At A Glance: Seattle Seahawks Offensive Line (Left Tackle) Outlook

The trenches are the key to any type of football game, whether that be a snow backyard game or a super bowl championship game. It all matters on the offensive line.

No offensive line, no offense because that means your QB can’t have time to set his feet and throw or have the running back find a hole to run through.

Now we take a look at the once great Seattle Seahawks offensive line. Walter Jones is joining big Mike or will he suit up one more year?

Due to the fact that the offensive line takes up five positions, I have decided to do them one by one starting with left tackle.

The cornerstone future HoF: Starting LT Walter Jones

Probably one of, if not the best, left tackles in the history of the NFL alongside recently retired Jonathan Ogden, Walter Jones has been the best LT in Seattle Seahawks history.

Jones, who is a sure first ballot HoF, is turning 36 this season and entering his 14th season in the NFL. There are many questions coming off his season ending shoulder surgery last season.

Now we all know when Jones is healthy his is a sure pro-bowl lock, but at this time in his career after having shoulder surgery, will he be able to play a full 16 game-plus season?

Most likely the answer is yes because he’s been in the training facility at VMAC.  He’s been rehabbing the entire off season and he is in camp in great shape.

Fantasy advice, if you pick a team OL then Seattle should be in the 10-12 range. If it’s individual, try to find a younger OT like Jake Long or Joe Thomas.

Looking toward the future: Sean Locklear

One of the biggest needs according to some people was finding a future replacement for Walter Jones. A lot of people said because the Seahawks had such a high pick they should take a top OT to groom behind Jones.

The Seahawks were not even close to thinking that way. They had already decided their route in the 2007/2008 off season when they resigned RT Sean Locklear. He got the bigger contract because he was going to take over for Jones at LT once he retires.

By resigning RT Ray Willis, he will take over as the starting LT once Jones is out and Locklear moves over to LT.

So Locklear is the second LT for the Seahawks because when Jones’s injured or retires, Locklear slides over and Willis moves in.

Locklear doesn’t really have fantasy value unless it’s a team OL.

Next article will talk about the LG position and a rookie starting alongside Walt.

 

Chargers Training Camp: This and That

The near midpoint of summer issued forth the one sound that football fans and specifically, Chargers fans, want to hear and that is the movement of players on the practice field.

Training camps across the land opened this week with Chargers rookies and quarterbacks running through drills Monday and joined by veterans for full-squad workouts Friday.

Hopes always run high at the start of camp with preseason games starting Aug. 15, when the Chargers host the Seahawks. But the intensity and the desire has been kicked up considerably as this team believes it is Super Bowl worthy.

Ditching aside last season’s disappointing end in Pittsburgh, the Chargers are gearing for a return run to the playoffs and their first Super Bowl appearance in 15 years.

All of which would be a suitable ending to salute the 50th anniversary of the franchise.

NFL Coaches on the Hot Seat

Life as an NFL coach is very tenuous. This past off season saw 11 new head coaches be hired, the most changes over one season.

Owners are in a win now mode and if they’re not pleased with the results on the field they’ve proven they’re not afraid to make a change.

Three coaches that finished with an 8-8 record or better were fired last season (Mike Shanahan, Eric Mangini, and John Gruden).

Also there are many high profile head coaches who are looking to get back in the game after this season including Bil Cowher, Mike Holmgren, and Mike Shanahan, all of who have won Super Bowls.

So let’s take a look at who may be getting the axe after the upcoming season.

Miami Dolphins: Shades of Shula?

You have to ask yourself, what gave Don Shula’s teams the consistency to have the best winning percentage in the NFL?

We can refer to the Butch Cassady and the Sundance Kid era, with the five plus yard average per carry.

Or the no-name defense, the killer bees, and even the most innovative passing attack in the history of football with Dan Marino at the helm. 

But with all the diverse ways to win, what was the overriding factor?

A Pro-Bowl offensive line.

The ’72 Dolphins had the most dominating line in football. Everyone knew they were going to run, and couldn’t stop it. 

When you average over five yards per carry when the defense knows your going to run, is quite a feat.

Remember the Dan Marino era with Pro-Bowlers, Richmond Webb and Kenneth Simms anchoring the left side. Didn’t they set an NFL record for the least amount of sacks? Whether your running the football or passing, nothing happens unless the “O” line does its job.

Tony Saprano gets it. 

Even with the rule changes over the years, and the play innovation, it still comes down to the offensive line. Jamming the ball into the endzone with a running attack is still the most consistent way to score in the red zone.  

I for one am in Tony Sparano’s corner. Over the last 10 years none of the coaches paid much attention to the offensive line. 

Like lots of others in the NFL, they were trying for the quick fix with the superstar player.

How many times has it ever worked—Cleveland gave up how many draft picks to get Brady Quinn?

Dave Wannstedt tried to sell the farm for questionable players.

I even hear sports writers talking about getting superstar receivers and quarterbacks to improve the team. Didn’t Michael Vick spend most of his time running for his life?

Coach Sparano like Don Shula, you make that line the best in the NFL and you will reestablish a  perennial winning team in south Florida. 

P.S. Throw in a Super Bowl once in a while. 

Using the Yearbook to Make NFC Predictions

Last week, I gave you my High School predictions for the AFC, but that’s only half the league. So this week, I’m giving you the NFC.

The NFC was…harder to pick. There are a handful of elite teams, a handful of teams that could be good if a billion things go right for them, and a lot of teams that are going to be really really awful. At least on paper. And isn’t that the thing.

Would I have ever guessed last season that the Falcons would be any good? Probably not. Would I have guessed that the Seahawks would’ve fallen apart like they did? Not likely. Would I have guessed the Lions wouldn’t have won a single game? Ok…maybe.

But there once again, there are a lot of teams that are going to be hard to say that they’re going to be one way or another this season. But, as I found, they’re not all that hard to make fun of. That’s why I love the NFC.

32 Teams in 32 Days: Washington Redskins

 

Washington is probably the best last-place team in the NFL. They finished last in the NFC East, but that’s not saying much. Put them into the NFC West and I’m sure they’d finish at least second.

Washington is only a few steps away from being a winning franchise. They needed to fill some holes, and they tried to do  that this offseason by giving star defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth $100 million dollars to knock this defensive line up a notch.

They also resigned corner back Deangelo Hall to a long-term deal.

Jason Campbell is in for a big year after he was almost traded many times this offseason.

He didn’t have a bad year in 2008-09, but he surely didn’t have a great one, and that’s what the Redskins want out of their quarterback. If he doesn’t produce at the level the Redskins organization want him to, he could be sent packing after the season.

 

Offseason Acquisitions

Added

Jeremy Bridges, OG.

Derrick Dockery, OG.

Albert Haynesworth, DT.

Hunter Smith, P.

Robert Thomas, OLB.

Mike Williams, OT.

Roydell Williams, WR.

Renaldo Wynn, DE.

 

Lost

Ryan Boschetti, DT.

Khary Campbell, OLB.

Demetric Evans, DE.

Jason Fabini, OL.

Justin Geisinger, C.

Mike Green, S.

Pete Kendall, G.

Ryan Plackmeier, P.

Jason Taylor, DE.

Marcus Washington, OLB.

 

The addition of Albert Haynesworth cancels out everyone on the lost list, but they did lose some key starters from last year.

Jason Taylor was one-and-done after being acquired from Miami.

Longtime starter Marcus Washington was cut after becoming injury-prone.

But Washington upgraded their offensive line by adding Dockery, Williams and Bridges.

 

Draft Picks: Round (Pick No.)

1(13). Brian Orakpo, DE. Draft Grade: A

3(80). Kevin Barnes, CB. Draft Grade: B

5(158). Cody Glenn, LB. Draft Grade: C-

6(186). Robert Henson, LB. Draft Grade: C-

7(221). Eddie Williams, TE. Draft Grade: D

7(243). Marko Mitchell, WR. Draft Grade: B

• Brian Orakpo will likely play defensive end, but could switch to outside linebacker. Great pass rusher, a lot of strength. A good steal at No. 12.
• Kevin Barnes is very aggressive, so he sometimes gets injured. But a good pick here, could surprise.
• Cody Glenn was a bit of a reach. He’s a former running back and doesn’t have the right skills for linebacker. Might be better on practice squad.
• Robert Henson will provide depth at linebacker.
• Eddie Williams will play either tight end or fullback.
• Marko Mitchell is a tall, thin receiver but will be a good kick returner. Could be a steal.

Draft Grade: B-

 

Breakout Player: Devin Thomas, WR.

 

I thought that Devin Thomas was going to be the next Anquan Boldin, and come out and produce at receiver right from the start. But he struggled to get on the field and often looked lost. He needs to really break out this season. And if he does, he could be one dangerous receiver to cover.

Washington made some moves this offseason that could benefit them, but every year they always look better on paper then they do on the field. The additions of Brian Orakpo and Albert Haynesworth will provide good pass rush and improve the defense, but the offense is steal inconsistent and young.

Second-year receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly need to step up and get on the field.

If Washington can play at the level they do when they’re consistent, they could impress. But i’m not sure if Jason Campbell will be able to lead this team anywhere.

I see them staying about where they did last year.

 

Projected Record: 9-7

Will Michael Crabtree’s Holdout Validate Al Davis?

This was the first thought that I had when I heard about Michael Crabtee’s holdout.

Thank you, Al Davis, for the selection of Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Seriously.

After the NFL Draft, I had as many doubts about Heyward-Bey as most Raider fans.  However, I could honestly say that I had my doubts about Michael Crabtree’s attitude as well, as did Seattle, Cleveland, Jacksonville, St. Louis, and Kansas City.

Moreover, the Raiders had a situation too, which was they already had two superstar caliber players in JaMarcus Russell and Darren McFadden. The addition of Michael Crabree would have complicated the chemistry. 

Crabtree seems like Terrell Owens, and if Crabtree is like TO, I wouldn’t want him to sabotage the quarterback (Russell).

After playing the devil’s advocate, I started to think that Heyward-Bey was the equal but opposite version of Crabtree. Heyward-Bey had better tools (speed, size) while Crabtree had better college production.

The problem with production though is that, production from skill-positions often does not translate to the NFL.  We have seen that over-and-over again with former Trojans and Gators, such as receivers Peter Warrick, Dwayne Jarrett, Mike Williams, and others.

On top of that, Crabtree was unwilling to prove his speed, while his production came from a gimmicky offense at Texas Tech, which just compounded the red flags.

At the same time, toolsy players don’t always translate either, even if those tools are universal, such as former Gamecock Troy Williamson.

What then, is the difference between production and tools?

I hate to sound trite, but sometimes it is a matter of how much you want it, how much you are willing to work, and how much you are willing to, “get with the program.”

Occasionally, there is an exception, but I prefer to believe that guys like Terrell Owens are exceptions to the rule and that you are rolling dice with your NFL career if you are trying to be the next TO. 

Keep in mind that TO also came from a dynasty program, the San Francisco 49ers, that had mentors in now Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, and future Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice.

Thus, TO had a solid environment in which to learn, and a winning atmosphere in order to stay focused.  I would not want to subtract all the credit for what TO has done in his career, but you cannot deny that TO had a unique situation.

With the Raiders signing Heyward-Bey in time for training camp, while Crabtree is holding out, all I can say is “So far, so good.”  Crabtree is only reinforcing the assertion that he is a disagreeable Prima Dona.  Perhaps, Crabtree will be productive in the NFL, but so has TO.

And we’ll just have to wait and see.

Indianapolis Colts: 2009 NFL Betting Picks Preview

Overall, the Indianapolis Colts had another great year in 2008. They started off slowly with four losses in their first seven games. Then, as they always do, Peyton Manning and the Colts turned it on. They won out the rest of their schedule and made another run to the playoffs.

Last year, Manning got off to a slow start because of missing training camp with a bursa sack injury in his knee. This year, he should be in practice for training camp and they hope to get off to a sharp start to the season.

If you’re looking for free NFL preseason football picks, you might as well go ahead and put the Colts in the playoffs and as a Super Bowl contender right off the bat. They always are, and there’s no reason to believe they won’t be again this year.

The Good News:

The good thing about the Colts is that they always seem to keep most of their core guys. When they lose someone, they always plug in another body that will inevitably be successful in their system.

They even had a succession plan in place for when Tony Dungy stepped down from behind the wheel. They added some solid players in the draft to add more depth to an already deep team. Although they already had Joseph Addai in the fold, they went ahead and drafted running-back Donald Brown out of UConn for depth. They also picked up a good defensive tackle out of “pro-factory” USC in Fili Moala. They weren’t very active in free agency and they only picked up defensive tackle Ed Johnson.

They still have “All-World” quarterback Peyton Manning, who, along with Tom Brady, is still one of the best quarterbacks in the game. If you don’t catch any Colts games where you live, you’ll undoubtedly still get your share of Manning on TV, pitching every product under the sun.

The Bad News

The biggest loss of the offseason is future Hall of Fame receiver, Marvin Harrison. Manning to Harrison is the most successful combination in NFL history and it will be a difficult one to replace.

However, the last few years, Harrison has struggled to stay on the field with health issues. His numbers dropped and Reggie Wayne took over as the No. 1 option in the passing game. Therefore, his loss won’t be as big as it once might have been.

Because of their great drafting, they already have a No. 2 option on the team who is ready to contribute in Anthony Gonzalez. Losing Coach Tony Dungy will not be an easy thing to get used to either.

Outlook: As far as free NFL betting picks go, you’ll probably see many who think the Colts could win it all again. I have no reason to believe otherwise. While they might not be the Super Bowl favorite at this point, they are still contenders.

Losing Dungy and Harrison will hurt, but I think the team can get past it with all of the people that they already have. Expect the Colts to win the division and make a nice run in the playoffs.

Make sure you check out Vernon Croy’s Expert NFL Picks this season.

 

Michael Vick: A New England Patriot?

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For Michael Vick, the glass is half empty. Teams in the AFC and NFC, whom experts believed Vick had the best chance of playing for, have publicly stated that they are not interested in signing Vick.

The Raiders, 49ers, Redskins, Dolphins, and other potential homes for the scrambling southpaw have given the ex-con the cold shoulder.  But Vick’s glass isn’t totally empty, as some playoff-caliber teams have not completely ruled him out.  

Though they have not said they are interested, the Baltimore Ravens have admitted to considering the pros and cons of signing Michael Vick.  There have been rumors that Pittsburgh wasn’t ruling him out either.

That’s more than most people are saying. The majority of NFL clubs have said they are not interested even if they believe he deserves to be back in the NFL (just about every coach has said Vick deserves a second chance). Although there is one coach, who has said so much about Vick, by saying so little.

Bill Belichick wants Michael Vick.  Bill is a man of few words and even fewer words of praise. He doesn’t get excited often and never shows much emotion, especially when speaking to the media.  Bill understands that he has a reputation for being a quiet and secretive head coach (doing things like keeping Brady listed as questionable throughout his 50 touchdown season, just to keep people wondering).

He knows that if he shows the slightest interest or excitement, people may read right through him.  It is for these reasons (and countless others) that New England loves him, and why New England knows Bill salivates at the thought of what he could do with Michael Vick on his team.

It is impossible to say, after the way he acknowledged Vick’s talent, that Coach Belichick hasn’t spent a good amount of time thinking about how he could render defensive coordinators useless by throwing an offensive game plan at them that includes Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Fred Taylor, and Michael Vick.

There is no way to plan for the potential offensive attack that a head coach with Bill’s abilities could unleash on the NFL.  

After calling Vick an “outstanding player” and “tremendous athlete,” it is obvious Bill wants him. He doesn’t have to say anything else because for Bill Belichick, that is already saying a lot.

Then, instead of saying he wasn’t interested at the time, he pawned the decision making process off on someone else, claiming he would be open to anything. According to the Washington Post, he added the following statement:

“You know, I think we have, we would consider…I mean, we’re coaching the players that we have on the field right now, so that’s who’s here,” Belichick said. “So, anybody who isn’t here, is there potential that they could be here? You know, yeah, there probably is. But right now, they’re not.”

“We’re coaching the 80 players that are here, so until we get somebody else, we’re coaching them. If we get somebody else in here, which I’m sure at some point we will, then we’ll coach them along with the players that are here. So, who all that’s gonna be—you know, I mean right now, it’s the 80 players that are here. That’s all I can tell you.”

Come on Bill, “So, anybody who isn’t here, is there potential that they could be here? You know, yeah, there probably is.  But right now they’re not.”  He has to know he gave it away. He wants Michael Vick. He doesn’t care about the dog fighting because Vick served his time and paid his debt to society. Not to mention, dog fighting has nothing to do with Bill’s offensive system.

Bill knows New England fans want championships. Bill also knows that as soon as Vick is signed, any talk in New England of what a bad guy he is will quickly turn into bragging about what a great addition he is to an already spectacular offense.

Bill also knows that Vick will be as easy to manage as Randy Moss when he was signed. Character issues are not a big concern because on a team with Brady, Moss, Bruschi, and other veteran talent, Vick will be a smaller fish in a pretty big pond of talent and leadership.

Go ahead Bill, make the move.  Do whatever you need to in order for Mr. Kraft to realize the potential of adding Vick as another offensive weapon.  Don’t pay him much, he doesn’t deserve it, and New England can’t afford it.

What he does deserve is a chance, a chance to prove himself, to participate in the sport that took him from the rough life he once endured, and to once again be financially stable.

He served his time, he had the book thrown at him, and lost it all.  Sign Vick, make defensive coordinators quit their jobs and make bringing another championship to New England that much easier.  

 

 

2009 NFL Betting Picks Preview: Denver Broncos

Where to begin with the Denver Broncos offseason this year? Does the word whirlwind mean anything to you? That’s probably the best word to describe the Broncos offseason up to this point.

If you’re looking for free NFL preseason football picks you might want to stay away from penciling the Broncos into the playoffs this year. Let’s review what happened in the offseason.

First of all, they fire their successful coach that has been there forever in Mike Shannahan. Some people thought it was overdue, but this is nothing in comparison to what happens later.

They then proceed to hire a first time head coach in Josh McDaniels, another assistant from the Patriots regime. Yes, the same regime that hasn’t pumped out a lot of successful coaches outside of New England, i.e. Charlie Weiss, Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, etc. McDaniels then proceeds to trade off his mid 20-something Pro Bowl quarterback (Jay Cutler) to get Matt Cassell who he was familiar with from the Patriots.

This proceeds to anger Cutler to no end and he demands a trade. Amazingly they go ahead and give in to his demands in order to get two first rounders and Kyle Orton. Yes, that Kyle Orton.

The Good News: The good news is…well it’s really hard to pinpoint the exact good news here. I guess starting with a clean slate is fun sometimes. At least the Broncos didn’t relocate to another city! They were the most active team in free agency although they didn’t exactly bring in any great players.

The Bad News: In that free agency crop they managed to sign like 10 running backs and then drafted one with their first round pick. Are they really going to have that many running backs on the roster? Of course not! However, that doesn’t stop them from getting running backs on the team for McDaniel’s “pass-happy” offense.

They even traded one of those first round picks that they got next year for a second round pick this year. Has anyone ever done that before? Then on top of all the other drama that they’ve had, their star wide receiver Brandon Marshall demands a trade.

For some reason, they have declined to trade him as of yet. Why would you trade away a franchise quarterback and keep a disgruntled, law-breaking wide receiver that doesn’t want to be there? This offseason has defied logic and any convention.

Outlook: If you haven’t picked it up by now, I’m not big on the Broncos chances this season. In fact, if you’re looking for free NFL picks, you should know that the Broncos will battle it out with the Raiders for last place in the AFC West this year.

They might even take it away from the Raiders early on in the season. How can you replace a successful head coach with an unproven rookie and a Pro Bowl quarterback with Kyle Orton and expect to be successful right off the bat? Yes, it might work in the long term, but I don’t see it happening this season.

Make sure you check out Vernon Croy’s Expert NFL Picks this season.

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