What to Watch for as the Chicago Bears Preseason Draws to a Close

When the Bears kick off the second half of their preseason schedule Sunday night the focus lands squarely on the projected starters, since the third preseason game is usually a dress rehearsal for the regular season opener.

This is especially true for quarterback Jay Cutler as he prepares to face his former team in Denver. His departure from the Broncos was less than cordial so it will be interesting to see how he handles the situation.

A hostile environment is expected from the Broncos faithful and it might provide the Bears top signal caller with an opportunity to prove his toughness and professionalism to his new teammates.

Although the players and coaches are saying all the right things regarding the homecoming game for Cutler, expect the quarterback to air it out in his final preseason tune up. The third preseason game is always highly anticipated and this one has added significance.

Besides quarterback several other key positions will be worth watching as the preseason draws to a close, perhaps none more interesting than at wide receiver.

Devin Hester is the no. 1 pass catcher according to the coaching staff but struggled during the first two preseason contests. His communication with Cutler has been shaky and several times Hester turned the wrong way coming out of his break. His performances are proof that there is more to being an NFL receiver than world-class speed.

Earl Bennett has looked sharp in contrast and could benefit from Devin’s rough start. Earl was a teammate of Cutler’s at Vanderbilt so a level of trust and communication is already in place and has been noticeable on the field at times. This relationship could make Bennett the top threat in the passing game as the season progresses.

Rashied Davis returns for his fifth season with the Bears and should maintain his steady role as the No. 3 option at wide receiver. He is never flashy but always dependable and a favorite among the coaching staff for his work ethic and professionalism.

A newcomer to keep an eye on is Devin Aromashodu. Cutler described him as a guy who can simply “go get [the football]” and he will have every opportunity to do just that in the final preseason games. After bouncing around the league for a couple years Devin may have finally found a home in the Windy City.

Brandon Rideau helps round out the receiving corps with draft picks Juaquin Iglesias and Johnny Knox. The group is very inexperienced but if the Bears fail to find an upgrade on the waiver wire expect the trio to be on the roster or practice squad when the season kicks off. This group provides the Bears with a little bit of everything, size (Rideau), possession (Iglesias), and speed (Knox).

Bears fans already know what to expect from the tight end position with Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark primed for big years with the addition of a pro bowl quarterback.

Running backs Matt Forte and Kevin Jones provide the Bears with a nice one two punch in the backfield so come Sunday night all eyes should be on the battle for playing time at wide receiver.

The opposite side of the ball is dominated by veterans, as the usual cast of characters will look to move the Bears back to the top of the league in team defense. The only position up for grabs appears to be at one of the safety spots.

Al Afalava has caught the eye of the coaching staff and for good reason. He has a knack for finding his way to the ball on every play and is not afraid to step up and make the tackle when necessary.

A strong finish to the preseason for Afalava could convince the coaches to keep Daniel Manning at nickelback, and allow the rookie from Oregon State a spot on the first team defense when the team travels to Green Bay for its first regular season contest.

Chargers: 2009 NFL Regular Season Schedule | Fantasy Football Rankings

San Diego Chargers- 2009 NFL Regular Season Schedule- Printable- Downloadable

2009 San Diego Chargers Schedule

Last season we all found out just how important Shawne Merriman was to the Chargers defense and team as they were not the same without him. Just this week San Diego has come out and noted that Shawne probably won’t be at 100% to start the season.

This is to be expected as this stud linebacker had a nasty problem inside that knee and he probably won’t be a full strength until maybe next season.

Never the less Shawne is back with the team and they also have another pass rusher in rookie Larry English to help apply pressure on quarterbacks this season. If these two men stay healthy the Chargers should steam role their way towards the AFC Western Division Title in 2009.

Below are three sections of interest that are worth paying attention to for fantasy owners coming into the season for this team. First we have listed our fantasy players which we believe are worth paying attention to this season.

Next is strength of schedule against the run, pass and points against. Lastly we have a few games selected that will be key in telling how this team will preform for the 2009 season.

Fantasy Players

QB. Philip Rivers
QB. LaDainian Tomlinson
RB. Darren Sproles
WR. Vincent Jackson
WR. Chris Chambers
WR. Legedu Naanee
TE. Antonio Gates
K. Nate Kaeding
D. Chargers

Strength of Schedule

vs Run ninth Easiest Schedule

vs Pass second Hardest Schedule

vs Points Given Up 12th Hardest Schedule

While the Chargers have a tone of talent in the passing game it will be interesting to see if Phillip Rivers can be a consistent fantasy quarterback with a hard schedule this season. San Diego has the second hardest schedule against the pass schedule in the NFL and if they still have success it will be a testament to how good this offense is.

So far in the preseason I’ve not been impressed with the Chargers offensive line and LaDainian Tomlinson. Last week Philip Rivers was sacked four times as the o-line didn’t seem to provide consistent time for Rivers to get the ball away.

This preseason we were supposed to see LT prove that last year was just a bad season and that he is still the same runner he was in the past. So far Tomlinson has carried the football 12 times in the preseason for only 28 yards rushing.

For those of you scoring at home that is a measily 2.33 yards per carry for the one-time premier fantasy football running back.

If LT can’t turn things around next week against the Falcons than fantasy football owners might want to wait and see if this one time stud is available to take as your second round pick.

Games of Interest

Weeks Two – Four: After the Chargers play the Raiders week one they will have three playoff teams with good defenses all in a row. The first two games are at home as they play the Ravens and Dolphins and the final contest is against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.

If the Chargers can get off to a fast start this season and play well in the first month than they should be very imposing for the rest of their schedule. But if the Chargers go out and have a slow start like last season than you might regret drafting San Diego players high at your fantasy draft.

Week 17 vs Redskins: Many fantasy football leagues don’t play week 17 and this is a very good break in Rivers schedule as they are slated to play the Redskins that week.

Washington’s defense is very strong against the pass and it would have been a tough game for fantasy owners to get good production out of him. With this fortunate schedule break it makes Rivers a bit more attractive coming into the 2009 fantasy football season.

2009 Football Projection

The Chargers may not win 12 games this season but they should coast to a division championship with a 10 win season. However if San Diego is serious about winning a championship this year they will need home field advantage and to get that they will need at least 13 wins this season.

In the end I believe the Chargers will win the division but they probably play too many competitive teams to take home field this year. Look for the Chargers to have another good year and come up short in the playoffs.

Fantasy Football Information Writer Sean E. Douglas: fantasy-info.com

Dallas Cowboys-San Francisco 49ers: A Rivalry Long Forgotten

In preparation for the preseason battle between the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers on Saturday August 29, 2009, I am creating this slideshow to re-visit and highlight some of the key moments and happenings in this once great rivarly which in the past had decided NFC championship games. To some, this rivalry is nothing more than another game in a grueling NFL schedule, but to some others, this rivalry is a reminder of when these teams terrorized the NFC and the league as a whole with some great offensive firepower, and mostly some great games that will never be forgotten.

Begin Slideshow

Carolina Panthers: Too Much Salt, Not Enough Julius Peppers

Panther fans, it’s okay, we’ve been here before. 

Don’t throw in the “Growl Towel” just yet. 

There is still time to tighten the strings of this Carolina guitar before September 13th. 

Only two games into the 2009 preseason and some fans around the Carolinas are claiming mutiny on John Fox.  It’s not even the regular season yet! 

Yes, the Panthers have looked every bit as terrible as that treacherous day back in January when the wheels came off and they got embarrassed by the Arizona Cardinals. 

However, Panther fans keep forgetting three things:

A) That was a tremendous loss, not just for the 2008 team, but for the entire franchise. The loss will not easily be overcome, and it will take a major win for us to get over it.  (If Peyton Manning can get through Bill Belichick, we can get through this).

B) The Panthers have never had back-to-back winning seasons. This season is going to be an uphill battle (the Panthers have the second toughest schedule in the league). We are literally going to have to claw our way up to make history.

C) The Panthers haven’t had their entire A-squad out there yet. WRs Steve Smith and Muhsin Muhammad have both missed time, so has RB Jonathan Stewart, and the defense seems to be playing a rigorous game of roulette, so there’s still time to get this team together. 

There are a few bad things that the Panthers need to be careful of. In order of importance:

1)  Starting DT Ma’ake Kemoeatu is out indefinitely. Starting SS Charles Godfrey just broke his hand and had surgery but could be ready for the Philadelphia Eagles opening weekend. The same goes for Stewart and Pro Bowl LB Jon Beason.  

There is no timetable for Stewart, and Beason is out for up to six weeks with a sprained knee.

Carolina has to find someone to step up and fill these voids if the starters can’t return in time. 

The Panthers have one of the league’s most feared starting lineups, but it gets thin after that. Especially on the offensive and defensive lines.

2)  The Panthers need to hold onto the ball—especially on special teams. Special teams can easily be the difference between Ws and Ls, anytime, anywhere.

In the past two preseason games against the Giants and the Dolphins, the Panthers have turned the ball over seven times (six fumbles, one INT).

That’s not good, even for a practice!      

3)  Peppers is obviously phoning it in. We all see it, and it is unfortunate for everyone involved. 

The fact is: Peppers hasn’t registered so much as a whiff of anyone in a game, and he proclaimed afterward “Preseason doesn’t matter”, and then told reporters that management needs to get someone to fill Kemo’s shoes quickly? 

Where does he get the nerve? 

Sign a deal that frees up some cap space so the Panthers aren’t so strapped for cash and then complain, $18+ million PER game? 

Really Peppers?  Who are you anymore?

Some other notes about the Panthers first two preseason games:

RB Mike Goodson was supposed to be our “steal” of the draft. His throat-slashing, gestures and fumble-prone running are showing fans that while he is very fast, he needs a lot more work.

Keep an eye out for these names on Sundays in Carolina (preseason stats): S Quinton Teal (in one game, 3 tkl, 1 ast, .5 sack, 1 INT) (fellow CCU alum, Go CHANTS!), LB Dan Connor (8 tkl, 6 ast), LB Jeremy Leman (8 tkl, 3 ast), and TE Gary Barnidge (3 rec 19 yds).

With Godfrey and Beason out, Teal and Connor will have to step in quickly: Both could prove to be very valuable if given the opportunity. 

Leman reminds me of a young Dan Morgan (leading hits with his head and all). He may be fighting for a roster spot, but if he doesn’t get one with us (which he should), he’ll be playing for someone—he hits that hard.

Barnidge can block, stretch the field, and give Delhomme an out when he’s in trouble. The Panthers haven’t had a TE like that since Wesley Walls (Oh Wesley, how we miss you so).

There’s a bright side Panther fans. We have two games left to get the kinks worked out. Games against the Ravens and the Steelers are exactly what the doctor ordered. 

We should feel privileged to go up against two of the premier defenses in the league before the games begin to count.

There are one of three ways this will end.

The Panthers get stomped and this season turns into a disaster (2004 all over again).

The Panthers get stomped and realize that they are not even close to being a contender, to which they pick themselves up and play with the heart that Panthers fans have come to love and pray it carries them to the playoffs.

The Panthers play a decent game against the Ravens to show enough progress for a third preseason game, and then show the Steelers we’re ready for the 2009 NFL season.

Some say preseason doesn’t matter, but these next two games may quietly set the tone for Carolina this season.

Four-Star Generals: The Top 10 Active Quarterbacks in the NFL

Few issues have been as discussed, debated, or argued over as the subject that I have decided to tackle. Ranking the top ten field generals is not easy nor conclusive as the heated battles, such as the Manning v. Brady saga or the Warner v. HOF voters, rage on with much case for any stance.
This top ten list of quarterbacks is not the same as many other lists of the same subject that I am covering. To determine the best ten, I looked at reaction to intangibles, not stats; I looked as seasons, not rings. If players have shiny bling on their fingers, than that defines them as part of a good team, not a good play. Heck! Jared Lorenzen has a Super Bowl ring, does that make him better than Drew Brees?

Begin Slideshow

Tommie Harris Has To Be The Man For The 2009 Bears

Unless you’ve been on Mars the past few months, you probably are aware that the Chicago Bears have an actual NFL quarterback for the first time in decades. 

His name is Jay Cutler.  He is very good at football.  He doesn’t like Phillip Rivers.

You know this already—and even if you were on Mars you probably got a text from your buddy telling you about Cutler.

The addition of Cutler is nice for obvious reasons, but the 2009 Bears will go only as far as Tommie Harris takes them. 

Harris, when he is on, is one of the premier defensive tackles in the NFL.  He can pressure the opposing quarterback, cause havoc for offensive linemen, and keep bodies off his fellow defenders, allowing them to roam free to make plays.

Harris, 26, is already a three-time Pro Bowler, and if it wasn’t for his history of nagging injuries, he would be on his way towards enshrinement in Canton, Ohio.

Today’s successful NFL defense usually will have at least one of two components: a physical safety who lives around the line of scrimmage (Bob Sanders, Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, etc.) or a hell-raising defensive tackle (Albert Haynesworth, Shaun Rogers, Kevin Williams, etc.) that can, well, raise hell for an opponent’s offense.

Looking at this Bears roster, I don’t see Ed Reed, Bob Sanders, or Troy Polamalu, so scratch that off your list.  Kevin (“house of”) Payne is years away from being in that group.

Tommie Harris, however, fits the bill of the type of defensive tackle contending teams have. His size, speed, and athleticism will always provide challenges to offensive coordinators. 

Even teammate Lance Briggs has said Tommie is the key to the Bears defense this year.  He obviously knows the importance of having a top tackle like Harris in the fold.

So, too, do fellow general managers across the league.  Just look at the contract that Albert Haynesworth got this past offseason.

The Washington Redskins gave Haynesworth a seven-year, $100 million contract.  How important is the defensive tackle to the Redskins?  Fairly important, based on that large contract.

Cutler will sell seats and No. 6 jerseys will cover every square inch of Soldier Field for eight (hopefully more) games this season.  He may even throw for 300 yards in a game or two this year.

But will he prevent Ryan Grant, Adrian Peterson, and Kevin Smith from bursting through the Bears front-seven and galloping 75 yards for a touchdown? 

No;  Cutler is not superman.  He won’t stop Peterson, Grant, or Smith unless he trips them while standing on the sidelines (which seems to be the best approach for stopping Peterson anyways).

Harris, however, can stop those men—with help from his 10 buddies of course. 

Last June, Harris’ contract was extended four years and he was paid handsomely by the Bears—a sign of loyalty, but also an indication that the Bears wanted more. 

More sacks, more forced fumbles, more mayhem caused by Tough Tommie.

Harris has taken it easy this preseason, and why not?  What’s he going to learn in two preseason games anyways? 

But new defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, who has been credited with turning Warren Sapp into a superstar, will be guiding Harris this season.  Considered a defensive line guru, Marinelli will be in charge of lighting a fire under Harris and getting him to produce the way the Bears front office expects him to.

Harris said he found God last offseason. 

Now he must find opposing ball carriers, and preferably hurt them in some form.

Without Harris active and producing, this Bears defense is very average.

While Cutler’s offense will keep things fun and interesting, the Bears defense ultimately holds the key to an NFC North division title.

Harris needs to turn the key for the Bears to get in the door.

 

Kellen Clemens Gracious In Defeat As Sanchez Named Starter

Say what you will about Kellen Clemens playing ability, but nobody can question his attitude, his graciousness and his genuine appreciation for the game.

Today, must of been a very long day for Clemens. Just after 8:00am this morning, he was called to a meeting, and must of known what was coming. Mark Sanchez officially named the starter of the New York Jets.

DeJa Vu, a scene that had to be very familiar and unwelcoming to Clemens, a man who came out of college with high hopes and expectations, and rightfully so. Amongst all the congratulations that we hand to Mark Sanchez, Clemens reaction can not go un-noticed.

First person to inform the media of Clemens reaction was non other than the New Jets quarterback himself, who told the media on Wednesday afternoon that once the two had left Rex Ryan’s office, Clemens turned to him and said:

‘Hey man, I’m happy for you.’ He said, ‘I’m behind you 100 percent and this is something great. Take it and run with it and we’ll be in this thing together. I’ll be your eyes on the sideline.’ And that was really special to me. That meant a lot.”

Now, In a sport where players are berated for there selfish attitude, I hope that it is not just me who finds this kind of support from a gracious loser to be refreshing. I don’t particularly like the sound of the word ‘loser’ in this context, but he did lose the battle.

Clemens might be thinking what’s next for him, however, he seems ready to take on his role on the sideline. He can help and mentor the young QB.

Clemens might not have the years of experience, but he knows the system. Rex applauded his knowledge with the system and it could be vital for the development of Sanchez

It would’ve been very easy to turn his back on the rookie and the Jets franchise having been passed up for the job again; having already previously lost out to Chad Pennington and Brett Favre.

Clemens might not be starting this season for the Jets, but that does not mean that he is not important to this franchise.

Clemens briefly commented on the decision saying:

“A bump in the road. It’s not the end of the road.”

A top class person, who I’m sure every Jet fan will wish luck in the future, even if it might not be with our very own franchise. At least one more season, though Clemens, see out the remainder of your contract then go hunting for a job.

I’m sure we as Jets fans would not deny him that.

Depth Perceptions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterbacks

What a difference a game makes, huh? 

If only the 2008 Tampa Bay Bucs had won one game in the month of December, they would have finished 10-6, made the NFL playoffs again, and likely would not have cleaned house this offseason.

However, that four-loss December collapse spelled doom for many people connected to it.

The most notable change came when the team fired head coach Jon Gruden, who gave way to little known defensive assistant Raheem Morris this offseason. At only 33 years of age, Morris will have his hands full, as he attempts to improve a team that has exactly zero playoff wins since their Super Bowl XXXVII victory and has jettisoned some veterans heading into his rookie season at the helm.

At the top of Morris’ to do list is finding a starting quarterback, and the battle has received a ton of hype all throughout the offseason. Veterans Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown have battled it out all during OTAs and summer camp. When first-round draft pick Josh Freeman and long-term project Josh Johnson are added to the mix, some might see the Bucs’ QB situation as an embarrassment of riches.

Unfortunately, when you have four quarterbacks that can play that often means you have no one you can count on. Let’s take a closer look…

 

Byron Leftwich—Leftwich is the guy with far and away the most experience and the most proven ability. He stepped into the NFL six years ago and played almost immediately, with his size, overall athletic ability, and toughness being his strong suits.

Unfortunately, the devastating knee injury he suffered in 2005 allowed backup David Garrard to move past him the following season as the starting QB in Jacksonville. Since then, he has been trying to find his place, but filled in ably as Ben Roethlisberger’s backup in Pittsburgh last season.

The question is whether or not a team which is in at least a form of rebuilding mode should be tied to a QB with a major injury history and a career 58.6 percent completion rate (and less than 50 percent this preseason).

 

Luke McCown—One thing so many of us as fans love about the NFL is how hard some players have to work to earn their keep. When you’re a player in that scenario, then there is no rest for the wear, and the strong armed Luke McCown is one of those players.

Having spent parts of various seasons with Tampa, New Orleans, and Cleveland; he has seen action in only 12 games over six NFL campaigns. McCown now has some experience to work with, even if it is not Sunday experience. His performance in last Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Jaguars with his job on the line was excellent. Anytime a QB can step in with pressure on him to play well and go 6-for-9 with two TD passes, it is the best of signs.

 

Josh Freeman —The already proclaimed and acknowledged Buccaneers quarterback of the future is Josh Freeman. He was picked 17th overall in this year’s draft, which was considered a reach by some; but no one denies his athleticism is something that is at a premium in today’s NFL.

The 6’6” Freeman is raw on his recognition skills, which could make for a bumpy road with any rookie QB. Plus now he may have the added pressure of absurd comparisons to Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco from 2008. There is a ton of varying speculation on Freeman, but make no mistake; he has a legitimate chance to start for a considerable portion of this season.

 

Josh Johnson—The second year project out of San Diego was deemed a long term project with major upside when he was drafted in the fifth round in 2008. But, after the Bucs faltered and a new coaching regime came into place, Freeman was touted as the next franchise guy and it left Johnson in an unenviable position.

While Johnson may still have that untapped potential, it is unlikely he will see the field before Freeman. Injuries and abysmal play from those in front of him are the only two things that can get Johnson there.

 

SUMMARY

Adding to all of the speculation about who will start opening day for Tampa Bay is the rumor mill that suggests at least one of the aforementioned quarterbacks will be traded.

Head Coach Raheem Morris stated this week: “Everybody in this league, all 32 teams around this time, are calling other front offices,” Morris said.

“I can’t control who calls us. We can control who we call. Everybody is interested in everybody’s roster. Everybody is looking to nitpick off everybody’s roster. Everybody has talent, and you’re trying to accumulate the best talent for your football team.”

So we have several questions to ask in order to approach this battle which will be decided quickly after this Thursday’s preseason game versus Miami:

1. Does the coaching staff think that Josh Freeman will be ready to play this season, even if it’s not on opening day? I think the answer is yes.

2. If the trade rumors are correct, who will garner the most value that you can afford to part with for this season? Leftwich, without a doubt. He has proven himself to be able to lead a team and can add some real value to a struggling team or a team with no discernable backup.

3. If the Bucs are in rebuilding mode anyway, why not just put Freeman in and let him learn on the job? I am okay with this in theory, but they are not a cellar dweller just yet and if Freeman struggles from Week 1, then they will be out of the playoff race before they started.

My call would be to move Leftwich, as he has the most value and would put them in a situation where they have McCown (playing the best of the four) starting the season and Freeman (future franchise) as a backup.

The Bucs can talk up Josh Johnson in trade rumors all they want, but no one will offer much to get him. So he can stick around as third string and they can move him next offseason.

But, I think the Bucs are going to stick with Leftwich, whom they just signed to a decent sized contract, and try to move McCown for a later round draft pick. At the first sign of real distress for whoever starts this season, Freeman will be warming up on the sidelines instead of holding a clipboard.

With the way I expect their season to go, this will happen before their bye week (Week 8) at the latest.

Depth Perceptions is a weekly look at depth chart and positional battles all over the NFL.

This article was originally published on FantasyPros911.com.

 

Detroit Lions: What To Look For In Final Two Preseason Games

There are only two preseason games remaining until the Detroit Lions kick off its 2009 regular season against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 13. But before the season gets underway, there are still lingering questions to be answered in the final two preseason games.

There are three things Lions fans should be keeping a close eye on and they are the kicking competition, the quarterback battle, and the defensive line.

Last Tuesday, veteran kicker Jason Hanson underwent minor surgery on his right knee and there’s a possibility that he could miss the opener against the Saints

Until then, backup kicker Swayze Waters, who’s battling a sore hamstring, will take over Hanson’s work load, along with newly signed kicker Billy Cundiff, formerly of the Dallas Cowboys.
 
It should be interesting to see how the second-string kickers perform in the absence of Hanson.

I don’t mean to digress, but doesn’t Swayze Waters sound like a cross between Patrick Swayze and Muddy Waters?

Meanwhile, the quarterback competition between Matthew Stafford and Daunte Culpepper is slightly swinging favorably in the direction of Mr. Culpepper. In the first two preseason games, Culpepper has a combined 15-for-22 for 127 yards with no interceptions or touchdowns.

Meanwhile, rookie Matt Stafford has a combined 12-for-27 for 148 yards with an interception and a touchdown. It’s really difficult to gage each one of their performances without any starters like Calvin Johnson, Bryant Johnson, Brandon Pettigrew, or Dennis Northcutt, who are all expected to play vs. the Colts on Saturday.

The last two preseason games should give fans and coaches an opportunity to see how good or bad each quarterback really is.

Personally, I’d still rather see Matt Stafford named the starter entering the season. But if the coaching staff believes that Daunte Culpepper gives the team a better chance to be successful, then I’m all for it.

Did I just write Lions and successful in the same sentence?

In the game against the Cleveland Browns this past Saturday, the Lions defense allowed 157 yards and 13 points on four Browns possessions in the opening quarter. In the first preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, running back Michael Turner gashed the Lions for a 40 yard touchdown as he powered his way through this supposed upgraded defense.

In both preseason of those games, the Lions defensive line has failed to put any pressure on the opposition’s offensive line.

Detroit needs to witness some kind of pressure, any kind of pressure—just something to build upon going into the season.

It’s very concerning because in the first five games of the regular season, the Lions defense will begrudgingly have the daunting task of trying to contain Reggie Bush, Adrian Peterson, Clinton Portis, Matt Forte, and Willie Parker.

Five Rams To Watch Against The Bengals

Everybody knows the third preseason game is where it’s at when it comes to getting ready for the NFL season.

 

We’ve had the two-a-days. We’ve had the “get our feet wet” first preseason game. We’ve had the “time to start putting things together” second preseason game. And next week, it’s the “please don’t cut me” game.

 

This is the money game.

 

The third preseason game is the last chance for the starters to get their act in gear, before the team makes the turn toward the regular season. It’s also the last time a lot of guys will be on the active roster with cuts looming next Tuesday.

 

With that in mind, here are five guys I’ll be keeping a close eye on Thursday night:

 

Kyle Boller

 

Boller has done nothing to make fans, coaches, or players confident that should he can come in and direct the offense to 21 or more points should Marc Bulger not come back as quickly as expected, or gets injured again (since the defense doesn’t look like it’s winning many 13-10 games anytime soon).

 

So far, Boller has completed only 12 of 25 pass attempts for 116 yards. And if you were to take the names off the jerseys and asked a fan who didn’t know anybody from anybody to rank Keith Null, Brock Berlin, and Boller purely on their performance in the preseason thus far; Boller is ending up last in those rankings 100 out of 100 times.

 

He just hasn’t been very good.

 

With that said, cutting bait on Boller before the regular season and going with a cast-off from another franchise would be a reactionary fan move, not a smart football move.

 

Boller is making this team.

 

Rams General Manager Billy Devaney scouted the available options at back-up quarterback in the offseason, then picked Boller. They didn’t try to trade for Matt Cassel from the Patriots and they didn’t draft Mark Sanchez, who will start from the get-go for the New York Jets. They looked at the available options and Bulger—Boller—Berlin/Null is what they decided.

 

Sometimes you just have to live with your decisions and hope they turn out. Kyle Boller is one such decision.

 

And Thursday night against the Bengals, it would be real swell if he could provide at least a glimmer of hope that he was the right one.

 

 

Derek Stanley

 

Stanley continues to be hit and miss. One moment he’s catching a touchdown. The next, he’s dropping easy passes. Then, he’s providing a spark in the return game, or dropping passes.

 

Stanley needs to realize that occasional moments of excellence aren’t good enough. I would rather have a player with a lower ceiling who can sustain their performance, than a player who can touch greatness, but spends most of his time somewhere between “suck” and “maddeningly frustrating.”

 

Donnie Avery looks like he’ll be fine for the regular season, but he won’t be playing against a physical Bengals secondary on Thursday; Stanley will, and more than doing something spectacular, he just needs to show he can be a consistent contributor.

 

 

Larry Grant

 

The Rams’ starting defense was terrible against the Falcons. There’s no getting around that. And I wrote the other day, that fans should have a little patience as players get used to the system being installed by head coach Steve Spagnuolo and defensive coordinator Ken Flajole.

 

With that said, time might not be the only thing needed. Perhaps a roster shake-up is also in order.

 

Grant has consistently shown an ability to be a disruptive force. Whether it was at camp practice or in the preseason, he’s been one of the few guys who stood out as difference makers.

 

Against Atlanta, Grant had a sack of Falcons QB DJ Shockley, forcing a fumble that Brock Berlin turned into the Rams’ first touchdown of the game. These are the plays the Rams will need as they scrap for wins against more talented teams in 2009.

 

And so I know that Chris Draft, entering his 12th season, has the veteran status and may picks things up a little bit faster, but I’d really like to see Grant run with those next to former college teammate James Laurinaitis.

 

After all, it can’t get much worse, right?

 

 

O.J. Atogwe

 

Assigning blame for mistakes in the secondary is one of the trickiest things, in that you don’t know exactly what defense was called, what reads the defenders were supposed to make, and who failed to cover their responsibility.

 

Did the corner release too early, incorrectly assuming he had safety help over the top? Did the safety miss his assignment and go to the wrong side of the field, leaving a corner to look like he got burnt when really he was doing his job covering the flat?

 

Did the linebacker not cover the tight end, forcing the safety to come up and make the tackle even though it wasn’t his coverage?

 

Sometimes, you just don’t know.

 

With that said, O.J. Atogwe, “Mr. Franchise Player,” has been doing a mighty fine Adam Archuletta impression thus far this preseason: Always around the ball because he’s usually one step behind the guy catching it.

 

Atogwe is one of the top paid safeties in the league this year, and against a Bengals offense missing Carson Palmer, he needs to do a better job of making a play before the other team picks up 15 yards.

 

 

Chris Long

 

I’ve been on Long’s case all preseason because I just don’t think he provides much to the defense. He’s not getting around the corner and hitting the quarterback. He’s not collapsing the line in the run game (in fact, he got moved out like yesterday’s trash when Atlanta was on the goal line).

 

He just isn’t doing near enough to justify his starting spot; not to mention the ungodly salary as the second overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft.

 

But Cincinnati has a bad offensive line. They drafted Andre Smith with the sixth overall pick, but his crazy insistence that he get paid more than the guy picked after him has left the two sides somehow unable to reach a contract.

 

So if there’s any line the Rams should be able to create pressure against, it’s these guys. And Long needs to show something other than his amazing chase speed when the play is 10 yards in front of him.

 

The time to learn and figure things out is over. It’s time to show you can play. Because in just about two weeks, wins and losses will start to mean something.

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