Back with a bang

-- Having moaned about the boring weekend, things seem to have come to life a little today. We start with the 49ers who have begun voluntary workouts that have seen David Carr pushing to try and win the starting job from Alex Smith. I think it'll be interesting to see how Smith handles this mentally, having already been named the provisional starter for the season by Head Coach Mike Singletary. Will he rest easy or will he fight hard to prove he's worthy? Well by all accounts he's doing well so far, being much more vocal at practice and taking a leadership role, which was a big question mark that had hung over his head last season. The difference this kind of thing can make to a team only reinforces my view that Tim Tebow will prove to be a strong player when he enters the league. -- The Washington Redskins have given a new deal to CB Philip Buchanon. I like this simply because it maintains depth in a good secondary. This is how you build championship quality defenses. -- Eagles FB Leonard Weaver has come out in support of QB Donovan McNabb. Which is all very gracious, but my question is two fold; why has only one player led the charge, not a united team front and why has it taken so long for anyone to speak out at all? Issues, is the word I would use for the Eagles coming into the new season. -- Suh vs. McCoy, the battle at Defensive Tackle. Having done more tape watching (telly is rubbish these days) the thing that stands out is the greater explosion of the latter. What you see with McCoy is an instant drive with speed, penetrating into the backfield and wreaking havoc, whereas Suh has a tendency to sit and watch plays develop. My worry, as I might have said before, is that in a pass first league and with a lot of teams running zone/stretch rush schemes, Suh is going to be left as something of a spectator while McCoy lights things up with that penetration. Tricky thing to judge if you're a team like the Lions who will probably end up picking one of the two. -- Bruce Campbell. The more I watch him, the more one word comes to mind; terrible. Well perhaps that's a little harsh, but what I do see is a clear case of someone having a superb combine and getting artificially shunted up the board. Don't be surprised if Campbell flops in the league and NFL pundits and scouts blame everyone except themselves for why a first round pick (because they've made him that) turns out to be nothing more than a backup. We might as well talk about Jason Pierre Paul while we're at it. Put a bunch of cones down and say "go run round these" and Pierre Paul will amaze all with his speed and agility. But one season of proper college football? And a first rounder? Maybe you could take him late (as in, undrafted) and develop something out of him, but to burn a top 20 pick? I wouldn't recommend it. -- Next, another example of the continuing Jamie Dukes hot/cold analysis syndrome. Last time I had him cold for professing that if Pete Carroll doesn't cut it in Seattle, then College coaches shouldn't be considered for NFL head coaching jobs. But today he was on form on NFL Total Access, and made the hot comment regarding the Rams and their second round pick. Trade that sucker in (not Jamie Dukes, the second round pick) to Philadelphia in exchange for Vick, then use that number 1 overall pick to either take an OT or DT. I agree with Dukes that Vick is just about as good as anything you're going to get QB wise in the draft this year, and he'll only cost you a second rounder to do it. He still throws a flat intermediate pass and seems to have plenty of go left in his legs. That takes pressure off RB Steven Jackson to carry the team and it gives your franchise a badly needed boot in the butt to try and get more asses in the seats and more cash in the tills. -- And finally, Sam Bradford had his pro day workout today, showing off his arm for all the assembled teams. The reviews that came back seemed to be very positive. But this strikes me as half the trouble. Lots of grinning faces talking about arm strength and deep routes etc, on a scripted workout on an empty field. I'd be much more interested to know how he got on behind close doors in the interviews and board sessions. Have a great day everyone.