Dallas Cowboys vs San Francisco 49ers: Preview

The Cowboys host their arch rivals in the 49ers this Saturday and while it’s not one of the gridiron battles of the early 90’s, there will be some fireworks.

The Cowboys starters will be in the game into the third quarter which is customary for the third preseason game, but might be called in early if they have as much success as they had last week with two touchdown drives of more than 70 yards.

Tony Romo won’t have receiver Roy Williams to work with in Saturday’s game after he collided with Orlando Scandrick in yesterday’s practice and injured his shoulder. This is a huge opportunity for Sam Hurd and Miles Austin who are still battling for the third receiver spot, a solid game could be the difference maker between the two.

Smash Dash and Tash will get an increase in their carries for the second straight week as Offensive Coordinator Jason Garrett will use all three with the first team offense.

Expect Felix Jones to get some opportunities in the passing game as he had a huge play last week that led to a TD. Marion Barber has been held back a bit (14 carries in two games) but he will get his chance to be the barbarian that he is in this game. 

The defense will also get significant playing time and it’ll be interesting to see if they can pressure the quarterback, although it’s unknown if Shaun Hill will start for the Niners as he was injured in practice earlier this week.

The Cowboys have only one sack in their first two preseason games but they haven’t been blitzing like you would see in a game that counts. They should be more aggressive Saturday which could lead to turnovers for the Cowboys.

The biggest storyline for this game is Orlando Scandrick will start opposite Terence Newman on Saturday. Coach Wade Phillips wants to see Scandrick starting as the camp battle between Scandrick and Mike Jenkins comes to a conclusion. Jenkins will be in the slot for Saturday’s game and needs to show that his ankle isn’t affecting him.

Special teams have the most to prove this weekend.

Nick Folk is still not in mid-season form and is 0-2 on field goals during the preseason. The kick coverage unit is still giving up to many yards on returns and the return units are committing to many penalties.

Sam Hurd promised fans that the Special teams units will be running like a well oiled machine by the regular season, and the first step towards that starts on Saturday.

 

Eagles May Have Unplanned QB Controversy On Their Hands

Porch is Only Big Enough For One Dog

From the day the announcement was made by the Philadelphia Eagles that they had signed Michael Vick, I smelled smoke.  The smoke of a slow-burning fire that may end up spreading out of control.

Whether the Eagles or their fans want to believe it or not, they have awakened the proverbial sleeping dog (pun intended).

They have a QB controversy in the making. Andy Reid tells us that Vick and Donovan McNabb will both see action.  He claims that Vick opens up his offense to all types of possibilities.

Reid also tells us that McNabb is his starter and there is no room for negotiation on the issue.

He’s right in both cases.  Vick does bring an unquantifiable dimension to his club and McNabb is a franchise quarterback with a long record of successes.

But what Reid is not letting the public know is that he is walking on ice in this situation. This isn’t Montana-Young or Bledsoe-Brady.  These are two proud players in their primes.

McNabb was booed during last night’s preseason game vs the Jaguars, a regular occurence since he became an Eagle in 1999.  Vick came in the game and gave the crowd a glimpse of what he could still do on the football field.

Immediately, the synapses snapped into place.  I asked myself, “What happens if McNabb lays an egg?  Will Reid go to Vick right away?” Then I wondered, “How long before the controversy starts?”

Answer: it started already.

I knew once Vick got blood in his mouth again, he’d want more.  He’s a former superstar who once had the game’s biggest contract. He’s not going to be content on the sidelines for very long.

McNabb has a tendency to have some really bad games; some inconsistent games.  Philly fans do not have the patience for that any longer.  They will call for Vick and they will call for him loudly.

You can have running backs by committee, defensive line rotations, etc., but quarterback is not a platoon-able position on a football team.  The Eagles are under the illusion that it is.

Andy Reid is about to fall through the ice.

 

Michael Vick’s Role with Eagles’ Offense Needs Adjustments

Any other year, a preseason game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jacksonville Jaguars would not have a significant impact for the fans.

However, last night’s matchup may have been one of the most hyped-up preseason games fans have seen in years since Michael Vick was making his debut with the Eagles after spending 18 months in prison for his involvement with running a dogfighting operation.

Vick’s first game back since Dec. 31, 2006 was the complete opposite of what most people expected—which may have been a great thing.

There were protesters outside of the stadium before the game, but not nearly the amount everyone expected. There were plenty of fans wearing No. 7 jerseys—even though some said “Garcia” on the back—to show their support for Vick and welcome him to the City of Brotherly Love.

Instead of a stadium divided about how they felt about Vick between cheers and boos, he received a standing ovation from fans as he made his first appearance on the field during the second play of offense for the Eagles.

Even though he was only on the field for six plays, Vick was still the man of the hour at Lincoln Financial Field. Each play, fans would anxiously wait in their seats to see if No. 7 was making his way from the sidelines to the center of the field in hope of seeing an exciting play that so many of us are used to seeing from Vick.

He may have only completed four passes for 19 yards, but it was all the Eagles needed from Vick considering he hasn’t played in the NFL for two years.

Overall, Vick had a successful return with the Eagles and did everything he was asked to do to help the Eagles win the game.

Even though the night seemed to be focused on Vick’s return, there was still a football game to be played between the Eagles and Jaguars. Even though the Eagles ended up winning 33-32, the team still has a lot to work on—both on offense and defense—if they look to be contenders in the 2009 season.

Quarterback Donovan McNabb finished 21-for-36, throwing for 244 yards and one touchdown as he played most of the first three quarters. However, he managed two key turnovers that could have resulted in points for the Eagles (he threw one backwards pass while on the Jaguars’ one-yard line that resulted into a fumble that was returned for a touchdown).

At one point, a group of Philadelphia fans began the “We Want Vick” chant after watching McNabb struggle at certain points during the game. Despite his struggles, it’s hard to blame McNabb for his performance when the entire offense looked inconsistent most of the game.

If the Eagles want to effectively use both Vick and McNabb in the upcoming 2009 season, head coach Andy Reid needs to figure out a system that will work well for everyone, especially McNabb.

In the game against the Jaguars, Reid used Vick for random plays instead of allowing him to play an entire series on his own.

There were numerous cases where McNabb would appear to get into a rhythm on offense, only to be sidelined so Vick could step in. When McNabb would return to the field for the next play, his rhythm seemed to be off again and the Eagles offense would look horrendous.

Using McNabb and Vick on offense has a lot of potential for the 2009 season, and it could confuse opposing defenses on what to expect from the Eagles each week.

However, Reid needs to figure out an effective system that will work well and keep everyone in rhythm if the Eagles want to take advantage of using Vick for the upcoming season.

Otherwise, the Eagles offense will be in for a long 2009 season, especially if they play the way they did in the first half of last night’s game.

Dan Parzych is the Eagles Fan Voice on NFLTouchdown.com

Make Sure To Check Out NFCEastFootball.com

Denver’s Brandon Marshall Must Be Really Ticked Off Now

This just in. Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall, openly unhappy with the Denver Broncos, was suspended by the team Friday for unspecified “detrimental” conduct. The club did not say in its short statement how long the suspension would last.

During Wednesday’s warmups, Marshall walked while the rest of the team ran. He punted a ball away instead of handing it to a ball boy and swatted a pass thrown to him. His actions were caught on video and broadcast by a local news station.

Marshall told ESPN on Thursday night he wasn’t trying to force a trade through insubordination but that frustration got the best of him.

The receiver apparently was held out of practice Thursday as punishment for the selfish display, but head coach Josh McDaniels wouldn’t discuss it after practice.

“I’m not going into it,” the coach said. “If they’re not ready or able, they’re not out here.”

Marshall’s agent, Kennard McGuire, didn’t immediately return a phone call Friday. McGuire was out of the country until Monday.

McDaniels said Marshall didn’t play against the Seahawks because he wasn’t prepared to take the field.

Marshall also missed the team’s exhibition opener against San Francisco two weeks ago because he was on trial in Atlanta, where he was acquitted of a misdemeanor battery charge.

Prosecutors had accused him of beating his then-girlfriend.

Ten Things I See in the ’09 Jags

1. The Emergence of Second Year Defensive Ends

Last night, and in every preseason game, Groves and Harvey have done an exceptional job at defensive end. 

True, neither have registered a sack, but the two defensive ends have created pressure and seem to be right in the action.  Especially Derrick Harvey, who was in the right place at the right time for much of last night.

 

2. Wide Receiver Play

I don’t know if I have seen one bad drop, besides Mercedes Lewis, from the Jaguars receiving core. 

Sure, the Jags aren’t perfect in the passing game (far from it), but once Garrard gains seasonal form, the Jaguars should not be plagued with the drops that have been an issue for years.

 

3.  Troy Williamson Continues to Impress

Williamson is becoming a solid threat for the Jags, and although he may have only caught one ball on four pass attempts, the other three balls last night were poorly thrown. 

If you look at the first pass of the game, Williamson had a step and had plenty of open space, had Garrard put the pass on the money.

 

4.  The Linebackers are Deep and Solid

Against one of this year’s Super Bowl favorites, the Jaguars held the Eagles to just six points at the half, with all three backup linebackers in.  The Jaguars will be a much more physical team this year, and it starts with the linebackers.

 

5.  The Defense Will be Much Improved

Rashean Mathis is playing very well and the secondary had a decent night last night against the Eagles.  The run defense has been stellar against the Dolphins and Eagles, two teams with plenty of RB talent.

 

6. David Garrard Will Be Fine

Sure, he hasn’t had a stellar preseason, but it certainly has not been bad.  And when you watch other quarterbacks, like Donovan McNabb, they make some of the same preseason errors that Garrard makes. 

 

7. The Jags are a Big Second Quarter Team

The Jaguars have made a living in the second quarter, scoring 30 of the teams 64 preseason points just before the half. 

 

8. Tyler Thigpen Would be a Fantastic Addition

We saw last night that Paul Smith can barely throw the ball, and Bouman has a problem with getting balls batted down.  Although Thigpen may have been 1-10 as a starter, he kept the Chiefs in games.

 

9. Special Teams May be the Achilles Heel

The Jaguars are struggling a bit in special teams.  Although the performance last night was much improved, you can almost see the Jaguars squandering a late game lead on a kick or punt return.

 

10. Chauncey Washington has Taken a Big Step on Rashad Jennings

Sure, Jennings is hurt, but when you watch Washington run, you can almost see a MJD in him.  Almost.  But still, Washington has looked FAR better than he did in his rookie year.

 

Five Predictions

1. In 2010-11, the Jaguars will possess a three-headed monster (Jennings, MJD, Washington).

2.  The Jags will win their first game against the Colts (Bob Sanders won’t be playing and neither will the two starting DT’s…can you say HUGE day MJD?).

3.  Garrard will throw 18 TDs; 10 INTS.

4. The Jags will have the number 12 offense in the NFL and the number 10 defense.

5.The Jaguars will average around 21 points per game.

Brandon Marshall: Yet Another Wide Receiva Diva

Michael Irvin. Keyshawn Johnson. Terrell Owens. Chad Ochocinco. Plaxico Burress. Michael Crabtree.

Now, you can add Brandon Marshall to the laundry list of wide receivers in the past and present who have been known as divas.

My five-day vacation from work began this morning. To begin, I drove around with my iced coffee and thought of a good article to write. The folks at WEEI Sports Radio were discussing the massive amounts of drama surrounding the scenario out in Minnesota involving He Who Must Not Be Named (for fear of giving him the media attention he hungers for).

Having heard enough of this dead-horse topic, I tuned into another local sports station, where they were discussing the NFL.com report on Brandon Marshall’s status with the Broncos. Marshall had been caught on tape by local news, putting his diva on display.

Hand the ball to the ball boy? Nope, he punted it the other direction.

Why try to catch a pass when he could just as easily swat it away and avoid doing any real work?

Ever heard the expression, “run, don’t walk?” Apparently, Marshall hasn’t. He strolled along while the rest of the team ran during practice.

Could anyone really wonder why he was suspended from the Broncos for conduct detrimental to the team?

If Josh McDaniels hadn’t done anything about this situation, how would it have made him look? In a summer where one player (who will still not be named) dictated the tempo of Vikings’ organized team activities and training camp, McDaniels refused to be walked all over by an egomaniac.

Although many people have questioned if McDaniels learned anything from Bill Belichick, he has proven that he learned at least one thing: never be held hostage by any player, no matter the skill level.

Belichick did it by sitting Bledsoe when he had confidence in Brady. He did it by benching Terry Glenn during his diva moments. Now, McDaniels has followed the model set by the evil genius himself.

The question now becomes, what end does the new head coach hope to reach by implementing this suspension? Of course, Marshall will still get paid, so he isn’t concerned with it nearly as much as one may think.

This is probably just a “statement move” by McDaniels to prove the earlier point that he won’t be held hostage. More than likely, it will be a temporary suspension until either a) the Broncos and Marshall work out a new contract to satisfy him, or b) the Broncos can work out a trade with another team.

Option a seems a little less likely, if only because they would probably have already worked out the new contract if that was their plan. Perhaps wide receivers such as Braylon Edwards or Anquan Boldin will still be on the market?

McDaniels may no longer have the star power in Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall, but at least he’s proving that he won’t tolerate childish behavior on his squad.

 

Source

NFL.com

Ravens D Reloaded for ’09

Naysayers during the offseason questioned whether the Ravens defense could compete in ’09 with the losses of Bart Scott, Jim Leonhard and Rex Ryan. But Jon Gruden had an answer for them on Monday Night Football.

“The Baltimore Ravens don’t lose players, they just reload.”

He was referring to the newcomers to the Ravens lineup.

Football fans know superstars like Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Haloti Ngata are some of the most dominant players at their positions. They also know that consistent players such as Jarrett Johnson, Kelly Gregg, Dawan Landry, Dominique Foxworth, Fabian Washington, and Trevor Pryce will perform well week in and week out

But they don’t all know new players such as DE/LB Paul Kruger, LB Tavares Gooden, LB Jameel McClain, FS Haruki Nakamura, CB Lardarius Webb, and SS Tom Zbikowski.

Kruger, the second round draft pick from Utah, made an immediate impact for the Ravens.

Against the Redskins, Kruger started in place of Terrell Suggs, recorded three tackles and a sack. Against the New York Jets, he started again and recorded five tackles and three pass deflections.

Gooden,a second year player out of Miami, has filled in for Bart Scott and is doing quite well. Last year he played four games and recorded four tackles. He has taken the role as Ray Lewis’ understudy and possible replacement when Lewis retires.

Against Washington, he had five tackles and against the Jets he had five more and a sack. That single sack was more than Scott’s total in 2008.

McClain is a budding superstar. Personally, I think he should have taken Scott’s place as the starter. Last year, McClain had two safeties, (one on a blocked punt, the other on a sack) tying the NFL record for a single season. He recorded two-and-a-half sacks last year as well.

Against Washington he had eight tackles. Against the Jets, he had a career day, totaling 10 tackles and an interception returned 16 yards for a touchdown.

Haruki Nakamura is another star in the making. He recorded 12 tackles and a pass deflection last season. In the postseason he had one-and-a-half sacks, two pass deflections, and broke three of Ben Roethlisberger’s ribs. In the ’09 preseason, he has recorded three tackles and two pass deflections.

Lardaruis Webb is a rookie out of Nicholls State. He is becoming more of a kick returner than a cornerback, but has recorded three tackles and a pass deflection in two preseason games.

Tom Zbikowski is another second-year safety who last year returned kicks and played on special teams. This year he has made an impact as a strong safety, recording one sack and two tackles against Washington and two tackles against the Jets.

All these players reinforce the Ravens’ defense and they already look to be the best defense in the league, ahead of the Steelers, Vikings and any other top defense from last year.

As a matter of fact, the defense could be better than the Ravens’ 2000 team, making them the best of all time.

A bold prediction, but the way their starters performed against the Redskins and Jets, it could very well be true.

Enough Is Enough, Denver Broncos Suspend Wide Reciever Brandon Marshall

The Denver Broncos have finally had enough of the drama.

They have now officially suspended diva wide receiver Brandon Marshall for conduct detrimental to the team, according to multiple reports.

According to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, the suspension is only for the rest of the preseason, and then Marshall can return for the season opener if he behaves during that time period.

If he does not, however, he could be facing an even longer suspension.

Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the NFLPA, the maximum suspension for conduct detrimental to the team is four games.  Including Denver’s last two remaining preseason games, Marshall could return during week three if he doesn’t turn around his behavior.

Even if he does return for week one though, it is not a sure thing that he will start.

Because of his behavior and his lack of knowledge off the team’s playbook, Marshall has worked with the second team during team practices and will have to show the coaching staff that he is ready to go if he wants to start again.

It does  come to no ones surprise that the suspension was handed town from the front office.  The entire offseason Marshall has been pouting about still being on the Broncos and after he saw franchise quarterback Jay Cutler shipped to the Chicago Bears, he wanted out, too.

Team around the league are not willing to give up what the Broncos want in return for the the pro bowl wide receiver and Marshall himself has shown no reason for a team to trade away at least a number one pick to get a player who has had his problems on and off the field.

The talent has also been there however he is too much of a high risk player to give away multiple top picks for.

Marshall was already suspended last season for three games (eventually turned into one game after the appeal process) after seven police-related incidents with his former girlfriend, Rasheedah Wately.  Marshall was also arrested for the fourth time since 2006 this offseason on disorderly conduct charges (which were later dropped).

On the field hasn’t been much better for Marshall either this offseason as he has been sitting out of practices because of injuries and when he finally gets onto the practice field, he goofs off and doesn’t show that he even cares about the team.  He also has admitted that he does not have any grasp of new head coach Josh McDainels playbook.

Marshall has now put up back to back 1,000 yards receiving seasons and has eclipsed the century mark for receptions the past two years.  Marshall also hauled in seven touchdown receptions last season.

This article also appeared at SportsFullCircle.com.

What New York Jet Fans Should Look for in the Final Two Preseaon Games

Two preseason games down and two preseason games to go. The New York Jets, like all teams in the NFL, still have a lot of items to iron out heading in their final two preseason games.

Game three of the preseason is usually the most telling. It’s the game where your starters play the most and a coach can really see what he has heading towards the regular season.

Game four of the preseason, despite the starters usually only playing one or two series, is usually one of the most competitive. The reason being is lesser position battles are settled and the last roster spots are determined. It’s a game where a young player can really make his mark on a team.

If you are a Jets fan, there are a lot of things to look for in the final two preseason games.

Here are the five most important things to look for when the Jets line up against the New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.

 

1. Mark Sanchez

Now that Mark Sanchez has officially been named the starter, it’s time for him to get to work. I will give Sanchez a mulligan against the Baltimore Ravens last Monday night. Whether it’s preseason or regular season, making your first NFL start against one of the games best defenses is a tough task.

Sanchez will play the entire first-half against the Giants, and you want to see Sanchez develop some chemistry with his wide receivers and tight end. If Sanchez can complete some passes to Jerricho Cotchery and Dustin Keller down the field, that will be a good sign for Jets fans.

 

2. How will Brian Schottenheimer handle Mark Sanchez

Watch Offensive Coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s playcalling. With a rookie QB, you expect the Jets to run an ultra-conservative offense, but at some point the Jets are going to need to get creative in order to score points.

In 2006, the Jets ran one of the most creative offenses in the NFL, but last year the Jets’ offense was very vanilla. Blame it on Brett Favre or Eric Mangini, but this year they need a nice mix from Schottenheimer.

A good start would be getting the ball in Leon Washington’s hands as much as possible. Washington was grossly under-utilized last year, so this year look for him to be Sanchez’s safety blanket.

If Schottenheimer can use Washington this week against the Giants like he did last week against the Ravens, the Jets will be in good shape.

 

3. Who Will Be The No. 2 Wide Receiver?

Unless the Jets make a last minute trade for Brandon Marshall, they will run out a threesome of inexperienced wideouts opposite Cotchery. Chansi Stucky, David Clowney, and Brad Smith have all gotten a look as the No. 2 receiver in training camp.

However, as recently as Wednesday, David Clowney has started practicing with the first-team offense. Clowney, who has the ability to stretch the field, has the fifth most receiving yards this preseason (135 yards) behind Troy Williamson, Chris Henry, Jon Stupar, and Chad Ochocinco.

If Clowney plays the flanker, look for Stucki play more in the slot in a three wide receiver set.The slot is where most football analysts and fans feel Stucki is best suited for his skills.

 

4. Can Vernon Gholston Handle Being A Starter?

Ready or not, Vernon Gholston will be making his first NFL start Saturday night against the Giants. This move makes sense given Calvin Pace will be suspended for the first four games of the regular season and Gholston will be asked to fill Pace’s shoes for that time frame.

It’s put up or shut up time for the former first-round pick out of Ohio State. Look for Gholston to play the “rush” position in Rex Ryan’s defense. It’s a position similar to what Terrell Suggs played in Baltimore.

If Gholston doesn’t show anything in these next two preseason games (only one tackle last week against the Baltimore Ravens), the Jets might have a glaring hole in their defense for the first four games of the regular season.

 

5. Injuries On Defense

DT Kris Jenkins (calf), CB Darrelle Revis (hamstring), and CB Donald Strickland (foot), practiced full again on Wednesday and will play against the Giants.

The Jets have been playing short-handed all preseason and on Saturday will finally get to see what their defense might look like in Week One against the Houston Texans. There are two things you should look for on Saturday night:

1. Kris Jenkins is the key to the Jets’ defense. When he got banged up and slowed down last year, the Jets’ defense wasn’t the same.You want to see him plug the hole against a very good Giants’ rush offense.
2. How will the Jets gel as a defense on Saturday night. A new coach, a new scheme, with new players, and coupled with injuries makes it hard for any defense to gel as a unit. There is always talk of an offense having a “flow,” but you want to see if the Jets can “flow” on defense.

There’s the main things you should look in the Jets last two preseason games. The NFL regular season is right upon us. Are you ready for some football!!!

I know I am.

Oakland Raiders and The Quest For 53: The Quarterback

As the Raiders start preparing for the regular season, position battles will be fought for the purpose to make the team. Some players will be competing against one another, some will compete against time but most of the players all want to simply be one of the 53 players on the team roster after the final cutdown phase occurs.

From information via the Raiders, each position will be evaluated from the team standpoint. Obviously carrying multiple players for a simple position would not warrant consideration. But some positions, an injury is all that separates a player from the bench to full-time work.

The first position that is being covered is the quarterback. In football terms this is the most important position for the offense, because if the quarterback can’t throw, move the chains, hand off or think quickly, a team can stall on drives, the defense will stall out.

Being in charge of multiple plays, reading defenses, studying tape and working on the fundamentals, this all makes up the quarterback position.

For Oakland, this choice was already made when JaMarcus Russell was named the starting QB by Tom Cable. It was almost a given, considering how much time Jeff Garcia had lost in the preseason to injury and other events.

But with JaMarcus Russell locked up as the starter, what is in store for Jeff Garcia, Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye?

For Jeff Garcia, the next two games will prove pivotal that he still has the skills. In a short drive against the 49ers, Garcia was effective, using every target well, until an errant throw to Johnnie Lee Higgins deflected into an interception to end his night. in six throws he completed three passes for 18 yards. Odds are good based on his experience and time in the NFL, he’ll remain second on the depth chart.

Gradkowski, who had a perfect third quarter against the 49ers, has been impressive against both the Cowboys and 49ers, and has 12 completions for 205 yards and two touchdowns. His stats this preseason are better than JaMarcus Russell, however this can also be attributed to his playing against second or third team defenses. It would be interesting to see if Cable would have a contest between Bruce and Jeff for the number two spot on the depth chart, but it would take a major failure on Garcia’s part for him to lose the number two spot.

Lastly, is Charlie Frye. Charlie had some good points and some bad points from the preseason. He led the team in rushing against the 49ers, with 16 yards with most of it coming during the touchdown scramble late to bring the Raiders within a point of tying it up in the fourth quarter. He also has a better completion percentage than Garcia or Gradkowski. On 17 attempts he has 10 completions for 127 yards. The two items that bring mention was the interception he threw in the fourth quarter against the 49ers that set up the go-ahead touchdown and his failed attempt at a two point conversion, with an incomplete toss to Will Franklin leaving the Raiders down by one.

Overall, the Raiders will probably not keep a fourth quarterback on the team and barring any major changes or injury, the depth chart will show

Jamarcus Russell-Jeff Garcia-Bruce Gradkowski

Charlie Frye(released)-last roster cuts

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