Getting Personal with Brian Witherspoon

When choosing which Jaguars player I had to interview, I wanted to select an exciting player who doesn’t get a ton of national publicity.  I also wanted to choose a guy who took a tough path to the NFL and wasn’t handed anything. 

Former undrafted rookie, return man/cornerback Brian Witherspoon was the player I chose, and he gave some great answers to some tough questions.

 

Charlie Bernstein:  It’s only the first week of OTA’s, but how is everything going?

Brian Witherspoon:  OTA’s have been real good, the team’s looking real nice, real crisp.  We’ve got a lot of young talent out there, our draft picks are looking good, everything’s going real well.”

CB:  Your path to the NFL certainly didn’t involve any “red carpet treatment.”  Describe your journey being an undrafted guy from a place that hardly anyone has heard of, Stillman College?

BW:  It was a very difficult path, a lot of ups and downs, coming from a small division two school that nobody has ever heard of.  A lot of extra hard work, a lot of grinding, a lot of praying.  When I got down here for OTA’s and minicamps, a lot of people gave me no chance of making the team.  I just continued to work hard, push myself, push my body to the limit, and a lot of good came from it. 

CB:  Do you feel you have to work that much harder just to make the roster being that the team has a very small monetary investment in you?

BW:  Even if you’re a drafted guy, I don’t think that guarantees you anything.  Especially on the business side of the NFL.  When you come in undrafted, they’re not investing a lot in you, and you have to work that much harder to prove you belong.

CB:  You were a rookie last season and you turned heads in the preseason and early on in the season with a couple big kickoff returns.  Were you beginning to feel comfortable in your role?

BW:  I was very comfortable.  I knew that one of the ways I could make the team was with special teams and I took advantage of it.  So far it’s worked out pretty well for me.

CB:  Near the end of the season, the big returns weren’t quite as prevalent.  Was it better coverage, or did you maybe not see the holes quite as quickly?

BW:  I think it was better coverage.  It’s the NFL.  If they want to game plan against you and take you out of a game, they can.  My body started to wear down at the end of the season playing at the weight I played at, so that’s why this season I bulked up a little more.  Gained about 10-12 pounds.

CB:  What weight are you playing at now?

BW:  I’m playing at about 185 right now, last year I played at 172.

CB:  Have you lost any speed at your new weight?

BW:  No, actually I feel a little bit faster.  The new strength and conditioning coaches have been great.

CB:  At the end of the year you were able to get some reps at corner and did a pretty good job.  Do you think the Jags see you as a young guy who can compete for the nickel job or mainly just as a special teams player?

BW:  It’s in the works.  They’ve worked me in at corner a little more, they’re trying to teach me a little more and help me become a better student of the game, and it’s going pretty good right now, I’m enjoying it.

CB:  What is it like lining up across from a legendary receiver like Torry Holt?

BW:  At first I had to catch myself because I thought I was dreaming.  Torry’s a good guy, he comes out there and works hard and he has a great attitude.  He comes to work every day with a smile on his face.  He’s a great veteran guy and a great leader.

CB:  The Jaguars selected Derek Cox in the third round and Mike Thomas in the fourth round, both have handled return duties in their collegiate careers.  How did that make you feel and what could that mean for your job?

BW:  I didn’t feel a thing.  I’m just trying to go out there and do what I do best.  Just work hard, put the team in good field position, and do what I do.  I’m not worried about the draft picks or anything, I’m not worried about all that.

CB:  The team obviously underachieved last season as they began the year with Super Bowl aspirations only to fall to a last place finish at 5-11.  What was the mood in the locker room like week to week?

BW:  We kept our spirits up and we kept our hopes up high.  I think we had that mindset that everybody was going to lay down because of the season we had the year before, and I think we got off track a little bit.  I can promise you that you won’t see that this year.

CB:  Jack Del Rio and Gene Smith have eluded to the fact that they want character guys on their football team, and that was further enunciated with the dismissals of a few guys who had some off the field issues.  Do you feel as if you guys have a more tight-knit, professional unit right now?

BW:  Everything has been going great.  We are practicing, having fun, challenging each other and it’s more competitive and it’s fun at the same time.  Things are looking a whole lot better than last year.

CB:  Are you the fastest member of the Jaguars?

BW:  Yes I am.

CB:  What has been the fastest you’ve ever been clocked at (in the 40)?

BW:  My fastest 40 time was a 4.16.  No wind, no down hill.

CB:  What can we expect to see from Brian Witherspoon in 2009?

BW:  You can expect to see a lot more excitement, a lot more plays being made, and I’m finally going to get in that end zone.  That’s my goal.  My goal is to make the Pro Bowl as a kick returner, if not at corner.

Why the Oakland Raiders Should Trade Derrick Burgess for Vince Wilfork

The buzz is that the New England Patriots are interested in acquiring DE Derrick Burgess from the Raiders for a draft-pick in 2010.

After the fact that New England fleeced the Raiders in the Randy Moss trade (and that’s sugar coating the real word)—I say, the Raiders must get true fair-value.

For a two-time ProBowler who led the league in sacks—a draft pick is not fair-value.

A player like DT Vince Wilfork would be fair-value.

Think about it. 

Wilfork is a former ProBowler and in a contract year.  The Patriots selected DT Ron Brace in the draft as the potential replacement for Wilfork.

Derrick Burgess is also a former ProBowler in a contract year.  The Raiders selected DE Matt Shaughnessy in the draft as a potential replacement for Burgess.

The Patriots would get their rusher and the Raiders would get their run stopper on a one year basis—and can tag that player before free-agency if they need to.

I’m not sure there’s much else to say about that other than: What do you think, Raider Nation?

NFL Key Questions: AFC South

The 2009 NFL Draft is in the books, and despite the holes many teams were able to fill with their selections, there are still questions surrounding all 32 squads. The Bruno Boys though are here for you, attempting to shed light on the key issues surrounding all 32 NFL teams. This time we take a look at the AFC South.

Houston Texans

What can fantasy owners expect from Matt Schaub in 2009?

When on the football field, Matt Schaub has shown that he can be the franchise quarterback the Texans expected to get when they traded for him prior to the 2007 season.

The problem, though, is that in Schaub’s two seasons with Houston, the quarterback has missed nearly a third of the team’s games, playing in just 22 of 32 contests. Thus, arises the dilemna.

In posting a 92.7 quarterback rating, with 3,043 passing yards, 15 TDs, and just 10 interceptions in 11 games last season, Schaub has whet fantasy owners’ appetites.

After all, who wouldn’t want a guy capable of putting up 20+ fantasy points on a consistent basis (Schaub did it in five of 11 games last season) on their squad, especially when you consider the talent Schaub has to work with.

Not only does he have one of the best wide receivers in the league to throw to in Andre Johnson, he, also, has more than capable targets in wide out, Kevin Walter, and tight end, Owen Daniels.

Add to those fine receivers a sound running game, provided by Steve Slaton, and Schaub is in an offense that appears guaranteed to put up fantasy points, making Schaub a sure-fire QB1 if on the field for all 16 games in 2009.

Still, the injuries are a concern, and something to consider when selecting Schaub in your 2009 fantasy draft. By no means, though, should they make you steer clear of the QB, but if you do take Schaub, be sure you have another arm on your roster that you can rely on if Schaub goes down, and we’re not talking about the Texans’ backup plan of Dan Orlovsky.

Indianapolis Colts

Does the Indianapolis Colts’ first round selection of running back Donald Brown mean Joseph Addai’s days are numbered as the team’s featured back?

With the Indianapolis Colts failing to match the Buffalo Bills‘ offer to running back, Dominic Rhodes, who helped keep the Colts’ running game afloat last season while Joseph Addai struggled, it appeared the team had some faith that Addai would return to the 1,000-yard rusher he had been in his first two seasons in the league.

Then, draft day came, and the Colts used their first round selection on University of Connecticut back, Donald Brown, who led the Huskies with 2,083 rushing yards and 18 TDs.

The Colts did not waste a first round selection on Brown to have him simply ride the pine. Rather, the team hopes to utilize Addai and Brown in a time share, helping to keep both runners fresh throughout the year.

While that plan of action may benefit the Colts greatly, it will frustrate fantasy owners as it means yet another running back by committee has surfaced, preventing either back from rising to RB1 status as they both seem to be RB2 candidates at the moment.

As of now, Addai is being considered the team’s number one back by new head coach, Jim Caldwell, but really, the label means nothing as the time share is expected to yield a 50/50 split.

The split in action, more than likely means, Addai won’t see a major bounce back in his numbers in 2009, but look on the bright side, at least this time around, you won’t use a first round selection on him.

 

Jacksonville Jaguars

With Fred Taylor finally out of the picture, how will Maurice Jones-Drew fare as the Jaguars’ workhorse?

Praise be to the fantasy football gods!

In a time when more and more teams are turning to the dreaded running back by committee (see: Indianapolis Colts above), the Jacksonville Jaguars have done fantasy owners a favor by putting another workhorse back out on the fantasy market as Maurice Jones-Drew will now be the team’s featured back thanks to the release of Fred Taylor this offseason.

Granted, unless you’re lucky enough to have one of the first three picks in your 2009 fantasy draft this news really won’t matter because that’s where MJD is likely to go off the board, and for good reason.

In his first three seasons in the NFL, Jones-Drew has averaged 844.33 rushing yards, 469.33 receiving yards and 12.67 TDs per season. Solid numbers to say the least, but even more solid if you consider that Jones-Drew received less than 200 carries in each of those three years and hit the 50 reception mark just once.

With Taylor now out of the picture, Jones-Drew will not only reach those plateaus, but he’ll go beyond them, leading to a dramatic increase to his already stellar numbers.

Throw in the fact that Jacksonville did all it could this offseason to shore up their offensive line (drafting offensive tackle, Eugene Monroe of Virginia, with their first round selection and offensive tackle, Eben Britton of Arizona, with their second round choice and signing veteran, Tra Thomas, as a free agent), and it appears that Jones-Drew will find plenty of openings to do something with the extra touches he gets.

There is always the concern that a back carrying his team’s full load could break down during the season, but the potential reward MJD can provide greatly outweighs that risk. If you’re lucky enough to grab him, revel in what should be a fantastic 2009. 

 

Tennessee Titans

In re-signing veteran quarterback, Kerry Collins, the Titans have essentially stated that they will once again try to win games with their defense and running game. Will that be enough to allow the team to repeat the success they had in 2008?

No one is going to mistake Kerry Collins for the likes of Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner, or Tom Brady.

But, the beauty of Collins’ role in Tennessee is that he doesn’t have to put up the numbers those three do. Rather, Collins simply has to be a game manager who avoids costly mistakes, a role he filled quite nicely last season as he threw just 7 interceptions and was sacked just 8 times in 16 games in 2008.

If Collins can be as frugal in 2009 with his interceptions as he was in 2008, the Titans should continue to be one of the top teams in the AFC.

Playing a style of smash mouth football, the Titans’ rely on a combination of their ground game, which ranked seventh in the league in 2008, and their defense, which allowed the second fewest points per game, to beat their opponents into submission.

While it will be a bit tougher to do that this year with Albert Haynesworth heading to the Redskins, the Titans’ should still get the job done.

Not only do they still have the two-headed monster of Chris Johnson and LenDale White running at opponents, but except for Haynesworth’s departure (a blow that was softened by the Titans signing defensive tackle Jovan Haye from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) their defense remains largely intact.

 

For more football insight, click the link below…

Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Top 10 NFL Rookies to Target for Your Keeper League

There are a number of ways to play and enjoy fantasy football, and one way that continues to grow is the keeper league format. The main difference between keeper leagues and standard leagues is that after your initial draft, you get to hold onto 2-3 players from season to season.

From there, your drafts exist simply to fill the rest of your roster. Now, that you understand the keeper league format, it’s time for the Bruno Boys to help you build a dynasty. As such, Bruno Boys Greg ranks the top 10 rookies to look at in your keeper league.

1. WR Michael Crabtree (San Francisco 49ers)

This one is a no brainer. Crabtree, out of Texas Tech, was one of the best players in the draft and could turn into one of the best receivers in the game in just a few short years. Crabtree gives the 49ers their first legitimate No. 1 wideout since T.O. departed and is a great guy to build your fantasy receiving corps around.

 

2. RB Knowshon Moreno (Denver Broncos)

Despite having a plethora of running backs on their roster already, the Broncos still used their first round selection on Moreno, which just goes to show how highly they think of the back.

While Moreno is the Broncos tailback of the future, he could very well have an immediate impact in the league as he can not only run well, but also catches the ball out of the back field well.

 

3. QB Mark Sanchez (New York Jets)

Losing Brett Favre, the Jets decided that Sanchez had all the make-up to be their QB for years to come, trading up to the number three spot in the draft to secure his services. In 2009, Sanchez will only be asked to not make mistakes as he adjusts to NFL play.

In the next couple of years, though, he could be putting up big numbers as the Jets build their offense around his arm.

4. WR Hakeem Nicks (New York Giants)

With the Plaxico Burress saga resulting in the Giants parting ways with the big name receiver, the team used their first round selection on Nicks, an excellent wide receiver out of UNC, who had 1,222 receiving yards and 12 TDs in 2008. The Giants will need Hicks to step up right away to help out Eli Manning in the post-Burress era.

 

5. RB Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts)

While head coach, Jim Caldwell, has stated that Joseph Addai is still the team’s number one back, don’t read too much into it. The team did not draft Brown to simply have him sit on the sidelines.

Brown should get the touches he needs to put up solid numbers, especially since he will play with a solid quarterback in Peyton Manning, who’ll take pressure off of the running game.

 

6. RB Chris “Beanie” Wells (Arizona Cardinals)

Wells is a bruising running back with a ton of talent. The Cardinals were thrilled to see him on the board when their selection came in this year’s draft, and you should be to if you can get him in your keeper league.

Before long, Wells will be the feature back and will play a big part in the offense for years to come.

7. WR Jeremy Maclin (Philadelphia Eagles)

Coming out of Missouri, Maclin is a solid player with great character. His 1,260 receiving yards and 15 total TDs in 2008 show what promise he has. Don’t be surprised to see him become the Eagles’ No. 1 guy in the next couple years, leaping past DeSean Jackson.

8. RB LeSean McCoy (Philadelphia Eagles)

Don’t get us wrong, it’s still the Brian Westbrook show in Philly, but keeper leagues are all about looking to the future. While McCoy will play a complimentary role in the next couple seasons, he will get an opportunity to flourish upon Westbrook’s departure.

 

9. TE Brandon Pettigrew (Detroit Lions)

It is Pettigrew, not Stafford, who makes the top 10 list as he will be an important safety valve for Detroit and is a safer bet to be productive in the NFL despite all the guaranteed money the Lions threw Stafford’s way.

With the tight end position taking a dramatic step back in 2008, it’s not a stretch to think that Pettigrew could be at the top of the list in the next couple years.

 

10. QB Nate Davis (San Francisco 49ers)

This is the shocker to round out the top 10 as 5th rounder Davis makes the list over Stafford and Freeman. While Davis will not see the field this year, that may not be such a bad thing.

The QB will spend 2008 learning behind Shaun Hill and Damon Huard. With a year of learning and not playing, as well as having another great rookie on his team in Michael Crabtree, he could be a solid fantasy player in the future.

Just missed the cut:

1. QB Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions)

2. WR Kenny Britt (Tennessee Titans)

3. WR Mohamed Massaquoi (Cleveland Browns)

4. QB Josh Freeman (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

5. RB Shonn Greene (New York Jets)

For more fantasy football insight and advice, click the link below…

Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Are the San Francisco 49ers a Dark Horse to Win the NFC West?

Ah, football! Even though the draft is a month over and preseason doesn’t kick off until August, people are still following the sport like it’s the MLB or golf. Why? Because there is something magical about the game, something that brings all people together, something that captivates and enthralls residents of 32 American cities at opening kickoff.

Now, I could go multiple directions with this article. I could go on and on to talk about how football has captured America and become a part of our culture, or I can give you a sneak peek at one of the NFL’s most glorious teams that plays in perhaps the worst stadium of all time.

A team that, if one or two games had turned out differently, could have made the playoffs last season. A team that, before the Lions, were the laughingstock of the NFC. A team that plays it’s home games in a lonely windy former ballpark down by the bay. Folks, it’s time you met the San Francisco 49ers.

As usual, last season started out rather poorly for the red and gold. After losing game one to the Cards, Nolan’s Niners beat Seattle and Detroit, both of which had top four draft picks last month, before dropping six straight games, the last two of which were coached by Mike Singletary.

Under the new coach’s leadership, SF won five of its last seven and four of its last five to finish at a respectable 7-9 and second in the division.

Now, with a clean slate and a four year contract worth $10 million, he’s ready to lead the team to the playoffs.

Don’t believe me? Just look at their terrible division. You have Seattle and St. Louis, who picked fourth and second in the NFL Draft, respectively.

The way I see it, it will be a long time before either of them, especially St. Louis, emerges as a serious contender. Arizona nearly won it all last year, but withthe way teams tend to do after losing Super Bowls, don’t expect a repeat.

Which leaves us with San Francisco.

The Niners have momentum, a great head coach, and perhaps the most talented player in this year’s draft. If Frank Gore has a good year and Vernon Davis makes up for some lost ground over the years, and if Patrick Willis continues to dominate on defense, all that is left to be sorted out is the issue of who will be their QB.

Alex Smith is clearly a bust, yet the Niners still have faith in him. Nate Davis is questionable, since he must first overcome a learning disability before overcoming Smith and Hill. Shaun Hill looks like the most solid QB the team has, but is he good enough to win them the division?

If Singletary doesn’t think so, there are still some good options available. Graham Harrell was not drafted and went to the same college as Crabtree, so signing him would sure make a lot of sense.

Michael Vick will be out of prison soon, and if San Francisco is willing to deal with all the media speculation andglobal criticism from animal lovers, he could provide them with a solid strong arm and some running. And if somehow things don’t work out between Farve and the Vikings, the 49ers could make a move.

Whoever is the starting QB next season, the 49ers will contend for the division, if not title. I’d expect a 10-6 record, division title, and playoff appearance for the team by the bay.

NFL Players Look at Mirror or Mirage of Opportunity

Texas Governor Rick Perry visited a Fifth Ward church, in Houston, Texas several years ago.  After that meeting, I was asked to write a response.

I wrote an article entitled: Freedom From Slavery (of all kinds).  It was five years ago, and I realized that bondage can be defined so many different ways.

Some of the concepts can be applied to the experiences of retired NFL players.

Whenever the renumeration for a service rendered is not commensurate with the benefit to the employer, there are inequities.

Also, if there is a “risk” involved in the delivery of the service, then there ought to be a compensation factor for the NFL player who incurs the damage or risk.

If an NFL player expends his intellectual or physical property to help an industry earn mega-bucks, then that NFL player ought to benefit. 

So many companies have risk managers or risk control experts.  No doubt these experts need to begin to help the retired NFL players. 

Actually, the active players need more guidance to insure that their life after NFL football is more lucrative than many of the retired players in 2009.

A conference is coming up next week, May 28-31, 2009, in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The issues will be discussed. Strategies will be devised.

The NFLPA is fifty years old.  It seems it has existed long enough to be a senior citizen of advocacy groups.  Thus, the vision to discern what will guarantee better benefits for active and retired players ought to be in place. 

I have seen some retired players who can barely walk.  Others have from slight to severe addictions. 

Many have not made a smooth transition to an ordinary lifestyle.  In fact, if the young players do not respond to a rude awakening, they, too, can become a type of Bill Bojangles Robinson of this century.

One slip, either legally or morally, can cause an economic tumble.

I remember NFL players who met a “Potiphar’s wife,” and catapulted downward into emotional and legal difficulties because of the allegations which tainted their images and truncated their careers.

Fame and fortune can behave like a parabola, or football:  rise up, peak at a maximum, and plummet downward until it hits “rock bottom.”

Look at this quote:

“Despite earning more than $2 million during his lifetime, Robinson died penniless in New York City in 1949 at the age of 71 from heart failure. His funeral, which was arranged by longtime friend and television host Ed Sullivan, was held at the 369th Infantry Regiment Armory near Harlem and attended by 32,000 people. Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. gave the eulogy which was broadcast over the radio.”

The lesson to be learned:  A football player’s opportunity to have a career in the NFL can either be a mirror of true economic opportunity or a inversion, showing a shadow of a distorted reality, turning personal and financial situations upside down.

Can you see clearly?  Is what you see an accurate mirror reflection of opportunity or is it an illusion?

In conclusion, a young NFL player must be honest with himself.

He must realize that he may be ill-prepared to deal with the issues that will arise during his retirement years.

The core of this lesson:  Hunker down, right now, and prepare for your future!

Do the Philadelphia Eagles Really Need a Blocking Tight End?

Apart from the clamor that comes up every season for a No. 1 receiver here in Philly, the other need on everyone’s list was a blocking tight end.

But is it necessary? Is a blocking tight end an absolute need?

Quite simply, no.

While they are definitely a breed of tight end more suited for teams like Pittsburgh, Tennessee, Baltimore, etc., they are by no means a necessity.

Take a team like Tennessee for example. Bo Scaife and Alge Crumpler are both primarily receiving tight ends. Not to take anything away from Scaife’s ability to block—he’s a decent edge blocker—but his real talent comes in catching the ball.

Heath Miller in Pittsburgh and Todd Heap in Baltimore are also primarily receiving tight ends who aren’t completely incompetent blockers, they’re also pretty decent at taking on a defensive end, outside linebacker, or blitzing DB.

So if those teams can get by without a blocking tight end, why would a team like the Eagles in a pass-first offense need a blocking tight end?

The answer is, they don’t.

So what is essential to a good running game? What allows those teams to get by without a real blocking specialist at tight end?

The answer is a dying position in the NFL today: the fullback.

Ahmad Hall, Dan Kreider, and Lorenzo Neal (for the Ravens in ’08, now a Raider) are the keys to the successful running game of those three teams. Also a guy like Brad Hoover in Carolina and Madison Hedgecock in New York (Giants), just to name a few.

Every efficient running game will have a good fullback leading the way, where any average to below average running game will have a sub-par or no fullback at all, as was the case with the Eagles.

Dan Klecko stepped in and performed admirably. The man gave it his best shot and did what he could when called upon. He’s a team player and deserves all the credit in the world.

However, he is not a fullback.

So even though the Eagles do not have a blocking tight end, what they do have now is a real fullback in Leonard Weaver.

Weaver is a triple-threat at fullback being able to block, run, and catch the ball. Before joining the Seahawks in 2005, Weaver was a college tight end.

As we have seen, the success of the running game leans on the offensive line (the Eagles now have the biggest average offensive line in the league), and the fullback.

Not the tight ends.

Andy Reid has already realized this, which could be why we saw the Eagles trade up and still skip out on drafting Brandon Pettigrew.

The point here is that the Eagles have the best of both worlds. The offense will be able to run thanks to the offensive line and fullback, and McNabb gets another weapon in Cornelius Ingram.

A couple big runs from Westbrook and a few touchdown receptions from Celek and Ingram, and this will no longer be an issue.

So even though the ineptitude of the tight ends, as far as blocking, was shown last season (especially Matt Schobel in the Bears game), the Eagles should be just fine with a new and improved offensive line and a real fullback.

 

Also check out 2 Minutes to Midnight Green – Orlando Morales recently added!

Filling In The Gaps: Rebuilding The Broncos’ Defense

There’s only word that sums up the Denver Broncos defense’s 2008 season.  Abysmal.

Last season, the Broncos ranked 29th in yardage allowed and 30th in points, giving up 448 points.

Injuries definitely played role in the Broncos defense being so porous last season, but personnel issues were also at the forefront of the Broncos’ problems.

Well, the Broncos have attempted to rectify the personnel problem with new players and new coaches as Mike Shanahan and Bob Slowik are now gone and Josh McDaniels and Mike Nolan are in.

Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan is also planning on implementing a 3-4 defense, something the Broncos haven’t used in some time, and will be asking their remaining players, as well as free-agent acquisitions and draft picks to adjust to this new system that will feature three down lineman and four linebackers.

The defensive line, which consisted of Elvis Dumervil, Dewayne Robertson, John Engelberger and Ebenezer Ekuban will return only Dumervil, and he most likely will move to outside linebacker where he will do some pass coverage and rush the passer.

Look for free-agent acquisitions Darrell Reid and Ronald Fields to contribute heavily here along with holdovers Kenny Peterson and Marcus Thomas and undrafted free agent Chris Baker from Hampton.

The pass rush will still be an issue as the projected starters had a combined total of five sacks in 2008. The Broncos hope Reid and Peterson will step up and get to the quarterback as well help Fields, Thomas and Baker plug the middle and stop the run.

The linebackers will have a distinctly different look than last season. Middle linebacker Nate Webster and leading tackler Jamie Winborn are gone and the Broncos hope free-agent Andra Davis can fill the void as well as Boss Bailey, a starter who missed most of the 2008 season due to injury.

D.J Williams is another holdover that will return to his outside linebacker position and the other outside position is up for grabs. Dumervil, first-round draft pick Robert Ayers and holdovers Jarvis Moss and Tim Crowder may all see time there. All natural defensive lineman, the player who is able to hone is pass defense skills will most likely see the most action. Don’t be surprised to see these guys on the defensive line as well at times.

The secondary probably had the largest shakeup as three of the four starters won’t be back. Dre Bly, Marquand Manuel and Marlon McCree were all cut or will not be retained. Champ Bailey is the only starter remaining from last season.

Bailey will hope he can stay healthy all season, while the other corner position will be filled by either Andre’ Goodman or second rounder Alphonso Smith.

For the safeties, both Manuel and McCree were colossal disappointments last season. The team will look for better performances out of Renaldo Hill and big-splash free agent Brian Dawkins. Second-rounder Darcel McBath may also see some action.

For the 2009 season, the secondary should be much improved, but the big question will be how the rest of the team adapts to the 3-4 defense. If Dumervil, Ayers or Moss can be effective at the outside linebacker position, the team should be just fine.

Some criticized the Broncos for using only four of their 10 draft picks on the defensive side of the ball, three of those used in the secondary, but if the penciled in starters on the defensive line can step up and contribute. The Broncos defense could be a force to be reckoned with in 2009.

 

Chicago Bears’ Predictions for 2009

It’s May, true, but it’s never too late to start making predictions! The Bears, now led by quarterback Jay Cutler, enter the season with high hopes. By the end of the season, Lovie Smith could either be a candidate for coach of the year or be out of town. Jerry Angelo’s move for Cutler could be considered brilliant or a bomb. Let’s take a trip in our time machine, and see how the season turns out….

San Francisco 49ers: Untapped Potential Awaits Jimmy Raye

While my phone stays quite active during the regular season, with back and forth texting banter between friends and I as the football games unfold, it’s a rare occurrence that a preseason game will elicit any kind of message other than “hope that guy enjoyed training camp.”

Of course, every now and then something special, something promising happens, that gives a fan reason to react.

Such was the case in the 2008 preseason, when my phone started blowing up with reactions to a 101-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the San Francisco-San Diego contest.

It wasn’t the first time any of us had seen a kickoff taken all the way to the house, but it was probably the first time we’d seen a backup tight end do it.

The star of those preseason heroics that evening was 49ers backup utility man Delanie Walker, a sixth-round draft pick in 2006 that has shown glimpses of immense potential that up to this point has gone mostly untapped.

The arrival this offseason of new 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye has been met with marked pessimism, mainly due to the lackluster records of the teams for whom he was previously in that position; however, several 49ers stand to see their production climb significantly in 2009 based on Raye’s strengths as an offensive coach.

Walker, one of the most versatile players on the team, could be among those who benefits the most from the new offense.

Raye has served in the coordinator capacity on a number of teams in the past, including the (then) Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Oakland. He offenses have been all over the map in regards to overall productivity, with several of his teams posting top-10 finishes in passing, and several others doing the same in rushing.

Never has an offense finished top 10 in both categories under Raye’s guidance—in fact they have been mostly dominant in one area and toward the bottom of the league in the other—which shows that Raye has the ability to excel in both the air and on the ground, but vexingly hasn’t been able to do so at the same time.

All indications are that either the running backs are in for a big year, or the quarterbacks and tight ends.

Why tight ends and not wide receivers?

The main reason is depth and experience, which the 49ers appear to have more of both at tight end.

Another indication of such is that former Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez, a future Hall of Famer, began his development into an elite tight end while playing under Raye with the Chiefs. At the same time, no wide receivers have really had dominant seasons playing for him, a list that includes Randy Moss and Henry Ellard.

Why might Walker see his breakout instead of Vernon Davis?

It’s no guarantee that Walker will play a bigger role in this year’s offense, especially since the talent pool has gotten deeper with the arrival of rookie Bear Pascoe, but Walker has made himself valuable at a variety of positions while Davis has shown his receiving skills are limited.

A former collegiate wide receiver, Walker was a four-star recruit coming of out Mt. San Antonio Junior College in 2003. He was recruited heavily by some of the Pac-10’s elite programs, including USC. Ultimately, he wound up at Central Missouri State after less-than stellar grades kept him out of a top school.

Upon being drafted, two big questions surrounded Walker’s arrival:

How good might he have been had he played at USC?

How hard will adapting to the NFL be after playing in Division II?

For his part, Walker did what a top recruit should do when forced to check down to a Division II program, posting 1347 yards on 113 receptions in 20 games for Central Missouri.

Since joining the 49ers, he has been one of the most dependable backups on the team. That he was able to notch 21 receptions as a second-stringer in the abysmal Jim Hostler offense of 2007 shows he could be counted on for a more prominent role in the future.

It’s almost a given that Davis, a former first-round pick the 49ers have a lot more invested in, will be the starting tight end this season. But it’s not out of reason that Walker won’t even need to capture the starting spot to make an impact.

With the 49ers poised to be a run-oriented team, two tight end formations could be featured much more in 2009 than three and four-wide receiver sets.

Along those lines, Walker’s past experience in the H-back role gives them more ways to take advantage of his speed and pass catching ability, not just from the line of scrimmage, but out of the backfield.

Davis’ inconsistent receiving skills have up to this point been offset by his tremendous blocking ability; with Walker in the mix, he can fill the receiving void while giving the 49ers another big body that serves as both a blocking and pass catching threat.

The way the 49ers are currently built, it looks as though the team would benefit most if Raye’s focus is on the passing game. With Frank Gore managing to hit the 1000-yard multiple times already and what looks to be an improved offensive line for 2009, it would probably take a severely inept coordinator to not get decent production on the ground this season.

With a solid rushing attack in place, an improved and focused passing game could finally give Raye the complete offense that has eluded him through most of his career.

He’ll have to start by identifying and utilizing all of the talent at his disposal, and Walker is capable of being his secret weapon.

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