Just As I Predicted: Jerry Signs Before Camp

I knew it would happen, and I said so earlier this week: Falcon first-rounder Peria Jerry has signed with the team, ensuring Atlanta’s NFL franchise will have all of its draft picks signed and ready to butt helmets when camp opens this weekend.

He signed a five-year contract late Thursday with the team.

Jerry, whom NFL analyst Ross Tucker once called “a rolling bucket of butcher knives,” will replace Grady Jackson, 35, on the D-line. Jerry is represented by Brett Farve’s agent, Bus Cook.

Jerry was a consensus All-SEC selection at Mississippi and was considered the second-rated defensive tackle in the draft behind Boston College’s B.J. Raji, who was selected by Green Bay with the ninth pick in the draft. Jerry was taken 24th.

During his college career, Jerry was known for his penetrating moves and stoutness against the run. He registered 11.5 sacks and 33 tackles for losses and was chosen first-team All-American by The Associated Press.

The signing completes the offseason transformation of the Falcons defense, which saw the departure of Jackson, Keith Brooking and Lawyer Milloy, among others.

 

Vikes Quarterbacks Likely Won’t Pay Off, Hoping Brad Childress Kept His Receipt

First and foremost, regardless of any “No chance” quotes coming from Brad Childress, let’s all agree that this whole “Favre thing” isn’t quite dead yet.

There have been tiny birds chirping from tall trees about a possible Favre signing mid-way through August, rather than mid-season.

But biting on hearsay, a coach’s words that you can never trust, or even the word of the great one (Favre) is nothing short of letting yourself get knee deep in a wild goose chase.

No, instead, let’s drop the drama off at the pool, let it sit a while, and get back to what we know.

What is absolutely for certain in Minnesota, is that Childress and co. have one hell of a running back, a solid offensive line, an active special teams unit, and an aggressive defense.

But, again, we knew that.

That’s why they were dipping their fingers in the Brett Favre dip all off-season. Not necessarily because it tasted so good that they had to keep on dipping, but because the alternative, was, well, not so tasty.

But here the Vikings are, ready to go in training camp today, with Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels duking it out. Oh, and let’s not forget that not-so-coveted former USC quarterback, John David Booty.

He might just get to keep that number four jersey, after all.

But since we’re back to square one, are we honestly going to allow ourselves to believe that this is going to be a fair fight?

Let’s face it, people, Rosenfels was brought in for a reason.

No, he’s not overly athletic (or athletic at all), and probably isn’t the long-term answer (make that a definitely), but he’s a proven pocket passer with a good arm and has shown he can put up solid numbers.

Jackson, on the other hand, finally showed spurts of decent play late last season, but then made everyone forget about his blissful play against the Detroit Lions, as he stunk it up in a playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

There are two doors Brad Childress can choose to open, and quite sadly, neither will lead to that possible Super Bowl run that Brett Favre was tempting the entire state of Minnesota with.

With Rosenfels, you have a guy who will make some plays and can manage games, but can also go all “helicopter” on you, and blow games at the last second.

Jackson, on the other hand, offers to versatility, athleticism, and potential.

But 2009 isn’t about potential. Or helicopters.

It’s about getting someone behind center who is competent enough to manage games, and good enough to win a few when called upon.

Call me crazy, but Childress had his guy last year, and he went by the name of Gus Frerotte.

But like Jackson before him, Childress gave up on Frerotte, went back to Jackson, and well, the rest is history.

So what does the crystal ball have in store for the Jackson vs. Rosenfels match-up?

It could very well be a tight race, and either winner could easily emerge as a serviceable quarterback that simply does what he needs to to help the Vikings win games, i.e., a Trent Dilfer.

That, or Childress could suck up his pride and turn to door number three.

Yes, friends, there is always a door number three.

He could take back his “no chance” remarks, give ol’ Brett another call in eight weeks (or less), and ride that 40-year old arm as far as it gets him.

After all, at this point, what does he really have to lose?

The 2009 Bills Off-Season: Filling in the Casual Bills Fan

The 2008 season was a tough one to swallow for Bills fans. One moment the Bills were riding high, and the next moment they had crashed and burned. The off-season started out a little rocky for the Bills and their public relations. The retaining of Dick Jauron and his staff left a bad taste in many fan’s mouths. Their talks with Peters weren’t going anywhere. They cut Dockery, in a fairly surprising move, when it seemed they could have, and should have, gotten some trade value out of him. Laveranues Coles, amongst others, skipped past the Bills and eventually sign with the Bengals. Angelo Crowell ran for the airport. Early on, the fan’s pessimisms were growing.

Did the Bills do enough this off-season to improve and sustain success over 16 regular season games and break the playoff drought? Despite the rough start, many speculate they may have.

Quarterback
Trent Edwards took a major step forward last year…. followed by two steps back. The Bills hope they have enough pieces in place to help Trent take the next step. He is entering his third year, and although he hasn’t quite set the league on fire, he has flashed serious potential at times.

While his arm strength has been questioned, especially in the late season winds at the Ralph, his cerebral approach may reap big rewards. Many experts agree year three is the normal break out year for a young QB, and this fact has many picking Trent as this years break out QB. The Bills have shown a commitment to Trent and his cerebral approach while working almost exclusively out of the no-huddle thus far this offseason. This will allow Edwards more use of his strengths, giving him freedom in changing the play at the line. Whether that continues to be the trend under live, pads-on action, remains to be seen.

The loss of backup JP Losman prompted the Bills to grab Ryan Fitzpatrick off the free agent market. His progression last year filling in for the injured Carson Palmer (Bengals) had him targeted early by the Bills. In fact, the Bills reportedly turned down a trade offer from the Lions, John Kitna for Derrick Dockery, because they wanted Fitz instead. The Bills later released Dockery for nothing.

G. Hamden is a backup holdover from last year. He knows the system, but will hopefully never see the field.

This isn’t a knock on the backups, but the Bills season hinges in the health of Trent Edwards and the progress it is assumed he will make. The Bills are loaded at the offensive skill positions all over the field, but a questionable pass blocking O-line needs to keep the often injured Trent Edwards functioning for the season’s duration if the Bills plan on having success in ’09.

Running Backs
Right when is seemed like Lynch, and his fans, had put his hit and run incident behind him, he was charged with an illegally possessed fire arm. When in the lineup he is one of the hardest running versatile running backs in the league. He may benefit from missing some games early in the season, because historically runners with similar bruising styles have gotten worn down too early in their seasons and careers. Lynch, who is accurately nic-named Beastemode, will not be easily replaced during his three game suspension. Luckily the Bills have one of the deepest, most talented running back stables in the league.

Fred “The Gem” Jackson is cut from the same clothe as Beastemode (The nic-name I gave him may not be as cool or as widely used though). The two combined to catch more passes then any other running back duo in the league last year. Jackson’s off-season, in-season, and game-day efforts are as high as anyone’s, and he has proved he can be highly effective as a starter. Rumor is he’s been in the weight room all off-season, and although he isn’t quite as powerful as Lynch, he is a bit faster, and every bit as versatile. Not a true “change-of-pace” back, but the two make a very effective duo.

These two did not benefit from good, or constant, run blocking last year or a consistent passing attack. But, the Bills made some changes on the O-line in attempts to get more physical up-front. If it goes according to plan, these two may be considered the leagues premier one-two punch by next off-season.

The duo will be joined by Dominic Rhodes in the backfield this season. He was added as insurance, and to be the primary backup to Jackson during Lynch’s suspension. Rhodes, who has produced a 1000 yard season before, has experience and versatility, and should fit right in with these guys.

In this crowed backfield Xavier Omon may be the odd man out. Despite his whooping college production, he only logged six touches last year, in his rookie season. He might be NFL caliber, but this backfield is overflowing. If he has an eye opening preseason, his roster spot may be saved for depth, due to Lynch’s suspension. Then again, sometimes the Bills will do a player like this a favor and cut him early, so he has time to catch on with another team.

The Bills will likely keep a fullback on the roster for goal line or short yardage. But, with the depth and versatility found in their skill positions, I would be surprised if one was used much. Cory McIntyre, fresh off his offseason wrongful arrest for flashing, is the lone holdover. Although the versatile Derek Schouman is now considered to be an in-line blocking tightend, I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if using him in spot duty as a fullback prompted the Bills to cut McIntyre to save a roster spot, possibly for Omon. Preseason should sort that out.

Wide Receivers
The addition of Terrell Owens was easily the biggest move of the Bills offseason. Heck, it was one of the biggest moves in the NFL. After a Dallas surprise cut, T.O. was in limbo with teams reportedly blacklisting him. To Bills fans huge surprise, and mostly delight, three days later he was signed by Buffalo in what was arguably their boldest free agent signing ever.

T.O. has averaged more then 10 TDs a season in his career, and he cracked the double digit figure last year, his 13th NFL season. He will be welcomed by a team that had a total of 14 passing TDs last year.

T.O. combined with Lee Evans makes one of the most formidable combinations in the league. Evans, who signed an extension during the 2008 season, is one of the best long ball wide receivers in the game. Consistent double coverages have lowered his production enough to make him one of the most underrated players in the league by outsiders. Now, with T.O. opposite, defenses will be forced to pick their poison, and Evans can hit a big one from any spot on the field.

Josh Reed will now be relegated to his more natural position in the slot. His physical play, run blocking, and sure hands will be a strong asset in the three wide sets. He has developed good chemistry with Trent Edwards, and could serve as a very good security blanket. He has a nose for the first down marker, and his production may be surprising this year.

Not far behind Josh Reed is some very good depth. The Bills have a WR for every situation, and they may be set up for the long term. Despite off-season trade rumors, they still have the speedy Roscoe Parrish. I’ve argued he has been underutilized in years past, but with a crowded stable of WRs, he might be used even less. Steve Johnson came on late last year, his rookie season, and has been turning heads. His “NFL body” is most likely to challenge Reed for playing time. And, no one has yet given up on last years second round pick, 6’6″, James Hardy.

With some blocking, Parrish can execute a reverse with best of them. Second year guys Johnson and Hardy can make a “sizable” impact in the redzone.

Rounding out the receivers is a number of hopefuls headed by special teams standout Justin Jenkins. The Bills will likely look to replace Justin’s gunning prowess with someone from another position because of how crowded this position is.

Tightend
The Bills received very little production out of the tightends last year, and fans were starting to think it was a forgotten position. Robert Royal manned the position for three years in Buffalo, and that was approximately three years too long. I have him as the official leader in “fumbles per touch” over that span (yes, I made that stat up, and no, I didn’t count everyone’s). He was released in February, and has since signed with the Browns.

The Bills have been lacking an athletic, seem-finding, receiving tightend for quite some time, and at first glace, it appeared the Bills had too many holes to afford drafting a top notch one. But, the Bills managed to grab arguably the most talented receiving tightend in this draft, and quite possibly the most athletically gifted tightend they have ever had. To many people’s surprise Shawn Nelson was had in the lower fourth round.

Nelson will challenge holdovers Derek Schouman and Derek Fine. Both are capable blockers, and both are capable receivers. While neither is stellar at either requirement, Schouman is a little better at blocking, and Fine might be a little better at receiving. Nelson will see some playing time, and might even move into a starting role sooner then you may think. But it is unlikely he will begin the season as a starter. The Bills have started him out slowly, lining him up in the slot, as primarily a passing option. This is mostly how he was used in college, and his in-line blocking is a little raw for the Bills, who historically put a premium on the blocking type tightends. Don’t count him out though, he is an underrated and willing blocker.

The receiving production fans should expect from this trio, and the playing time fans should expect from Nelson, both hinge on how well the offensive line holds up. If the tights ends have to stay back for protection all the time, they obviously won’t be catching a lot of balls. If Edwards can get a little time, this offense will be putting a lot of defenses on their heels. With Trent being a younger QB with a propensity for checking down, the tightends have the potential be more productive then they have been in the recent past, despite the huge demands of T.O. If they do get opportunities in the passing game with T.O. and Lee outside, all three could be a problem for an opposing linebacker, and Nelson could be nightmare for them.

Offensive Line
The biggest question mark on the offense this year is the O-line. The Bills are solid-to-loaded at every other offensive position, but their entire season depends on how the offensive front holds up. On paper it might be one of the worst O-lines in the entire NFL. Someone different is manning every position across the line. But, with the Bills facing some of the league’s best nose tackles in the 3-4 defenses of the AFCE so frequently, it is clear they put a premium on shaking up their line, while trying to upgrade the toughness on its interior this offseason.

Last year’s right tackle was Langston Walker. This year it is slated to be Brad Butler. Butler hasn’t had playing time at right tackle since college so it will be a bit of a transition for him. But, he is a very hard worker and is quoted as saying he is willing to do whatever the Bills ask of him.

Due to Butler’s jump outside to tackle, there is a bit of a battle at right guard. Seth McKinney, who got most of the first team reps in OTAs, is likely just keeping the spot warm for first round pick, Eric Wood. Wood is not only transitioning from college to the pros, he is moving from center to guard. He is expected to be a building block on the interior of the Bills O-line for years to come.

The center position last year was arguably the weakest position on the team. The Bills made no attempt to retain Duke Preston or Melvin Fowler, not even as backups. I don’t want to bash the two guys, but Fowler wasn’t strong enough and Preston wasn’t smart enough. Hopefully the Bills have found a guy who can combine strength and brains in Geoff Hangartner. Hangartner started eight games last year for a stellar Carolina line, and although he may not be pro bowl bound, he should be an easy upgrade.

With last years left guard gone, the previously mentioned Dockery, the Bills were left with no clear starter. This position was left in limbo for much of the offseason. There were some trade rumors here and there, but none materialized. The position is being held at this time by last year’s backup tackle, Kirk Chambers. He is being pushed by second round pick Andy Levitre. The Bills traded up to the second round for Levitre, the second interior O-lineman drafted in as many rounds. He is expected to be the eventual LG starter, but he has to earn it.

The biggest change on the Bills line was the change at left tackle, the hardest line position in football. After over a year of pulling teeth with Jason Peters (a player I don’t mind bashing) to get him to play, the Bills finally parted ways with him. Last year he showed up late, then after a mystery injury, he left early. He found his payday, but after quitting on the Bills, it thankfully wasn’t in Buffalo. The Bills received a 2009 1st round pick (28th overall), a 2009 4th round pick, and a 2010 sixth rounder. No doubt his talent will be missed, but his effort will more then be replaced by the massive Langston Walker. Skeptics aren’t convinced Walker is agile enough to excel on the left, but Trent Edwards’ health depends on it.

If it all pans out like the Bills hope, the line from left to right will be Walker, Levitre, Hangartner, Wood, and Butler. This will leave the versatile Chambers as the first guy off the bench if there is an injury at any position. The Bills also have Demetrius Bell on the roster. Hopefully after a year in the NFL condition program he is physically stronger then he was coming out of college last year. Bell may be the most talented LT they have, and he may be the future solution, but right now he is simply too raw.

Defensive Line
In 2008 the Bills pass rush was one of the worst in the league and was near the bottom in sacks, pressures, and turnovers. When Schobel went out of the lineup in week five, the then less than average pass rush took a turn for the worst. No one knew it at the time, but Schobel ended up having a season ending Lisfranc injury. This offseason Schobel has heard his critics, and feels like he has a lot to prove. He said his foot shouldn’t be a factor moving forward and he plans to be as productive as ever. Schobel will likely be lined up with Williams (DT), Stroud (DT), and Kelsey (DE) again.

The only real addition to this unit is first round draft pick Aaron Maybin. He was drafted 11th overall, and is expected to make an impact. How much of an impact, and where, still remains to be seen. He lined up at LDE and RDE in college, and was also projected by some scouts as a 3-4 or rush OLB. He has excellent speed for a lineman, and possibly the fastest first step the world has ever seen in a big man. The only problem is he isn’t exactly all that big. He did manage to put on 25 lbs of muscle leading to the combine, and he is still young and growing, but there are still concerns he isn’t ready to be an every down DE in the NFL just yet.

Personally, I think it is just a matter of time before Maybin takes Kelsey’s job. Kelsey has managed less then five sacks the past two seasons combined. If Kelsey was stellar verses the run that would be one thing, but he is less then average. Maybin will take the obvious passing downs early in the year, and as the season wears on, I believe he will slowly relegate the over paid Kelsey to the pine.

Stroud and Williams will benefit from having Schobel back. These two DTs will be backed up by the capable Spencer Johnson, and possibly a rejuvenated McCargo. Word on the street is McCargo is feeling motivated and in his best shape ever.

Ryan Denny, who miraculously led the D-line in sacks last year will also see time in the DE rotation. Last years third round pick Chris Ellis has been unimpressive thus far, and at this time he is even behind ex-practice squad journeyman Copeland Bryan on the depth chart.

The entire D-line should benefit from a change in approach. Bill Kollar, who emphasized a high effort and motor approach, moved on to the Texans, and he was replaced by the very experienced Bob Sanders. Sanders was Green Bays defensive coordinator last year and has 30 years of coaching experience, including 15 years of D-line coaching. He is being billed as a soften spoken technician and veteran players have already admitted to learning a thing or two from him.

Linebackers
The heart of this unit is third year pro Paul Posluszny. Poz now has over a full year starting under his belt. He struggled and was caught out of position at times last year, but expect him to put those experiences together with his skills to become a leader in the middle of the defense. Plus playing behind Marcus Stroud again isn’t going to hurt. Poz’s top backup is Pat Thomas who started most of last year for the Chiefs.

Weak side linebacker Kawika Mitchell is returning, and although he wasn’t the smash hit I had hoped he would be last season, he is still better then average. If Perry Fewell, the Bills defensive coordinator, could bring himself to send Mitchell on a blitz more often, he can be very effective. But, Mitchell was very inconsistent dropping into coverage. Hopefully with a year in the system he can make the plays he is capable of making more often.

The strong side LB spot is the weakness of this unit. Angelo Crowell, who was put on IR prior to game one last year, is now gone. Keith Ellison, who was shoved into the starting role in Crowell’s absence, somehow managed to keep his job after an unimpressive ‘08 season. This past off-season the Bills must have interviewed half a dozen upgrades, most notably Pisa Tinoisamoa, but none landed in Buffalo. Ellison will be pushed by second year pro Alvin Bowen, and rookie Nic Harris. Alvin was injured his entire rookie season, and Harris is converting from safety to OLB. This may be the weakest spot on the entire defense, and the position is Ellison’s job to lose.

I was hoping the Bills would let John DiGiorgio enter the competition at SOLB, but he recently failed a health physical and was waived from the team. He had knee surgery two weeks ago, and couldn‘t have contributed this year. His loss opens the door for hopefuls Jon Corto, Marcus Buggs, and undrafted rookie Ashlee Palmer.

Cornerbacks
The cornerbacks on this roster are surly the deepest position on the defense. With underrated play maker Jabari Greer gone to the Saints, last years second round pick Leodis McKelvin is primed to step into a full time starters role. He had his rookie moments last year, but at times he showed the skill and playmaking ability that has fans thinking he can become an elite CB.

Paring McKelvin with Terence McGee will give the team a solid starting CB duo. They both lack ideal size to match up with the Randy Mosses of the league, but the are confident and physical playmakers. Each can assist in run support, and each is extremely dangerous if they get the ball in their hands.

The nickel CB job is a hotly contested battle. Right now it is between Ashton Youboty and Reggie Corner. Youboty is entering his fourth year, and he has been held back by off-field problems and injuries. There were times early on last year when he looked like the best player on the field in the nickel package. He was making shoestring, open field tackles, and looked like he was starting to fill some of the massive potential he had coming out of Ohio State. But, he got injured again, and will now be in a struggle to regain his spot.

Reggie Corner was as surprise 4th round pick last year in more ways then one. First, I was surprised the Bills picked him. Then I was surprised he was so good. He is pushing Youboty hard for that nickel spot, and he may actually have the inside track. The biggest difference between the two is Youboty can line up on the outside in case of an injury, so that makes him slightly more valuable.

Another guy in the mix for a backup CB job is the veteran Drayton Florence. Florence made a name for himself working onto the field with the Charges, and then signed a huge contract with the Jags one year ago. But he was cut by the Jags in less then one year. He is the tallest CB on the roster at 6’0″ and will probably land as McKelvin’s backup. Although he has spent time there, he is not likely in the mix for the nickel role.

The Bills also have holdover Dustin Fox and they drafted two CBs late in the draft, Cary Harris (sixth round) and Ellis Lancaster (seventh round). At first, both rookies seemed like long shots to make the team, but Lancaster has turned heads this summer. This is just speculation here, but he may be able to nail down a sixth CB position if he can excel as a gunner. This would also give the Bills the ability to cut Justin Jenkins (WR, and last years gunner) who has almost zero chance of contributing as a WR this year. The only other factor is the Bills may be able to stash Lancaster on the practice squad, and Jenkins is ineligible for that.

These guys held their own last year with an abysmal pass rush. If the front get any kind of pressure look for these guys to make a lot more big plays in 2009

Safeties
This unit is led by the vocal leader Donte Whitner. Whitner was arrested in the spring for an altercation outside a nightclub, but it doesn’t look like it will impact his 2009 season. Critics will tell you he has yet to live up to his draft status of eight overall in the 2006 draft. However, his impact has been hard to assess if you factor in how bad the run defense and pass rush has been since he was drafted. Patience is wearing thin for fans who expected many more big plays from Whitner last year, and it has led many to speculate that the former Ohio State standout is now in jeopardy of losing his starting job. I think this is unlikely, and just like the CBs, he would benefit greatly from an improved pass rush.

Donte Whitner was converted from strong to free safety mid season last year due to the regression of former starter Ko Simpson. Simpson looked horrible last year, but the coaches claim the door is still open for him. He must have a strong showing in preseason if he is to see any playing time, or even make the team for that matter.

When the Bills moved Whitner to Simpson’s free safety position last year, Bryan Scott stepped in at the vacated strong safety position and played admirably. He excels in run support and is physical enough to match up fairly well with the better pass catching tight ends in the league. But, Scott isn’t the fastest strong safety so his overall impact on the pass defense was limited by his questionable range.

Overall the safeties struggled in ‘08, and not one recorded an interception. This prompted the Bills to seek out a ball hawking type safety in the off-season. To many fan’s surprise, they drafted Jairus Byrd out of Oregon St. Byrd was a standout CB and recorded 17 interceptions in his three years there. He is being converted to safety, and is expected to compete for the starting free safety spot, which would likely move Donte back to his original strong safety position.

Other hopefuls for this position include George Wilson and John Wendling. Wilson is a fan favorite, and Wendling’s claim to fame is he can sometimes hurdle the line while attempting to block field goals.

Special Teams
The Bills have possessed one of the league’s premier special teams units for the better part of the past decade. The league has undergone some minor special teams rule changes, but the Bills are projected to have the leagues best special team unit again this year. Their returners Parrish (punts) and McKelvin (kickoffs) are second to none. The punter Brian Moorman is one of the best in the league. Ryan Lindell had one of his worst seasons last year, but it was pretty good for kicking in Buffalo, and I expect him to rebound.

John Corto, Wendling, and Jenkins where special teams standouts last year and will be struggling to make the team this year. They may be joining fellow 2008 special team standout Blake Costanzo, who was cut this offseason and picked up by the Browns. Fans shouldn’t worry though, there is plenty of fresh talent for special teams innovator Bobby April to play with. But, as always with Buffalo, if two players are close, the one who can contribute in more then one ways usually gets the nod.

Coaching
After the Bills third straight 7-9 season not much changed with the staff. As previously mentioned Kollar was replaced by Sanders on the D-line, but that is it. Many fans and media members speculate the Jauron is in the hotseat and cannot afford a slow start, despite the fact he signed a three year extension. But, if we know anything about Wilson it is that he is unlikely to buy out a contract, and even less likely to make a change midseason. But, one more 7-9 season, and Wilson may be forced to make a change or fans will be pouring on the pressure. It is doubtful he can make another T.O. sized signing to keep all the fans interested after another underachieving season.

The biggest differences may be a slight change in gameplans. The coaching staff has had some continuity, and it may be time to open things up. As mentioned earlier, the offensive coordinator, Turk Schonert, had the offense working almost exclusively on the hurry-up offense thus far this summer. Perry Fewell has been switching around Poz and Mitchell some, in attempts to confuse opposing offenses and hide blitzes. There is also the thought that the Bills may cover using man-to-man a little bit more then they did last season, with more press on the line.

One thing is for sure, it would be very hard for the Bills to be as conservative as they were in 2008, so look for both sides of the ball to be at least a little bit more aggressive then they have been in recent years.

Conclusion
This season looks promising, but it depends on a couple things going the Bills way. First, if the O-line is even average, then this offense could be very dangerous. Second, not only does Trent have to stay healthy, he has to progress. And third, but not last, the return of Schobel, and the addition of Maybin has to generate a better pass rush.

After the Bills embarrassing loss to the Dolphins in Toronto week 15 last year, Bills owner Ralph Wilson (who was inducted into the Hall of Fame with Bruce Smith in the 2009 class) was quoted saying, “We don’t have enough talent”. Well, Mr. Wilson was recently quoted saying, “I think we have the talent now”. Only time will tell if this is just another hope-rising, suspense-building, talent-squandering off-season, or if this was finally the one to get them over the hump and into the play-offs.

The other day I was out sporting my Bills cap when a youngster came up to me and said, “Why the Bills? They suck.” And I will tell you what I told him, “They have for quite some time now, but it is a new season. Everyone is 0-0. They could be great for all we know.” I know it’s only July, but I’m itching to find out.

New Orleans Saints Fans Should Be Optimistic in 2009

One second may not mean much in a broader scheme of things. But to a football franchise desperately searching for hope in what seems like a lifetime of misfortune, one second can mean everything. 

Despite knowing the odds of earning the last spot as a wild-card in the NFC playoffs were slim to none, the sheer idea of the Saints’ quarterback cementing his name in NFL history books brought optimism and joy to the faces of every New Orleans Saints fan.

So as Drew Brees’ pass sailed incomplete past Lance Moore as the the last second of the game expired from the clock, Saints fans wallowed in self-pity.

Brees would finish just 16 yards shy of breaking Dan Marino’s all-time single season passing record of 5,084 yards set in 1984.

It didn’t matter that the Saints lost the game that day; the only thing every Saints’ fan cared about was seeing their quarterback reach one of the most coveted milestones in NFL history.

Seeing Brees accomplish the feat would have meant so much to a city who looks to their sports teams to provide a temporary escape from reality. An ounce of hope for a season some viewed as played in vain when every team’s goal is making the playoffs.

Even though he fell short of breaking the record, fans can be proud of Brees’ accomplishments that year, I’d expect them to. But no-one remembers the No. 2 guy in history, unless your name is Hank Aaron.

I remember it like it was yesterday. Black and gold fans poured onto the streets of New Orleans with their heads hung low in disappointment as they watched their team fail to live up to lofty expectations for the second consecutive season.

Mediocrity is nothing new to New Orleans. The Saints may have fought their way to the NFC Divisional Championship game in 2006, but the team doesn’t necessarily have a history of playing in the playoffs.

In their 32-year existence, the Saints have only made six appearances in the post-season, two of those coming since 2000.

And quite frankly, there’s always been some form of misfortune passing New Orleans’ way, a natural disaster, a head-scratching play, or a season plagued with injuries. You name it, and the Saints have probably endured it in the past nine years.

Let’s take a stroll down memory lane beginning in the 2002 season. 

Behind the legs of longtime Saints running back Deuce McAllister, New Orleans won six of their first seven games before Aaron Brooks suffered several injuries.

Head coach Jim Haslett refused to sit Brooks in favor of a healthy backup (Jake Delhomme) who would end up piloting an NFC South rival to the Super Bowl in 2004.

New Orleans eventually dropped out of first place in the division and would finish 3-6 the rest of the season, missing the playoffs. 

The 2003 campaign would prove to be no more than another heartbreaker for black and gold fans. The Saints, in control of their own destiny, let their playoff chances slip away.

Down seven points to the Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans had 11 seconds to drive the ball down the field to tie the game. Aaron Brooks dropped back, threw a strike to Donte’ Stallworth and the River City Relay began. 

After three laterals and 75 yards, the Saints managed to pull off the impossible and put themselves in position to tie up the game sending it into overtime.

What happened next? John Carney’s extra point sailed wide right ending the game along with the Saints’ playoff chances. They finished one game behind NFC South division leader and missed the playoffs again. 

The next year, the underachieving Saints finished on the cusp of a playoff berth, however, watched the playoffs at home thanks to a tie-breaker.

Following the 2004 season, they looked to carry over momentum from a four-game winning streak at the end of the 2003 season, but Mother Nature had plans of her own.

So in light of the disaster known as Hurricane Katrina, let’s just not get into the 2005 season. Forget 3-13 and Cherish 2006. 

Just when everyone thought the Saints had righted the ship, miscues and head-scratching plays would continue to plague the Saints’ playoff hopes in 2007. Most notably in week 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Superdome two years ago.

With under 3:30 left to play, Tampa called their third and final timeout. The Saints only needed seven yards to get a first down and milk the rest of the clock to win the game.

The very next play, Stallworth mishandles an awkward toss from Reggie Bush on a reverse play called by head coach Sean Payton. The Bucs recovered the fumble, marched down the field, and scored the go-ahead touchdown to win the game. 

I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, however, in the case of the Saints, I’m having a difficult time believing anything good will result from the Saints’ past failures.

Just look at the Chicago Cubs. They haven’t been to a World Series in over 60 years. Every time management believes they have built a championship contending team, anything and everything goes awry. 

Both pitching aces, Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, simultaneously suffer career threatening injuries in which neither have been able to fully recover from yet.

On top of that, the Cubs were five outs away from going to the World Series in 2004. As Moises Alou jumped for a foul ball that would have ended the eighth inning in the NLCS game six, a Cubs fan reached out with his glove stealing the foul ball away from Alou.

The missed opportunity sparked an eight-run rally by the Florida Marlins and the rest is history.

But enough about the lovable losers of baseball. We have football’s version in the Crescent City.

With training camp in a few days, why should black and gold fans be optimistic about this upcoming season? In a lifetime of misfortune, what makes this season so special?

Well for one, the Saints have undergone some changes this off-season. After the secondary gave up five plays of 40 plus yards and 20 plus yards or more, something desperately needed to happen to fix that.

A defense which only intercepted 15 passes and sacked the quarterback 28 times ranking them 23rd in yards allowed and 26th in points allowed was unacceptable to Saints GM Mickey Loomis.

He made the first of several changes; out with the old and in with the new. They fired Gary Gibbs and introduced Greg Williams, known for his aggressive coaching style and bringing constant pressure to opposing offenses, as the new defensive coordinator.

Williams will implement a few changes to the defensive 4-3 scheme focusing more on blitzing the safety and linebackers, something Gibbs simply didn’t do enough of. His resume’ speaks for itself.

As a head coach or coordinator in the NFL, Williams had five top 15-ranked defenses in the league in points allowed, including fifth ranked defenses with Buffalo and Washington. Only time will tell if this move was the right decision.

The front officee wasn’t finished. It needed a few more pieces, specifically at safety and cornerback. So New Orleans parted ways with safety Josh Bullocks and signed 13 year veteran pro bowl safety Darren Sharper along with 6 year corner Jabari Greer from the Bills.

Sharper brings a wealth of knowledge and experience with playmaking abilities at safety. He’s the current active leader in career interceptions with 54 and has eight defensive touchdowns. Jabari Greer will add depth and will be in the mix for the starting position.

In the draft, the Saints selected cornerback Malcolm Jenkins in the first round and drafted two more defensive players to improve on that side of the ball.

The new additions addressed what most people would consider to be the weakest unit on the team and brought depth to a lackluster defense.

And with Tracy Porter fully recovered from his wrist injury, competition at corner should be fierce at training camp because of many potential playmakers, not just by default.

The front office made it a priority to prevent another 8-8 season at all costs. Without even playing a regular season game yet, the Saints appear on paper to have improved significantly on the defensive side of the ball.

And paired with the No. 1 scoring offense in the league, Saints fans should have reason to feel not only optimistic but positive their team is breaking an ongoing trend of misfortune and disappointment.

It’s far too early to indicate whether the additions the Saints have made this off-season will be the start of a bright future for the city of New Orleans or even make them playoff contenders this year for that matter.

But as long as Brees is taking snaps under center, the Saints can avoid injuries, and neither Fred Thomas or Jason David is starting at cornerback, anything is possible.

 

Originally posted on NewOrleans.com/Sports

Big Surprise… NFL Is In PETA’s “Dog House” After Michael Vick’s Reinstatement

As reported by several media outlets, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is very angry at Roger Goodell and the NFL for reinstating Micheal Vick.

It comes as no surprise to hear that PETA is angry about this. The only time you ever hear about PETA, is when they are mad at somebody. That’s just what they do.

As a dog lover and owner, I was as appalled as everyone upon hearing what transpired on Vick’s property before his arrest and subsequent conviction for sponsoring a dog fighting ring.

I personally am no fan of Mr. Vick’s, and won’t watch or support any team that signs him, but that is my choice to make, not PETA’s.

Michael Vick may be a despicable human being, but he has served his penalty as handed down by a court of law and as such has the right to pursue whatever vocation he so chooses within the confines of the law.

There are many professions where a criminal record prohibits your candidacy. For example, ex-cons cannot be police officers or teachers. But, nowhere does it say an ex-convict cannot be an NFL quarterback, nor should it.

There is absolutely no legal reason not to reinstate Vick to the NFL. The only reason that exists is a moral one. That is the only position that PETA can take at this point as they continue to advocate a lifetime ban from the NFL for the former star quarterback.

The problem with morality is that it is very subjective. Was what Michael Vick did wrong? Yes, according to the laws and customs of North American society what Michael Vick did was wrong, and he was punished accordingly.

Now, if you ask the question is it wrong for those who have abused animals such as Vick did to be allowed to play professional football? In my opinion the answer is a resounding no. The two have nothing to do with one another.

PETA is trying to use Vick’s celebrity status as a pro football player to push their political and moral agendas. The way I see it, you’d be as crazy to use PETA as a moral compass as you would using Micheal Vick for the same purpose.

 

PETA is an organization that lives in its own little world. This is a group that is currently running a campaign aimed at “re-branding” fish as “Sea Kittens”. As though fish were a clothing line or something.

The goal of this misguided and ridiculous campaign is to make people associate slimy fish with man’s second best furry friend.

This is a group that is trying to lump fishermen into the same category as Vick by comparing fishing to putting a hook in your pet cat’s mouth and dragging it behind your car. That is a direct quote.

I for one think it is folly for professional sports to assume the role of society’s moral guardians. Professional athletes are entertainers, they are not experts on morality, nor should they be asked to perform that role.

Granted,athletes are considered role models for children. But the virtues they are best suited to impart on kids are hard work, perseverance, fair play and a desire to be the best at what you choose to do.

They are not well suited for the task of imparting society’s morals on younger fans. That task falls to parents. If a parent feels that cheering for Micheal Vick on the football field goes against the moral code they are trying to instill in their children, then it is on their shoulders as parents to prohibit them from watching him play…not Roger Goodell’s.

PETA has no business attacking the NFL and demanding that Goodell impose a lifetime ban on Michael Vick for his past sins.

I am all for the the rights and ethical treatment of animals, but only to the point where those rights don’t infringe on the freedoms of human beings under the law.

Like it or not, Michael Vick has paid his debt to society for what he has done. As a result, he’s now a member of society with all the rights and privileges of the rest of us who are free to pursue whatever vocation, under the law, he so chooses; that includes being an NFL quarterback.

PETA has every right to use him as an example of what will happen to you if you abuse animals; as Vick did, you will go to jail. Anything beyond that is an attempt at circumventing Michael Vick’s rights as a person who has paid his debt to society, in an empty attempt to fortify a moral and political position held by a group of people who equate fisherman to people who drag cats behind cars.

In my opinion, bowing to the pressures of people like that is not only stupid, but dangerous.

I’d like to smack Vick in the head for what he did. Still, I applaud Roger Goodell for adhering to the letter of the law and reinstating him, rather than assuming a moral position and pandering to a group of people who would be just as inclined to see fishermen go to jail and forfeit their rights, as they would Micheal Vick.

Packers Training Camp: The Dawn Of A New Fullback Era In GreenBay?

Since 2006, the Packers haven’t had the luxury of a Fullback capable of being a viable blocker who is able to pave the road for the running game while at the same time providing that little extra in blocking for the passing game.

They have longed for a competent and capable every-down receiving threat out of the backfield to break up the coverage schemes of defenses league-wide.

They wait for that one player who is going to step up, and reintroduce some good old-fashioned smash mouth football that only a fullback can provide where a tailback cannot.

This year, that could very well change, and the Packers may have exactly the caliber of player they have been looking for.

Last year, the tandem of both Korey Hall and John Kuhn provided a competent attack both in the air and on the ground in situational play for the Packers. They gave the passing game a lot of help in the blocking department.

Korey Hall, who battled a knee injury for four weeks at the beginning of the season, afforded the Packers 38 yards on seven passes with a single touchdown, but was never used in the running game. Even so, Hall was considered a dependable receiving threat just enough for defensive coordinators to take him into consideration.

John Kuhn, who didn’t even see action until week seven against the Colts, finished the year with 21 yards on seven receptions and two touchdowns, alongside 10 yards on eight carries with a single touchdown.

But this isn’t the type of threat the Packers can take advantage of for 16 games.

Enter recently-signed Quinn Johnson, and suddenly we see a possible change in the landscape at a position that is often overlooked but rarely forgotten.

Quinn is known for his smash-mouth style lead blocking skills that the Packers have desperately salivated for in recent years, and they may just have what they are looking for.

At LSU, Johnson was almost exclusively used for his penchant for blocking and, on occasion, utilized for his wonderful ability as a backfield receiving option. When one sits back and ponders, they beg the question: Is this the guy?

Johnson has tremendous size and bulk. He’s considered a premier and dominant lead blocker which could help to improve upon Grant’s 3.9 yards per carry from a year ago.

Johnson is a very physical and aggressive back who also has a huge upside as a special teams candidate which always bodes well for a rookie.

So with all of this said, how do we go through the mire of fullbacks competing in training camp? Just how does the team decide, outside of individual performance, who’s the best fit?

Hall provided an ample, sometimes average, 2008 performance. Unless he steps up his game this year, chances are he could be the odd man out.

Aside from his lack of running ability, a knee injury for a fullback is not something any team wants to take a chance on, even if he did recover.

Kuhn, on the other hand, made a name for himself by becoming a reliable short yardage back in crucial situations for the Packers; I suppose it also helps to have his friend Rob Davis in the front office.

But the Packers never went to him all that much as a viable receiving back. Rather, they leaned on Hall for that.

Kuhn has the better chance of being retained by the team in the long run, which opens up the door for Quinn.

Sometimes, decisions work themselves out.

This is, of course, my take and pure speculation, but I also feel it is the best course of action if Johnson can prove himself, and one of the biggest humps to get over is pass protection as a rookie fullback.

Did I mention he was almost exclusively utilized for that at LSU?

But wait—there’s more!

We haven’t considered an option which—albeit rare—is another possibility: what if the Packers sported a roster with three fullbacks?

Now, things get interesting.

The Packers are already fast becoming a team built around sick and crazy potential depth that makes their “B squad” look more like an 8-8 starting team in the NFL, so why not continue on with this trend where it really counts—the trench soldier.

Imagine an already bolstered depth chart with the receivers. Now you add that same type of depth at fullback? I, for one, think it could speak volumes of things to come if it works.

William Henderson was a household name a couple of years ago. If the Packers can utilize and harness the talent and physicality of Johnson while preserving the blocking skills and situational offensive threat in Hall and Kuhn, the team will undoubtedly add yet another dimension to a rapidly emerging intimidating offense that will quite frankly be able to take on any defense.

And who said training camp isn’t fun?

Michael Vick Deserves a Chance For Redemption!

I’ll be the first to say it: I don’t care for Michael Vick and what he did. However, before you send the hate or I agree with you e-mails, please finish reading the blog.

It may not be manly to say this, but I’m a passionate dog lover because they give unconditional love and humans don’t. You come home and who’s there to greet you at the door every single time without question? Not your friends, not even your spouse, it’s your dog! 

Non-dog lovers don’t understand this, but I don’t fault them. No one loves animals like animal lovers. It’s like your newborn baby. I don’t care about your newborn that looks like a pointed prune and, to be truthful, is more ugly than cute!

However, to you, he or she is the greatest baby since humanity began. I understand that. It’s your flesh and blood. You’re proud, as you should be, and I’m happy for you, but it’s your kid not mine.

Let me tell you a secret: Most people feel like I do, we just don’t say it and politely tell you how cute your kid is and glance at our watches knowing we’re stuck looking at pictures. We do this because we know how much you love your kid and how special he or she is to you.

My point isn’t to tell you your newborn is ugly, deep down you already know that. Yes, that last comment was just cute sarcasm, get over it! Regardless, I’m just being 100 percent honest—the only people who like looking at pictures of your kids outside your blood is you!

What does this have to do with Vick?

Easy, we animal lovers love our animals as much as you love your kids and we equate that love as strongly as you do. You’ll never convince us otherwise. We believe brutality towards animals like what Vick did is just as horrible as any brutality towards kids. You may disagree, but that’s how we feel.

Despite all that, I also believe MICHAEL VICK HAS SERVED HIS TIME AND HAS A RIGHT TO GO BACK TO WORK.

I also believe NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is well within his rights to protect the image of the league. Technically, Vick is under probation, so his freedom is conditional, which is why I believe Goodell is within his rights.

I’m happy Goodell is allowing Vick back in just as I was when St. Louis Rams defensive end Leonard Little was allowed to play years ago.

For those that don’t remember, Little killed a mother and had to pay restitution from his NFL wages. The NFL provided the biggest check and quickest way for Little to at least do something to try to make up his horrific decision to drive that day.

Back to Vick, he will have to pay back creditors and make right the error of his ways, just as Little was forced to pay restitution. He also has a chance to show us he is turning his life around and has changed.

I tweet a lot (@wdelpilar), and I love following the players because you get to see their playful and sometimes soulful side. I have this to say to them: Stop whining about Vick and his treatment. When I tweeted a reply to a comment San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman made about Vick, I stated only Vick will be able to prove to us he deserves his second chance.

Not Merriman because he feels he should be given a chance, not me, not you, nor anyone else. Vick, through his actions, will show us if this decision was the correct one!

I’ve been accused of being judgmental, and I won’t argue that because anyone who accuses me is judging me and is no better. My point is that I’m always looking and hoping to change my opinion of someone because in the end, if we can all be the best human beings we can be, then the world will be a better place.

I don’t say that to say that. We live in the greatest country in the world, and until you experience a different country as a member who has lived there (not vacationed) you don’t realize the opportunities this country allows us. There is only one condition and that is to work hard. I have lived that experience.

To Michael Vick, I hope your actions show us you are changing and that’s what I’ll look for—not what your agent, friends or lawyers say! Remember this, you are a public figure and a role model regardless of what anyone says, because when a young kid sees you and emulates you, the person you represent is what they’ll emulate.

Don’t ever forget that.

Before I leave you, the controversial Jim Brown—love him or hate him, he’s the egotistical personality—had some words for Vick, which I feel are dead on. You can check it out at: http://www.sirius.com/politicaltalk.

Don’t forget, I’m a “tweeter” and post what’s happening in a breaking or timely manner. I also point you to solid links outside the KFFL world that can help you win your leagues. Follow me at http://twitter.com/wdelpilar.

Andrew Walter Finally Euthanized by Oakland Raiders

I have been unable to confirm from any sources other than the sports ticker crawl on The Score, but according to the crawl, the Raiders have finally released lanky Andrew Walter, the record-breaking Arizona Sun Devil quarterback who failed to realize anywhere close to the same success in the NFL.

If true, it ends a bitter marriage that lasted far longer than it should for both parties. Walter, drafted in 2005 in the third round, is a big guy with a bigger arm, but his wind up is far too deliberate and slow.

Walter has been overlooked before, only to prove everyone wrong.

Not highly touted coming out of Grand Junction High in Grand Junction, CO, Walter was offered a scholarship by then Arizona State coach Bruce Snyder.

Walter redshirted as a freshman, and halfway through that season, Snyder was let go and replaced by Boise State coach Dirk Koetter.

Walter was expected to start the next season, but was beat out and languished behind lesser talent Chad Christiansen. It seemed even then Walter had a tough time cracking the lineup. But it didn’t take long.

After Christiansen proved himself ineffective and Walter led the biggest comeback in school history, rallying the team from a 22-0 deficit against San Diego State.

After showing his moxie and talent, Walter wasn’t sitting again, and Koetter helped Walter realize his potential and go from fighting for recognition and playing time to breaking school and conference passing records.

Despite his success in college and his fairly high draft position, Walter found himself in the familiar position of the overlooked observer in his first Raiders training camp.

He didn’t play at all in his first season in 2005, instead sitting at third string behind Kerry Collins and Marques Tuiasosopo. He sat, waited, and learned. He’d get his chance in 2006.

Then, the Raiders signed Aaron Brooks to be the starter in 2006. Well, that didn’t work out so well, but Walter was once again stuck behind a lesser talent.

Brooks played so poorly in his first two starts that he was replaced in both by Walter. Brooks then sustained an injury, and Walter became the de facto starter. He did not, however, set the NFL on fire the way he had the Pac-10 under similar circumstances.

He would end the 2006 season wishing he’d never received his chance.

Largely ineffective, very rigid in the pocket, and not as accurate as advertised, Walter struggled mightily, and the Raiders suffered through what is largely regarded as the most embarrassing and ugliest season in franchise history.

You can’t blame all Walter’s failings on him, though.

Walter was an unfortunate casualty of the Art Shell-Tom Walsh ‘Bed & Breakfast’ experience, an outdated coaching theory that basically said run as far back from center as you can, wait for your receivers, and throw it as far as you can.

Amazingly, it didn’t work, and Walter was sacked repeatedly. A porous offensive line and a 7-10-15 step drop passing game will do that to an immobile quarterback.

This led to a shattering of his psyche which became obvious in his demeanour and body language. He exhibited a distinct lack of confidence, which led to poor decisions, which led to poor play and bitterness, which led to the bench.

The Raiders have since basically buried Walter like the dirty family secret and tried like hell to forget about him. Walter didn’t help himself by pouting and complaining and lashing out at every opportunity.

This has been a fractured relationship for some time, and even people who don’t know the parties involved feel vindicated for both sides.

The Raiders didn’t treat Andrew Walter very well, and now they’ve given him his wish and released him. Andrew Walter didn’t do himself any favours by repeatedly skipping workouts, practices, OTA’s, and others in protest of the way he’d been treated.

Other teams may frown upon that lack of passion and dedication. Walter would have a much better chance of landing a job now if he’d put his head down, worked hard, and moved on. He didn’t, and it may cost him ultimately.

Either way, this was inevitable, and now we can all move on.

 

2009 Washington Redskins Season Preview: Special Teams

If you decide to stop by the Washington Redskins training camp this summer, grab Head Coach Jim Zorn one day in the autograph line and ask him if he might be interested in one play that would almost always gain 20 yards or more each time he ran it. Do you think that’s something he might be interested in?

That’s how pivotal the special teams units are for NFL franchises. Any kick return unit worth its salt will average over 20 yards per attempt, with the better ones eclipsing 25.

Think about that: in a game of inches, you can run a full quarter of the field in one shot!

It’s almost pathetic how little anyone cares about the special teams units, and the media ranks right up at the top of the list of offenders. How many articles have been written about Jason Campbell vs. Jay Cutler vs. Mark Sanchez vs. Michael Vick ad nauseum? How many more times must we hear about Jim Zorn’s warm butt (coach on the hot seat; get it?) as we enter 2009?

Well, a lot more, and definitely more from this writer. We all have column space to fill.

But the reality is, the Redskins special teams unit may look completely different on September 13 in New York than it did last year on the same field. The punter has already been replaced (twice) and there’s full-fledged battles at kicker and kick returner. The only specialist from last year who will definitely be there in five weeks is stalwart long snapper Ethan Albright, among the best in the game.

Ever remember a time when the Redskins actually had a good punter? Memories are distant and vague; but other than Reggie Roby and Matt Turk in the mid to late 90’s, the team has had to suffer through some pretty bad ones (Kelly Goodburn and Derrick Frost come to mind).

To that end, the Redskins grabbed Hunter Smith off the free agent market, to the acclaim of just about no one. Despite Smith’s lack of DC publicity, he is one of the better punters in the league today. He has spent the last 10 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts (picking up a Super Bowl ring in the process) averaging 43.3 yards per punt for his career and never falling below 40.

Perhaps the most crucial (and impressive) stat for 2008 is that Indianapolis led the league with 43.4% of their punts landing inside the 20…and Smith has never missed a game. In comparison, the Redskins ranked 20th with 29.6%.

Despite a certain kicker competition, the Skins did little to upgrade the position by adding veteran journeyman Dave Rayner to compete with incumbent Shaun Suisham. Rayner adds a bit more leg on kickoffs, having averaged 64 yards per kickoff to Suisham’s 61. Despite missing 10 kicks last season, Suisham still has a better career average (77 % to 71%) than Rayner.

While the two kickers are somewhat comparable, the Redskins know what they have in Suisham. Adding Rayner feels more like Special Teams Coordinator Danny Smith giving his current kicker a swift kick in the butt rather than a real competition. That said, however, if Suisham goes in the tank during the preseason, the team won’t hesitate to make that change.

Another move that’s been completely overlooked is the Redskins signing of Dominique Dorsey. Dorsey has played the last four seasons in the CFL, establishing himself as one of the league’s top return specialists. In 2008, with the Toronto Argonauts, Dorsey led the league with 2,892 yards…and missed five games. For his efforts, he was named a league All-Star and won the CFL’s John Agro Special Teams Award as the league’s most outstanding special teams player. While Dorsey has yet to prove himself south of the border, those are impressive credentials.

Dorsey will be attempting to unseat long-time Washington special teams ace Rock Cartwright, and it’s unlikely the season will open with both on the roster. Cartwright averaged a very healthy 25 yards per kickoff return last season, but also didn’t take one to the house. Nothing can change a game quicker than a kickoff return for a touchdown and, unless you’re in Tampa Bay, you need to take one back everyone once in a while. It should be a very competitive preseason for Dorsey and Cartwright.

Punt returner is a bit of a mixed bag. Antwaan Randle El has handled the duties for years, but is coming off two down seasons at the spot, averaging 6.5 yards in 2008 and only 6.1 the year before. Expect Dorsey to get a long look at this spot as well if he can prove himself as a viable kick returner. If not, Randle will probably hold onto the job by default, but we might see Santana Moss shagging a few more kicks this season.

Maybe the Redskins SHOULD sign Michael Vick, to return some punts.

The Tennessee Titans Know It’s a New Year As Training Camp Begins

Forget about last year, Tennessee Titans’ fans, it’s a distant memory.

Most believed that last year was the Titans’ best chance at winning the franchise’s first Super Bowl.

Forget about how the season ended rather quickly in the AFC Divisional playoffs to the hated Baltimore Ravens, that’s in the past.

It’s time to turn the page to a new season.

Entering his 15th season as Head Coach of the Titans, Jeff Fisher is a great leader and motivator. His players love playing for him, and he is one of the more respected coaches in the NFL. Fisher is the Oilers/Titans all-time leader in wins, with 133, and knows he certainly does know how to win football games. Football experts have the Titans winning the AFC South again this year.

Fisher has a legitimate leader at quarterback in the ageless wonder, Kerry Collins.

Collins took over for the ineffective Vince Young and guided the Titans to an AFC best 13-3 record and the AFC South title. Collins was rewarded with a two-year, $15 million extension. Collins’ contract reassures that he is the man under center.

If Collins has another season like he did in 2008, Young’s tenure as a Titan could be in serious jeopardy.

Unhappy about loosing his starting job to Collins last year, Young told a Baltimore TV station on May 30th that it’s time to play for another team if the Titans didn’t want him. Young is under contract for three more seasons but will count $14 million against the salary cap in 2010.

The Titans know that they’ve got one of the better running back duos in football in Chris Johnson and the suddenly slimmer LenDale White. The duo gave opposing defenses fits last year as Johnson blazed past defenders, and White bulldozed would-be tacklers.

Johnson had an unbelievable rookie season. He rushed for 1,228 yards and nine touchdowns. The Titans plan to get the ball in Johnson’s hands more often by lining him up in the slot, as well as other spots on the field.

Entering his final year of his contract, White looks to improve his rushing total. 

After rushing for over a 1,000 yards in 2007, White took a step back in 2008. He rushed for only 773 yards but finished tied for first in the AFC with 15 rushing touchdowns. White hopes that with a lighter frame (he’s slimmed down to 227 pounds) will help him gain more yards.

During training camp, it will be interesting to see who will emerge as the starting wide outs for the Titans.

Justin Gage has the inside track at being the No. 1 starting wide receiver. Gage had a team-best 651 yards receiving and a career-high six touchdown catches. The only question remains: who will line up on the other side of Gage?

The signing of former Pittsburgh Steelers’ slot wide receiver Nate Washington was good, but not great. Washington is a good deep threat, but is he ready to become a go-to guy?

The drafting of former Rutgers University wide receiver Kenny Britt should pay off over time, but he remains unsigned. Britt finished his career as the Big East Conference’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 3,043.

The Titans’ defense will be under an enormous microscope heading into training camp.

Albert Haynesworth, the Titans’ road blocker in the middle, became the highest paid defensive player in NFL history when he bolted for the Washington Redskins during the offseason. Since 2004, the Titans are 4-11 when Haynesworth doesn’t start, so there should be some cause for concern. Is second year pro Jason Jones ready to fill the huge cleats left by Haynesworth?

With Haynesworth’s departure, there could also be a ripple effect around the play of Tony Brown, Jevon Kearse, and Kyle Vanden Bosch. Haynesworth commanded countless double teams, which allowed the rest of the line to have one-on-one matchups. The Titans rarely had to blitz because the front four generated so much pressure to opposing quarterbacks.

Secondary coach Chuck Cecil takes over for former defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who left to become the head coach of the Detroit Lions. Cecil takes over a defense that ranked seventh in the NFL last season and sent three from the starting secondary (Cortland Finnegan, Michael Griffin, and Chris Hope) to the Pro Bowl.

The Titans secondary ranked second in the NFL, behind the Green Bay Packers, in total interceptions with 19.

As training camp opens Friday, Titans’ training camp will be one of the more closely followed training camps this year.

 

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