Fantasy Football Notes: Philadelphia Eagles

To say the 2008 season was a roller coaster ride for the Philadelphia Eagles would be an understatement.

After going 5-5-1 over the first 12 weeks of the season, the Eagles had to turn it up a notch over the final five weeks in order to keep their playoff chances alive. Riding the hot hand of previously benched Donovan McNabb, the Eagles did just that as they won four of their final five games to backdoor themselves into the playoffs.

Needing to beat the Dallas Cowboys in the final week of the season, a fired up Philadelphia squad scored early and often en route to a 44-6 win and a meeting with the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round.

The playoffs where no different as Philadelphia took care of Minnesota in the Wild Card round and the New York Giants in the Divisional round to set-up a meeting with the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game.

This marked the fifth time in 10 years that head coach Andy Reid has taken his squad to the NFC Championship game, but for the fourth time, they failed to reach the Super Bowl as they lost a shoot-out by the score of 32-25.

The three biggest fantasy football contributors were McNabb, Brian Westbrook and rookie DeSean Jackson. McNabb finished the season with 23 touchdown passes to just 11 interceptions, and his five total TD’s during the fantasy playoffs paid dividends to owners.

Westbrook was able to finish the season as a top-10 running back, but his statistics were skewed by four big games. Other than that, Westbrook played more as a RB2 and his nagging injuries forced fantasy owners to hit the panic button throughout the season.

The biggest surprise was Jackson, who took advantage of injuries at the wide receiver position to haul in 62 receptions for 912 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson was taken as a late round flier in most fantasy leagues only to see himself being used as a low-end WR2 by season’s end.

 

KEY ADDITIONS

Jason Peters (OL) & Stacy Andrews (OL): It’s not often that you lose two staples on your offensive line to free agency and during the same offseason, replace them with perennial Pro Bowlers.

However, this was the case in Philadelphia as the Eagles lost Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan to new teams only to make a trade with Buffalo for Jason Peters and sign free agent Stacy Andrews. Since entering the league five years ago Peters has made the Pro Bowl twice and you can make a case he’s been the best left tackle in all of football.

As for Andrews, he joins his brother Shawn in Philadelphia and should fill in adequately at right guard. Both of these moves should help the Eagles improve their 22nd ranked rushing offense of a year ago.

 

KEY DEPARTURE

L.J. Smith (TE): The loss of offensive lineman Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas are the biggest offseason departures in Philadelphia but neither of these guys has scored a fantasy football point during their career so they don’t make our list. 

As for Smith, he had worn out his welcome in Philadelphia and the timing was right for him to sign with the Baltimore Ravens. After a promising 2006 & 2007 season, Smith missed nine games since 2007 and never really found his groove with McNabb.

A sub-par postseason in 2008 and the emergence of back-up tight end Brent Celek was enough to convince the Eagles brass to part ways with their veteran tight end.

 

ROOKIES TO WATCH

Jeremy Maclin (WR): As a sophomore at the University of Missouri, Maclin had 102 receptions for 1,260 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Those numbers have caused him to enter the NFL with a lot of hype surrounding him.

Maclin was pegged as the best wide receiver in the draft by many scouts around the league, but an average combine saw him fall on draft day. With the 19th overall pick, the Eagles drafted Maclin and they expect him to be an impact player for years to come.

In many ways Maclin is a carbon copy of teammate DeSean Jackson—as both wide outs use their speed and athletic ability to beat defenders deep—but don’t expect him to duplicate the rookie success that Jackson saw last season. Reason being, Philadelphia has depth at the position and quarterback Donovan McNabb likes to get everyone involved in the offense.

LeSean McCoy (RB): No doubt about it the Eagles had arguably the best draft in the NFL this year and the drafting of McCoy with the 53rd pick is a large reason why. He will play second fiddle to Westbrook to start the season, but with Westbrook being injury prone expect McCoy to see a healthy amount of touches throughout the year.

The bruiser out of Pittsburgh averaged 4.8 yards per carry during his college career and if his 21 touchdown performance of 2008 is any indicator of his future success, dynasty owners should snag him early in their upcoming drafts.

 

BRUNO BOYS SPOTLIGHT

Brian Westbrook (RB): When healthy everyone will agree that Westbrook is one of the best fantasy football running backs in the NFL, but nagging injuries and durability issues forced him to miss two games last season and led to some inconsistencies in his play. Despite totaling 1,438 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns, many Westbrook owners would agree that he was a bit Jekyll & Hyde for their liking.

11 of his 14 TD’s came over four games and Westbrook had 15 or less carries in eight of his 14 games played.  Westbrook will enter this season as the clear-cut starter but with the Eagles looking towards the future, they did spend an early draft pick on a running back.

Don’t be surprised if we see a more balanced rushing attack in Philadelphia this season with Westbrook getting around 70 percent of the touches and LeSean McCoy or Lorenzo Booker taking the rest.

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Washington Redskins: Position Battles Start With an Arm and a Foot

Peruse many of the expert prognostications this preseason and you will find the Washington Redskins enter 2009 as the front runners in the NFC East….that is the front runners to finish last in a very strong division.

This is not a knock on the Redskins, who could just as easily win the division if certain things fall in to place; these aren’t big “ifs” mind you, but important ones nonetheless.

During head coach Jim Zorn’s inaugural season at the helm in 2008, he approached preseason with the same philosophy of his predecessor, Joe Gibbs. That was, get the starters in and out as quickly as possible and start the season healthy.

The strategy worked beautifully for Zorn, as there were no major casualties entering the season, which fueled the Redskins 6-2 start. 

I wouldn’t look for a change in Zorn’s approach to preseason in 2009, as the NFL season is a marathon and it is vital to any team’s success to minimize injuries. 

In a perfect scenario, that would be the way to proceed. However, the Redskins scenario is far from perfect as they have key personnel questions and position battles looming that need to be addressed in August and early September before they face the Giants in the Meadowlands the first week of the season.

The obvious and most glaring question concerning the Redskins is the quarterback position. 

We all know the offseason saga that transpired as the Redskins flirted with the possibility of acquiring Jay Cutler from the Denver Broncos (he was ultimately traded to the Chicago Bears) and hinted at moving up in the draft to select USC quarterback Mark Sanchez. 

In an earlier article I stated and still believe that if Mr. Snyder wanted Cutler or Sanchez bad enough he would have made it happen. 

If anything, the Redskins used this offseason to serve as a match that they hope lights a fire under their talented but underachieving quarterback in Jason Campbell. 

Now don’t get me wrong, under the right circumstances, the Redskins would have made a move to acquire one of those talented quarterbacks. However, they weren’t willing to mortgage the team’s future to do so.

Campbell showed signs early in the 2008 season that he was prepared to take his play to the next level. 

The old Campbell resurfaced the second half of the season, as opponents looked to shut down Portis and the ground attack while attempting to force Campbell to throw.

Entering 2009, the Redskins have no choice but to hold their collective breath and hope that Campbell produces during a contract year. 

Plan “B” if Campbell should struggle in September is to turn the reigns over to second-year quarterback Colt Brennan. 

Brennan, as you may recall, is the gun-slinging record setter out of Hawaii whose stock heading in to the 2008 draft plummeted with a poor performance on national television during the 2008 Sugar Bowl game against Georgia. 

Redskins EVP of Football Operations, Vinny Cerrato, gladly scooped up the talented, but mechanically deficient, Brennan in the seventh round.

Brennan can play in this league, but he’s not ready to threaten Campbell’s spot in the preseason. Campbell and the Redskins would need to have a complete collapse for Zorn to throw Brennan to the wolves.

Plan “C” (a.k.a. Plan “V”) would be the possibility of bringing in Michael Vick, who is a semi-local product from Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Mr. Snyder will do whatever it takes to win, including taking on potential nightmares like Vick and the baggage in signing him would bring to the team.

I’m sure the Vick option has been discussed. Whether it is a viable option for the Redskins will clarify exactly how much confidence the organization has in Campbell.      

The real preseason battle as far as quarterbacks are concerned is for the third-string spot.

Can 15-year veteran Todd Collins hold off undrafted rookie free agent Chase Daniel for the clipboard roster spot? 

Zorn would probably like to keep Collins as the third quarterback and have Daniel spend a season as a member of the team’s practice squad, improving the one critical aspect of his game, arm strength.

One position battle I plan on closely monitoring this preseason is the duel to handle kicking duties for the Redskins this season.

Fourth-year veteran, Shaun Suisham, has held the job for two and half years. However, last season he missed 10 of 36 attempts for a 72.2 percent success rate, which is unacceptable by NFL standards. 

Let’s face it; most of the Redskins games will be hard-fought battles all the way down to the wire. 

They don’t have the weaponry to put up New England and Indianapolis type scores. 

Last season, 11 of the Redskins 16 games had outcomes decided by eight points or less. Five of those games were decided by three points or less. 

Still think the kickers aren’t important? 

Kickers will determine the outcome of three to four games a year in this parody designed NFL, whether you’re a good team or bad.   

To Suisham’s credit, he has a strong leg that is ideal for kicking through the gusty winds that accompany November and December northeastern games. 

It is my belief that the Redskins still want Suisham to win the job, but just in case last season wasn’t fluke, veteran David Rayner will be around as the kickoff specialist should Suisham continue to struggle.

They will alternate throughout the preseason, but unless the challenger (Rayner) knocks out the champ, he will not take Suisham’s job.

As camp gets underway next week, look for more of my articles as I evaluate various position battles throughout the 2009 Redskins’ preseason. 

Brandon Marshall Shows Some Sense: Reports to Training Camp

After weeks of speculation following another Broncos’ star trade demands, Brandon Marshall made a great decision and showed up to Dove Valley Monday, the day in which Bronco players are required to report to camp.

Although, what must be realized is that this is yet another selfish decision in a long line of self-centered acts by the young receiver.

Marshall was forced to show at camp; otherwise, he would face fines of almost $16,000 per day. He explained in a familiar way, “I’m under contract. It’s my obligation to be here, and I’m here,” reported The Denver Post today. 

Marshall may be in Dove Valley, but that doesn’t mean he’s a happy camper, if you get my drift. When asked if he’s happy to be in a Broncos’ uniform, Marshall said, “I’m happy to be playing football. That’s what I’ve done since I was a little boy, and hopefully, that’s what I can continue to do.”

Marshall wants a bigger contract, as he is only due about $2.2 million this season, whereas many high-profile receivers are paid in the $5-8 million-per-year range.

The Broncos’ hesitation stems from a myriad of off-the-field disputes that leave Marshall’s future hanging in the balance. He has a hearing Aug. 13, and if found guilty, he could start his 2009 season like he did in 2008, serving a suspension.

The most troubling part of Marshall’s overdue arrival at camp is the fact that he hasn’t had a one on one discussion with Josh McDaniels yet, which is eerily similar to the Jay Cutler fiasco. He said, “My agent (Kennard McGuire) has been talking to McDaniels.”

Hopefully, there is not another case of communication breakdown happening between coach and player, or this could definitely spell trouble for the future of the McDaniels’ era in Denver.

Roger Goodell Keeps Micheal Vick In The NFL To Keep Him Out Of The Upstart UFL

So now we know. Micheal Vick will be suspended for the first four games of this season.  This is the judgement handed down by Roger Goodell today.The arguments for and against his reinstatement have already started to fly. On one side there are the chirps and tweets of support from NFL players who support Vick. The other side is made up of Dog lovers and PETA. But put the moral issue aside for a minute because the real reason Mike Vick is back is a business one. This is still the NFL after all.

Roger Goodell just doesn’t want Vick in the upstart UFL.  With Vick this new league would be something to watch, like a car accident. Without him it will fail. It’s that simple. 

So the NFL will now have to absorb a lot of bad publicity.  You can bet that PETA has an ad campaign ready to roll out in any city that signs Vick. But he is back. A team may take a chance on him now that the league has.  As the old saying goes ‘Any publicity is good publicity’, even if it is ‘Bad Newz’.

Training Camp Spotlight: Miles Austin

The moment the Cowboys released Terrell Owens (TO) this past March, many questions were immediately raised.

Can wide receiver, Roy Williams, who was picked up in a midseason trade, pick up Owens slack as the lead receiver?

Would the Cowboys have to dramatically change its offensive approach due to TO’s departure?

Who will fill the void of TO’s down—the—field, big—play ability?

For the last question, the Cowboys are hoping the answer is already on the roster in the form of one, Miles Austin.

Entering into his fourth season out of Monmouth University, Austin will head into this training with an opportunity to carve out a significant role with the regular offense.

Even more, the Cowboys need him to step up.

Not since Terry Glenn in 2006, have the Cowboys had a legitimate deep threat (not named TO) that could stretch the field and keep opposing defenses honest.  In fact, some have argued that the absence of such a receiver is what helped neutralize TO’s effectiveness the past couple of seasons.

Jason Garrett and more importantly, Jerry Jones, recognize the need. After the draft, the Cowboys official website (dallascowboys.com) reported that had Missouri’s Jeremy Maclin slipped past the Philadelphia Eagles (No. 19) in the first round, Jones would have seriously considered trading up for him.

Either way, TO is gone; Maclin is with the Eagles; Roy Williams is now the lead receiver; and the Cowboys will need that deep threat this season. 

Austin brings many tools to the table; listed at 6’3’’ and 216 lbs., he’s not your prototypical smurf—sized burner. While he’s not the most agile in terms of changing directions, he’s shown the ability to run the route tree effectively and looks to be especially dangerous due to his size on slant routes, both short and deep.

It was apparent as early as last season’s preseason that something had clicked for Austin as a receiver. Instead of focusing robotically on his release, steps, and route, it was clear he was running more fluidly and attacking the ball in the air. 

Despite a relatively small sample size, Austin demonstrated his big—play ability, registering 278 yards on 13 receptions for three touchdowns. The Cowboys are confident that Austin can increase his production, but they must be concerned about his ability to remain healthy.

Injuries caused delays in Austin’s complete incorporation into the offense last season.  Furthermore, the mid—season trade for Roy Williams pushed Austin further down the depth chart behind Owens, Williams, and Crayton.

Things have since changed, and barring another injury setback, Austin looks to be primed to have an exponential increase in opportunities and production this season.

Josh McDaniels: A Look Inside the Broncos’ “Master” Mind

Josh McDaniels is one of the most scrutinized coaches in the NFL, and he hasn’t even coached a preseason game yet.

Really though, who could blame fans?

They have endured the loss of their team’s greatest coach, only to have him be replaced by a baby-faced, and some think, arrogant and over-controlling, relative no-name that exiled the team’s best player early in his tenure.

But they haven’t been the only ones, the national, and local media alike have done everything from insult McDaniels’ intelligence to question his ability to lead.

In addition, disputes with Brandon Marshall (which may have cooled for now) and huge turnover in all aspects of the team, have scared fans, and alerted the media that all the Broncos greatness of the last decade and a half is over.

But, as many still wonder, “Who really is Josh McDaniels? Will he be an heir to the “Mastermind” Mike Shanahan, the disciple of “The Grimace” Bill Belichick? Or will he be just another from the Patriots dynasty—Romeo Crennel, Eric Mangini, Charlie Weiss—either a complete flop or at least a disappointment overall.

Can we really judge McDaniels already? I personally haven’t seen any interviews with him on TV that have been longer than a few minutes, and his coverage in the local papers is more speculative than in an interview fashion.

Woody Paige of the The Denver Post, likely the greatest writer in the Rocky Mountain region, though got an intimate experience in Paige’s third interview with the coach.

McDaniels said a few things that struck me, some that I believe are telling of this intriguing figure. Paige begins the interview with this quote from McDaniels, “There are things we will do (offensively) that other teams have never done.”

McDaniels continued, “We definitely will find different ways to make defenses work to get ready for us. Jack Del Rio (Jaguars coach) said it best two years ago. He said, preparing for us (New England) was like preparing for six different defenses. We want to dictate to defenses.”

McDaniels is confident, maybe overly so. But wasn’t Shanahan as well, when he signed on with Denver?

New formations, plays, and an overall different way of looking at things are good for football, especially on offense. After all, there had to be an Air Coryell to create the West Coast offense, and a Mike Shanahan to perfect it.

And possibly, for McDaniels to progress the offense, and maybe the NFL, into an even more sophisticated realm. McDaniels describes his playbook as, “It’s a library.” Paige said it resembled an “Encyclopedia Brittanica,” but McDaniels clarifies that the Broncos, “Won’t use all of it, but we will go into each week and choose the best plays for that game.”

Really, this should be really exciting for Broncos fans, as even if Kyle Orton isn’t the quarterback of the future, he could be the stop gap for a few years. McDaniels addressed Orton, not holding anything back when speaking of the positives he holds in store.

“It’s a tough adjustment coming into our system. Kyle moved here full time and has learned the offense. We threw everything at him. He’s watching film, studying all the time. I feel very good about him. Kyle’s a smart player. He brings leadership, toughness. We’re not going to ask him to do things that are not best suited for him.”

McDaniels, with all those plays, has to find some that suit the players he has, if he ever wants to be labeled with a cool nickname like his predecessors.

When it came to talking about the team overall, McDaniels showed his youthful pride-like confidence once again. “

All I can tell you is I’ve never been a part of a losing season in my life—not when I started playing in the seventh grade, not in high school, not in college, not (as an assistant) at Michigan State, not in all my years (eight) in New England. I don’t want to put a cap on what we’re going to do.”

Broncos fans should be assured that McDaniels is a winner, has experienced winning his entire life, including winning Super Bowls. A winner and leader, even if that leader rips the reigns a bit too hard for some, is much better than a loser and obedient servant-like the situation in Oakland.

Paige finishes by describing McDaniels as, “Josh is engaging, self-assured, likable, oft-times funny at his own expense, serious about his profession and goals, an NFL historian, highly intelligent, a dedicated husband and father and a clever, gifted football coach.”

This interview is a great glimpse into the real Josh McDaniels, a person with so much control over the beloved Broncos, that we seemingly don’t know yet; a person that has been likely prematurely scrutinized by those that may not see his vision, yet.

The Island Of Misfit Toys: Michael Vick and a Saintly Connection

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell gave Vick a conditional reinstatement to the league Monday, which means Vick can play in the final two preseason games this year and then will be suspended for six weeks. After that, his full reinstatement will be likely and he should be eligible to play in Week 7.

Yes, you read correctly, Vick will be eligible to play in game seven. Some sources say that this is the latest; he could be back sooner, but week seven for sure.

Oh, the circus this will bring for the media moguls.  But I am ready for a front row seat.

Let the jockeying begin.  Let’s face it:  Owners, general managers and coaches alike are licking their chops. They will be able to get him for a steal if they are willing to take a chance.

I sure hope that our very own Island of Misfit Toys is where he will find a home.

The New Orleans Saints have welcomed those deemed “damaged” or “second chancers” on more than one occasion. Once again, we will welcome him in with open arms.

Our very own head coach Sean Payton was a replacement player who got his second chance against the Saints in the 1987 scrub season. In 2005, he took a chance on the city, the biggest of second chances, and decided to rebuild with us.

Next is Drew Brees, released from the Chargers due to a shoulder injury. I’ll bet their front office wished they hadn’t done that!  But their loss, our gain and we love our bummed shoulder teddy bear.

Jeremy Shockey, who visited our repair shop a few too many times than expected last year, will be good as new.  It seems his stuffing was twisted due to irregular thread used while repairing his leg from a previous injury. 

I would like to take this time to thank the repair shop for all of their hard work. Although Jeremy was not ready for Santa’s list, he did make an impact.  It appears that 30 of his 50 receptions went for first downs.  When Santa needed him, he led the way.

I can understand why some of the other toys may be nervous; they usually are when someone new arrives.  Luckily for us, such veteran players as Fred MacAfee and Michael “beer man” Lewis hold staff positions geared to guide the toys on their journey.

Santa, I know it is six months until Christmas, but one of your toys needs a good home to help in his rehabilitation. I am sure that Mr. Benson and his granddaughter would be happy to open the Island another time for you.

Although Mike Vick is very familiar with how to make it to the Superdome (He has visited during Christmas when he was in college) could you please send a map?

Reggie Bush can’t remember where the North and South poles are located and his GPS is acting up, showing only east and west.

I am sure the folks down in New Orleans would love to have him. They have even offered to have a Redemption party for him on Monday, November 2, 2009. They already had this date saved for their Alumni game, so the Superdome will be rocking for him against his old team, the Atlanta Falcons.

Antonio Pierce: Leader No Matter What

Antonio Pierce has always been overlooked and overshadowed ever since his college career ended at the University of Arizona.

Pierce was not selected in the 2001 NFL Draft, but signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins.

He played well with the Redskins but was still not a standout player, and it was understandable why he wasn’t drafted.

In 2005, he signed with the New York Giants and became one of the leaders of a defense that was on its way to greatness.

He was soon named one of the captains of the defense and truly showed what it meant to be a New York Giant linebacker.

As the past has told us, Sam Huff, Lawrence Taylor, and Harry Carson are some of the greatest linebackers ever, and although Pierce is not in that elite category, his heart and determination may soon propel him to that level.

The high point in Pierce’s relatively young career was when his Giants defeated the once undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. That defense rallied around Pierce and his leadership throughout that entire run.

Yet, he is still looked down upon and has not been able to change people’s minds about him.

During last year’s somewhat disappointing campaign, Pierce was under the microscope many times. His leadership was now being questioned more than ever because Strahan was gone.

Once November hit, it seemed as though the wheels were falling off the bus for Pierce, and everything was going in the wrong direction. Brian Westbrook was running up and down the field, and a Super Bowl repeat started to become uncertain.

Then tragedy struck, and former Giant wide receiver Plaxico Burress accidentally shot himself in the leg at a night club. Pierce was there with Burress and tried to help him out.

Although there are many sides to the story, Pierce started to get into legal trouble.

This off-field distraction led to on-field chaos, and New York never looked like its old self, resulting in a first round playoff loss to the Eagles.

This leads us to present time and the upcoming 2009 season for the Giants. Big things are going to be expected from the team, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Osi Umenyiora is back from injury, key free agents were signed, and the defense is starting to come together as a solid unit.

Even though some may disagree, this defense will not be successful in 2009 if Pierce is not in the middle of everything to call out plays and be the leader that he was meant to be.

Pierce has the right to wear the “C” on his jersey because he is not only a true leader for the defense, but for the entire team.

Also check out this article that I have written on www.BlogNYG.com and www.MetroAreaSports.Blogspot.com

Michael Vick’s Future: Weighing the Options

For the sake of the argument, let us put aside the criminal transgressions that Michael Vick has incurred and focus on what he has done in the realm of the NFL.

Prior to his prison sentence and two year absence from football, Michael Vick was the most dynamic player in the NFL. He utilized his superior speed and elusiveness to become the best rushing quarterback in the league.

Despite the run first mentality he seemed to go by, his arm was never a big issue. In fact, he possessed good arm strength and accuracy in addition to the ability throw on the run. These were just the tools he brought to the game.

His statistics, in a strictly quarterback context, were pedestrian. His first season as starter was his best throwing year for yards, at 2,936 with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Since that season, he has failed to throw for any more than 2,500 yards. However, he was hardly worthy of being defined in a strictly quarterback context.

If nothing else, Michael Vick was a play maker, who relied on his status as a dual threat quarterback to find success. Even though he had a tendency to run in most situations, teams still couldn’t stop him from running wild on their defenses.

Despite his average yardage passing, he made up for it with his rushing ability.

In the season prior to his prison sentence, he threw for 2,474 yards, 20 touchdowns, and had 13 interceptions. He rushed for 1,039 yards and two touchdowns, while averaging 8.4 yards per carry, and contributing 11 carries over 20 yards.

In terms of play making, Vick was responsible for just under 3,600 yards and 22 touchdowns. His overall production rivals that of any top tier quarterback, even if it isn’t all gained through the air.

The last player to combine the skills of a quarterback and the threat of a running back in the way Michael Vick did was Randall Cunningham. Cunningham’s best season was the 1990 season with the Philadelphia Eagles.

During the 1990 season, Cunningham threw for nearly 3,500 yards with 30 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and rushed for 942 yards. He averaged eight yards per carry and ran in five touchdowns.

No one is saying Vick is ever going to be able to put together the combination rushing and passing season Cunningham did during the 1990 season. It is even less likely now, after not seeing NFL action since 2006.

It remains to be seen what Vick is capable of now that he has been out of the game for two years, and it is to be expected that he will have to earn the right to start for any team upon his return. He will serve as a backup until further notice, or he should until he proves himself ready to start again.

Now with Vick’s return to the game seemingly imminent, and the NFL making every effort to keep him out of the UFL, where is he going to play?

Assuming he still has the ability he had two years ago, he should be picked up by some team on that basis. We are going to assume his skills have not deteriorated, and he can still hack it in the NFL just for the sake of it all.

One obvious option for Vick would be San Francisco. That team is in rebuild mode and lacks a quarterback that can lead the team. Sorry Shaun Hill, you just aren’t the answer.

Given the offensive line’s deficiencies, Vick’s traditionally elusive style of play could fit in perfectly with a line that can’t form anything more than a crumbling pocket for a passer. It would be a change from Atlanta, where Vick had running lanes crafted for him by their good line. But I doubt he would find it impossible to run around and throw to veteran Issac Bruce, underrated Arnaz Battle, and rookie Michael Crabtree.

And since the 49ers are a good running team with Frank Gore, how hard could it be for them to adopt a Wildcat formation of their own, a la Miami?

Alex Smith is on the depth chart for the Niners, but I doubt he is going to be able to wrestle the job from Hill. Vick could come in and be the number two guy, and he could potentially land the starting job if Hill can’t cut it.

Another potential destination for Vick could be Tennessee. Kerry Collins is the cemented starter and Vince Young has hardly lived up to his draft status or the hype he garnered after single-handedly downing USC in the Rose Bowl.

With the uncertainty of Young’s role on the team in the future, it isn’t out of the question for Vick to step in and fill the role of number two.

The Titans are also a good running team with Chris Johnson and LenDale White doing plenty of work behind an experienced line that includes Kevin Mawae at center. Vick could find more than a suitable amount of running room behind the Titans line, and there are plenty of fine players for him to throw to.

He would be reunited with former Falcon Alge Crumpler, which could create instant chemistry. Returning receivers Justin Gage and Lavelle Hawkins, as well as newly acquired Nate Washington make for a great combination of deep threats and big targets. Bo Scaife could serve as a younger Alge Crumpler if Crumpler does not return to the team.

A longshot of a destination for Vick could be Minnesota, a team that is deeply embroiled in the Brett Favre will-he-or-won’t-he saga. If Favre decides not to return, Vick could find a comfortable spot on the Vikings’ roster.

The Vikings don’t have a definite starter on the roster, and the battle seems to be between the inconsistent and raw Tarvaris Jackson and stop gap veteran Sage Rosenfels.

Adrian Peterson gives the Vikings the best running game in the league. The offensive line is full of hole-opening monsters that Vick could find ample running room behind if he were to end up there.

The receivers for the Vikings have a lot of potential, but even that is a dangerous word for receivers these days. Bobby Wade and Bernard Berrian provide the deep threat, while Sindey Rice gives a big target in the red zone and over the middle.

Rookie Percy Harvin is a wild card in terms of whether he’ll be a slot receiver or grow into a true wide out. Either way he could be a great target for Vick to spread the ball around to.

Other teams like Tampa Bay and St. Louis are options for Vick. St. Louis could look to Vick to be the boost to the quarterback position that Marc Bulger has not been in the last two years, for whatever reason.

Tampa Bay just drafted Josh Freeman to presumably step into the starting job after a year or two of learning on the bench. Until he is ready, Vick could spend his first year there proving himself to the league and potentially earning the top job elsewhere in the following offseason.

The saga of Michael Vick’s return to the NFL is just beginning and will only get better as his regular season return draws closer. He won’t be able to play in a regular season game until after week 6, but who’s to say that the league doesn’t bump a week off of his suspension for good behavior?

Who’s to say the NFLPA doesn’t step in as Terrell Owens suggested and get the suspension lifted?

Michael Vick will never outrun his criminal transgressions. The only thing he can hope to do is rebuild his once red hot career and return to the glory he was on the cusp of achieving as a player. Until then, the world can only watch.

What the Talking Heads Are Not Saying about The Colts

 

Whether you have been following the NFL offseason by watching television, listening to the radio, or reading articles via print or the Web, if you have heard anything about the Indianapolis Colts, there is a good chance it was about one member or another of the coaching staff leaving or Peyton Manning being upset with the aftermath.

However, there is a lot more going on for the Colts during the offseason as they prepare for the 2009 season than who is missing or coming back in a reduced capacity.  The following are five storylines I will be watching closely based on their potential impact on the Colts’ 2009 season.

We have heard all about the retirement of Tom Moore and his diminished role as a consultant from the mass media, but how much has been said about his replacement at offensive coordinator, Clyde Christensen?

Clyde Christensen came over to the Colts from Tampa Bay along with Tony Dungy in 2002 and has been the wide receivers coach ever since.  The Colts have a reputation for continuity on offense, and Christensen’s promotion lines up perfectly with that philosophy.

Peyton Manning made a point of mentioning that Christensen was already involved with play calling during the 2008 season for third down and red zone situations.  Needless to say, the Colts offense led the league in both categories.

The Colts’ biggest problem in 2009 involving Moore and Christensen may actually wind up being ensuring that Christensen does not feel like Moore is looking over his shoulder.  Since Moore himself has referred to the term “consultant” as another word for someone who second guesses everything, I think he will have a strong appreciation for Christensen’s situation and best interests.

Another Colts assistant we have not heard much about from the mass media is their new defensive coordinator Larry Coyer, who was brought on board after tenures with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Denver Broncos to replace the departed Ron Meeks.

Coyer brings a very different track record to the position than Meeks.  While the Colts defense under Meeks has often struggled against the run and to get off the field on third down, Coyer’s last stint as a defensive coordinator, with the Broncos from 2003 to 2006, indicates that he knows how to address those areas.

During Coyer’s four seasons as the Broncos defensive coordinator, the Broncos defense finished in the top five against the run twice and in the top ten in all but one season.  The Broncos defense ranked 12^th that year, which is still higher than the Colts defense has ever ranked against the run under Ron Meeks.

Under Coyer, the Broncos defense ranked in the top five on third down twice and never ranked any worse than 14^th.  The Colts defense ranked worse than 14^th in all but two seasons under Meeks, during which they ranked 12^th.

Problems with stopping the run and getting off the field on third down translate into a defense spending too much time on the field, which limits both the quantity and quality of opportunities for its offense to put points on the board.

Since 2002, when Ron Meeks took over as defensive coordinator of the Colts, the Colts defense has ranked last in time of possession-per-drive.

In more recent years, since 2005, the Colts defense has ranked last in time of possession-per-drive by a disconcerting amount.  The difference between the Colts defense and the second-worst defense during that span is greater than the difference between that 31^st-ranked defense and the 20^th-ranked defense.

Under Coyer from 2003 to 2006, the Broncos defense ranked 2^nd in time-of-possession-per-drive.

While word of adding new “wrinkles” to the Colts defense has excited players and fans alike, Coyer’s experience working with the Tampa 2 system as a member of the Buccaneers’ coaching staff should ensure a smooth transition.

 

Perhaps tied to some of those new wrinkles being added by Coyer is linebacker Phillip Wheeler, who is projected to start on the strong side in 2009. 

Considered by scouts to be one of the best blitzing linebackers in the nation when he entered the 2008 NFL Draft, Wheeler seemed like somewhat of an odd choice in the third round for a team that blitzes about as often as most people see their third cousin.

Perhaps Coyer has plans for utilizing Wheeler’s pass rush capabilities as an important part of a revamped Colts defense.  Perhaps the drafting of Wheeler a year ago indicated an eventual move in this direction even before the current offseason.

Otherwise, the Colts will just have to make do with the raw athleticism of Wheeler that caused his college teammates at Georgia Tech to compare him to another teammate, Calvin Johnson.

 

During the 2007 regular season, the Colts defense played well en route to leading the league in points allowed.  However, losing Dwight Freeney for the season to injury and an injury suffered by Robert Mathis down the stretch combined to have a profound effect on the Colts defense in the postseason.

With Freeney sidelined and Mathis limited by his injury, the Colts defense simply could not find their pass rush against the San Diego Chargers during the divisional round of the 2007 postseason.

Even though the Colts defense managed to injure the Chargers starting quarterback, Philip Rivers, by eventually pushing one of his offensive linemen onto his leg in the second half, the Colts defense had no answer for the Chargers passing game that day.

Rivers and his backup Billy Volek combined in that game for a 137.2 passer rating and 13.6 passing yards per attempt.

Even before injuries exposed the Colts lack of depth behind Freeney and Mathis, the fourth quarter collapse of the Colts against the Patriots midway through the regular season showed that this was a serious issue.

The Colts defense managed to put the seemingly invulnerable Patriots offense on the ropes for three quarters in that game specifically because of the pass rush Freeney and Mathis provided, but they eventually tired out.  That allowed the Patriots to score two late touchdowns to come back from a ten point fourth quarter deficit and win the game.

During the game, both Freeney and Mathis could be seen spending plays on the sideline gasping for air.  When they left the game, guys like Jeff Charleston took their place.

Colts president Bill Polian took notice and addressed the issue by drafting Marcus Howard in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft and signing Curtis Johnson as an undrafted rookie free agent after the draft.

Howard has drawn comparisons to Robert Mathis due to his lean build and jaw-dropping speed off the edge.  Johnson has earned comparisons to Joey Porter.

Unfortunately, Colts fans did not get to see very much of Howard and Johnson during the 2008 season beyond the preseason, special teams, and a meaningless regular season finale. 

Still, the duo impressed in the limited time that they had, combining for 3.5 sacks during the preseason and 2.5 sacks in the regular season finale.

A bevy of defensive linemen on the Colts training camp roster could mean that one or both of these situational edge rushers will have a hard time even making final roster cuts this season.

The word from Polian is that both Howard and Johnson still have a lot of work to do in terms of developing their technique in order to be effective against bigger NFL offensive linemen.

But is Polian tipping his hand, or just throwing opponents off the scent?

Certainly one of the Colts team’s biggest problems during the 2008 season was its running game.  The Colts ranked second to last in rushing yards per game and last in rushing yards per carry in 2008.

It was a performance that C Jeff Saturday and the rest of the offensive line consider an embarrassment, and their responsibility to fix in 2009. 

Jamie Thomas, whom the Colts selected in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft, is a new member of the offensive line who might just bring something new to the table.  Listed at 331 pounds, Thomas is anything but a typical Colts interior lineman.

Charlie Johnson was the heaviest player to play on the Colts’ interior line in 2008 at 305 pounds.  The only offensive lineman on the Colts roster during the 2008 season who even comes close to Thomas in weight is right tackle Ryan Diem at 320 pounds.

Like Diem, Thomas is listed as a tackle on the Colts’ roster, but he has not played tackle since high school and said that he has been working mostly at the guard position so far with the Colts during the offseason.

The Colts also signed Cornelius Lewis as an undrafted free agent after the 2009 NFL draft.  He is listed at 324 pounds and as a guard on the Colts’ roster.

The Colts may have decided to get bigger on the offensive line.  It is unlikely that either Thomas or Lewis will be starting in 2009 barring a rash of injuries, but we might just see them play key situational roles when the Colts need to pick up short yardage on the ground.

 

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