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June 2009 News
Show and Tell: Sean Payton Speakseasy in New Orleans
Published: June 26, 2009
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As we battle through the dog days of Summer, engaging sports topics are few and far between: memorable sports deaths, famous second bananas, is Federer the best of all time?….blah, blah, blah.
I, myself, having been rendered delirious by the searing New Orleans heat that reached 104 degrees yesterday, engaged a homeless man in conversation about the death of Michael Jackson.
We both agreed that that the King of Pop’s invention of words such as shabooty and shamon are one of the things that made him such a special man in so many special ways.
Then, he asked if I could spare a few bucks for a Caramel Frappuccino. I politely refused and he uttered a phrase not suitable for publication, but he uttered it with the kind of pure contempt that you could not help but admire. If only NFL coaches spoke with such passion and conviction.
Speaking of coach and player speak,let’s take a look back at Sean Payton’s season-ending press conference on Dec. 29, 2008 and see what he said and then what actually transpired. Then, analyze a key player’s remarks following the last game.
After a second straight year of missing the playoffs, Payton did not indicate that any major changes were forthcoming at the final press conference and defended defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs without giving him a vote of confidence. Payton was non-committal on the future of running back Deuce Mc Allister.
Payton on Dec. 29: “I’m not going to answer the question right now (on Gibbs’ future with the team) because I think the day after the season ends, it’s like ‘What’s Deuce (McAllister’s) future? Are you keeping Gary Gibbs? We’re not answering those questions.
It’s unfair. It’s unfair to Gary. It’s unfair to point out specific players and coaches.”
Result: Payton fired Gibbs about one week later after the Saints finished the season ranked 23rd in total defense and replaced him with high-profile Jacksonville Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams who is known for his aggressive 4-3 schemes.
Gibbs had the Saints defense ranked 11th during the playoff season of 2006. However, they fell to 26th in 2007 and continued their downward trend last year. Williams gained significant notoriety for building top-ranked defenses in Tennessee, Buffalo and Washington.
The Saints released the team’s all-time leading rusher Deuce McAllister on Feb. 17 following a series of knee injuries.
Translation: If the coach says tells the media it’s unfair to evaluate your performance the day after the season, you may or may not survive but it is probably a good idea to polish your resume and contact your agent.
Payton: “It would be easy to say, with where we finished offensively, we’re going to point to defense. Some of that might be true.But there are some things that we have to be better at offensively.
We had the opportunity to really put the game away at Washington (in Week Two) and we were unable to run the ball in a key situation. We were unable to get that key yard in Denver (in Week Three) So this doesn’t all just shift to one side or the other, (even though) it’s easy to do that.
Result: Saints’ brass, clearly concerned about the running game, attempted to trade down in the first-round of the draft to acquire Ohio State tailback Chris “Beanie” Wells. However, talks with New England fell through.
GM Mickey Loomis says the Saints are not interested in Edgerrin James. Looks like the team may take its chances with Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush spelled by former Denver Bronco Mike Bell.
Translation: Payton knows Bush will never be an every-down back and he has his doubts about Pierre Thomas carrying the load but with Drew Brees and a cast of excellent receivers, he will take his chances with his current stable of running backs.
Payton: “This is an important part of the year, because this is where a mistake made can set you back, or the right decision can set you forward. So we take it very seriously.”
Result: The Saints parted company with defensive coordinator Gibbs in favor of Williams, released McAllister and Mike McKenzie, arguably the best cornerback in team history. Age, salary and injury factored in the decision to part ways with McKenzie who could return down the road.
The Saints released FB Mike Karney and replaced him with former Patriot Heath Evans—a more nimble version of Karney. Veteran free safety Darren Sharper was added in free agency.
Translation: Payton and GM Loomis were under the gun to make major changes on defense- particularly on the coaching staff and in the secondary. If Sharper is just a shadow of his former self, he will be a vast upgrade over former safeties Kevin Kaesviharn and Josh Bullocks.
New defensive line coach Bill Johnson excels at teaching the game which will benefit rising stars such as Sedrick Ellis and Bobby McCray.
Defensive End Bobby McCray: We had a good scheme this year. I would rather see if we could just give them some new looks, just mix it up a little bit, kind of confuse the offense a little bit, just do some different things at times. Other than that Gary Gibbs did a good job calling plays. We’ve just got to execute our assignments.”
Result: Gibbs fired. Williams hired.
Translation: Obviously, McCray felt Gibbs’ defense was too “Vanilla”, too predictable. Williams is known for his exotic looks and formations. He believes in attacking from every conceivable angle.
In OTAs, McCray, a former Florida star, seemed to be benefiting from Williams’ unconventional style as he produced what would have been four sacks in live action. Williams transformed another Florida star, Jevon Kearse, into an all-pro.
It’s all coach speak and player speak and as long as it is said with a lot of passion and conviction who cares whether it is true or not.
The 10 Worst New England Patriots of the Decade
Published: June 26, 2009
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The New England Patriots have, in the minds of many, cemented themselves as the team of the decade.
In that time, there have been some hallowed names to grace Gillette Stadium’s field; Tom Brady, Tedy Bruschi, and Troy Brown have no doubt become legends of New England lore, and the list obviously doesn’t stop there.
What goes up must go down, and the rule of the ying and the yang has played it’s part in the formation of the first dynasty of the new millennium.
For all of the great players, there have also been some major disappointments. Belichick is the master of masking the weaknesses of his players and using each player for his strengths. As such, it may be hard to recall specific players who underachieved.
In this collaborative effort between B/R New England Patriots writers Ryan Winn and Erik Frenz, look for statistical analysis from the latter and anecdotal, further analyses from the former
This list sets out to do justice to some of the unsung zeroes of the dominating decade in New England.
10. WR Bam Childress—3 receptions, 32 Yards, 0 TD
Erik Frenz: Childress only ever played in three games, recording five catches for 39 yards, before Bill Belichick nixed him. Childress was never heard from again.
Ryan Winn: An undrafted free agent, it was hard to not root for a player with the work ethic of Childress. However, unlike the Ray Ventrone’s and Gary Guyton’s of the world, Belichick could not find a reason to keep him on the roster. A career practice-squad player and preseason MVP, Childress turned into one of the worst receivers in the league once the games counted.
9. WR Bethel Johnson—30 receptions, 450 yards, Four TD
Frenz: We all know Tom Brady as a quarterback who can make any receiver look pretty good. Brady had a tough time making Bethel Johnson look more than mediocre. Surely, his fade into obscurity has much, if not all, to do with his change of uniform.
Johnson was a threat in the kicking game, averaging over 28 yards per return in his rookie season, and in the mid-20’s every year after that, which is why he lands at number 10 on the list.
Winn: Johnson was a very fast athletic machine. However, it was his hands that ran him out of New England. He had his moments of glory, such as two big kickoff returns against he Colts and a touchdown catch in the playoffs against Tennessee, but he had a reputation of having stone hands and an awful work ethic.
8. FB Marc Edwards—82 carries, 237 yards, 3 TD
Frenz: Edwards was yet another player who filled in sparingly at running back during their first Super Bowl run.
A second-round pick out of Notre Dame who showed promise in his second year in the pros, the Patriots felt comfortable picking him up at the beginning of the 2001 season.
His lead blocking was never the problem; he helped open holes for Antowain Smith that put him over the 1,000-yard mark, and gave him 12 rushing touchdowns, but every time he carried the ball, he got stopped short and fumbled the ball three times on a meager 51 carries.
Winn: Edwards will always have a place in my heart thanks to his banging attitude, but there is no question he was merely a small, insignificant piece the Patriots ’01 Super Bowl run.
When you have as many fumbles as touchdowns in a season (3), you deserve to be on this list.
7. SS Artrell Hawkins—65 tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception
Frenz: Hawkins never had a true chance to start in his first year as a Patriot in 2005; he was a strong safety, and sat behind Rodney Harrison on the depth chart.
When his opportunity came in 2006, though, he failed to deliver. He registered a meager 54 tackles, one interception, and two forced fumbles in 12 starts. His short nine-year career came to an end immediately following that season.
Winn: I, personally, would have placed Hawkins a bit higher on this list. If I could find a stat for catches allowed, he is one of the players I would love to research. Hawkins brings no fond memories, only ones where I am shaking my head with a hand over my eyes.
Hawkins lasted only two season in New Engand, and as a veteran defensive back, you have to be pretty bad on the field to not be in Belichick’s rolodex.
6. RB J.R. Redmond—164 carries, 527 yards, 3 TD
Frenz: From the late 90’s spanning into 2000, the Patriots had a bit of a controversy at running back stemming from the free agent departure of future Hall of Fame running back Curtis Martin.
As a third-round pick in the 2000 draft, it was thought Redmond might help bring some consistency back to the position. Such was not to be the case, however, as Redmond average a paltry 3.2 yards per carry and one touchdown on 125 carries in his rookie campaign.
He showed no signs of promise in 2001, the team’s first Super Bowl season. After being given one more chance in 2002, he carried the ball four times for two yards, and was unceremoniously handed to the free agent guillotine without a second thought.
Winn: My only memory of Redmond was his three-straight catches on the final drive of Super Bowl XXXVI. He made a great play stretching out of bounds to stop the clock before Brady hit Troy Brown for the longest play of the drive.
That’s it. Those catches are all Redmond has to his credit in a Patriots uniform. In fact, it’s odd to see that Redmond, being a third-round running back, had more touchdown receptions (2) than rushing touchdowns (1) in his Patriots career.
5. LB Chad Brown—32 tackles, 0 sacks, 0 interceptions
Frenz: The expectations that Chad Brown brought with him as a career sack specialist in Pittsburgh and Seattle were monumental. A former first-team All Pro, Brown recorded at least six sacks a season for four seasons before being injured midway through 2004, and released after the season
The monumental disappointment he became was a huge surprise to everyone, especially considering the hype surrounding him. He recorded a meager 31 tackles in 15 games (five of them starts) in 2005.
After a hiatus with the Steelers, where he only played in nine games, he felt he hadn’t completely destroyed his image yet, so he made one last return effort in the undefeated regular season of 2007; in two games of work, he delivered one tackle.
Winn: Talk about a buzz kill. Looking to solidify an already strong, Super Bowl winning linebacker corps, Chad Brown, and his career 78 sacks before coming to New England, was expected to make the 2005 Patriots a scary defense.
The only thing scary was his play. Starting just five of the 15 games he played in, Brown never seemed to catch Belichick’s system, and he was, thanks to the collective will of Patriots fans, cut after one season. Let’s not even discuss his “comeback” attempt.
4. WR Reche Caldwell—61 Receptions, 760 yards, 4 TD
Frenz: Caldwell was a free agent pick-up that the Patriots had hoped Tom Brady would make look better. Deion Branch had recently departed, and New England was searching for his heir apparent.
He led the team in receiving yards, but only picked up a measly four touchdowns during the regular season. Then, of course, came that infamous-in-New-England-but-famous-everywhere-else AFC Championship game, where Caldwell dropped two sure catches, one of which would have been a touchdown to seal the lead and possibly the game.
New England fans will always remember his deer-in-headlights look as he approached the sideline after those drops.
Winn: Reche “Headlights” Caldwell was an interesting prospect. Despite the massive size of his eyes, Caldwell could never seem to get his hands on the ball. With the departure of Brady’s best receiver and friend, Deion Branch, the Patriots needed a way to make it up to him with a great receiver.
Caldwell wasn’t the answer. The good news is, after they saw a guy like Caldwell wasn’t the answer, the Patriots picked up Wes Welker and Randy Moss the next offseason.
When you are most famous for what you dropped in an AFC Championship game, you have to be considered one of the worst to don a team’s jersey.
3. P Ken Walter—38.6 yards per punt average, 2 punts blocked
Frenz: You’d have to be a pretty bad punter to make it onto a 10 worst players list; Walter definitely fits the bill.
In terms of yards per punt, Ken Walter’s average consistently landed him among the league’s worst; he was the second worst punter in 2003, by a slim .3 yards to dead last. His best statistical season (2001) landed him in the bottom six.
To his credit, he didn’t see very much time on the field; he ranked 31st in the league in attempts in 2001 with a meager 49, and ranked 18th in 2003 with 76 attempts. Still, his job was to give the Patriots good punts and he consistently failed to do so.
Belichick must have been content with his punter, because even in the midst of two Super Bowl runs, he never made a move at that position.
With so few weak spots on the team, one might have thought that they would address one of the few potential weaknesses that the team has. Such was not the case, and Walter served three years on the Patriots before skipping boat to Seattle.
Walter made one last return to the team in 2006, where he was miserable yet again, averaging a pitiful 36.9 yards per punt. That average was good for dead last in the league that season, and thus was the last we ever heard of Ken Walter.
Winn: Erik couldn’t have said it better—Walter was probably the worst punter in this team’s history. He was known best for holding for Vinatieri’s game-winning kicks, but after seeing the way he punted, Patriots fans were just happy to see him not pull a Lucy-to-Charlie Brown on Adam.
He came back to fill in for the not-so-often injured position in 2006, but he had an average lower than any year in his career (36.9) that year. He signed with Seattle for a few games in 2007, but he is, rightfully so, out of football now.
2. Chad Jackson—13 receptions, 152 yards, 3 TD
Frenz: Jackson was hailed as a second coming of Deion Branch after being drafted very early in the second round. Coming out of Florida, Jackson had the sure hands and speed to go off for major yardage week in and week out. He had spent his junior year as a Gator tearing apart defenses, with 88 receptions for 900 yards and nine touchdowns.
He never panned out for the Patriots in the NFL, making only 13 receptions in 12 games in his rookie year, though three of those catches were touchdowns. In 2007, he was unceremoniously buried underneath an influx of new talent in Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker, and—of course—Randy Moss.
That was the last New England fans ever heard of Jackson; he was a victim of a desperate cap-clearing spree initiated to re-sign important defensive talent, along with Moss.
Denver picked him up in free agency, but even in the high octane passing offense that featured Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, he still only played in four games, and recorded only one reception for 19 yards.
Winn: The name Chad Jackson gives me a flashback to draft day, 2006. My brother had called me right before I stepped into work to tell me the Patriots drafted the talented receiver out of Florida in the second round.
What a steal, I thought.
Turns out, it was Jackson who did the stealing—of everyone’s time and patience.
When he made a great-dip-and-dive touchdown against the Vikings, I thought Jackson had finally broken through. I could not have been more wrong, and Jackson was not even able to grab one catch in the record-setting 2007 season.
1. Deltha O’Neal—30 tackles, 3 interceptions, 0 forced fumbles
Frenz: I can recall countless times in the 2008 season that I sat at my television screen, screaming bloody murder at Deltha O’Neal.
He possessed great speed as a cornerback in Cincinatti, but his speed diminished over time. By the time he got to New England, he was nothing more than a short and slow corner with knowledge of the game.
He was too small to provide support in the running game, too short to cover the prototype receivers in the AFC, and too slow to do practically anything else.
I remember a specific quote from Wendi Nix during the Chargers’ 30-10 drubbing of New England, where she said, “The Chargers figure they can take advantage of 6’5” Vincent Jackson being covered by 5’11” Deltha O’Neal.”
And that was the story of his entire season. He registered three interceptions, which looks respectable on paper, but people who watch the Patriots know that two of those were deflections that went off another receivers’ hands.
He doesn’t appear on the Patriots roster on NFL.com, and let’s hope it stays that way.
Winn: Seriously, could there be anyone else in this spot?
In case you were wondering, this is the other player I wish had a statline telling me how many catches he gave up. The aforementioned game against the Chargers was the absolute worst performance in the history of sports.
O’Neal was, by far, the worst defensive back during the Patriots dynasty. He was so bad, that he was benched in favor of rookie Jonathan Wilhite in the middle of last season.
After the benching, it’s hard to remember if O’Neal even played. His stat sheet shows 16 games played, but, thankfully, his presence was rarely known as the playoff stretch came about.
Are There Any Dolphins Worthy of Being Considered One of the Top 50 Players?
Published: June 26, 2009
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In CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco’s annual selection of the Top 50 players in the NFL, he again neglected to place a single Miami Dolphins player on the list.
Well, at least he knows we will hate him for it as he placed a disclaimer in the opening paragraph of the article. Good looking out, Pete!
But, that’s how it works in the media. Create a controversial list of top whatever-the-****s, omit good players from teams with huge fan bases, and watch thousands of fools like me link to the article in outrage and receive oodles of free traffic. Prisco’s got the formula down!
Kansas City Chiefs Offensive Thoughts: Rude and Otherwise
Published: June 26, 2009
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While it’s no easy task deciphering the current state of affairs at One Arrowhead Drive, we’ve got five weeks or so until training camp…so here’s my take on the current state of affairs with the Kansas City Chiefs offense.
Biggest surprise so far this offseason? Easily it has to be the silence and work ethic of Larry Johnson. I thought he’d be traded shortly after he lost his grievance over his guaranteed money.
I don’t care how or why he’s suddenly come to Jesus. All I care about is can he haul the rock and refrain from abusing women. If he can also be a good teammate and quit whining to the media—so much the better. Right now it looks like he can.
If Pioli has somehow been the catalyst for the change in Larry, more power to him. If he has, and is not taking credit for it in the media—maybe some of you pundits out there can quit yer b*tchin’ and let the man do his job.
There’s been a lot of complaining about the Chiefs offensive line this offseason, particularly with regard to the draft and free agent market. So let’s review.
Currently, the starting depth chart probably looks like this:
LT-Albert, LG-Waters, C-Niswanger, RG-Goff, RT-MacIntosh
Both guards are former or current Pro Bowl players. Albert is acknowledged league wide as a stud LT. As first year starters, both Niswanger and Albert played better than expected. The real problem last year was the right side was pitiful.
While I’m no big fan of MacIntosh, I can’t really blame him for not being able to compensate for the disability of Adrian Jones and crew at right guard last year. Certainly, the right side should be a heck of a lot better with Goff regardless of who is playing right tackle.
My personal favorite to start at RT this year is Herb Taylor, at least until Colin Brown is ready to step in. As Goff may only be here one year, I would really like to see Colin get a chance to play at least eight games with Goff before we try to upgrade the line in next years draft.
Also, it would be a huge benefit for Taylor to get those starts with Goff as well. After the way Taylor filled in for Albert last year, he is clearly our future utility lineman who can fill a short term slot on either side of the line.
As to Waters little tiff with the new brain trust, fahgettiaboutit. Brian has ALWAYS been about the benjamins, and that’s fine–he deserves every penny he gets. But he’s also not stupid. He can see the writing on the wall. KC is not going to trade him—at least not this year.
And he knows you never get the money they would take in fines back. He’s too much of a pro to pay fines simply for pride. He will be there, and he’ll play as well as ever.
Lots of folks think KC is going to really miss Tony Gonzalez, and we will. That said, neither Haley’s or the Patriots offenses have made as much use of the TE as KC has for the last 10 years. Ingram will be able to replace TonyG’s production from the slot without too much trouble.
What we’re really going to need from our tight ends this year is blocking, both in passing and running situations. Fortunately, it’s a job the top three TE’s on the roster are well suited to do.
What can we expect from this year’s offense? Uh…does Woody Hayes ring a bell?
Many of the less informed around the league have been saying Larry Johnson is past his prime.
Hogwash.
Last year’s stats, particularly at home (five-plus yards a carry) show clearly LJ has a lot left. When you factor in how bad the line really was last year, how defenses KNEW when we were going to run the ball, and how low the morale was…you have to acknowledge LJ was one of the few bright spots in spite of his whining and the plays he quit on.
With the line upgrades, and the lack of top talent at the receiver positions, it’s reasonable to assume Haley is going to play ball control conservative offense, run it as much as possible, and when we do pass, it will go either to Bowe, Ingram or Charles out of the backfield.
If we can put up 21-24 points a game without turning the ball over, and the offense can keep the defense off the field even eight to 10 plays less per game than last year…the Chiefs could easily contend in the AFC West this year.
Now before you horse-laugh at that last statement, bear in mind it says as much about the division as it does the Chiefs.
Denver? A total quagmire of question marks right now—though I suspect they will find ways to answer those questions early, particularly on defense.
San Diego? Merriman’s return is a worry, though it generally takes top NFL players two full years to get back to 100 percent of what they were before a major ACL injury. If that holds true for Shawne, he’s still got another year to go.
Also, Norv Turner has destroyed the chemistry of every team where he’s been the head coach. It’s just a matter of time before he finds some new way to sabotage the Chargers.
Oakland? Please.
What really encourages me in all of this is how well Haley’s offense in Arizona played late last season when he decided to feature Edgerrin James. They were absolutely smokin’ hot down the stretch. And LJ is younger and more powerful than Edge.
With even average line play, and a QB tall enough to see over the line…we could really surprise on this side of the ball.
It’s going to be a lot of fun watching these guys jell. And I, for one, think they’re a lot better than they even know yet.
As to the picture with this article…this one was SO much more appealing than the QB’s view of the o-line…
Why NFL Playoff Seeding Policies Must Change
Published: June 26, 2009
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The NFL playoffs are one of the greatest times of the year.
New Years Day comes and goes, head coaches being fired, new ones being hired.
The betting table gets underway; heck, even Las Vegas surely loves playoff football.
Rivalries are renewed in the playoffs, whether it’s the Colts against the Patriots, the Steelers against the Ravens, and so forth.
In the 2009 NFL playoffs, we were in for a joy ride.
After a season with no Tom Brady, no Patriots in the playoffs, new teams stepped up to the plate. The Titans and Giants earned No. 1 seeds. The Vikings and Ravens return to the playoffs.
We even were lucky to witness two rookie quarterbacks in the playoffs.
During the post-season, we saw quite a few upsets occur in the playoffs.
The Arizona Cardinals who fell off the radar down the stretch, defeated Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons. The San Diego Chargers took down Peyton Manning and the mighty Colts on the game winning touchdown by Darren Sproles.
There was a common theme to these wins, however.
Both of the teams were in lousy divisions to begin with…Even with their losing streak, Arizona Cardinals locked up the division weeks before the season ended, while the San Diego Chargers just finished at .500 to get into the playoffs!
Before I go further, I am not knocking the Chargers or Cardinals for making a run into the playoffs. They can’t help that they are in a weak division.
So, then why should they get rewarded for playing in a weaker division then other teams are playing in?
I am not saying that they shouldn’t make the playoffs because of it.
But if you are barely reaching a .500 record on the season, when you have teams who are two, even three games ahead of them, why shouldn’t those teams get home field advantage?
The Chargers did not go further in the next round as they lost to the eventual champion Colts. However, the Cardinals got not one, but two games at home, which gave them an advantage on their way to the Super Bowl.
One the one hand, the teams that lost shouldn’t be excused. You need to win on the road if you want to go far in the National Football League.
There is no reason, however, that teams who did not achieve as much success as another team did, get a playoff game at home.
The system would be still fine if the seeding went based on record.
So what if a wild-card team with 10-12 wins got a home game over an 8-9 win team.
They played in a tougher division throughout the season, they earned it.
If the teams in those lower divisions did win as many games as these wild card teams did, then yes they should get the opportunity.
The NFL would benefit from the change, making it fair for all teams involved, and to send a message that if you want an advantage heading into the playoffs, you will have to earn that respect during the regular season by making it count.
Matt Miselis is a writer for BleacherReport.com. He is also a writer for Sportschatplace.com, and footbasket.blogspot.com
Oakland Raiders’ JaMarcus Russell : Anatomy Of a Quarterback
Published: June 26, 2009
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Oakland Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell has endured a lot of criticism in his brief time in the NFL.
By holding out on his first contract, Russell not only gave fans and media ammunition to deride his desire and motivation to play the game, but suffered a serious setback in his development as an NFL quarterback.
Going into his third official year, but only his second as a starter, there are still a lot of concerns and questions regarding Russell’s skills, desire, potential, and maturity.
While few question his arm strength, pretty much every other part of his body has been criticized or under scrutiny.
HEAD
Any Raiders fan worth their salt should have the most concern with this part of Russell’s anatomy.
Thus far he has struggled to grasp a majority of the playbook, limiting offensive versatility.
The pictures of him partying aren’t of much concern, because frankly, he’s 23 and has a ton of money. I’d be partying too.
Russell is not known to be a film buff nor much of a vocal leader. His confidence is high as evidenced by the way he carries himself, and he seems impervious to criticism.
He appears to have the right kind of mentality to succeed in that he has thick skin and confidence. But he needs his football IQ to improve to match those attributes.
His ability to go through reads and progressions is sorely lacking, and with the O-Line struggling the last few years, getting the ball out quickly is of paramount importance. His lack of understanding of NFL defenses to this point make this a virtual impossibility.
Hackett and Tollner are working hard with J-Rock to improve his reads and his understanding of NFL defenses and blitz pickups. But it is on J-Rock himself to put in the extra work he needs to get his head to the level it needs to be.
Film study, meetings, discussions with Tollner and Hackett and full dedication to being the best he can be are the only way this is going to happen.
Which brings me to:
HEART
The other part of Russell’s anatomy with which we in the Nation have concerns.
Will JaMarcus ever have the desire to be great? Does he already have it and just not show it? When is he going to step up and be the kind of leader we need?
Russell thus far has shown he’s a cool customer, but his unflappable nature also gives the appearance of indifference at times.
Every fan wants their QB to be the most passionate, most vocal guy on the field, and J-Rock simply doesn’t operate that way.
Thus, we are all a little curious as to his motivation and desire to play the game.
The addition of Jeff Garcia was meant to give a jolt to Russell’s development as added motivation and learning from example.
By all accounts, J-Rock is slowly grasping what he needs to do to be successful. He took a giant step in the head and heart department by indicating he was going to have a private workout session with tight ends and receivers.
If that happens, and if it’s done well, then concerns about his heart should begin to wane a little.
If it doesn’t happen, or if it’s not done very well, then the questions will amplify. He needs to show desire, passion, and the want to be great before his teammates or the Nation will buy into him completely.
RIGHT ARM
There are no concerns with how hard or how far J-Rock can throw the ball. None. The guy has one of the strongest arms anyone has ever seen, and some of the lasers he fits into tight coverage are a glimpse of why we drafted him. No, arm strength is not a concern.
Accuracy, on the other hand, is a major concern.
As a very strong-armed QB, it’s understandable that J-Rock throws the lasers quite well. His touch passes, however, leave a lot to be desired.
He either overthrows or underthrows targets when he’s asked to put any kind of touch on the ball, and quite often he isn’t even close to his target unless it’s a zip slant pass or a long bomb.
For a strong-armed QB, he’s also shown a concerning lack of accuracy on his long passes.
The talent in the arm is there, and the accuracy will come as his mechanics improve. He does fumble an awful lot for a guy with hands the size of Saturn, but the arm is not a concern. Nor is:
THE GUT
Smaller than critics and detractors would have you believe, but not small enough for the Nation, honestly.
Russell was never 300 pds last year. That was a complete fabrication. But he was heavier than he should’ve been, and those pictures from his night of partying don’t look good either.
Granted, it was May, and he’s got another month to get into full playing condition.
The gut is synonymous with the head and the heart for this kid. Critics say he’s lazy, he’s not motivated now that he’s paid, and he likes food and good times too much to be a success.
His lack of being in shape shows his lack of desire and understanding of what it takes to be great.
From all accounts, he’s in better shape this season and is showing more quickness and speed in his legs. That’s good news. J-Rock is a very big man for a QB, and he’ll never have the look we expect. As long as he doesn’t actually approach 300 pounds in reality, everything should be fine.
The bigger he is, the harder he hits opponents.
FEET
Mad scientists Tollner and Hackett have the biggest challenge from a physical perspective with Russell’s dogs.
He has poor footwork coming away from center, as evidenced by how many times he’s slipped or tripped, and he gets into his drops a little more slowly than he should.
He’s not smooth and agile; more often, he looks clumsy and disoriented. That’s a big problem, one that is simple fundamentals and needs to be quickly and efficiently addressed.
He throws off his back foot far too often, much like many strong-armed quarterbacks, thinking that his arm strength will compensate for his weak base.
But that’s when disaster happens. Tollner and Hackett are breaking his mechanics down and rebuilding him slowly.
All indications are that he’s picking up his footwork quite well, and showing a lot of improvement in his foot positioning when he throws from various angles.
That’s good, because he seems to naturally want to throw off his back foot, and poor fundamentals like that can cause arm injuries, or at the very least, bad throws and interceptions.
RUSSELL’S BODY OF WORK
Russell has a lot of work to do in a lot of areas, but with his natural gifts, he has the ability to make quick improvements in all these areas.
Tollner and Hackett are well known quarterback gurus, and Mr. Hackett especially will be key in identifying what fundamentals J-Rock needs to improve, how he needs to improve them, and the best way to improve them.
He’s finally got some specialized coaches, some continuity on the line and the coaching staff, and some weapons on offense. Everything is in position for him to succeed.
If he doesn’t, then he can blame himself for not getting his head and his heart to the same level as his physical talent.
Jim Brown: When a Hero Is Nothing but a Sandwich
Published: June 26, 2009
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I recently read a commentary written by so-called sports columnist Jason Whitlock. The commentary was titled “Jim Brown My Hero.”
Mr. Whitlock, was defending Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan against Jim Brown’s beliefs that they were out of touch and were not giving back to the black community.
He even wrote that Jim Brown was more dedicated and committed to the black community then Muhammad Ali.
There is an old saying “It is best to be thought a fool then to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.”
My friend NBA pioneer Spencer Haywood once said on my sports talk show “The Original Inside Sports” if a child has to look beyond his dinner table for his heroes, he is in trouble.” Meet Jason Whitlock.
First, let me let Jim Brown NFL Hall of Fame running back and the man picked by the football experts to be “The Greatest football player in the history of the NFL” introduce me.
Jim Brown in his own words, “Harold Bell has been a crusader for the rights of black people all of his life. He has also been a crusader in sports and has had a lot of friends in both the black and white community in sports. He has always been outstanding, always an individual speaking his mind and giving you a outlet to express your views.
He has always provided a platform for those without one and when I was incarcerated he did everything he could to attack those who had incarcerated me unfairly. He is one of my friends. Harold is truly a man, a man who believes in his culture and his people. We have done many things together in the community over the years. He is a real man and he is always going to be that way, because no one has ever been able to change him. That is my partner”
Two years ago I wrote an “Open Letter” to Jim related to some concerns about our friend Green Bay Packer NFL Hall of Fame player, Willie Wood. The contents of the letter can be read below.
Dear Jim,
In a telephone conversation with you on Wednesday April 18, 2007 you took off and went into in a profanity laced tirade directed at me. The tirade started after I asked why you were interrogating me about my motives as it related to Willie Wood and Bob Schmidt. My motive should have been self explanatory to someone like you. When I asked where is the money? It did not require you to have a PHD to understand what I was saying.
This is the same Bob Schmidt who by all accounts didn’t want you to be a part of the benefit for Willie Wood until I requested that we invite you. I already knew and he was also aware that you were scheduled to be in town along with the other Pro Football Hall of Fame players for a card show in nearby Fairfax, Virginia. For whatever reason, he was reluctant to extent you an invitation until I said I would call you.
Remember, I didn’t interrogate Monique, Karen and Rock when they called me to reach out to you while you were being charge with domestic violence in L.A. I didn’t question you about your motives for destroying your wife’s automobile or your domestic violence history. I immediately came to the aid of a friend.
I can’t believe that you were taking sides against me with a “Good Old Boy” in whose clothes closet you might find a hood and robe. It sounds like the Willie Lynch doctrine to me. The surprise to me is that you have adhered to it. When I suggested sending you written documentation or doing a conference call with our friend Dick Gregory who had the documentation in front of him, you said no thanks??? For a man who is always talking about telling the truth. It does not seem like you were interested in the truth. You have played right into Schmidt’s hands, divide and conquer.
When you sought me out to help you fight the system that was trying to railroad you off to jail I used all of my media resources to assist you and your family. I am trying to do the same thing for Willie Wood.
During your ordeal my college roommate Barney Hood helped with the media in Chicago. He called on his old and dear friend, the late Lou Palmer a power-broker in the windy city of Chicago. I spoke with Lou and discovered he was a friend of yours. He had not heard about your dilemma. He was having some health problems, Lou had lost his sight, but he jumped in and offered all of his resources.
He and Barney worked together to get your story in the Chicago Defender and on talk radio stations in Chicago. After you got out of jail you called Lou and thanked him. You have yet to thank Barney Hood. Once again you are always talking about respect but you give it only when it is in your best interest. Respect, is still a Two-Way Street.
Immediately after the benefit tribute in Willie Wood’s honor I called you to alert you that I was suspicious about the financial commitment to Willie. I asked you to get me a number for Sylvia Mackey the wife of NFL Hall of Famer John Mackey. Your response, “Harold, let me get right back to you.” That conversation took place over three weeks ago. I have called and left several messages since then without a response.
It seems to me Bob Schmidt was just an excuse for you to lash out at me, which I find all the more puzzling. What was your motive???
Jim, I first met you in Winston-Salem, NC in 1959 at the YMCA during a Winston-Salem State University athletic banquet for upper class-men only. I was a freshman but I decided to crash the party. I wanted to meet the great Jim Brown. I decided to worry later about the tongue lashing from my football coach, the legendary Clarence “Bighouse” Gaines. I was just another face in a crowded room of athletes, but I never forgot the experience of meeting you.
I have never been into the HERO WORSHIPPING scene. My heroes were my grandmother and mother, but there have been athletes I have admired and respected, men like Jackie Robinson and Paul Roberson. I regret I never had the opportunity to break bread with them.
I think they both must be turning over in their graves as they watch “The Player Hating” going on in our community among black men. They must be wondering where did we lose, the love and the respect we once had for each other and how can we get it back???
You are always talking about keeping it real, truth and respect among brothers and sisters. I am trying to figure out where, when and why have you suddenly have not kept it real, truthful and honest with me??? My conversation with you on the telephone I still find hard to believe. How could you of all people allow someone like Schmidt to use the Willie Lynch Doctrine of divide and conquer???
That is exactly what you played into when you allowed him to get Willie’s sister Gladys off of the telephone conference call with you. You didn’t have a clue on what the problem was but you felt confident (that’s right you are a intellect) talking with Schmidt a total stranger??? You didn’t even have the professional courtesy to call me and Gladys back to give us an up date about your conversation with Schmidt. When I had to call you, I knew you had let him sell you a bill of goods. I can’t believe you would allow one “Red Neck” to come between us and you talk about how black you are??? Have you forgotten the little girls blown up in church and black and white men were lynched by their necks standing up for us and now we still can’t stand up for ourselves.
I have had your back unofficially since we first met in 1959. I found your act and actions appalling.
On another level (media) I have had to endure the same type of hidden envy and jealousy. The type you have had to endure your entire NFL career. The hostility and disrespect I encountered in sports media press rooms I still find unbelievable to this day. I learned that there is nothing more powerful and respected in media than the written word. I may do a lot of talking, but what makes me a decent writer, I listen well and what I heard come out of your mouth on Wednesday night was not music to my ears.
Jim, once I became a media personality I refuse to allow the so-call major media or anyone to talk negative about black leadership in America. There were many who were putting their lives on the line for others. I have always had an on air response to uplift those who had become a target of a bias media. It was the written word that made me so effective on your behalf during your incarceration. The likes of USA Today’s Jon Saraceno, the Washington Post’s Michael Wilbon, NBC Sports Machine’s George Michael, Fox Sport’s James Brown, etc. each cautiously walked a fine line during their news reports as it related to your incarceration. They knew I was watching and listening. I took offense to Saraceno’s column titled “Jim Brown does not know how to be a black man.”
My question to him, “What in the hell do you know about being a black man?” When I got through with him in written commentaries and on talk shows across the country, he was begging for me to get off of his ass.
Saraceno e-mailed Reggie Hammond a sports talk show host on WCLM radio in Richmond, Virginia, he asked Reggie to contact me and tell me to please stop misquoting him. His next column in USA Today was an apology to Jim Brown.
You are now a frequent guest on Reggie’s talk show. The introduction was made by me. Did you ever thank Reggie for his support? Respect is still a Two-Way street. No one owes you anything.
There was the conversation I taped of James Brown (NFL/CBS) during his early years in broadcasting telling participants in a sports forum on the campus of the University of the District of Columbia “I am not the James Brown that does drugs and beats his wife and I am not the Jim Brown who throws women over balconies.”
Let us not forget your good friend Congresswoman Maxine Waters and her comments about you during a panel discussion at the Congressional Black Caucus weekend. She was discussing reaching back into the community to help black folks and said, “Don’t be like Jim Brown with your hand out expecting to get paid.” This is the same Maxine Waters who you introduce to your former Cleveland Brown teammate, Sidney Williams.
When I mailed you the tape, you could not believe she was saying those kinds of things about you. I remember you saying, “Man I introduced her to her husband and she has been in my home with Jack Kemp.”
I ignored Charles Barkley, Michael Jordan and Jackie Joyner Kersey calling you a “Professional Beggar” pretending you cared about the community. In fact Kersey told you exactly how she felt about you expecting today’s athlete to give back to the community to your face. The live debate was on a nationally televised forum with several high profile athletes and President Clinton in attendance.
Then there was Hall of Fame running back Lenny Moore allegedly speaking negative about you to several Baltimore Raven players. You asked me, “Harold, what is that all about I have never shown Lenny anything but love.” I intervened and asked Lenny to give you a call and straighten, the he say, she say gossip out and he did. Lenny Moore later thanked me for being the middleman.
I remember one year at the Bobby Mitchell Hall of Fame Golf outing in Virginia, I watched in amazement when he turned you and your guest away from a luncheon in a tent. He said, “Jim, I can’t accommodate you and your guest, we are over crowded.”
You looked into the tent and then at me as if to say, “what in the hell is going on?” You then invited us up to your room in the hotel and ordered room service for everyone. This is the same Bobby Mitchell that you lobbied to get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With friends like Bobby Mitchell you don’t need any more enemies. On the ride to the airport the next day you were very quiet and then you said, “Harold what do you think of Bobby Mitchell?” My response was, ‘he ain’t worth two dead flies’ a wide grin broke out across your face and you fell off to sleep.
I had never before said a word to you about Bobby Mitchell until you asked me that day. This brother has never stood for anything in his life, he has been nothing but a follower.
I even reminded Calvin Hill (Dallas Cowboys) at the Willie Wood tribute after I saw him up in your face smiling. I said, “Calvin remember this is the same Jim Brown that you said according to Bubba Smith, thinks he is smarter then everyone else and he always wants to take over every discussion.” I called him a hypocrite; I despise hypocrites, smiling in your face while stabbing you in your back. Hypocrites don’t get any bigger then Calvin Hill.
Don King, you recently said to me, “I think Don is doing a wonderful job.” This is the same Don King who you said to me during the Tyson years, “I stay out of that nigger’s way, he is poison.”
It is now becoming much clearer why you and Schmidt hit it off. You two belong together he has played you like a bad call in the forth quarter. Bill Cosby recently said “The enemy is us” I am in total agreement. We have sold each other out. I remember you bad mouthing Bill Cosby, you wondered why your one time tennis partner and friend had kicked you to the curb? Evidently, he saw the handwriting on the wall before most of us.
I have heard you say on several occasions “You can’t wait for anyone to deliver you.” I am further confused on why do you think you are the only one who should get today’s athletes and entertainers to fund your community projects?
My wife and I have always put our own monies back into our community projects. There have never been any grants or loans to bankroll our commitment to our community.
For example; when Prentis Byrd approached George Foreman at a reception in Los Angeles reminding him that he had made a promise to me that he was coming to DC to do a fundraiser for Kids In Trouble. You told Prentis to step aside and said, “I will handle and take care of this for Harold.” The arrangements were never made and to this day you have never said one word to me. But George was seen giving you a check later that evening. There was another occasion that you were to contact Minister Louis Farrakhan for me and there was no follow through on that one either. It has always been about Jim Brown.
I have said this to you before, I have always earned my own way. I have never asked anyone for a hand-out, only a helping hand.
The athletes and sports personalities who have benefited from Kids In Trouble and Inside Sports read like a Who’s Who. For example; John Thompson, Dave Bing, Doug Williams, Don King, James Brown, Oden Polyniece, Michael Wilbon, Dave Aldridge, Adrian Dantley, Adrian Branch, Lamont Jordan, Dave Dupree, etc. Not one of them has ever donated a toy or dollar to the program. I operate under the premise that if you have never benefited from the programs Kids In Trouble and Inside Sports you don’t them anything, but if you have been a benefactor you owe the programs to reach back.
There is nothing wrong or criminal about reaching back to help someone, everybody does it but us. Don Imus, is not the problem, we are the problem. I have never seen so many envy, jealous and selfish people in one community.
My question to you, where is the beef and exactly what is your problem? Why did you find it necessary to tell me to kiss your ass and fuck me over the telephone because I asked you why are you questioning me over the motives of some “Good Old Boy” who has shown no respect for Willie Wood, his family and me? You are as wrong as two left football cleats.
Several years ago when I brought to your attention I had a project that I was working on that could be worth millions of dollars if marketed and promoted in the right hands. I offered you a piece of the project. You never responded. So you got a problem and I am going to let you keep it.
Just like you lobbied to get Bobby Mitchell into the hall of fame, I lobbied to get Willie Wood and Earl Lloyd into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and NBA Hall of Fame respectively. Much like I lobbied to get your black ass out of jail.
Several years ago Earl Lloyd was heard on WTEM all sports talk radio here in DC with fraudulent John Thompson saying, “Harold Bell maybe controversial but I have yet to hear anyone call him a liar.” Guess what, I am still sticking to the truth.
In closing, I think you got me mixed up with one of your cheer-leading friends. Your profanity laced tirade reminded me of an uneducated rapper and street thug who has run out of a logical solution to the problem being discussed. He then turns to the vulgar language of the streets. You sounded nothing like the Syracuse University scholar that you are made out to be. I for one don’t need all this hate from a so-called BLACK MAN like you. I have been your friend for over 30 years and I am not going to suddenly become your bitch.
You got a wrong number. Now you can team up with the rest the frauds like Don King, Rock Newman, Michael Wilbon, James Brown, John Thompson, Dave Bing, Sugar Ray Leonard, Cathy Hughes, etc and your new found friend Bob Schmidt in the “I hate Harold Bell fan club.” In the meantime I will keep you and your family in prayer.
Consistently,
Harold Bell
Gregory, Crawford, and Prosper
Published: June 26, 2009
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Ted Gregory Today
Day 85: Ted Gregory ’74
The Middletown, Ohio man came to Columbia in 1970 as a wide receiver who many thought wasn’t big or strong enough to make an impact.
Then, Head Coach Frank Navarro switched him to the defensive side of the ball and by the time he was done, Gregory would have put in a career that would later earn him a spot on the Ivy League Football 25th Anniversary All-Time team.
Gregory made opposing teams crazy in the secondary and as a kick returner. He started his Ivy League career with a bang in his first Ivy League game against Princeton in 1971. In a game Columbia eventually won, Gregory intercepted Tiger QB Rod Plummer and went 56 yards for the TD to make it 13-7.
Gregory finished that season as an Honorable Mention All Ivy, but he was a first Teamer in both his junior and senior seasons of 1972 and 1973.
Gregory remains very close to the Columbia program and was my guest for a great interview during halftime of the Lafayette game last season.
Star of Two Prides: Tad Crawford as a BC Lion
Day 84: Tad Crawford ’07
The Ontario native broke into the lineup right away as a freshman and played in all 10 games in 2003.
Then in each of his next three seasons, he ended up as the Lions’ top tackler for the year. His biggest impact came in his senior campaign of 2006 when he also came in third in the Ivies for tackles. He was also a very steady punt returner, bringing stability to a position that had been more than a little shaky in the season before he got the job.
Now Tad is in the middle of his third season in the Canadian Football League, going from the Columbia Lions to the British Columbia Lions. In 2007, he had an outstanding rookie season with BC after being selected by the Lions in the third round of the CFL Draft. He wound up with nine defensive tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery.
Last year Tad avoided the sophomore jinx, recording 11 defensive tackles while adding another 12 on special teams. His highlight game of the season came against Edmonton on Aug 8th when he grabbed his first career interception and a blocked punt which resulted in a TD by teammate Rick Foley.
Day 83: Prosper Nwokocha ’06
Originally, Nwokocha wanted to follow his brother Chuck and play for Harvard. But he settled on coming to Columbia and he ended up as one of the best corners and kick returners in CU history.
Harvard would come to really regret not grabbing Prosper in 2003, when his two interceptions sealed a shocking 16-13 win over the Crimson at a windy Wien Stadium.
My second favorite memory of Prosper was his kickoff return for a touchdown that turned things around in a 23-17 win over Fordham in 2005.
Nwokocha now works in Dallas as a personal banker at Bank of America.
Spanning Browns Town Season Preview: Week Two Versus the Denver Broncos
Published: June 26, 2009
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Today in Spanning Browns Town we will continue our examination of the Cleveland Browns 2009 regular season schedule. On Monday We previewed the Browns’ opponents for Week One of the season, the Minnesota Vikings, and predicted that the Vikings would win. This week we will look at the Week Two opponent for the Browns.
Denver or the “Mile High City,” as it is also known by, has been a house of horror’s for the Browns and their fans. Fans who can remember all too well the misfortunes of the Browns during the playoffs in Denver spanning the late 80’s. Browns fans are still haunted by those memories that occurred in Mile High Stadium.
In the Browns’ last trip to Denver back in December of 2003 they did not fare much better. The Browns lost to the Broncos in overtime 23-20. That ironically was also the final of the 1987 AFC Championship Game, which both Browns and Broncos fans alike remember as “The Fumble.”
That time has come and gone. The Broncos, much like the Browns, will have begun a brand new era when the Browns come to visit them once agian in Week Two. How will the Browns match up with the Broncos? Let’s find out.
Coaching
Outside of a some outbursts from both Shaun Rogers and Joshua Cribbs, things have been fairly quiet for Eric Mangini as he has taken over the Browns.
Josh McDaniels wishes he had the same type of tranquility. Not long after he arrived on the scene, McDaniels had to deal with a very angry Jay Cutler. Cutler became an angry after he found out about McDaniels plans to deal him and aquire former Patriots QB Matt Cassel. Cutler was eventually dealt, and for a while, things seemed to settle in Denver Players finally seemed to be buying into McDaniels ” No one is bigger then the team” motto.
Then, out of nowhere, came the recent incident with Brandon Marshall. How will this end? And how will the season play out for McDaniels and the Broncos? It should be an interesting season in Denver.
Quarterbacks
Kyle Orton, who came along in the deal that sent Cutler to the Chicago Bears, will compete for the starting job with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Chris Simms.
The Broncos like that Kyle Orton brings a winning record to the table; he also has thrown for 18 touchdowns and 2,972 yards in his career and has a 79.6 rating. Pretty promising numbers from a guy who split time with a guy who was either hurt or inconsistent.
However, Orton’ biggest flaw is his decision-making; he threw 12 interceptions in limmited playing time. That type of mistake-prone quarterback will struggle in McDaniels’s system.
Word is that Orton has shown decent arm strength coming out of mini-camp, but he needs to be able to show that he can get rid of the ball quickly.
Many felt that Chris Simms, in his last months with the Titans, threw the ball like he did in 2004 when he had a very good season. It is said that his shoulder problems are no long an issue, but he still remains an underdog to Orton.
Inevitably, the quarterback who makes fewer mistakes during camp and preseason will likely receive the job.
The Broncos also drafted Fresno State QB Tom Brandstater. Brandstater had an excellent career at Fresno State, however he does not figure to be much of a factor in this year’s QB derby unless there is an injury to Orton or Simms. Still, he could be a very viable tool for the Broncos future plans provided that he is with the team that long.
ADVANTAGE: Seems to be even.
Although observers within both teams may have some idea who will emerge as their starter, there does not seem to be clear advantage. At least, if there is, no one is saying anything. We will have to see how things shape out at training camp.
Running Backs
The Broncos seem to have a wide array of choices at their disposal. The backfield is very crowded with first-round pick Knowshon Moreno along with Correll Buckhalter, LaMont Jordan, and J.J. Arrington.
Moreno seems to be the front-runner at the position, the Broncos believe that he is the total package, and he has good pass-protection skills. Since the Broncos’ quarterbacks could use all the protection they can get, those skills might make Moreno an every-down back.
ADVANTAGE: Browns
The Browns don’t have a backfield that will punish you, but they do have one back in Jamal Lewis, who, when healthy, is a home-run threat. Plus, as you will see later on, the Broncos’ defensive line is weak, and that is good news for the Browns.
Although crowded and experienced, the Broncos backfield lacks a home-run hitter. LaMont Jordan, Corell Buckhalter, and J.J. Arrington all have their limitations. Jordan is older and may not be able to carry the work load he once did. Buckhalter and Arrington are both battling knee issues. Moreno is probably going to get the balk of work. It will give him a lot of experience, but he will not have much help.
Wide Receivers
For now at least, Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal seem to be the team’s duo at WR with Brandon Stokley at the slot.
Royal had a very impressive rookie season last year and was very reliable. Royal had 91 receptions for 980 yards and averaged 10.8 yards per catch with 5 touchdowns. Marshall was not as reliable, but he was still very productive with 104 receptions, 1,256 yards, 12.2 yards per catch, and 6 touchdowns.
Marshall does bring some off-the-field baggage with him, but he is also tough and competitive. He makes up on-the-field production makes up for his misjudgments off the field.
Moreover, Stokley has always proven to be a productive and reliable guy.
Jabar Gaffney was brought in because he has some familiarity with Josh McDaniels and the offense he wants to run.
The Broncos also have two huge tight ends in Daniel Graham and Richard Quinn that will be great targets for the new QB.
ADVANTAGE: Browns
Why? If Brandon Marshall, who has been complaining and saying wants out of Denver, gets his wish, this unit is going to be in big trouble.
Sure, they will have Eddie Royal, but there will not be much else. Jabar Gaffney may be somewhat handy, but he is not elite receiver.
If Marshall does come back, there will be more matchup problems, and the Browns secondary will be in for a long day.
That said, I like what the Browns wide receivers brings to the table. They’re younger, and encouraging news has come from the Browns about rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massiqoui. Both look to be capable of playing major roles in this offense.
Steve Heiden has always been a useful at tight end and second-year man Martin Rucker will be given a chance to make a impact at tight end.
Offensive Line
When Mike Shanahan was in charge, he liked to use undersized, athletic lineman. Unfortunately for this unit, those days are over. McDaniels wants to run more of a power game. To do that, the unit will have to include more 300-plus linemen.
McDaniels was not left with much to work with. He does have some starting blockers with right tackles Ryan Harris and Ryan Clady. Other then that there is just not much. McDaniels will have to spend the next couple of drafts and free agency periods trying to upgrade his offensive line.
ADVANTAGE: Browns
What the Browns’ running game will not change much. Plus, their left side is solid. and the question marks on the right were addressed, even though there are still problems.
Defensive Line
This position is a mess for the Broncos and could even be worse than the Browns. The defense is transitioning to a 3-4 scheme, but they really do not have someone who can command a double-team in the middle of the field.
The Broncos chose not to address the position during the draft because they did not value the draft’s pool of defensive lineman. That will hurt them this season.
It will be interesting to see how this transition works out because there is not much that this unit did well, either defending the pass or run. They did take Robert Ayers, a DE from Tennessee with their second pick in the draft, and that could eventually work out. They still need a lot more though.
ADVANTAGE: Browns
The Browns have more at the defensive line spot, and they have more experience with the 3-4 scheme. In this particular situation, considering the condition of the Broncos’ offensive line situation, the Browns defensive line has the best chance of success.
Linebackers
This unit is going to have to make a slew of plays against the run because they do not have much of an answer at the nose tackle position.
Since Elvis Dumervil has a chance to be very effective in the passing game because he is able to get leverage on bigger players due his ability and reach, he will be playing on the outside with Jarvis Moss opposite him.
However, it is said that during mini-camp, Moss struggled, especially when having to be involved with the passing game. That’s not good news for the Broncos. They will also give special teamer Darrel Reid a look at outside linebacker. Boss Bailey will also be on the outside, but he had micro-fracture surgery and not much can be expected from him.
As far as inside linebacker, a familiar face for Browns fans will be in the mix for the Broncos, Andra Davis. Davis had his times where he was very productive in a Browns uniform, but he really struggled the last few seasons It will be interesting to see what he can do with a change of scenery. His partner inside will be a man named D.J. Williams.
ADVANTAGE: Browns
The Browns replaced what they lost with players that are familiar with what defensive coordinator Rob Ryan wants to do. Whether they are actually upgrades or not remains to be seen.
If Kamerion Wimbley gets going, he will be a nightmare, and they have a proven productive player with D’Qwell Jackson. The Browns don’t have as many question marks as the Broncos do, but they do have their own questions.
Defensive Backs
The Broncos have two Pro-Bowlers in this unit. The first is Champ Bailey. Bailey is the kind of player who, in the past, completely took away a team’s ability to throw to one side of the field. Lately, he has had to battle elbow issues. That said, he is still the teams No. 1 corner, and he’s still very dangerous.
Dre’ Bly is gone, but the team did go out and sign Andre’ Goodman to replace him. Goodman could be just as good as Bly.
Brian Dawkins was the second Pro-Bowle add to this unit, and the Broncos think that he is a significant upgrade, which, if he performs like he did in Philadelphia, he will be.
ADVANTAGE: Broncos
Special Teams
Matt Prater has a very powerful leg but needs to work on his accuracy. He struggled to make field goals from 40-49 yards. Many feel that he let the criticism from fans and coaches go to his head. The Broncos could be looking to make a change at some point. His leg strength makes him valuable for kickoffs
The reputation of punter Brett Kern is that he does not have a consistent ball drop, but many feel that he can be in the league for a while.
Look for Eddie Royal to return punts, he has all the tools to be very special and a big factor in that role. Kickoffs could go to J.J. Arrington, but the Broncos say that will not be decided until the preseason.
ADVANTAGE: Browns
Special teams are something that have been the one constant with the Browns. Phil Dawson is as solid as kickers can come. Dave Zastuilds is also solid as they come for a punter.
The Browns have one of the best kick returners in the NFL.
THE LAST WORD
There is no reason why the Browns cannot win this game. Where the Broncos lack ability, the Browns are strong. They will be in a higher altitude, and the weather is likely to be warm, so endurance will be a factor.
If the Mangini regime wants to be known as different than Crennel’s regime, they need to win games that are winnable, and this is one of them. They may have to grind it out and play a close, down-to-the-wire game, but I still like their chances. It will be a good win for them and a confidence booster as well as something that they can hang their hats on.
Browns Predicted Record After Week 2: 1-1
In the next Spanning Browns Town Season Preview, we will continue our look at the Browns 2009 Schedule as we look at their opponent for Weeks 3 and 9, the hated Baltimore Ravens.
Greg Cooksey spans Browns Town every Monday and Friday and whenever there is anything Cleveland Browns to talk about.
State of the DTs: Ngata is Quickly Becoming a Veteran Presence for Ravens
Published: June 26, 2009
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[This article is one of eight in B/R contributor Jack Harver’s “State of the DTs” series, introduced here.]
In the three years since Baltimore drafted Haloti Ngata, several spots on the Ravens’ defense have been weakened.
Their secondary has taken the biggest hit. Corners Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister were aces in 2005, the year before Ngata arrived.
Baltimore signed Rolle in free agency when Tennessee couldn’t afford to retain him, and McAlister had just been re-signed to a seven-year, $55 million deal.
The tandem had three All-Pro selections combined, and seemed set to key Baltimore’s pass defense going forward.
Rolle suffered seizures caused by epilepsy though, missing significant time in 2007. A knee injury that same year took a heavy toll on McAlister’s speed. After leading the league’s sixth-best pass defense in 2006, neither was what the Ravens had expected.
Baltimore’s linebacking corps has also taken its lumps. Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Bart Scott, and Adalius Thomas were arguably the league’s best foursome in 2006. But Thomas left as a free agent in 2007, resulting in a down year for Suggs against increased attention from opposing blocking schemes.
Lewis, still one of the league’s fiercest competitors, has become more of a leader and physical presence over the past few years—as opposed to the sideline-to-sideline dominance that won him two Defensive Player of the Year awards.
And Scott, a steady performer inside next to Lewis, left as a free agent this past spring to join Ryan in New York.
Even the Ravens’ defensive line, though steadier than their other two lines of defense, hasn’t been free of problems.
Underrated nose tackle Kelly Gregg, an important cog in Baltimore’s defensive machine since becoming a full-time starter in 2002, missed all of 2008 after undergoing surgery on his knee. In the six seasons before his injury, Gregg had played in 93 of the Ravens’ 96 games, including 92 starts.
Yet, despite these substantial chinks in its armor, Baltimore’s defense has pressed on. The Ravens have finished no worse than sixth in the league in total defense—and no lower than third in terms of rush yards allowed—in each of the past three seasons.
Part of the credit goes to Ryan’s genius for replacement. Stand-ins such as safety Jim Leonhard and lineman Justin Bannan were NFL cast-offs before landing in Baltimore and turning into productive starters.
Increasingly, though, credit is being given where it has been due: to the hard-to-miss 6’4″, 340-pound man in the middle.
“[Ngata] has been a huge part of our success,” Ryan told ESPN’s Jeffri Chadiha last season. “He’s started from day one, and he’s only gotten better and better.”
Through his first three NFL seasons, Ngata has started all 52 of the Ravens’ games, including four starts in the postseason. He has amassed 164 tackles—111 of them solo—in addition to six sacks and seven passes defensed, but his numbers hardly tell the full story.
Praise from his teammates and coaches comes closer.
“No one man can block Haloti,” Suggs said in an interview before last season’s game against Washington. “He’s a physical man-child. He’s a beast out there.”
In addition to being one of the strongest players on the football field at any given time, Ngata has proven smart enough to be utilized in several different roles by the Ravens’ coaching staff.
With Gregg performing well at nose tackle, Ryan shifted Ngata out to end in Baltimore’s three-man fronts in 2007. There, he clashed with opposing tackles, locking them down to give Suggs good pass-rushing looks, and funnel running plays back inside into traffic.
Stouter, and just as quick as the linemen opposing him, Ngata would shoot the “B” gap (between the tackle and guard) to rush the passer, and some of the Ravens’ blitzes had him dropping back in short zone coverage.
When Gregg went down this past season, Ngata transitioned seamlessly back into the nose tackle role, still able to play at end in some looks.
Looking to get full use out of Ngata, the Ravens have experimented with using him at tight end in goal-line packages—and not just as a blocker, though he has done well in that role.
A few plays in Baltimore’s offensive playbook have him running routes. In time, he’s likely to add a touchdown reception or two to his career stats line.
But Ngata, despite his stellar play, the Ravens’ many uses for him, and his selection to last year’s Associated Press All-Pro team, has yet to be voted to the Pro Bowl.
“Some guys that are voting on [the Pro Bowl] don’t get to go up against him,” Ryan ventured in an interview at the end of last season.
“I’m pretty sure when you look at all the votes that Haloti received, it’s guys that he’s played against. Those are the guys who will vote him into the Pro Bowl—and next year, if we play a different conference, I’m sure those guys will vote him as well.”
Recognition seems to be just a matter of exposure for Baltimore’s multifunctional rising star, who has left a fittingly massive impression on anyone who’s seen him play.
Asked to value Ngata at the end of last season, Ryan was adamant:
“I know there are some great defensive tackles in the league, but I wouldn’t trade this guy for anybody.”
