His preseason performance won't do anything to change that, nor will Bulger's.
Flacco is the starter and will continue to be the starter unless he gets hurt, takes a gigantic step backwards in his development, toilet papers GM Ozzie Newsome's car, or decides he's going to pull a Glen Coffee.
He completed eight passes in a row at one point, led the wholesale Ravens jersey to scores on two of the three drives he orchestrated, and was one of the stars of the game. But Bulger was brought here to provide insurance for Flacco, not compete with him.
Yes, Bulger looked great on Saturday. There's no doubt about that.
The third-year quarterback had a bit of a shaky outing against a defense that finished the 2009 season ranked 10th in the league. That's all.
Flacco didn't leave one of his star receivers out to dry a la Matt Leinart. He didn't throw five interceptions a la Jake Delhomme. And he didn't run the wrong way with the ball a la Jim Marshall.
Seriously, folks? Are we that desperate for things to talk about?
Glad to see Eli will be back. Good test for the D this weekend. I just hope the pass rush does not open that wound up on him. You saw McNabb walking aroung hurt after he got chased and knocked around
Last time I checked the Ravens won the game 23-3. All alot of fans can focus on is the negatives of the game. I guess that comes with High expectations. I think most fans think the Defense should not ever let up a long pass or Flacco and the offense should put of 40 points per game. News flash people. The guys on the other side of the ball are pretty good football players too. It will take some time for these guys to gel in the offense. Even though we have a talented group it does not mean they will score TD's at will. So folks, calm down. Don't panic on Flacco just yet. Also, don't panic everytime a pass is caught for long yardage. It happens to all D's. I know that fans have been spoiled over the years with the amazing D that the Ravens have had. You have to remember that along with that D came an offense that we saw alot of 3 and outs and field goals. This team is different. There will be a little more scoring on both sides of the ball. And by the way, our D only let up 9 total points in 2 games so far. Pretty good.
Some fans are under the impression that Saturday's preseason game against the cheap Redskins jersey , in which Flacco went a pedestrian 9-of-16 for 72 yards while Bulger posted an impressive line of 13-for-16 for 130 yards, is an indication that the veteran Bulger should be the Ravens' starting quarterback.
For some reason, the bulk of the Ravens-themed calls I've heard on sports talk radio stations the last two days have centered around quarterbacks Joe Flacco jersey and Marc Bulger.
2010年8月25日星期三
2010年8月19日星期四
Philadelphia Eagles signed Garcia as their backup to Donovan McNabb
Garcia started his football career in the Canadian Football League with the Calgary Stampeders in 1994. He was named the CFL's most outstanding player in 1997. In his full three years as the starter, he led Calgary to records of 13-5, 10-8 and 12-6. In 1998 he led the team to the league's championship game, the Grey Cup and was named the game's MVP in a win over the Hamilton Tiger Cats.
Garcia played with the Lions, Browns, Eagles, Buccaneers and Raiders as well, but his best days came with the 49ers where he and Terrell Owens made a great duo before their relationship grew sour. Owens had seasons of 60, 97, 93, 100 and 80 receptions with Garcia under centre. Owens twice led the league in touchdowns during that run.
The relationship grew sour after Owens began praising Garcia's backup quarterback Tim Rattay. Owens was traded to the cheap Philadelphia Eagles jerseys in the 2004 season. Once in Philly, he blamed the 49ers decline in offensive production on Garcia. Garcia himself admitted that in his last season in San Francisco, the pressure of following in the footsteps of Joe Montana and Steve Young had gotten to him.
"Have somebody step into my shoes and feel what I had to deal with throughout that whole time in San Francisco. The dust would start to settle, and all of a sudden, more fuel was thrown into the fire. It was such a negative situation," said Garcia.
Garcia left for Cleveland, where he was released after one season. He signed with Detroit but missed his only season with the Lions with a broken fibula.
The following year, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Garcia as their backup to Donovan McNabb. When McNabb was injured in Week 11 of the 2006 season, Garcia had to take over for the rest of the season. He did a great job, leading the Eagles to a 5-1 record over the final six games and won the NFC East. The Eagles then won their first playoff game against the Giants before losing to the New Orleans Saints in the divisional round.
Garcia signed with the cheap Tampa Bay Buccaneers jerseys the following season when he led the Bucs to a division title. They then lost in the Wild Card round to the wholesale New York Giants jerseys, the eventual Super Bowl champions. He lost his starting job in 2008 before getting it back due to injuries at the position. The Bucs failed to make the playoffs that year and Garcia was released.
The Oakland Raiders then signed Garcia last season to back up JaMarcus Russell, but Garcia was cut after preseason. He signed back with the Eagles after an early season McNabb injury, but didn't play a game last season. After Michael Vick returned from suspension, the Eagles released Garcia. His stint lasted two weeks.
On Monday the wholesale San Francisco 49ers jerseys signed Westbrook to a one-year deal after their former backup running back Glen Coffee suddenly announced his retirement.
Niners' head coach Mike Singletary made it explicitly clear to Westbrook that Frank Gore would remain the No. 1 back in San Fran, but Westbrook would have opportunities to make it on the field and contribute.
With that said, if you suffer two concussions in four weeks, and your profession is predicated upon being mauled by guys who weigh upwards of 300 pounds, isn't it time to hang those cleats up for good?
Just one glance at his comments about joining the Niners speaks volumes about Westbrook's mindset:
"I am fully healthy. In my mind, last year was a tough season for me," he said. "I spent the whole offseason rehabbing, I didn't have time to prepare for the season so I kind of went into the season blind without any preparation at all. So it was a tough year. I was playing catch up the entire season and obviously wasn't able to do that. This year, I've been able to spend my whole offseason preparing for a football season. Now that my body is completely healthy, I'm ready to go out there and perform.
Garcia played with the Lions, Browns, Eagles, Buccaneers and Raiders as well, but his best days came with the 49ers where he and Terrell Owens made a great duo before their relationship grew sour. Owens had seasons of 60, 97, 93, 100 and 80 receptions with Garcia under centre. Owens twice led the league in touchdowns during that run.
The relationship grew sour after Owens began praising Garcia's backup quarterback Tim Rattay. Owens was traded to the cheap Philadelphia Eagles jerseys in the 2004 season. Once in Philly, he blamed the 49ers decline in offensive production on Garcia. Garcia himself admitted that in his last season in San Francisco, the pressure of following in the footsteps of Joe Montana and Steve Young had gotten to him.
"Have somebody step into my shoes and feel what I had to deal with throughout that whole time in San Francisco. The dust would start to settle, and all of a sudden, more fuel was thrown into the fire. It was such a negative situation," said Garcia.
Garcia left for Cleveland, where he was released after one season. He signed with Detroit but missed his only season with the Lions with a broken fibula.
The following year, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Garcia as their backup to Donovan McNabb. When McNabb was injured in Week 11 of the 2006 season, Garcia had to take over for the rest of the season. He did a great job, leading the Eagles to a 5-1 record over the final six games and won the NFC East. The Eagles then won their first playoff game against the Giants before losing to the New Orleans Saints in the divisional round.
Garcia signed with the cheap Tampa Bay Buccaneers jerseys the following season when he led the Bucs to a division title. They then lost in the Wild Card round to the wholesale New York Giants jerseys, the eventual Super Bowl champions. He lost his starting job in 2008 before getting it back due to injuries at the position. The Bucs failed to make the playoffs that year and Garcia was released.
The Oakland Raiders then signed Garcia last season to back up JaMarcus Russell, but Garcia was cut after preseason. He signed back with the Eagles after an early season McNabb injury, but didn't play a game last season. After Michael Vick returned from suspension, the Eagles released Garcia. His stint lasted two weeks.
On Monday the wholesale San Francisco 49ers jerseys signed Westbrook to a one-year deal after their former backup running back Glen Coffee suddenly announced his retirement.
Niners' head coach Mike Singletary made it explicitly clear to Westbrook that Frank Gore would remain the No. 1 back in San Fran, but Westbrook would have opportunities to make it on the field and contribute.
With that said, if you suffer two concussions in four weeks, and your profession is predicated upon being mauled by guys who weigh upwards of 300 pounds, isn't it time to hang those cleats up for good?
Just one glance at his comments about joining the Niners speaks volumes about Westbrook's mindset:
"I am fully healthy. In my mind, last year was a tough season for me," he said. "I spent the whole offseason rehabbing, I didn't have time to prepare for the season so I kind of went into the season blind without any preparation at all. So it was a tough year. I was playing catch up the entire season and obviously wasn't able to do that. This year, I've been able to spend my whole offseason preparing for a football season. Now that my body is completely healthy, I'm ready to go out there and perform.
2010年8月15日星期日
Ed Reed also started training camp by getting a lot of press
Generations of Baltimoreans have come to expect humid August days followed by stormy evenings and Thursday was no exception as the clouds opened up in the second half, bringing rain and sloppy play.
Conditions compounded the coaching staff's challenge of uating the talent at the back end of the roster. In fact, the results were just as predictable as the weather, with Carolina picking up two Ravens second-half fumbles that lead to ten of their twelve points.
Despite the miscues, the Ravens were able to show progress in two of the most talked-about areas of concern last season.
On offense, the revamped passing attack shined, with stout pass protection from the starters, and the deeper receiving corps flashing with some brilliant moments.
Defensively, the pressure put on the inexperienced Carolina quarterbacks from the Ravens front seven was promising, especially after head coach John Harbaugh identified interior pressure as the team's number-one priority coming into training camp. If anything, this defensive strategy was made more critical by the fact that the team's top three cornerbacks were out for the game. There's no doubt that it helped a patchwork secondary shine throughout the contest, easing fans' greatest fears a bit – at least for this week.
uating individual play in the preseason is difficult, given how uneven the level of competition can be throughout game. But a few players stood out for their excellent play, including many new names to Ravens fans. Ravens 24x7 game balls go out to four stand-outs who are new additions, or who will be counted on for increased roles
Joe Flacco got his work in and performed efficiently, making good, but not Ray Rice spectacular throws. His numbers, eight of twelve for 120 yards and a touchdown are hard to argue with, even if padded by a number of screen passes for long gains. Mark Bulger was much less consistent, with poor long throws and a fumble when he failed to protect the ball when leaving the pocket. He did look more comfortable playing more of a West Coast style, moving his feet and hitting receivers on slants and out patterns. Troy Smith did little to make you think other teams will make inquiries with Ozzie Newsome about the former Heisman Trophy Winner's availability anytime soon.
The coaching staff was quick to protect their biggest offensive threat, Ray Rice. His night consisted of two play action fakes to the left, a decoy while split-out wide right, and a chip block on TE before drifting into the flat. LeRon McClain put in the most impressive runs, churning for extra yards to push his average to five yards a carry. Willis McGahee, who looked bigger than last season, shined as a pass catcher out of the backfield. Jalen Parmele did a nice job stepping up for Bulger in pass protection, but his fumble in the rain led to a long Carolina touchdown return. Rookie Curtis Steele had a chance to show why there has been a buzz about him in camp. He shined by escaping a near-safety and moving the ball sixteen yards straight up the middle. And he bounced another run to the outside for twenty. But Steele also fumbled to set up a Panthers field goal. Terrence Cody was inserted at fullback in the red zone, but the results were far from spectacular. Faced with the choice of two onrushing defenders, he blocked neither, and on the next play was flagged for a false start. Converted linebacker, rookie Mike McLaughlin has a long way to go as a lead blocker, opting for cut blocks most of the night, with unimpressive results.
Coach John Harbaugh said that the injury would sideline Gaither for one to two weeks. "It's not a serious thing," Harbaugh said, "but it is going to keep him out for a couple weeks until it settles down."
Another source told the NFL Network that the injury would keep Gaither out for the remainder of the preseason.
Gaither, who was afraid he might have had to face surgery, has not practiced since August 5. Even before that time, he had been hampered on and off with various injuries that kept him from consistently practicing with the team.
Oniel Cousins started at right tackle during the Ravens' first preseason game. Cousins will remain in that position while Gaither mends.
Gaither had been moved from left tackle to right tackle early in camp. Micheal Oher, coming off a memorable rookie season, was installed at left tackle.
In the offseason Gaither was the subject of trade rumors. The rumors focused on him moving to the Buffalo Bills. That talk has died down since the start of training camp.
The Gaither situation will be interesting to watch once he is healthy. He has missed a significant amount of practice time. This time away from the field may find the Ravens going in a different direction at Gaither's position.
Ed Reed also started training camp by getting a lot of press. Most of the reports regarding Reed focused on a perceived lack of support from the Ravens' upper management. Reed has seemed to soften in his stance as of late as we have not heard a negative word from him for quite a while.
It seems as if both sides are looking to move on and begin with the healing process.
Reed, an All-Pro free safety, is still recovering from offseason hip surgery and remains on the physically unable to perform list.
This inability to practice with the team has not kept the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year away from the team. Reed has been at practice encouraging his teammates. Harbaugh said, "He's into it."
Harbaugh also noted Reed's progress. "I like what I see when I see him working. He looks like he's progressing."
While both players seem to have cut down on their negative comments and/or images as of late, this does not mean that all is well with either player.
Some are questioning if Reed will ever be able to play again after the serious surgery he has had. The questions involving Gaither focus on his desire to play right tackle or even if he wants to play for the Ravens. There is also the very real possibility that he will lose his job while he heals from his back injury.
Conditions compounded the coaching staff's challenge of uating the talent at the back end of the roster. In fact, the results were just as predictable as the weather, with Carolina picking up two Ravens second-half fumbles that lead to ten of their twelve points.
Despite the miscues, the Ravens were able to show progress in two of the most talked-about areas of concern last season.
On offense, the revamped passing attack shined, with stout pass protection from the starters, and the deeper receiving corps flashing with some brilliant moments.
Defensively, the pressure put on the inexperienced Carolina quarterbacks from the Ravens front seven was promising, especially after head coach John Harbaugh identified interior pressure as the team's number-one priority coming into training camp. If anything, this defensive strategy was made more critical by the fact that the team's top three cornerbacks were out for the game. There's no doubt that it helped a patchwork secondary shine throughout the contest, easing fans' greatest fears a bit – at least for this week.
uating individual play in the preseason is difficult, given how uneven the level of competition can be throughout game. But a few players stood out for their excellent play, including many new names to Ravens fans. Ravens 24x7 game balls go out to four stand-outs who are new additions, or who will be counted on for increased roles
Joe Flacco got his work in and performed efficiently, making good, but not Ray Rice spectacular throws. His numbers, eight of twelve for 120 yards and a touchdown are hard to argue with, even if padded by a number of screen passes for long gains. Mark Bulger was much less consistent, with poor long throws and a fumble when he failed to protect the ball when leaving the pocket. He did look more comfortable playing more of a West Coast style, moving his feet and hitting receivers on slants and out patterns. Troy Smith did little to make you think other teams will make inquiries with Ozzie Newsome about the former Heisman Trophy Winner's availability anytime soon.
The coaching staff was quick to protect their biggest offensive threat, Ray Rice. His night consisted of two play action fakes to the left, a decoy while split-out wide right, and a chip block on TE before drifting into the flat. LeRon McClain put in the most impressive runs, churning for extra yards to push his average to five yards a carry. Willis McGahee, who looked bigger than last season, shined as a pass catcher out of the backfield. Jalen Parmele did a nice job stepping up for Bulger in pass protection, but his fumble in the rain led to a long Carolina touchdown return. Rookie Curtis Steele had a chance to show why there has been a buzz about him in camp. He shined by escaping a near-safety and moving the ball sixteen yards straight up the middle. And he bounced another run to the outside for twenty. But Steele also fumbled to set up a Panthers field goal. Terrence Cody was inserted at fullback in the red zone, but the results were far from spectacular. Faced with the choice of two onrushing defenders, he blocked neither, and on the next play was flagged for a false start. Converted linebacker, rookie Mike McLaughlin has a long way to go as a lead blocker, opting for cut blocks most of the night, with unimpressive results.
Coach John Harbaugh said that the injury would sideline Gaither for one to two weeks. "It's not a serious thing," Harbaugh said, "but it is going to keep him out for a couple weeks until it settles down."
Another source told the NFL Network that the injury would keep Gaither out for the remainder of the preseason.
Gaither, who was afraid he might have had to face surgery, has not practiced since August 5. Even before that time, he had been hampered on and off with various injuries that kept him from consistently practicing with the team.
Oniel Cousins started at right tackle during the Ravens' first preseason game. Cousins will remain in that position while Gaither mends.
Gaither had been moved from left tackle to right tackle early in camp. Micheal Oher, coming off a memorable rookie season, was installed at left tackle.
In the offseason Gaither was the subject of trade rumors. The rumors focused on him moving to the Buffalo Bills. That talk has died down since the start of training camp.
The Gaither situation will be interesting to watch once he is healthy. He has missed a significant amount of practice time. This time away from the field may find the Ravens going in a different direction at Gaither's position.
Ed Reed also started training camp by getting a lot of press. Most of the reports regarding Reed focused on a perceived lack of support from the Ravens' upper management. Reed has seemed to soften in his stance as of late as we have not heard a negative word from him for quite a while.
It seems as if both sides are looking to move on and begin with the healing process.
Reed, an All-Pro free safety, is still recovering from offseason hip surgery and remains on the physically unable to perform list.
This inability to practice with the team has not kept the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year away from the team. Reed has been at practice encouraging his teammates. Harbaugh said, "He's into it."
Harbaugh also noted Reed's progress. "I like what I see when I see him working. He looks like he's progressing."
While both players seem to have cut down on their negative comments and/or images as of late, this does not mean that all is well with either player.
Some are questioning if Reed will ever be able to play again after the serious surgery he has had. The questions involving Gaither focus on his desire to play right tackle or even if he wants to play for the Ravens. There is also the very real possibility that he will lose his job while he heals from his back injury.
2010年8月10日星期二
Fantasy Football Team Preview: Panthers
Meet the ...
Team that really needs to develop a passing attack... The 2009 Carolina Panthers had two running backs that eclipsed 1,100 rushing yards and both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart averaged over five yards per carry. Unfortunately, these two were the only fantasy football standouts on the team. Quarterback Jake Delhomme threw 18 interceptions and had a 59.4 quarterback rating before making way for Matt Moore, and the team did not have a 1,000-yard receiver. Delhomme is no longer with the team and the Panthers drafted Jimmy Clausen and Brandon LaFell early to try to bolster the passing game.
The Panthers are going to attempt to find a quarterback -- whether it's Moore or Clausen is yet to be determined -- who can turn Steve Smith into a viable threat once again. The team also hopes that one of the receivers in camp steps up to be a solid target opposite of Smith.
The Breakout
The Panthers have been looking for a legitimate No. 2 receiver for some time now, and may have found it in 2010 third-round pick from LSU, Brandon LaFell. The 6-foot-2 receiver has big, soft hands but has been knocked for lack of concentration during his senior season. The troubles he had in 2009 don't seem to have followed him to training camp as LaFell has impressed the coaching staff with how quickly he's picked up the playbook and his ability to make plays on the field. He's been asked to run more and more with the first team during drills and has a good chance of breaking camp as the team's WR2.
The Bust
Much has been made about the Panthers rushing attack and the fact that they had two 1,100-yard rushers in the same season. Forget about the record-setting portion of that feat and consider why it happened: Jonathan Stewart was forced into action at the end of the season because DeAngelo Williams went down with injury. Stewart amassed 589 rushing yards in the final five games of the season without Williams around to get his share of the carries. In 2010, Williams will be healthy and back in his starting role. You need to realize this on fantasy draft day. If you use a high draft pick on Stewart thinking he'll put up the same numbers from last year, you're gambling that he'll have an opportunity to carry the ball as much as he did in 2009. That just won't happen unless Williams goes down with an injury. Do you really want to waste a high pick on someone that needs an injury ahead of him to excel?
The Depth Chart
QB1 - Matt Moore
QB2 - Hunter Cantwell / Jimmy Clausen
RB1 - DeAngelo Williams
RB2 - Jonathan Stewart
RB3 - Mike Goodson
WR1 - Steve Smith
WR2 - Dwayne Jarrett / Brandon LaFell
WR3 - Dwayne Jarrett / Brandon LaFell
WR4 - Kenny Moore / Wallace Wright
WR5 - Kenny Moore / Wallace Wright
TE1 - Jeff King
K - John Kasay
The D/ST
The Carolina defense allowed teams to rush for 124.8 yards per game against them and lost a large group of defensive stars led by Julius Peppers. This team is in full-on rebuilding mode and is not a team that you should consider on draft day for your fantasy football team. Those poor numbers that you saw in 2009 will not get any better in 2010.
The Skinny
• Sure the Panthers grabbed Jimmy Clausen in the second round of the draft, but he's going to have to wait for a while to take over at quarterback. Matt Moore will start the season at the helm and Clausen will have to work to take over. He may, actually, have to work to pass Hunter Caldwell for the backup job.
• Steve Smith is recovering from a fractured arm but has screamed to anyone who will listen that he'll be back in time for the regular season opener. In fact, most people feel he'll be back a week or two before the season begins. It's safe to draft him as you would knowing he'll play all 16 games. He's not an injury risk.
• Kenny Moore has also been impressive in camp, subbing for the injured Steve Smith. It's going to be him or Brandon LaFell at the WR2 spot, but even if he doesn't win the job, he'll get a lot of targets this season. If you trust that Matt Moore can expand the passing game in Carolina, Moore could be a great late-round sleeper.
Team that really needs to develop a passing attack... The 2009 Carolina Panthers had two running backs that eclipsed 1,100 rushing yards and both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart averaged over five yards per carry. Unfortunately, these two were the only fantasy football standouts on the team. Quarterback Jake Delhomme threw 18 interceptions and had a 59.4 quarterback rating before making way for Matt Moore, and the team did not have a 1,000-yard receiver. Delhomme is no longer with the team and the Panthers drafted Jimmy Clausen and Brandon LaFell early to try to bolster the passing game.
The Panthers are going to attempt to find a quarterback -- whether it's Moore or Clausen is yet to be determined -- who can turn Steve Smith into a viable threat once again. The team also hopes that one of the receivers in camp steps up to be a solid target opposite of Smith.
The Breakout
The Panthers have been looking for a legitimate No. 2 receiver for some time now, and may have found it in 2010 third-round pick from LSU, Brandon LaFell. The 6-foot-2 receiver has big, soft hands but has been knocked for lack of concentration during his senior season. The troubles he had in 2009 don't seem to have followed him to training camp as LaFell has impressed the coaching staff with how quickly he's picked up the playbook and his ability to make plays on the field. He's been asked to run more and more with the first team during drills and has a good chance of breaking camp as the team's WR2.
The Bust
Much has been made about the Panthers rushing attack and the fact that they had two 1,100-yard rushers in the same season. Forget about the record-setting portion of that feat and consider why it happened: Jonathan Stewart was forced into action at the end of the season because DeAngelo Williams went down with injury. Stewart amassed 589 rushing yards in the final five games of the season without Williams around to get his share of the carries. In 2010, Williams will be healthy and back in his starting role. You need to realize this on fantasy draft day. If you use a high draft pick on Stewart thinking he'll put up the same numbers from last year, you're gambling that he'll have an opportunity to carry the ball as much as he did in 2009. That just won't happen unless Williams goes down with an injury. Do you really want to waste a high pick on someone that needs an injury ahead of him to excel?
The Depth Chart
QB1 - Matt Moore
QB2 - Hunter Cantwell / Jimmy Clausen
RB1 - DeAngelo Williams
RB2 - Jonathan Stewart
RB3 - Mike Goodson
WR1 - Steve Smith
WR2 - Dwayne Jarrett / Brandon LaFell
WR3 - Dwayne Jarrett / Brandon LaFell
WR4 - Kenny Moore / Wallace Wright
WR5 - Kenny Moore / Wallace Wright
TE1 - Jeff King
K - John Kasay
The D/ST
The Carolina defense allowed teams to rush for 124.8 yards per game against them and lost a large group of defensive stars led by Julius Peppers. This team is in full-on rebuilding mode and is not a team that you should consider on draft day for your fantasy football team. Those poor numbers that you saw in 2009 will not get any better in 2010.
The Skinny
• Sure the Panthers grabbed Jimmy Clausen in the second round of the draft, but he's going to have to wait for a while to take over at quarterback. Matt Moore will start the season at the helm and Clausen will have to work to take over. He may, actually, have to work to pass Hunter Caldwell for the backup job.
• Steve Smith is recovering from a fractured arm but has screamed to anyone who will listen that he'll be back in time for the regular season opener. In fact, most people feel he'll be back a week or two before the season begins. It's safe to draft him as you would knowing he'll play all 16 games. He's not an injury risk.
• Kenny Moore has also been impressive in camp, subbing for the injured Steve Smith. It's going to be him or Brandon LaFell at the WR2 spot, but even if he doesn't win the job, he'll get a lot of targets this season. If you trust that Matt Moore can expand the passing game in Carolina, Moore could be a great late-round sleeper.
2010年8月8日星期日
Wide receiver Roddy White
Christopher Owens, who finished last season as the starting left cornerback, could end up in a battle with Chevis Jackson for the nickel spot.
"I'm learning the nickel spot as well as the corner spot," Owens said. "Like I said, last year I was learning, and I got a couple of starts under my belt. After a [season] and offseason, I feel real comfortable."
As a rookie in 2009, Owens played well down the stretch Roddy White and was tough in run support.
"I just feel like I have to be consistent," Owens said. "I don't want to have a good play on first and second down and then on third down give up a pass play. In the back of my mind I'm thinking consistency. Keep on coming up on the run. Keep on knocking down balls, and everything else will play itself out."
Owens turned some heads at practice Friday.
"He's gotten his hands on the ball,"coach Mike Smith said. "He had a 'pick six' in practice. He got a good jump on the ball. Those are the things that will open the eyes of the coaches and the rest of the players."
Battle on the outside
Smith has declared that first-round pick Sean Weatherspoon is in a battle for one of the starting outside linebacker spots.
The team will pick between Weatherspoon and veterans Stephen Nicholas and Mike Peterson.
"There are three guys competing for the two spots at our outside Roddy White linebacker positions," Smith said. "Stephen continues to get better. Stephen really has value for us in that he's a very physical football player when you put him in the box."
If Nicholas doesn't win the spot, he will still be a key cog on special teams. "He's done that since he's been here," Smith said.
Pads not popular
The Falcons are not one of the 12 teams testing shorts with built-in padding during the preseason.
There are 12 teams who will wear the shorts with padding at the hip, thigh and tailbone and give feedback to the league.
In the NFL, helmets and shoulder pads are mandatory. The remaining equipment decisions are left up to the individual players.
"I don't wear pads," wide receiver Roddy White said. "I kind of stay away from hits. I'm out on the perimeter, so there is no need to wear pads."
Most of the lineman and running backs are heavily padded.
"Michael Turner wears pads and things like that because he takes a lot of shots to the knees," White said.
Many perimeter players such as White believe the pads slow them and don't necessarily prevent injuries.
"I had to wear them in college," White said. "It was mandatory. In high school, definitely they were mandatory. When I got to the league, I stopped wearing them.'
White doesn't believe that not wearing any padding puts him at an additional risk of injury.
"Not really, because in college I wore the little pads," White said. "If I got hit ... I'd still end up with the same injury. It's not a big difference."
As good as Andre Johnson may be, he likely will never be as good as Randy Moss was. It was just a few seasons ago that Moss and Tom Brady made history with 1493 yards and 23 touchdowns. Moss has racked up a season total of at least 13 touchdowns on six occasions, most recently last year. Better yet, Moss has plenty of incentive to perform at a high level this season, as he becomes a free agent soon after. Of course, such an incentive usually plays a large role for Moss, and even at the age of 33, he can rank as one of the elite wide outs in the NFL.
Even though he ranked third in the NFL for receiving yards and touchdowns in 2009, there is reason to believe that Miles Austin can be even better this season. The Cowboys lead receiver stumbled out of the gate with just 81 yards through the first four games. It wasn't until the Week 5 match-up against the Chiefs that he broke through with 10 grabs for 250 yards including two touchdowns. From that game forward, Austin scored 12 touchdowns and racked up 1239 yards in just 11 games. He returns as the Cowboys top target this season.
Steady Reggie Wayne has now gone six straight seasons with greater than 1050 yards and 75 receptions. The 31-year-old seems to be getting targeted more often now than ever before, having reached the century mark in receptions last year for just the second time in his career. Such dependence on Wayne in the Colts offense adds value for the veteran in fantasy leagues that award points per reception. Wayne has not fumbled over the last two years and has not missed a game since his rookie season making him one of the safest bets in this year's fantasy drafts.
"I'm learning the nickel spot as well as the corner spot," Owens said. "Like I said, last year I was learning, and I got a couple of starts under my belt. After a [season] and offseason, I feel real comfortable."
As a rookie in 2009, Owens played well down the stretch Roddy White and was tough in run support.
"I just feel like I have to be consistent," Owens said. "I don't want to have a good play on first and second down and then on third down give up a pass play. In the back of my mind I'm thinking consistency. Keep on coming up on the run. Keep on knocking down balls, and everything else will play itself out."
Owens turned some heads at practice Friday.
"He's gotten his hands on the ball,"coach Mike Smith said. "He had a 'pick six' in practice. He got a good jump on the ball. Those are the things that will open the eyes of the coaches and the rest of the players."
Battle on the outside
Smith has declared that first-round pick Sean Weatherspoon is in a battle for one of the starting outside linebacker spots.
The team will pick between Weatherspoon and veterans Stephen Nicholas and Mike Peterson.
"There are three guys competing for the two spots at our outside Roddy White linebacker positions," Smith said. "Stephen continues to get better. Stephen really has value for us in that he's a very physical football player when you put him in the box."
If Nicholas doesn't win the spot, he will still be a key cog on special teams. "He's done that since he's been here," Smith said.
Pads not popular
The Falcons are not one of the 12 teams testing shorts with built-in padding during the preseason.
There are 12 teams who will wear the shorts with padding at the hip, thigh and tailbone and give feedback to the league.
In the NFL, helmets and shoulder pads are mandatory. The remaining equipment decisions are left up to the individual players.
"I don't wear pads," wide receiver Roddy White said. "I kind of stay away from hits. I'm out on the perimeter, so there is no need to wear pads."
Most of the lineman and running backs are heavily padded.
"Michael Turner wears pads and things like that because he takes a lot of shots to the knees," White said.
Many perimeter players such as White believe the pads slow them and don't necessarily prevent injuries.
"I had to wear them in college," White said. "It was mandatory. In high school, definitely they were mandatory. When I got to the league, I stopped wearing them.'
White doesn't believe that not wearing any padding puts him at an additional risk of injury.
"Not really, because in college I wore the little pads," White said. "If I got hit ... I'd still end up with the same injury. It's not a big difference."
As good as Andre Johnson may be, he likely will never be as good as Randy Moss was. It was just a few seasons ago that Moss and Tom Brady made history with 1493 yards and 23 touchdowns. Moss has racked up a season total of at least 13 touchdowns on six occasions, most recently last year. Better yet, Moss has plenty of incentive to perform at a high level this season, as he becomes a free agent soon after. Of course, such an incentive usually plays a large role for Moss, and even at the age of 33, he can rank as one of the elite wide outs in the NFL.
Even though he ranked third in the NFL for receiving yards and touchdowns in 2009, there is reason to believe that Miles Austin can be even better this season. The Cowboys lead receiver stumbled out of the gate with just 81 yards through the first four games. It wasn't until the Week 5 match-up against the Chiefs that he broke through with 10 grabs for 250 yards including two touchdowns. From that game forward, Austin scored 12 touchdowns and racked up 1239 yards in just 11 games. He returns as the Cowboys top target this season.
Steady Reggie Wayne has now gone six straight seasons with greater than 1050 yards and 75 receptions. The 31-year-old seems to be getting targeted more often now than ever before, having reached the century mark in receptions last year for just the second time in his career. Such dependence on Wayne in the Colts offense adds value for the veteran in fantasy leagues that award points per reception. Wayne has not fumbled over the last two years and has not missed a game since his rookie season making him one of the safest bets in this year's fantasy drafts.
2010年8月4日星期三
Gostkowski is good
There are positions in this training camp where the Patriots have competition, uncertainty and intrigue. Kicker is not one of them.
Outside of starting quarterback there might not be another spot on the Patriots' roster more solidified than kicker. Stephen Gostkowski has a leg up on the competition because, well, there is no competition. There isn't a need for it. That's a testament to the reliability, consistency and mental toughness of Gostkowski, who has emerged as one of the NFL's best.
His .851 field goal accuracy percentage is the highest in team history. From his rookie season of 2006 until now, Gostkowski's lithe leg has accounted for 513 points. Only San Diego's Nate Kaeding has accounted for more kicking points during that span. Gostkowski owns the longest kicks in Gillette Stadium (53 yards) and Patriots' playoff history (50). Perhaps his greatest accomplishment is that you rarely hear the name of his esteemed placekicking predecessor, Adam Vinatieri, mentioned in these parts.
Don't tell any of this to Gostkowski. Placekickers are the proletariat of the NFL. Their positions on the team are always precarious because they're eminently replaceable. It's normal to be a little uptight about putting the ball through the uprights. Insecurity is normal in a vocation with fleeting job security.
That's why now five seasons into his NFL career, having successfully succeeded a legend and with a Pro Bowl berth on his resume, Gostkowski still won't accept the notion that he has a foothold in Foxborough.
There is a fine line between feeling established and being too comfortable," said the 26-year-old Gostkowski. "Just because you've done it before you can't come out here and go through the motions and start squirting the ball around everywhere and expect them to want to keep you."I still have to prove myself every year. It makes the transition going into the season a lot easier knowing that you've done it before. You have to go back on your past experience of success, especially when things aren't going right, to pick yourself back up. But you still have to prove yourself every year. If I come out here and can't make a kick they're going to have to find somebody that can, so it's my job to prove it to them that I can do it every year."
It doesn't seem that long ago that Gostkowski was a rookie Anthony Gonzalez fourth-round pick out of Memphis charged with the unenviable task of replacing Vinatieri, he of the Automatic Adam Vinatieri appellation and two field goals that put Super Bowl banners up in Gillette Stadium.
If he were less mentally tough, Gostkowski easily could have become the second-coming of Scott "Missin'" Sisson. Instead, he has become a lot like his football-booting forerunner -- a quiet, reliable, professional presence.
"It's not like I came in here and stole the job from Adam," said Gostkowski. "They decided to part ways with each other. They never put any pressure on me. I couldn't go out there my first game of the season and kick a game-winning Super Bowl kick. It just wasn't possible.
"Guys like [Adam] are what give kickers a good name these days. It was almost a bonus to be able to have a little success and to have people stop asking the questions. Maybe that drove me a little bit, but I didn't go out there and think that I had to prove anything. By going out there and doing good and making the team I felt like I'd proved something. I never really thought about it."
The truth is Gostkowski tries not to think about much. If your mind wanders so will your kicks. By the nature of their job kickers get isolated a bit from the rest of the team. They're alone with their thoughts a lot. Their own worst enemy at times can be themselves. A mental block is just as bad as a blocked kick. Gostkowski said in high school he'd be distraught if he missed a kick, now he's Even Stephen.
"We're to ourselves," said Gostkowski. "Only, me and Jake and Zoltan can understand what each other goes through. Jerod Mayo is not going to care if my leg is sore. He's not going to care that I don't feel that good today, so only we know what we go through mentally because we all sort of do the same thing.
"When you get out there you get one shot to perform, and it's real heartbreaking, it hurts when you don't do your job right. You feel like everybody is looking at you, and every time that you have a good experience or a bad experience it builds you up mentally. It toughens you up mentally, and you just got to be able to learn from it."
Sometimes it's heartbreaking when you don't get to attempt a kick, which was the case in Anthony Gonzalez Super Bowl XLII, when coach Bill Belichick eschewed a 49-yard Gostkowski field goal attempt to go for it on fourth and 13.
What has helped Gostkowski put kicking into perspective is that he became a father last December. He and his wife, Hallie, had a son, Slayden. Young Slayden doesn't care whether Gostkowski makes a 49-yard game-winner or misses a chip shot. He is there to greet Gostkowski with a grin and a gurgle.
"No, he's not worried if Daddy misses or not," Gostkowski said.
Gostkowski will never have that luxury, but he has learned to let go a bit. Hopefully the Patriots won't let go of him. Gostkowski is playing this season under the $1.759 million restricted free agent tender he signed after the team tendered him at the second-round level.
Gostkowski didn't want to talk contract, but he did indicate he likes it in New England. The feeling should be mutual.
They just wouldn't be the Patriots without a clutch kicker with a long surname and a long leg.
2010年8月3日星期二
The Baltimore Ravens' Joe Flacco
The Baltimore Ravens have traded former BYU quarterback John Beck to Washington in exchange for cornerback Doug Dutch. Beck, 28, was expected to battle Troy Smith for a spot on the Ravens' active roster, behind and Marc Bulger.
After the trade was completed, the Redskins released third-year QB Colt Brennan. Considered Washington's QB of the future not all that long ago, Brennan never threw a regular-season pass and spent all of 2009 on injured reserve.
Beck has not played in a regular-season game since 2007, his rookie season out of BYU, when he started four games for the Dolphins. In his brief audition, Beck completed 60 of 107 pass attempts for 559 yards and one TD. He did not see action for Miami in 2008, nor for Baltimore in 2009.
From 2003-2006 at BYU, Beck threw for 11,021 yards and 79 touchdowns. Beck trails only Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer on the school's all-time passing yards list.
Copyright 2010 Newport Television LLC All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The first two years of the John Harbaugh/Joe Flacco era have shown that the Baltimore Ravens have found the right combination at head coach and quarterback. The 2010 season will reveal whether or not the team has assembled the necessary supporting cast to soar to even greater heights.
Back-to-back playoff appearances and three postseason wins over the past two seasons had already generated lofty expectations for this year's Ravens, who'll return all but one starter from a group that delivered nine regular- season victories and reached the Divisional Round of the 2009 AFC Playoffs. But when general manager Ozzie Newsome swung a trade to land standout wide receiver Anquan Boldin in March, the stakes were raised even higher.
Boldin should give Baltimore what it's been lacking for seemingly forever, a quality complement to the remarkably steady Derrick Mason at the wideout spot. With the addition of the physical three-time Pro Bowl honoree and veteran speedster Donte' Stallworth, along with the emergence of third-year pro Ray Rice into an elite all-around running back and Joe Flacco continued progress as a passer, the Ravens now field what could be one of the more balanced and dangerous offenses the league has to offer.
Baltimore's calling card has always come on the defensive end, however, and the 2009 squad continued the Ravens' longstanding tradition of excellence by ranking among the NFL's best in virtually every major category. The unit is getting a bit long in the tooth at several positions, but Newsome addressed those concerns by overseeing another potentially fruitful draft that garnered University of Texas outside linebacker Sergio Kindle and mammoth Alabama nose tackle Terrence Cody with the team's top two picks.
Kindle, considered one of the top available pass rushers among this year's college crop, suffered a fractured skull in an accident at a friend's home just prior to training camp, however, putting the rookie in jeopardy of missing the upcoming season. His injury was one of several bad breaks the Ravens endured over the summer, as perennial All-Pro safety Ed Reed may be sidelined until mid-October after undergoing hip surgery in the spring and Domonique Foxworth, Baltimore's best cover cornerback, is out for the year after tearing his ACL during the early stages of camp.
After the trade was completed, the Redskins released third-year QB Colt Brennan. Considered Washington's QB of the future not all that long ago, Brennan never threw a regular-season pass and spent all of 2009 on injured reserve.
Beck has not played in a regular-season game since 2007, his rookie season out of BYU, when he started four games for the Dolphins. In his brief audition, Beck completed 60 of 107 pass attempts for 559 yards and one TD. He did not see action for Miami in 2008, nor for Baltimore in 2009.
From 2003-2006 at BYU, Beck threw for 11,021 yards and 79 touchdowns. Beck trails only Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer on the school's all-time passing yards list.
Copyright 2010 Newport Television LLC All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The first two years of the John Harbaugh/Joe Flacco era have shown that the Baltimore Ravens have found the right combination at head coach and quarterback. The 2010 season will reveal whether or not the team has assembled the necessary supporting cast to soar to even greater heights.
Back-to-back playoff appearances and three postseason wins over the past two seasons had already generated lofty expectations for this year's Ravens, who'll return all but one starter from a group that delivered nine regular- season victories and reached the Divisional Round of the 2009 AFC Playoffs. But when general manager Ozzie Newsome swung a trade to land standout wide receiver Anquan Boldin in March, the stakes were raised even higher.
Boldin should give Baltimore what it's been lacking for seemingly forever, a quality complement to the remarkably steady Derrick Mason at the wideout spot. With the addition of the physical three-time Pro Bowl honoree and veteran speedster Donte' Stallworth, along with the emergence of third-year pro Ray Rice into an elite all-around running back and Joe Flacco continued progress as a passer, the Ravens now field what could be one of the more balanced and dangerous offenses the league has to offer.
Baltimore's calling card has always come on the defensive end, however, and the 2009 squad continued the Ravens' longstanding tradition of excellence by ranking among the NFL's best in virtually every major category. The unit is getting a bit long in the tooth at several positions, but Newsome addressed those concerns by overseeing another potentially fruitful draft that garnered University of Texas outside linebacker Sergio Kindle and mammoth Alabama nose tackle Terrence Cody with the team's top two picks.
Kindle, considered one of the top available pass rushers among this year's college crop, suffered a fractured skull in an accident at a friend's home just prior to training camp, however, putting the rookie in jeopardy of missing the upcoming season. His injury was one of several bad breaks the Ravens endured over the summer, as perennial All-Pro safety Ed Reed may be sidelined until mid-October after undergoing hip surgery in the spring and Domonique Foxworth, Baltimore's best cover cornerback, is out for the year after tearing his ACL during the early stages of camp.
2010年8月2日星期一
San Francisco 49ers left guard David Baas
Coach Mike Singletary said the initial report from the medical staff was that Baas had a slight concussion, but the offensive lineman was to undergo further examination Monday afternoon. He likely will miss at least several days of two-a-day workouts.
Baas apparently was hurt in one-on-one drills. Last year, he injured a foot on Nate Davis the first day and missed the majority of training camp. A year ago he was hurt in the "nutcracker" hitting drill, which pits two similarly sized players between blocking pads spaced three feet apart.
With Baas out for the time being, first-round draft pick Mike Iupati — selected at No. 17 out of Idaho — will take over with the first-team offence.
While Iupati doesn't know how long he will stay in the spot, he plans to do all he can to keep it. Then, it's up to Singletary whether to keep him as a starter.
"I don't know. I can't control that," Iupati said. "That's the big man's call. I'm just going to work and do my job. I'm going to do my best."
Baas, who became a restricted free agent following the 2009 season, in April signed a one-year contract he had previously been tendered by the 49ers.
Baas started all 16 of San Francisco's games last season for the first time Frank Gore in his five-year NFL career.
The 28-year-old Baas was a second-round pick taken 33rd overall by the 49ers in the 2005 draft out of Michigan. He has appeared in 76 career games with 38 starts, the last 25 of which came at left guard.
Alex Smith raised both arms then clapped his hands after a long completion to Brandon Jones. Sure, it was only the first full day of training camp for the San Francisco 49ers, yet the quarterback had reason to celebrate after several miscues only minutes earlier.
What a change from training camp a year ago, when the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick began as the backup to Shaun Hill -- only to unseat him as the starter come late October.
Smith hasn't been entrenched as the top guy for the 49ers at the onset of the preseason since the beginning of his tumultuous 2007 season. Without the pressure of fighting for a job, Smith is noticeably more comfortable with his situation now. Leading San Francisco back to the playoffs after a seven-year drought is all he cares about.
"When you're going through a competition like that, you're really ingrained to you and the other guy and what's going on between you two and that's kind of it," Smith said of his 2009 training camp mentality. "You kind of have that singular focus on that. Now it's different. My focus is to do every single thing we can to get ready for opening day. It's easy for teams to just endure this, just to go through this, 'Hey, we're going through this time with the pads, it's not fun, two-a-days.' It's easy just to go through the motions and not get better."
Singletary has been declaring Smith to be the starter all offseason, even after the 49ers signed veteran David Carr to be their No. 2.
Smith is playing for pride, the playoffs and a contract. He's in the final year of the two-year deal he restructured in March 2009 that sharply reduced his base salary. He's never been all about the money, though he knows full well his performance this year will do a lot to dictate his football future.
Singletary expects Smith will only become more comfortable as the Sept. 12 season opener at Seattle nears.
Smith is thrilled with his status -- and he's saying all the right things, too.
"The expectations have definitely risen. We all expect so much more, expect more success," Smith said. "This is an entirely new year. We haven't accomplished anything."
This camp, Smith has one of his top targets in uniform: second-year receiver Michael Crabtree, the 10th overall pick in 2009 who didn't sign until early October last year. He missed all of camp.
Baas apparently was hurt in one-on-one drills. Last year, he injured a foot on Nate Davis the first day and missed the majority of training camp. A year ago he was hurt in the "nutcracker" hitting drill, which pits two similarly sized players between blocking pads spaced three feet apart.
With Baas out for the time being, first-round draft pick Mike Iupati — selected at No. 17 out of Idaho — will take over with the first-team offence.
While Iupati doesn't know how long he will stay in the spot, he plans to do all he can to keep it. Then, it's up to Singletary whether to keep him as a starter.
"I don't know. I can't control that," Iupati said. "That's the big man's call. I'm just going to work and do my job. I'm going to do my best."
Baas, who became a restricted free agent following the 2009 season, in April signed a one-year contract he had previously been tendered by the 49ers.
Baas started all 16 of San Francisco's games last season for the first time Frank Gore in his five-year NFL career.
The 28-year-old Baas was a second-round pick taken 33rd overall by the 49ers in the 2005 draft out of Michigan. He has appeared in 76 career games with 38 starts, the last 25 of which came at left guard.
Alex Smith raised both arms then clapped his hands after a long completion to Brandon Jones. Sure, it was only the first full day of training camp for the San Francisco 49ers, yet the quarterback had reason to celebrate after several miscues only minutes earlier.
What a change from training camp a year ago, when the 2005 No. 1 overall draft pick began as the backup to Shaun Hill -- only to unseat him as the starter come late October.
Smith hasn't been entrenched as the top guy for the 49ers at the onset of the preseason since the beginning of his tumultuous 2007 season. Without the pressure of fighting for a job, Smith is noticeably more comfortable with his situation now. Leading San Francisco back to the playoffs after a seven-year drought is all he cares about.
"When you're going through a competition like that, you're really ingrained to you and the other guy and what's going on between you two and that's kind of it," Smith said of his 2009 training camp mentality. "You kind of have that singular focus on that. Now it's different. My focus is to do every single thing we can to get ready for opening day. It's easy for teams to just endure this, just to go through this, 'Hey, we're going through this time with the pads, it's not fun, two-a-days.' It's easy just to go through the motions and not get better."
Singletary has been declaring Smith to be the starter all offseason, even after the 49ers signed veteran David Carr to be their No. 2.
Smith is playing for pride, the playoffs and a contract. He's in the final year of the two-year deal he restructured in March 2009 that sharply reduced his base salary. He's never been all about the money, though he knows full well his performance this year will do a lot to dictate his football future.
Singletary expects Smith will only become more comfortable as the Sept. 12 season opener at Seattle nears.
Smith is thrilled with his status -- and he's saying all the right things, too.
"The expectations have definitely risen. We all expect so much more, expect more success," Smith said. "This is an entirely new year. We haven't accomplished anything."
This camp, Smith has one of his top targets in uniform: second-year receiver Michael Crabtree, the 10th overall pick in 2009 who didn't sign until early October last year. He missed all of camp.
2010年8月1日星期日
The Falcons released CB Gabe Derricks
Andre Johnson, Houston: After back-to-back 100+ reception, 1,500+ yard seasons, Andre has solidified himself as the top fantasy receiver. In addition to the great stats, he is in his prime at 29, plays in a passing offense with a quarterback on the rise and lacks the question marks of the other top receivers. The only negative is the lack of touchdowns but an 8.3 TD average the past three years is more than enough (plus it gives him room to improve)
Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis: Wayne was a surprise selection as the No. 2 rated receiver but earns the nod due to his consistency. He may lack the upside of some of those ranked below him but Wayne is as safe a choice as you will find for a 90 catch, 1,200 yard, eight+ TD season.
Randy Moss, New England: Moss has begun to show his age but he still remains one of the league's best deep threats and red zone targets. A drop-off is possible but look for him to challenge for the league lead in touchdown receptions while catching 80 passes and 1,200 yards. If Wes Welker returns ahead of schedule his stock gets a boost.
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona: The loss of QB Kurt Warner and sidekick Anquan Boldin makes Fitzgerald's job considerably more difficult this season. Despite three straight 95 catch, 10+ TD season's be sure to lower your expectations a notch this season. Look for something in the realm of 90 catches, 1,100 yards and 10 TDs. He could do better or he could do worse.
Calvin Johnson, Detroit: Megatron failed to live up to huge expectations in his third season due to a rookie quarterback and nagging injuries. That said, he is just 24 years old and possesses rare physical tools for the position. His inconsistency is a concern but if Matthew Stafford progresses (even slightly) and he stays healthy, a huge bounceback (1,200+, 10+ TDs) is not only possible but probable. Remember just two years ago he went 78-1,331-12.
Miles Austin, Dallas: Austin averaged 103 yards and 6.3 catches in twelve starts in his breakout season making him a candidate for No. 1 receiver honors this season. On the negative side, a healthy ground game and the addition of Dez Bryant could cut down on his targets slightly. His 12 game track record also makes him a mild risk. Be comfortable taking him as your number one wideout just don't reach to get him.
Roddy White, Atlanta: The Falcons are not known for their dynamic passing game yet White has managed to 83+ catches and 1,150+ yards for three straight seasons. In adding his first double digit touchdown season, White may be best receiver no one is talking about entering the season. If Matt Ryan takes the next step, Roddy White could too.
Brandon Marshall, Miami: Marshall has caught 100+ passes and 1,100+ yards each of the past three seasons but is moving to a run first pro style offense in 2010. He will still be the team's number one receiver and the offense will feature him but the style of play probably makes him more of an 80-90 catch guy rather than a 100+ one. Also, his yards per catch has dropped each of the past three years (from 13.0 in 2007 to 11.1 in 2009).
Falcons RB Michael Turner looks to be running faster than he was during last season.
The Falcons released CB Gabe Derricks and signed TE Robbie Agnone, a member of New England's practice squad in 2009.
WR Roddy White says that the Falcons defense has been dominating through the early sessions of training camp.
Rookie WR Kerry Meier's decision to play without gloves makes him stand out at Falcons camp.
Panthers WR Steve Smith caught a few passes using his broken left arm on Saturday night.
The start of practice hasn't done much to clear up the question of who will be at defensive tackle for the Panthers.
T Jordan Gross is routinely beating DE Everette Brown during one-on-one drills at Panthers practice.
Rookie Panthers DE Greg Hardy is doing his best to live down his reputation as a problem child.
Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis: Wayne was a surprise selection as the No. 2 rated receiver but earns the nod due to his consistency. He may lack the upside of some of those ranked below him but Wayne is as safe a choice as you will find for a 90 catch, 1,200 yard, eight+ TD season.
Randy Moss, New England: Moss has begun to show his age but he still remains one of the league's best deep threats and red zone targets. A drop-off is possible but look for him to challenge for the league lead in touchdown receptions while catching 80 passes and 1,200 yards. If Wes Welker returns ahead of schedule his stock gets a boost.
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona: The loss of QB Kurt Warner and sidekick Anquan Boldin makes Fitzgerald's job considerably more difficult this season. Despite three straight 95 catch, 10+ TD season's be sure to lower your expectations a notch this season. Look for something in the realm of 90 catches, 1,100 yards and 10 TDs. He could do better or he could do worse.
Calvin Johnson, Detroit: Megatron failed to live up to huge expectations in his third season due to a rookie quarterback and nagging injuries. That said, he is just 24 years old and possesses rare physical tools for the position. His inconsistency is a concern but if Matthew Stafford progresses (even slightly) and he stays healthy, a huge bounceback (1,200+, 10+ TDs) is not only possible but probable. Remember just two years ago he went 78-1,331-12.
Miles Austin, Dallas: Austin averaged 103 yards and 6.3 catches in twelve starts in his breakout season making him a candidate for No. 1 receiver honors this season. On the negative side, a healthy ground game and the addition of Dez Bryant could cut down on his targets slightly. His 12 game track record also makes him a mild risk. Be comfortable taking him as your number one wideout just don't reach to get him.
Roddy White, Atlanta: The Falcons are not known for their dynamic passing game yet White has managed to 83+ catches and 1,150+ yards for three straight seasons. In adding his first double digit touchdown season, White may be best receiver no one is talking about entering the season. If Matt Ryan takes the next step, Roddy White could too.
Brandon Marshall, Miami: Marshall has caught 100+ passes and 1,100+ yards each of the past three seasons but is moving to a run first pro style offense in 2010. He will still be the team's number one receiver and the offense will feature him but the style of play probably makes him more of an 80-90 catch guy rather than a 100+ one. Also, his yards per catch has dropped each of the past three years (from 13.0 in 2007 to 11.1 in 2009).
Falcons RB Michael Turner looks to be running faster than he was during last season.
The Falcons released CB Gabe Derricks and signed TE Robbie Agnone, a member of New England's practice squad in 2009.
WR Roddy White says that the Falcons defense has been dominating through the early sessions of training camp.
Rookie WR Kerry Meier's decision to play without gloves makes him stand out at Falcons camp.
Panthers WR Steve Smith caught a few passes using his broken left arm on Saturday night.
The start of practice hasn't done much to clear up the question of who will be at defensive tackle for the Panthers.
T Jordan Gross is routinely beating DE Everette Brown during one-on-one drills at Panthers practice.
Rookie Panthers DE Greg Hardy is doing his best to live down his reputation as a problem child.
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