the process—set up a Nick Novack game-winning field goal on an untimed down.
On the other side of the coin the 2005 team won ten and could easily have won two more but they suffered close, frustrating losses to Denver, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, Oakland, and San Diego.
It’s clear that the Football Gods have determined that the Redskins of the late 20th and early 21st centuries are a middling team. There is no compelling evidence to suggest that they will escape that fate this year.
Defensively they added strength to strength with the additions of Albert Haynesworth and Brian Orakpo. Those two could move the Redskins D from good to great.
But there is little chance that the offense will be even good. Jason Campbell is in his make or break year and even if he makes it he won’t be anything approaching an elite quarterback. Was Clinton Portis’ slump at the end of last year an indication that his career has hit the wall?
The receiving corps could be good if at least one of the two receivers drafted in the second round last year, Malcolm Kelly or Devin Thomas, has a breakout year. That could happen, but holding your breath waiting for it is not advised.
The offensive line has potential—the potential to be a train wreck. The ten that they keep on the roster mostly will be a combination of the old and injury prone and the young and untested.
If the Redskins are to finish on the upside of the fated limit and win 10 games the defense must provide the offense with short fields. Haynesworth needs to collapse the middle and allow the defense to increase significantly its sack total from the 24 it posted last year. The pressure needs to make the opposing quarterback throw the ball up for grabs to force turnovers.
Should Campbell and company get opportunities to make some 14-yard touchdown drives or, better yet, watch from the sidelines as the defense records a pick six, life will be a lot easier and the Redskins could record a double-digit win total.
But if the defense merely remains strong but is of limited help to the offense in terms of providing highly favorable field position, the Redskins are likely to trend towards the down side of their potential. They simply aren’t strong enough offensively to drive 80 yards to score every time they get the ball.
Where will the 2009 Redskins fall within the range of six to 10 wins? It says here that Haynesworth is enough of a difference maker on defense that the team will be able to overcome a leaky offensive line and score enough to post a 9-7 record.
Matt Jones’ Ideal Home? The City by the Bay
Published: May 27, 2009
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I’m a firm believer in second chances.
In my mind, guys like Plaxico Burress, Michael Vick, and the like shouldn’t be NFL pariahs forever because of their indiscretions.
My life has been filled with second chances. If the people in my life didn’t believe in redemption, I wouldn’t be married. I wouldn’t have a job in the journalism field. I wouldn’t have many friends.
Another guy is desperate need of a second chance is Matt Jones.
Living in Jacksonville, I understand why the Jaguars felt like they needed to let Jones go. New General Manager Gene Smith is trying to build a team that is founded on character, and released a number of guys who had character issues.
Jones was one of those casualties.
In case you don’t know the full story behind Jones and his release, let me fill you in.
The converted quarterback from Arkansas was taken in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He was drafted solely on potential and athletic ability, with the hope that he would be able to make a successful transition to WR.
For Jones’ first three seasons in the River City, it looked like Jacksonville made a critical mistake. His best year was 2006, when he caught 41 passes for 643 yards and four touchdowns. Not exactly the numbers you want to see out of a first-round draft pick.
In the summer of 2008, Jones was back in his college town when he did something that would change his life forever.
Apparently, Jones was in his car in the wee small hours of the morning cutting up cocaine with a credit card. He was arrested on a charge of felony possession of a controlled substance.
At this point, I thought Jones was done in Jacksonville. First, the guy doesn’t produce. Then he gets busted with coke? Game over.
But he stuck with the team for the 2008 season and had a breakout year. He had career highs in receptions (65) and receiving yards (761), despite the fact that he missed four games last year.
It’s amazing what a little motivation can do for you, huh?
About three months after the end of the season, Jones was back in Fayetteville, Ark., playing golf with a friend.
In what could either be construed as a momentary lapse of judgment or evidence of stupidity, Jones drank beer on the golf course.
By itself, having a few cold ones on the golf course is not that big a deal.
But when you’re on probation, and one of the terms of your probation is not to drink alcohol, and your face is probably the most recognizable in the state of Arkansas (it’s not a big state), a few beers on the range becomes a VERY big deal.
It’s unclear if someone tipped off his probation officer, or if he just failed a random test, but the troubled wide receiver ended up back in jail for violating his probation.
That was the final straw, as the Jags cut ties with the 26-year-old WR.
So far, no team has been willing to give Jones a second chance.
As a 49er fan, I hope my team is willing to assume the risk and get this guy for a number of reasons.
First, we don’t have a lot of wide receivers. Isaac Bruce is a good receiver, but he’s getting really old. Michael Crabtree has tremendous potential, but who knows when he’ll blossom?
After that, who do we have? Brandon Jones? Jason Hill? Arnaz Battle? Josh Morgan?
Wide receiver is probably the weakest position on the roster. If there’s a chance to get a cheap and talented player at that spot, I think we have to take advantage of the opportunity.
Second is the emergence of the Wildcat formation.
Not too many people remember what Jones did when he was at Arkansas. As effective as he was passing the ball, he was equally effective running the ball.
I went to school at the University of Florida, and vividly remember watching a young Jones run wild on the Gator defense in 2004.
Florida was up 38-7 at one point, but Jones led a furious rally. My Gators held on to win the game 45-30, but Jones was lights out in that game (threw for 252 yards and a score, rushed for 68 yards and another score).
Jones would be a perfect fit in the Wildcat. He has tremendous speed (4.39 at the combine) and ample experience at quarterback.
In addition to being a great QB in that formation, we have arguably the best running back in the league in Frank Gore. Having that running threat at QB and RB makes the Wildcat extremely difficult to stop (just ask the New England Patriots).
Lastly, Jones will be tremendously motivated.
We already saw the kinds of numbers he put up when his roster spot with Jacksonville is in jeopardy.
Now imagine how motivated he will be, knowing that the team he eventually signs with (because a team will sign him at some point) could be his last chance to make a living playing a game.
I can’t guarantee that Jones would pan out in a 49er uniform. But the reward could be tremendous, while the risk would be fairly minimal.
And everyone deserves at least one second chance.
Something Special is in the Air for the San Diego Chargers
Published: May 27, 2009
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I cant wait to see what emerges out of the special team unit from San Diego this year. Even the new rule limiting wedge formations on kickoff returns to a maximum of two players doesn’t have the Chargers worried, as it does some teams.
Special Teams Coach, Steve Crosby, thinks this will be a very smooth transition as the Chargers have primarily only used two- and three-man wedges.
“We’ve never been a big-wedge team anyway,” Crosby said. “Our guys are used to blocking one-on-one. It’s just a matter of how you adjust the back half so you don’t have what the league looks at as a three-man wedge.”
This could result in a complicated matter for other teams that have used the four- to five-man wedges, who now must adjust their personal on kick-off returns.
“There are more single blocks; more blocks in space now,” Crosby said.
“Before, when you just had that big wedge in there, those guys were shoe to shoe and they didn’t have much adjusting to do. They hit the first thing that showed up. Now you’ve got to be able to settle on a guy and block him in space. One-on-one blocking in the open field against speed is tough. It changes the types of athletes that you can use back there.”
With the new rule in the Chargers favor, we also must take a look at who they have for their special teams, as it is pretty surreal to see this much talent on one team.
Even as a Wisconsin Badger fan, I was fan of Nate Kaeding who played for Iowa. He was dependable and I liked his charisma. Now playing for the Chargers, Kaeding has not lost his accuracy nor his consistency. One thing he could use more of is power in his leg, but at the end of the day, isn’t accuracy better than power?
Then you have the two time Pro Bowler, Kassim Osgood, who puts in 110% effort in every play on that field.
As a wide-receiver he puts up good numbers but usually opponents will double-even triple team him, making the task a bit more difficult to complete. He has expressed frustration with not being more part of the offense, but what he doesn’t realize yet is that he already is.
Mike Scifres is one of the Chargers steadiest players and the best punter they have had since Ray Guy. Hia consistency is scary and his confidence is respected.
David Binn is no stranger to the Chargers, and is contracted to play until 2011. In 2007, he was selected to play in the Pro Bowl for the first time and if things go as they should this year, he can plan on making the trip to Hawaii again.
“The way it is now, with games being so close,” Crosby said, “more often than not it’s going to be a special teams play that makes the difference.”
It’s clear the Charger’s special team clan can be an integral part of their success this season.
Crystal clear.
