No, I'm not suggesting the Eagles trade for Tebow. These are two separate stories that I want to address. Normally I would give it some sort of comedic title (at least by my sense of humour) like, "Eagles prepare to shit on everyone from a great height" or "Eagles looking to soar to heaven... where they see seat with 'reserved for Tim Tebow' sign on it" etc.
But apparently that's not good for business. If you want to haul in the views you have to literally explain in the title what you're talking about and use words that people type into search engines. Boring but necessary it would seem. Ah well, let's get on with it.
So the Eagles "Dream Team" has expanded to include wide receiver Steve Smith. No, not that one. The one that used to play for the Giants. The one who now probably regrets pitching in to the LeSean McCoy/Osi Umenyiora off season spat by asking how many Super Bowl rings the Eagles had. Whoops!
Anyway, I'm now starting to get very interested in the Eagles for the simple reason that this season could have serious implications on the future of the NFL. Yes, the Eagles. See, there are two sides of the free agent debate.
One side believes that you can flash the cash in all directions and essentially buy the Super Bowl. The other side would point at teams like the Redskins in recent years and then laugh for probably a little longer than is actually necessary. The Eagles performance this year could go a long way to helping people take sides in the debate.
I'm fairly certain right now that the Eagles will make the playoffs and do pretty well overall in the regular season. I've seen this happen several times over here in English soccer with teams being bought out by billionaires who then stop at nothing to buy a championship. Even if they fall short of the ultimate goal, the sudden increase in talent level across the board usually has enough of an impact to overcome lesser opposition with ease.
The key will obviously be whether they make it to the big game and if they do, how will they fare?
My guess right now is not well. The reason I say this is because team cohesion is a big factor in teams winning titles, from what I've seen at least. The ability to get a group of players to come together and work for each other can make a big impact on the field. That is always the risk that you assume when you spend highly in free agency; you're bringing guys like Steve Smith into your locker room who just a few weeks ago were bashing your organisation.
Another problem that is common derives from simple numbers. There are only so many spots on the field at the start of the game. You can't start five wide receivers, and two running backs, and two tight ends all at the same time. Well, theoretically you can, but some of those guys are going to have to settle with being offensive linemen.
This creates friction. Lots of friction.
Egos clash as everyone believes that their talents should be highlighted. Just look at the corner situation with Asante Samuel, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha. Most are betting that if Samuel is still around in week 1, then Samuel and Asomugha will be starting. How is Rodgers-Cromartie, a talented corner who has seen plenty of action in his career so far, going to take to suddenly being an occasional nickel back?
It'll effect his career no doubt. Starting in Arizona DRC had the chance to show off his skills and build up his potential value for free agency. Now? He's going to spend a lot of time hidden away, either on the bench or covering the number 3 guy. How long before the quite murmurs behind closed doors become an angry rumble on Twitter?
The same applies to guys like receiver Jeremy Maclin. How long before he gets tired of Steve Smith taking his spot? Or maybe its the other way around? Maybe Smith gets annoyed that he used to be considered a top receiver in New York and now he's just an auxillary on the "Dream Team"?
Which brings us to probably the most difficult part of this process for the Eagles. However much Coach Andy Reid tries to play it down, the cat is out of the bag now. The Dream Team moniker is here to stay for 2011-12.
Given how rabid the sports press in Philadelphia has a reputation for being in general, how long before they start piling on the pressure now? And trust me, it wont just take a loss to get them going. Oh no! Teams with as much hype and expectation as the Eagles - and who have spent as much money - are held to a far more critical standard.
Take english soccer team Chelsea F.C. for example. A few years ago now they were bought by Russian billionaire businessman Roman Abramovich, who has spent over a half billion dollars purchasing players from around the world to play for his team (that's before you even start counting the enormous wages paid). As a result, the expectations on Chelsea are ridiculous. Beating a poor to intermediate quality team is not enough. Anything less than a severe thrashing is considered failure, not to mention the "win the title every season" type expectation with regards to the premier league.
This is the world that the Eagles have literally and unintentionally bought into. Forget about the Super Bowl. Forget about the playoffs. Forget about the NFC East divisional crown. The scrutiny of the Eagles begins in week 1 of the regular season at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. Anything short of trouncing the Rams (a team that will be very much considered the underdog) will result in backlash and speculation.
The sports pages in Philadelphia will be covered with headlines reading "IS THIS IT?!!" or words to that effect if the Eagles can only scrape a one or two score win. Already people will get nervous about why the Eagles aren't blowing other teams off the field with a shockwave of footballing brilliance. Eventually this will find its way into the locker room and manifest itself in finger pointing.
"We're not winning because you don't throw me the ball enough!"
"If you let me rush the passer more often coach, we'd get way more sacks!"
"We're not running the ball enough coach, you should let me carry it a few more times!"
If things don't go exactly according to the pre-season script, and given the volatility that we're accustomed to from professional sports players and the media who cover them, this has the potential to get real ugly, real quick. I personally expect the Eagles will win maybe 11-12 games, but something tells me that won't be enough to hold back the waves of criticism.
Don't forget, this is a city that ran quarterback Donovan McNabb out of town after he took them to 5 NFC Championship games (four consecutively) and one Super Bowl appearance!
This also leads us nicely to Tim Tebow, as we stick with the theme of high expectations.
Because (I know smartass) the hype around Tebow and his failure to win the starting job in Denver is getting bloody ridiculous. He's a kid. A young player learning the ropes. Alright, he got drafted in the first round. I get that. Yes, the Broncos gave up a lot to get him. I understand. But I don't care if he was drafted number one overall, the fact is he's still young.
This is what the draft is supposed to be about. Your supposed to pick up promising young players who you think have potential, then develop them over time. Look at Joe Montana for example. And no, I'm not saying the two are the same. But just look at Montana with the 49ers. Did he walk in and become number one right away? No he didn't. He was a project. Bill Walsh built him up, encouraged him, worked with him, taught him, developed him.
Eventually yes, he hit the field as the number one guy and barely looked back. Sort of. But the point is, it takes time to acclimate a rookie and bring them up to speed, to teach them the ways of the NFL. Tebow is doing that. He's learning. To expect him to supplant a good quarterback like Kyle Orton right away is stupid. And yeah, I think Orton is a good quarterback who doesn't get enough credit as it is.
So what if Orton is beating Tebow out? You should expect him to. That's why Orton is a starting quarterback in this league, while Alex Smith has to compete for his job every year. All I'm saying is that people need to give Tebow time. He has talent. Anyone that says he can't throw needs to go and check his old Florida tape, as well as his game time from last season.
Does he occasionally make mistakes? Yeah, surprise, surprise, he does. It's called being human. I don't care how often he goes to church and prays, he's still a human being and no amount of hyperbole will change that fact. Now, does Peyton Manning make mistakes? Yep. What about Drew Brees? Yep. Tom Brady? Yep. Philip Rivers? Yep. See where I'm going with this?
Tebow is a victim of his own success in college. Given that he dominated so many games in his career the expectations on him now are to rule the NFL single handed. Which is ridiculous. Is Tim Tebow failing in Denver as many people believe? No, I don't think he is.
I think what's happening is that like Philadelphia, people have annointed him with a title that is based on their own unrealistic assessment of the situation. They've allowed their own agendas, either positive or negative, to cloud the issue and now everyone is caught along for the ride.
Me personally? I think Tebow may see some intermitent action this year - mostly garbage time - depending on how things go. If things go bad offensively then expect people to call for a change, because apparently all you have to do these days is change the quarterback in order to kick start an offense. I think he'll learn from watching Orton and grow mentally as an NFL player. Give it another year or two and I think he could be a good, legitimate starter in the NFL.
Is he ever going to win a Super Bowl? Pff, how about you get your crystal ball out and tell me what teams he's going to play for during his career and what pieces will be around him? Then I'll tell you. Just look at Peyton Manning for example. He's probably the best pure quarterback in the league right now and yet he only has one ring.
All I'll say is that I think eventually Tebow will find a starting job and eventually I expect him to have some success. It's just a matter of the one thing that seemingly no football fan, football writer, coach, general manager or owner seems to possess anymore; patience!
Now if you're looking for a less hyped team that might just be in with a Super Bowl shout, look at New England. I know they're hardly a footballing minnow, but they're going largely under the radar right now and yet Coach Belichick is assembling quite a nice little team up there in Foxborough. You have been warned.
Which reminds me, ahhhhh football is back! Well. Kind of.
Pres-season begins today and as yet it's still unclear how teams are going to go about apportioning time to their players. We may get full games with starters at some point, but most likely it'll be your usual mish mash of starters playing halfs then coming out in favour of the younger/fringe type players.
New England will be entertaining Jacksonville which means we might get our first look at QB Ryan Mallett. I like Mallett and it'll be interesting to see whether many teams are left ruing the chance to pick him up in the draft. For Jacksonville I'm rooting for back up running back Rashad Jennings. C'mon kid, let 'em have it!
The "Dream Team" will get its first showing against Baltimore, something which I'm not entirely sure Andy Reid will be relishing. I'm particularly interested in rookie running back Dion Lewis and linebacker Casey Matthews for the Eagles. For the Ravens it has to be rookie corner Jimmy Smith (one of my favourite corners in the draft) followed by wide receiver Torrey Smith (one of my favourite receivers).
San Diego will play host to Seattle. I'm hoping to see rookie Chargers center Colin Baxter, mainly because I think he's awful and is going to get his quarterback killed. Defensive Linemen Corey Liuget is one to watch though, for good reasons. For Seattle, I like rookie tackle James Carpenter and guard John Moffitt. Moffitt especially so. In the secondary, corner Byron Maxwell has potential in time, and I absolutely love Mark LeGree. I hope he plays because I think he's gonna be great.
Dallas will welcome Denver for their first pre-season game. I literally have no interest in Dallas. None. Not a thing. Denver however throws up a few names. Tim Tebow of course. Rookie Tight end Virgil Green, Offensive Linemen (should be a guard) Orlando Franklin, pass rusher Jeremy Beal (watch out for this guy, might play outside linebacker, maybe defensive end. Should get sacks) and safety Rahim Moore. So just a few then.
Finally, Oakland are at home to Arizona (blurgh!). For Oakland rookie running back Taiwan Jones, wide receiver Denarius Moore and offensive guard Stefen Wisniewski (at least against the pass). For Arizona, all eyes will be on rookie corner Patrick Peterson. I'm interested in seeing him largely because I don't think he's going to be all that good, but we'll see. Other than Peterson, I'm looking at rookie running back Ryan Williams and linebacker Quan Sturdivant.
So that's that for today. I'll probably be back tomorrow depending on my work schedule, but until next time, have a great day.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
Knox vs Williams
Earlier in the week I suggested that Roy Williams could basically walk onto the Bears team and be the number one receiver, the suggestion being as much an indictment of the Bears receiver corps as it was giving Williams credit. But I read on ProFootballTalk.com the other day that Williams is competing with Johnny Knox for a starting job.
Now for once PFT made a good point. It happens every now and again, when they're not busy trying to pretend that the players and DeMaurice Smith won the labor war. The point they made was that Knox was the best receiver on the Bears team last year, thus should not really have to compete for a spot.
And this is precisely the kind of thing that gets my back up. I don't claim to have been the worlds greatest football coach back when I was coaching for a period. I don't claim to be the most knowledgeable sports writer, if I even qualify as being one of those.
But I do, hereby, officially claim to be smarter than Lovie Smith, Mike Martz and the receivers coach in Chicago. In fact I could probably take someone who knows nothing about football and give them a quick 15 minute introduction into who the Bears receivers are, and they too would be able to make a smarter decision than the Bears currently are.
On what planet, in which fucking universe, are Devon Hester and Earl Bennett considered to be better than Johnny Knox? It's just a monumental amount of stupidity going into that decision. Knox has almost double the yards that Bennett does and Hester is nothing more than a special teams returner and the catcher of the odd screen pattern.
Say what you want about Roy Williams. If you want him to compete for a job, fine, do that. But against Hester, or Bennett. Not against Knox. That's just bloody ridiculous.
Now for once PFT made a good point. It happens every now and again, when they're not busy trying to pretend that the players and DeMaurice Smith won the labor war. The point they made was that Knox was the best receiver on the Bears team last year, thus should not really have to compete for a spot.
And this is precisely the kind of thing that gets my back up. I don't claim to have been the worlds greatest football coach back when I was coaching for a period. I don't claim to be the most knowledgeable sports writer, if I even qualify as being one of those.
But I do, hereby, officially claim to be smarter than Lovie Smith, Mike Martz and the receivers coach in Chicago. In fact I could probably take someone who knows nothing about football and give them a quick 15 minute introduction into who the Bears receivers are, and they too would be able to make a smarter decision than the Bears currently are.
On what planet, in which fucking universe, are Devon Hester and Earl Bennett considered to be better than Johnny Knox? It's just a monumental amount of stupidity going into that decision. Knox has almost double the yards that Bennett does and Hester is nothing more than a special teams returner and the catcher of the odd screen pattern.
Say what you want about Roy Williams. If you want him to compete for a job, fine, do that. But against Hester, or Bennett. Not against Knox. That's just bloody ridiculous.
Sunday, August 07, 2011
2011 NFL Free Agent signings
Soooo, part of having a blog is to actually, you know, write on it from time to time. As I've pointed out in previous posts the blog was really starting to drag, especially with the lockout in place and with other stuff to do it became a back seat issue. But I think I'm starting to get over that hump a little now. Free agency has seen a lot of movement and I'm starting to get excited again as the football season close in once more.
With that said, I'm going to have a quick look at some of the free agent signings etc that have taken place so far. This is not a comprehensive list, just some of the ones that more caught my attention. We'll do it alphabetically by city so we end up starting with Arizona;
Arizona Cardinals
Tight End, Jeff King -- previously of the Panthers, King isn't a huge name or anything, but he has a pretty safe pair of hands so I like this pick up,
Linebacker, Stewart Bradley -- formerly of the Eagles, Bradley I think is a nice addition to a linebacking that suffered a lot last year after some of the departures of its key members from 2009 through free agency and retirement.
Tight End, Todd Heap -- Ahhh! Previously of the Ravens, I have a lot of respect for Todd Heap. I'm actually a little surprised the Ravens let him go (though they have young tight ends from the 2010 draft) because Heap is still a great tight end. He may be getting a little old and yeah, he's not as fast as someone like Vernon Davis or even a Dallas Clark, but he has a lot left to give back to his team and that's a real plus for the Cardinals.
Atlanta Falcons
Defensive End, Ray Edwards -- From the Vikings, this is a great signing. That defensive line was looking dangerous last year and Edwards just makes that more so the case this season. He wasn't getting much press in Minnesota thanks to the presence of Jared Allen on the opposite end of the line, but now Edwards has the opportunity to make a name for himself. A five year year deal worth as much as $30 million isn't all that bad either, especially when only $11 million is guaranteed.
Baltimore Ravens
-- Have barely stirred and nothing to write home about.
Buffalo Bills
Quarterback, Tyler Thigpen -- I really like Ryan Fitzpatrick and I presume the Bills do the same, so I can't see Thigpen getting into the team week 1. Thigpen is just a year younger than the 28 year old Fitzpatrick so it's not like they're laying the ground work for the future either, which is why I'm a little surprised about how excited people seem to be getting over Thigpen.
Linebacker, Nick Barnett -- This I can see better. Barnett is a veteran with a Super Bowl ring who I think can help this team as much away from the field as on it. Though I still think the Bills are worse off without Posluszny.
Wide Receiver, Brad Smith -- Now this is a little better. I think Smith is an interesting candidate when thrown into Wildcat/Single Wing formations, predominantly for his speed and because he can actually thrown, so he's more likely to make people respect the possibility of a pass. That speed I mentioned could be a real asset for the Bills in receiver mood, but I haven't seen enough of his actual route running, pass catching ability to comment on that. Might not be the super hit a lot of people think he will be.
Carolina Panthers
Tight End, Greg Olson -- I was worried about Carolina because they lost most of their tight ends to free agency but this more than makes up for it. I'm not sure if Chicago realises just how much they've let go by letting Olson get snapped up elsewhere. This will help Cam Newton. In general though it was who the Panthers resigned among their own current crop that was probably more important (DeAngelo Williams, Charles Johnson).
Chicago Bears
Wide Receiver, Roy Williams -- I know Williams has drawn a lot of criticism. But as with all things in sport you need to look under the surface to find the answers. Much of that criticism has to do with his status as a first round pick coupled with the Cowboys over paying to get him. None of that should detract from the fact that Williams is actually a good player. For a free agent he can offer a team a lot, and he certainly walks into Chicago and immediately becomes the number one guy. I'm sorry, but that's just a fact.
Wide Receiver, Sam Hurd -- Joining Williams is his other Cowboys team mate, Sam Hurd. I happen to be a bit of a Hurd fan. I know that seems silly because he doesn't catch many passes, but I think Hurd is more a victim of his environment, where he's been surrounded by great receivers, or at least receivers who attract more attention than he does. It's the same problem that Patrick Crayton had. And I think Hurd walks into Chicago and becomes the immediate legit number 2. As you can see, I don't really have a lot of respect for the Bears previous receiver corps.
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback, Bruce Gradkowski -- This is the only one that really jumped out at me. I happen to like Gradkowski. Is he the saviour of the Bengals? Erm, no probably not. Will he be better than Carson Palmer? That's debatable. But I do think it was a good idea to pick up Gradkowski and at least give the Bengals the choice of which way to go with their quarterback situation this season.
Cleveland Browns
Running Back, Brandon Jackson -- Formerly of the Packers, I like this signing. This gives the Browns a bit of depth, alongside Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty. Jackson wasn't a bad running back, he just played for the Packers who, let's face it, aren't exactly a huge running team.
Dallas Cowboys
-- Nothing really of note. It was more about the players that they re-signed, like Marcus Spears, Doug Free and Terrence Newman.
Denver Broncos
Defensive Tackle, Ty Warren -- I'm a little surprised just how much money the Broncos parted with for Warren. $10 million over two years? Alright, so only about a quarter of that is guaranteed but I'd be interested to know what the performance based bonuses were. Not sure if he's going to pay back the love they've given him.
Tight End, Donte Rosario -- I have a soft spot for the former Panthers trio Rosario, Barnidge and King (I know Barnidge is staying). They soldiered on unappreciated while Steve Smith took all the headlines so it's more of a case of me wanting Rosario to do well than anything else. I think he will.
Running Back, Willis McGahee -- I still can't believe the Ravens let him go? McGahee is a quality back in my estimation, who along with Le'Ron McClain helped to take the load off of Ray Rice. Still, what's done is done and the Broncos have snapped themselves up a good back. Looking at their roster, McGahee may become a key player in their offense.
Detroit Lions
-- Again, the biggest signings they made were mostly resigning their own guys etc.
Green Bay Packers
-- Ditto the above
Houston Texans
Cornerback, Jonathan Joseph -- If there was one thing that the Texans needed to fix and needed to fix badly, it was their secondary. Joseph marks a hug step in the right direction for Gary Kubiaks side. Joseph is an above average corner with pretty good instincts and pretty good hands. I've said it before and I'll say it again; if the Texans O can repeat its previous excellent performances then that D only needs to get a little bit better. The combination of this signing along with a pretty good draft could help the Texans make the playoffs this year.
Indianapolis Colts
Defensive Tackle, Tommie Harris -- Interesting choice if I'm honest. Harris's sack tally has progressively declined as his career has worn on. Not sure what the Colts hope to get out of him and barring a sudden turn around in performance, I think the Colts will regret this signing. I'm surprised frankly, I thought they'd make more on an effort on to improve the defensive side of the team.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Safety, Dawan Landry -- Landry had a great 2009, at least by his normal standards, but 2010 was a bit of a let down. He got in plenty of tackles put didn't really have much of an impact beyond that. People are criticising the Ravens for letting him go but honestly I think they have better, younger options up their sleeve. I think the Jaguars might have been duped here.
Linebacker, Clint Session -- The Jaguars have forked out nearly $6 million a year (if all bonuses are met) for session, which I find quite laughable. No way would I pay Clint Session anywhere near that. Yes, he has done some good work for the Colts, but I emphasise the words "some" and "good". As opposed to "lots of" and "great". If I was a Jaguars fan, I'd be cringing at this signing. Really cringing hard.
Linebacker, Paul Poslusnzy -- The Session deal was big but the Posluszny deal is even bigger. I'm pretty stunned at just how much they paid him but actually I think Posluszny is good. He'll probably have difficulty living up to the high price tag but that's the Jaguars dumb fault. He's still a good player and more to the point, I think he has room for growth. We've only seen the start of this guy, trust me.
Kansas City Chiefs
Fullback, Le'Ron McClain -- As espoused earlier, I like McClain and I don't think he gets anywhere near the credit he deserves for what he did with the Ravens. In a league where fullbacks are falling out of favour, McClain is possibly one of the last of a dying breed. He should make a great lead blocker for Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles, giving the Chiefs a bit of punch in their running game. Hopefully he'll get the chance to carry more than he did in Baltimore.
Wide Receiver, Steve Breaston -- Ever since the magic of Kurt Warner was revived out on the desert, Breaston has thrived. He may not be the big, deep shot type of guy that will rack up the touchdowns, but then the Chiefs don't need that. They have Dwayne Bowe to fill that role. Breaston should make a great number two compliment.
Miami Dolphins
Running Back, Reggie Bush -- Ok, so this was a trade but its worth mentioning. Bush has put up some nice numbers considering his limited use, courtesy mainly of the expansive and high powered Saints offense. He's also shown in his time that he's not really much a utility back and to be honest I'd rather have Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. Failing that, I'd still rather have someone else than Reggie Bush.
Quarterback, Matt Moore -- Tyler Thigpen replacement. This practically like for like, except I think Moore is a little younger. I'm sure Dolphins fans are hanging off their seats to watch him play. Or that might just be everyone waiting to rush to the bathroom to throw up. Or to hit twitter and complain that their team hasn't traded the world for Kyle Orton.
Linebacker, Kevin Burnett -- Now we're talking. Four years, $10 million guaranteed is not a lot for a player like Burnett. Really came into his own last season with six sacks and demonstrated his ability to play in space against the pass. Combine this with the likes of Koa Misi, Cameron Wake and Karlos Dansby, and the Dolphins have a solid linebacking corps in place for 2011.
Minnesota Vikings
-- Nothing really of note. I think I've already covered the McNabb deal.
New England Patriots
Wide Receiver, Chad Ochocinco -- I've already covered the whole Albert Haynesworth deal, so now it's just a case of addressing Chad. My, my, Bill Belichick is really going for it this year. First Haynesworth and now this? He's certainly not afraid to take on players with big egos and try to make gold out of shit. But maybe I'm being too hard on Chad. Fun fact; in the last 9 seasons, Chad has topped 1000+ yards seven times. He only really falls short of this number when he misses a few games through injury or suspension. But other than that, Chad is actually a much, much better receiver than people give him credit for. The genius of Belichick surfacing maybe?
New Orleans Saints
Running Back, Darren Sproles -- Sproles is an interesting proposition because his playing style is very similar to that of the outgoing Reggie Bush. Except he's cheaper (4 years/$14 million) and he can actually block. Other than that though, the Saints have basically grabbed the same type of player. It'll be interesting to see what Sean Payton has up his sleeve for Sproles (must avoid any jokes about pain killers).
Defensive Tackle, Aubrayo Franklin -- I love Aubrayo Franklin, because he somehow manages every season to dodge the award for most over rated player, which usually ends up going to Brian Urlacher. It should go to Franklin. He's previously been franchised, but god knows why. As a 49ers fan I can confidently tell you that watching Franklin requires you not to blink, because if you do then you may just miss the once in a season moment when he actually does something useful.
New York Giants
Tight End, Ben Patrick -- I'm going to throw some love out there for Ben Patrick. I like tight ends (that just sounded wrong) and Ben Patrick I think is a young player with a lot of potential to take on more of a load in the passing game than he did in Arizona. Still, I think if I was the Giants I would rather spend to bring back Kevin Boss, but there you go. Come to think of it, why hasn't Kevin Boss signed with anyone?
New York Jets
Wide Receiver, Plaxico Burress -- Blimey. Rex Ryan was scraping the barrel looking for a Braylon Edwards replacement. One year deal, $3 million. I guess that there isn't a huge amount that can go wrong with this and if it does, it matters little. It'll be interesting to see how much Burress has lost in his time in prison.
Oakland Raiders
-- Seriously, I'm not wasting time talking about Trent Edwards. No, I won't do it.
Philadelphia Eagles
Tight End, Donald Lee -- I did a post about the Eagles the other day, but since then they've been even more busy. Starting with Tight End Donald Lee who has slipped under the radar somewhat. Is he a breakout tight end who's going to tear the field to pieces? Erm, probably not if I'm honest. But he is a good player and he deserves his chance with the Eagles "Dream Team". He's a solid blocker and pass catcher.
Defensive Tackle, Anthony Hargrove -- Could be a bit hit and miss, but given the state of the Eagles interior line in recent years, the combination of Hargrove and Cullen Jenkins could change that. The Dream Team hype is looking more and more well founded with each passing day.
Running Back, Ronnie Brown -- Wow! Brown has undeniable talent and may indeed be one of the more under rated backs in the league. Forget the wildcat, Brown is a good back even in your standard set up. We saw last season just how much of an advantage it is to the Eagles running game to have a quarterback like Vick around, so maybe Ronnie Brown is in for a big season?
Pittsburgh Steelers
-- Pretty much all just resigns. Unless you want to talk about John Gilmore from the Buccaneers?
San Diego Chargers
-- Mostly just resigns.
San Francisco 49ers
Cornerback, Carlos Rogers -- The 49ers D has some things going in its favour. But cornerbacks are probably not one of them. They're still not. I mean this is it? With all the corners on offer, this is what we got? Shit.
Wide Receiver, Braylon Edwards -- Yay? The sad fact is that Edwards walks on to this 49ers team and he's automatically the number one guy. Only one 1000+ yard season out of seven. We could have got Chad Ochocinco!!
Seattle Scumbags
Wide Receiver, Sidney Rice -- You have to hand it to Seattle, they're not afraid to throw their cash about when they absolutely have to (cough* c'mon Jed *cough). As has been the case with bringing in Sidney Rice, which instantly expands their passing attack. This is a great move by Seattle and could reap big dividends.
Quaterback, Tarvaris Jackson -- Ok, so maybe I spoke to soon. If the shambles in Minnesota didn't prove the point then nothing will. Brad Childress gave Jackson every chance to succeed and he didn't, even with a great receiving corps and Adrian Peterson on his side. Good luck Scumbags.
Defensive Lineman, Alan Branch -- Hmmm, I'm a little undecided. Maybe the Seahawks were after inside information on the Cardinals D? Ok, I'm joking, but there is a question to be asked here. Branch is ok, but hardly jumps out as a big signing. I'm not sure as he's really worth $8 million over two seasons.
Tight End, Zach Miller -- This is much better. I almost feel sorry for Seahawks fans in a way, because the team has taken some big steps in the right direction by acquiring quality players in Miller and Sidney Rice. It's just a shame they don't have a quality player throwing them the ball.
St. Louis Rams
Running Back, Jerious Norwood -- I can dig this signing, mainly on the principal that it gives Steven Jackson a chance to have a break every now and then, instead of being flogged to death as he was previously. Norwood is a capable back who has had the chance to learn under Michael Turner.
Cornerback, Al Harris -- Beating the grave for another season, Al Harris brings experience to the Rams defense. Lots of experience (36). Will he be able to capture his old form for one last hurrah with a team that has a good shout at winning the NFC West championship this year? I'm not sure, but Harris is a significant upgrade. That probably says more about the Rams secondary though than it does about Al Harris.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
-- Boring. Almost entirely resigns.
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck -- Hasselbeck gets a fair amount of stick, but honestly he's a lot better than anything the Titans have seen in years. He's better than anything that the Seahawks have left behind or have brought in to fill the gap. Frankly he's one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, although I'm sure there will be people willing to dispute that. If you're a Titans fan though, I suggest you start smiling, even if it's only forced. Hasselbeck has the ability to take this offense to a level it hasn't achieved in years. He may just provide the sufficient degree of accuracy and consistency that this team needs to take some of the heat off of Chris Johnson.
Washington Redskins
Running back, Tim Hightower -- The Redskins haven't exactly been shy about spending this year. Hightower though came in a trade so that helps the bank balance a little. He's not a bad back. I'm not sure what the Redskins are hoping he will do, but setting the world alight probably isn't one of them.
Defensive End, Stephen Bowers -- Formerly of the Cowboys. Now be truthful, hands up if you knew who he was? No only keep your hand up if you can explain to me why the Redskins would pay him over $25 million across 5 years, with $12 million guaranteed? For what, 5.5 career sacks and 72 combined tackles over a 5 year career? Fucking Redskins, always good for a laugh.
Defensive Tackle, Barry Cofield -- Formerly of the Giants. Now this, this I can understand! Cofield equals a good defensive tackle. But still only got the same guaranteed money as Bowers? What? You're shitting me! At least his overall contract works out at about a half million dollars more per season. And yeah, I do legitimately like Cofield and think this was a good signing.
Cornerback, Josh Wilson -- For three years @ $6 million guaranteed and potentially $13 million overall, Wilson is not bad. Is he the answer to the Redskins prayers? ... No. But he is a step in the right direction and was much cheaper than some corners and by the general standard of the Redskins with their track record in free agency, this is pretty good.
Right, that's it. 32 teams done. Yeah there's probably been some deals done even as a type this but, frankly, fuck that. Go to NFL.com. Which actually brings up a good point. Last year I poured a lot of time into this blog and only at the end realised that much of it was kind of wasted.
For example, if you're a big enough football fan to read this blog, chances are you already use the TV and Internet to find out scores, watch games and highlights etc, and don't need me to do recaps. Comments, maybe. Opinions, maybe. Highlighting those unsung defensive heroes who get no love from the networks, maybe. But not scores or game recaps.
So that's where I'm headed this year, more towards opinion pieces etc and away from the stuff you could just get elsewhere. Not now though. It's 2:12 am, Sunday, here in England. I got up at 5:30 am, Saturday. I need sleep. Night, night.
With that said, I'm going to have a quick look at some of the free agent signings etc that have taken place so far. This is not a comprehensive list, just some of the ones that more caught my attention. We'll do it alphabetically by city so we end up starting with Arizona;
Arizona Cardinals
Tight End, Jeff King -- previously of the Panthers, King isn't a huge name or anything, but he has a pretty safe pair of hands so I like this pick up,
Linebacker, Stewart Bradley -- formerly of the Eagles, Bradley I think is a nice addition to a linebacking that suffered a lot last year after some of the departures of its key members from 2009 through free agency and retirement.
Tight End, Todd Heap -- Ahhh! Previously of the Ravens, I have a lot of respect for Todd Heap. I'm actually a little surprised the Ravens let him go (though they have young tight ends from the 2010 draft) because Heap is still a great tight end. He may be getting a little old and yeah, he's not as fast as someone like Vernon Davis or even a Dallas Clark, but he has a lot left to give back to his team and that's a real plus for the Cardinals.
Atlanta Falcons
Defensive End, Ray Edwards -- From the Vikings, this is a great signing. That defensive line was looking dangerous last year and Edwards just makes that more so the case this season. He wasn't getting much press in Minnesota thanks to the presence of Jared Allen on the opposite end of the line, but now Edwards has the opportunity to make a name for himself. A five year year deal worth as much as $30 million isn't all that bad either, especially when only $11 million is guaranteed.
Baltimore Ravens
-- Have barely stirred and nothing to write home about.
Buffalo Bills
Quarterback, Tyler Thigpen -- I really like Ryan Fitzpatrick and I presume the Bills do the same, so I can't see Thigpen getting into the team week 1. Thigpen is just a year younger than the 28 year old Fitzpatrick so it's not like they're laying the ground work for the future either, which is why I'm a little surprised about how excited people seem to be getting over Thigpen.
Linebacker, Nick Barnett -- This I can see better. Barnett is a veteran with a Super Bowl ring who I think can help this team as much away from the field as on it. Though I still think the Bills are worse off without Posluszny.
Wide Receiver, Brad Smith -- Now this is a little better. I think Smith is an interesting candidate when thrown into Wildcat/Single Wing formations, predominantly for his speed and because he can actually thrown, so he's more likely to make people respect the possibility of a pass. That speed I mentioned could be a real asset for the Bills in receiver mood, but I haven't seen enough of his actual route running, pass catching ability to comment on that. Might not be the super hit a lot of people think he will be.
Carolina Panthers
Tight End, Greg Olson -- I was worried about Carolina because they lost most of their tight ends to free agency but this more than makes up for it. I'm not sure if Chicago realises just how much they've let go by letting Olson get snapped up elsewhere. This will help Cam Newton. In general though it was who the Panthers resigned among their own current crop that was probably more important (DeAngelo Williams, Charles Johnson).
Chicago Bears
Wide Receiver, Roy Williams -- I know Williams has drawn a lot of criticism. But as with all things in sport you need to look under the surface to find the answers. Much of that criticism has to do with his status as a first round pick coupled with the Cowboys over paying to get him. None of that should detract from the fact that Williams is actually a good player. For a free agent he can offer a team a lot, and he certainly walks into Chicago and immediately becomes the number one guy. I'm sorry, but that's just a fact.
Wide Receiver, Sam Hurd -- Joining Williams is his other Cowboys team mate, Sam Hurd. I happen to be a bit of a Hurd fan. I know that seems silly because he doesn't catch many passes, but I think Hurd is more a victim of his environment, where he's been surrounded by great receivers, or at least receivers who attract more attention than he does. It's the same problem that Patrick Crayton had. And I think Hurd walks into Chicago and becomes the immediate legit number 2. As you can see, I don't really have a lot of respect for the Bears previous receiver corps.
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback, Bruce Gradkowski -- This is the only one that really jumped out at me. I happen to like Gradkowski. Is he the saviour of the Bengals? Erm, no probably not. Will he be better than Carson Palmer? That's debatable. But I do think it was a good idea to pick up Gradkowski and at least give the Bengals the choice of which way to go with their quarterback situation this season.
Cleveland Browns
Running Back, Brandon Jackson -- Formerly of the Packers, I like this signing. This gives the Browns a bit of depth, alongside Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty. Jackson wasn't a bad running back, he just played for the Packers who, let's face it, aren't exactly a huge running team.
Dallas Cowboys
-- Nothing really of note. It was more about the players that they re-signed, like Marcus Spears, Doug Free and Terrence Newman.
Denver Broncos
Defensive Tackle, Ty Warren -- I'm a little surprised just how much money the Broncos parted with for Warren. $10 million over two years? Alright, so only about a quarter of that is guaranteed but I'd be interested to know what the performance based bonuses were. Not sure if he's going to pay back the love they've given him.
Tight End, Donte Rosario -- I have a soft spot for the former Panthers trio Rosario, Barnidge and King (I know Barnidge is staying). They soldiered on unappreciated while Steve Smith took all the headlines so it's more of a case of me wanting Rosario to do well than anything else. I think he will.
Running Back, Willis McGahee -- I still can't believe the Ravens let him go? McGahee is a quality back in my estimation, who along with Le'Ron McClain helped to take the load off of Ray Rice. Still, what's done is done and the Broncos have snapped themselves up a good back. Looking at their roster, McGahee may become a key player in their offense.
Detroit Lions
-- Again, the biggest signings they made were mostly resigning their own guys etc.
Green Bay Packers
-- Ditto the above
Houston Texans
Cornerback, Jonathan Joseph -- If there was one thing that the Texans needed to fix and needed to fix badly, it was their secondary. Joseph marks a hug step in the right direction for Gary Kubiaks side. Joseph is an above average corner with pretty good instincts and pretty good hands. I've said it before and I'll say it again; if the Texans O can repeat its previous excellent performances then that D only needs to get a little bit better. The combination of this signing along with a pretty good draft could help the Texans make the playoffs this year.
Indianapolis Colts
Defensive Tackle, Tommie Harris -- Interesting choice if I'm honest. Harris's sack tally has progressively declined as his career has worn on. Not sure what the Colts hope to get out of him and barring a sudden turn around in performance, I think the Colts will regret this signing. I'm surprised frankly, I thought they'd make more on an effort on to improve the defensive side of the team.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Safety, Dawan Landry -- Landry had a great 2009, at least by his normal standards, but 2010 was a bit of a let down. He got in plenty of tackles put didn't really have much of an impact beyond that. People are criticising the Ravens for letting him go but honestly I think they have better, younger options up their sleeve. I think the Jaguars might have been duped here.
Linebacker, Clint Session -- The Jaguars have forked out nearly $6 million a year (if all bonuses are met) for session, which I find quite laughable. No way would I pay Clint Session anywhere near that. Yes, he has done some good work for the Colts, but I emphasise the words "some" and "good". As opposed to "lots of" and "great". If I was a Jaguars fan, I'd be cringing at this signing. Really cringing hard.
Linebacker, Paul Poslusnzy -- The Session deal was big but the Posluszny deal is even bigger. I'm pretty stunned at just how much they paid him but actually I think Posluszny is good. He'll probably have difficulty living up to the high price tag but that's the Jaguars dumb fault. He's still a good player and more to the point, I think he has room for growth. We've only seen the start of this guy, trust me.
Kansas City Chiefs
Fullback, Le'Ron McClain -- As espoused earlier, I like McClain and I don't think he gets anywhere near the credit he deserves for what he did with the Ravens. In a league where fullbacks are falling out of favour, McClain is possibly one of the last of a dying breed. He should make a great lead blocker for Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles, giving the Chiefs a bit of punch in their running game. Hopefully he'll get the chance to carry more than he did in Baltimore.
Wide Receiver, Steve Breaston -- Ever since the magic of Kurt Warner was revived out on the desert, Breaston has thrived. He may not be the big, deep shot type of guy that will rack up the touchdowns, but then the Chiefs don't need that. They have Dwayne Bowe to fill that role. Breaston should make a great number two compliment.
Miami Dolphins
Running Back, Reggie Bush -- Ok, so this was a trade but its worth mentioning. Bush has put up some nice numbers considering his limited use, courtesy mainly of the expansive and high powered Saints offense. He's also shown in his time that he's not really much a utility back and to be honest I'd rather have Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. Failing that, I'd still rather have someone else than Reggie Bush.
Quarterback, Matt Moore -- Tyler Thigpen replacement. This practically like for like, except I think Moore is a little younger. I'm sure Dolphins fans are hanging off their seats to watch him play. Or that might just be everyone waiting to rush to the bathroom to throw up. Or to hit twitter and complain that their team hasn't traded the world for Kyle Orton.
Linebacker, Kevin Burnett -- Now we're talking. Four years, $10 million guaranteed is not a lot for a player like Burnett. Really came into his own last season with six sacks and demonstrated his ability to play in space against the pass. Combine this with the likes of Koa Misi, Cameron Wake and Karlos Dansby, and the Dolphins have a solid linebacking corps in place for 2011.
Minnesota Vikings
-- Nothing really of note. I think I've already covered the McNabb deal.
New England Patriots
Wide Receiver, Chad Ochocinco -- I've already covered the whole Albert Haynesworth deal, so now it's just a case of addressing Chad. My, my, Bill Belichick is really going for it this year. First Haynesworth and now this? He's certainly not afraid to take on players with big egos and try to make gold out of shit. But maybe I'm being too hard on Chad. Fun fact; in the last 9 seasons, Chad has topped 1000+ yards seven times. He only really falls short of this number when he misses a few games through injury or suspension. But other than that, Chad is actually a much, much better receiver than people give him credit for. The genius of Belichick surfacing maybe?
New Orleans Saints
Running Back, Darren Sproles -- Sproles is an interesting proposition because his playing style is very similar to that of the outgoing Reggie Bush. Except he's cheaper (4 years/$14 million) and he can actually block. Other than that though, the Saints have basically grabbed the same type of player. It'll be interesting to see what Sean Payton has up his sleeve for Sproles (must avoid any jokes about pain killers).
Defensive Tackle, Aubrayo Franklin -- I love Aubrayo Franklin, because he somehow manages every season to dodge the award for most over rated player, which usually ends up going to Brian Urlacher. It should go to Franklin. He's previously been franchised, but god knows why. As a 49ers fan I can confidently tell you that watching Franklin requires you not to blink, because if you do then you may just miss the once in a season moment when he actually does something useful.
New York Giants
Tight End, Ben Patrick -- I'm going to throw some love out there for Ben Patrick. I like tight ends (that just sounded wrong) and Ben Patrick I think is a young player with a lot of potential to take on more of a load in the passing game than he did in Arizona. Still, I think if I was the Giants I would rather spend to bring back Kevin Boss, but there you go. Come to think of it, why hasn't Kevin Boss signed with anyone?
New York Jets
Wide Receiver, Plaxico Burress -- Blimey. Rex Ryan was scraping the barrel looking for a Braylon Edwards replacement. One year deal, $3 million. I guess that there isn't a huge amount that can go wrong with this and if it does, it matters little. It'll be interesting to see how much Burress has lost in his time in prison.
Oakland Raiders
-- Seriously, I'm not wasting time talking about Trent Edwards. No, I won't do it.
Philadelphia Eagles
Tight End, Donald Lee -- I did a post about the Eagles the other day, but since then they've been even more busy. Starting with Tight End Donald Lee who has slipped under the radar somewhat. Is he a breakout tight end who's going to tear the field to pieces? Erm, probably not if I'm honest. But he is a good player and he deserves his chance with the Eagles "Dream Team". He's a solid blocker and pass catcher.
Defensive Tackle, Anthony Hargrove -- Could be a bit hit and miss, but given the state of the Eagles interior line in recent years, the combination of Hargrove and Cullen Jenkins could change that. The Dream Team hype is looking more and more well founded with each passing day.
Running Back, Ronnie Brown -- Wow! Brown has undeniable talent and may indeed be one of the more under rated backs in the league. Forget the wildcat, Brown is a good back even in your standard set up. We saw last season just how much of an advantage it is to the Eagles running game to have a quarterback like Vick around, so maybe Ronnie Brown is in for a big season?
Pittsburgh Steelers
-- Pretty much all just resigns. Unless you want to talk about John Gilmore from the Buccaneers?
San Diego Chargers
-- Mostly just resigns.
San Francisco 49ers
Cornerback, Carlos Rogers -- The 49ers D has some things going in its favour. But cornerbacks are probably not one of them. They're still not. I mean this is it? With all the corners on offer, this is what we got? Shit.
Wide Receiver, Braylon Edwards -- Yay? The sad fact is that Edwards walks on to this 49ers team and he's automatically the number one guy. Only one 1000+ yard season out of seven. We could have got Chad Ochocinco!!
Seattle Scumbags
Wide Receiver, Sidney Rice -- You have to hand it to Seattle, they're not afraid to throw their cash about when they absolutely have to (cough* c'mon Jed *cough). As has been the case with bringing in Sidney Rice, which instantly expands their passing attack. This is a great move by Seattle and could reap big dividends.
Quaterback, Tarvaris Jackson -- Ok, so maybe I spoke to soon. If the shambles in Minnesota didn't prove the point then nothing will. Brad Childress gave Jackson every chance to succeed and he didn't, even with a great receiving corps and Adrian Peterson on his side. Good luck Scumbags.
Defensive Lineman, Alan Branch -- Hmmm, I'm a little undecided. Maybe the Seahawks were after inside information on the Cardinals D? Ok, I'm joking, but there is a question to be asked here. Branch is ok, but hardly jumps out as a big signing. I'm not sure as he's really worth $8 million over two seasons.
Tight End, Zach Miller -- This is much better. I almost feel sorry for Seahawks fans in a way, because the team has taken some big steps in the right direction by acquiring quality players in Miller and Sidney Rice. It's just a shame they don't have a quality player throwing them the ball.
St. Louis Rams
Running Back, Jerious Norwood -- I can dig this signing, mainly on the principal that it gives Steven Jackson a chance to have a break every now and then, instead of being flogged to death as he was previously. Norwood is a capable back who has had the chance to learn under Michael Turner.
Cornerback, Al Harris -- Beating the grave for another season, Al Harris brings experience to the Rams defense. Lots of experience (36). Will he be able to capture his old form for one last hurrah with a team that has a good shout at winning the NFC West championship this year? I'm not sure, but Harris is a significant upgrade. That probably says more about the Rams secondary though than it does about Al Harris.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
-- Boring. Almost entirely resigns.
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck -- Hasselbeck gets a fair amount of stick, but honestly he's a lot better than anything the Titans have seen in years. He's better than anything that the Seahawks have left behind or have brought in to fill the gap. Frankly he's one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, although I'm sure there will be people willing to dispute that. If you're a Titans fan though, I suggest you start smiling, even if it's only forced. Hasselbeck has the ability to take this offense to a level it hasn't achieved in years. He may just provide the sufficient degree of accuracy and consistency that this team needs to take some of the heat off of Chris Johnson.
Washington Redskins
Running back, Tim Hightower -- The Redskins haven't exactly been shy about spending this year. Hightower though came in a trade so that helps the bank balance a little. He's not a bad back. I'm not sure what the Redskins are hoping he will do, but setting the world alight probably isn't one of them.
Defensive End, Stephen Bowers -- Formerly of the Cowboys. Now be truthful, hands up if you knew who he was? No only keep your hand up if you can explain to me why the Redskins would pay him over $25 million across 5 years, with $12 million guaranteed? For what, 5.5 career sacks and 72 combined tackles over a 5 year career? Fucking Redskins, always good for a laugh.
Defensive Tackle, Barry Cofield -- Formerly of the Giants. Now this, this I can understand! Cofield equals a good defensive tackle. But still only got the same guaranteed money as Bowers? What? You're shitting me! At least his overall contract works out at about a half million dollars more per season. And yeah, I do legitimately like Cofield and think this was a good signing.
Cornerback, Josh Wilson -- For three years @ $6 million guaranteed and potentially $13 million overall, Wilson is not bad. Is he the answer to the Redskins prayers? ... No. But he is a step in the right direction and was much cheaper than some corners and by the general standard of the Redskins with their track record in free agency, this is pretty good.
Right, that's it. 32 teams done. Yeah there's probably been some deals done even as a type this but, frankly, fuck that. Go to NFL.com. Which actually brings up a good point. Last year I poured a lot of time into this blog and only at the end realised that much of it was kind of wasted.
For example, if you're a big enough football fan to read this blog, chances are you already use the TV and Internet to find out scores, watch games and highlights etc, and don't need me to do recaps. Comments, maybe. Opinions, maybe. Highlighting those unsung defensive heroes who get no love from the networks, maybe. But not scores or game recaps.
So that's where I'm headed this year, more towards opinion pieces etc and away from the stuff you could just get elsewhere. Not now though. It's 2:12 am, Sunday, here in England. I got up at 5:30 am, Saturday. I need sleep. Night, night.
Monday, August 01, 2011
The Eagle has landed
I touched on the magic movings of Andy Reid the other day, but since then he and the Eagles have been waving the free agency wand in earnest and the end result is already being referred to (perhaps a little presumptuously) as the "Dream Team". Now eventually this week I want to go through all the free agent signings and moves that have caught my eye, but for now I just want to zero in on the Eagles.
-- Nnamdi Asomugha
I couldn't help but laugh when I first found out about this. At the time the battle was supposedly between the Jets and the Texans and then I think it switched to the Jets and someone else whose name escapes me and it was being hailed in the press as a dead cert battle between those two teams. In the end all those dead cert bets failed to come in as the Eagles swooped (see what I did there?).
Honestly I'm a little at two minds about this. I'm one of those cynical bastards that believes the concept of "shut down corners" in the NFL is vastly over rated. If there's one thing I've noticed more than anything in the league, it's that most interceptions seem to be highly dependent on poor throws by quarterbacks. I would say in less than 25% of cases do interceptions seem to result from just a genuine great play by a defender.
So I'm a little sceptical how much of an impact Nnamdi will provide. He's a good corner and he plays the run quite well, but notions that all of sudden it will prove impossible to pass on the Eagles look wildly optimistic to me. Still, broadly speaking the Eagles have upgraded.
-- Jason Babin
Now that's a sneaky little deal right there. If the Eagles were in a keen need of anything this off season then it was a more consistent pass rush. Babin should provide that. Last season was only the second time in his career that he started in a full 16 games, and he notched up 12.5 sacks in the process. You could accuse the Eagles of over paying for a one hit wonder but at just $5 million (roughly) for the coming season, and given the normal price for pass rushers, that's just a steal. No two ways about it.
-- Cullen Jenkins
I was wondering if the Eagles could top the two above. Then I read about Cullen Jenkins. He played 11 games last year, starting just 8. In that time he was able to clock 7 sacks and 5 assists. His production levels have been good throughout his career and to be frank, Jenkins could have been paid a lot more and still clocked in as being something of a bargain.
The Eagles needed help up the middle and Jenkins is it. He didn't get anywhere near the credit he deserved playing in Green Bay, largely due to the overall quality of that defensive group. But now Jenkins has the chance to show how much of an impact he can really make. Considering this will entail a shift from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3, where he will have more freedom to get into the backfield and get after the quarterback, it might be a good idea to back Jenkins for an increase in his sack tally.
-- Vince Young
This, bizarrely, is the one I'm most impressed with. It is a master stroke. If you can't already see the cycle repeating itself, then perhaps you need to pay more attention. Think about what Young is, what he represents. A talented college quarterback with lots of potential to do big things in the NFL. He can throw and he can run; boy can he run! But for a variety of reasons his talent has thus far not fully born fruit, despite the success that he has had with the Titans.
Now he finds himself on the bottom rung, taking a huge pay cut to come and play for the current beacon of hope, opportunity and redemption in the NFL, Andy Reid. Cue a season spent working hard, competing, learning etc. Maybe he'll get the chance to hit the field now and again, especially if the "dream team" lives up to the hype and rips great chunks out of people early on in games.
So they sign him to a better deal at some point this year and then start shopping him around. Eventually someone will bite; physically gifted, now seemingly more mature and experienced under Reids direction, and so on and so forth. Thus in return for a few million dollars and a bit of time and patience, Reid will end up crafting either a second round pick plus something lower, or a trade for a player he badly needs. It's pure genius.
Of course building teams has never been Andy Reids problem. It's been getting them to win big games on a consistent basis and finally take the Eagles to the promised land that has been his trouble. At the minute, this 2011 team is shaping up to be his best chance yet.
-- Nnamdi Asomugha
I couldn't help but laugh when I first found out about this. At the time the battle was supposedly between the Jets and the Texans and then I think it switched to the Jets and someone else whose name escapes me and it was being hailed in the press as a dead cert battle between those two teams. In the end all those dead cert bets failed to come in as the Eagles swooped (see what I did there?).
Honestly I'm a little at two minds about this. I'm one of those cynical bastards that believes the concept of "shut down corners" in the NFL is vastly over rated. If there's one thing I've noticed more than anything in the league, it's that most interceptions seem to be highly dependent on poor throws by quarterbacks. I would say in less than 25% of cases do interceptions seem to result from just a genuine great play by a defender.
So I'm a little sceptical how much of an impact Nnamdi will provide. He's a good corner and he plays the run quite well, but notions that all of sudden it will prove impossible to pass on the Eagles look wildly optimistic to me. Still, broadly speaking the Eagles have upgraded.
-- Jason Babin
Now that's a sneaky little deal right there. If the Eagles were in a keen need of anything this off season then it was a more consistent pass rush. Babin should provide that. Last season was only the second time in his career that he started in a full 16 games, and he notched up 12.5 sacks in the process. You could accuse the Eagles of over paying for a one hit wonder but at just $5 million (roughly) for the coming season, and given the normal price for pass rushers, that's just a steal. No two ways about it.
-- Cullen Jenkins
I was wondering if the Eagles could top the two above. Then I read about Cullen Jenkins. He played 11 games last year, starting just 8. In that time he was able to clock 7 sacks and 5 assists. His production levels have been good throughout his career and to be frank, Jenkins could have been paid a lot more and still clocked in as being something of a bargain.
The Eagles needed help up the middle and Jenkins is it. He didn't get anywhere near the credit he deserved playing in Green Bay, largely due to the overall quality of that defensive group. But now Jenkins has the chance to show how much of an impact he can really make. Considering this will entail a shift from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3, where he will have more freedom to get into the backfield and get after the quarterback, it might be a good idea to back Jenkins for an increase in his sack tally.
-- Vince Young
This, bizarrely, is the one I'm most impressed with. It is a master stroke. If you can't already see the cycle repeating itself, then perhaps you need to pay more attention. Think about what Young is, what he represents. A talented college quarterback with lots of potential to do big things in the NFL. He can throw and he can run; boy can he run! But for a variety of reasons his talent has thus far not fully born fruit, despite the success that he has had with the Titans.
Now he finds himself on the bottom rung, taking a huge pay cut to come and play for the current beacon of hope, opportunity and redemption in the NFL, Andy Reid. Cue a season spent working hard, competing, learning etc. Maybe he'll get the chance to hit the field now and again, especially if the "dream team" lives up to the hype and rips great chunks out of people early on in games.
So they sign him to a better deal at some point this year and then start shopping him around. Eventually someone will bite; physically gifted, now seemingly more mature and experienced under Reids direction, and so on and so forth. Thus in return for a few million dollars and a bit of time and patience, Reid will end up crafting either a second round pick plus something lower, or a trade for a player he badly needs. It's pure genius.
Of course building teams has never been Andy Reids problem. It's been getting them to win big games on a consistent basis and finally take the Eagles to the promised land that has been his trouble. At the minute, this 2011 team is shaping up to be his best chance yet.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
On the Trading Floor
HO-LY-SHIT!
I've been sitting back, watching the activity as the true start of free agency approaches. There have also been some trades going on but one in particular just caught my eye.
Kevin Kolb, QB, from the Eagles to the Cardinals in return for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round pick (year undisclosed).
Andy Reid, I fucking bow to you. Not just a little head bow either, but a full on, torso parallel to the ground type bow. You sir, are a con artist of the highest order with balls made from pure, machine tool grade steel.
How in the name of God did you manage it? How exactly, on what planet I ask, did you manage to convince the Cardinals that Kevin Kolb was worth Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round pick? That's practically stealing.
See, I know that people same the name Rodgers-Cromartie and it doesn't inspire thoughts of elite level corner play but it probably should. The fact is, Rodgers-Cromartie (henceforth DRC) is probably one of the most under rated defensive players in the entire NFL. Just go and look at his stats. DRC has talent and he has it in abundance.
Now pair that talent with Asante Samuel on the other side of the field. That is a scary corner pairing that should give quarterbacks nightmares anytime they think about throwing the ball in the short to intermediate range. And Reid picked up all of this for a backup QB.
You begin to see the sense of his taking a chance on Mike Vick. In return for the minor risk he took, he's bagged a high level quarterback who can also run like the wind. In addition, while he was training up Vick in his system he has been building up Kolb as the QB of the future, giving him some game time and letting him air the ball out, while saying all the right things about Kolb in press conferences.
Finally, it's all come together, it's all come good. Reid has traded a backup QB who is a 60% average completer with all of 2,082 yards, 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions to his credit, in exchange for an excellent corner and a future second round pick. That's just incredible to me. Now I do think Kolb will have some success in Arizona but I definitely think the Eagles have gotten the much better end of this deal.
But that's enough blowing smoke up Andy Reids butt, because there were a few other trades that caught my eye. Bill Belichick is playing craft games again. He's given the Redskins his 2013 fifth round pick. Patriots fans shouldn't be worried, by the time that draft comes around he'll probably have acquired about eight more picks in various rounds. So what did he get for his 5th rounder?
Albert freakin' Haynesworth.
I swear tis' the season to take the piss with ones trade moves. For all the bitching about Haynesworth and all the off field stuff he is a talented defensive linemen and to be honest, a fifth round pick in a draft two years from now is an absolute cheeky steal for Belichick.
If it doesn't pan out, who the hell cares? Boo hoo, he lost a fifth round pick. In return he gets a player who a) is more than capable of spelling for Vince Wilfork and b) is dangerous enough sitting on the same line as Wilfork, to make a serious wall of flesh and power for teams to face.
Bill Belichick will sleep easier tonight knowing he's just made a big stride to improve his defense for the coming year. Of course I jest... we all know Bill Belichick doesn't sleep. Ever.
The Dolphins meanwhile are looking to boost their offense for the coming year. They've chosen to do this by picking up Reggie Bush from the Saints. The details of the trade are not yet known (at the time of writing), but I can almost guarantee you know it will be a rip off from the Dolphins perspective. I know this because they're trading for Reggie Bush. Don't trade for Reggie Bush. Yeah he looks great at times, but he's not worth it!
What is more promising for Miami fans is talk of a trade for Dolphins quarterback Kyle Orton. Now that, that is a trade that they should definitely pursue. I don't understand why people don't give Kyle Orton enough credit, that guy kicks ass! He's been one of the top quarterbacks in the last two seasons and I think people in the press are being far, far too critical of him.
Of course, someone that the press love to be critical of and to be honest not without reason, is Donovan McNabb! Formerly of the Eagles, then the Redskins and now the Vikings. The price? A 2012 sixth round pick plus a conditional 2013 sixth rounder which, if I'm honest, is not a bad deal. McNabb isn't the greatest, but he has been to a number of NFC Championship games and even a Super Bowl.
Inconsistency is really McNabbs worst enemy, as he flops back and forth between brilliantly accurate bombs down the field, to flinging what should be a 10 yard hook route into the turf at the receivers feet. If he can overcome that then he has a great opportunity to go back to the Super Bowl with Minnesota. IF. On a more valuable note for the Vikings he's an experienced, easy going, professional quarterback who can teach young Christian Ponder a hell of a lot about the game. I can't really find fault with this deal.
So, that's all your trade news for now. Once free agency really gets up and running for real I'll start going through it in a bit of detail. Some of the things that have already caught my eye is Paul Pozjkhkjdsflny however you spell his name, the linebacker from the Bills, signing with the Jaguars. I think Paul is grossly under rated and that's a great pick up for the Jaguars.
So until next time, hit the facebook button at the bottom to put a link on your facebook page, or failing that just spread the word by mouth, e-mail etc.
Why you ask? Because you're a benevolent and wonderful human being, and this could serve as your good deed for the day.
I've been sitting back, watching the activity as the true start of free agency approaches. There have also been some trades going on but one in particular just caught my eye.
Kevin Kolb, QB, from the Eagles to the Cardinals in return for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round pick (year undisclosed).
Andy Reid, I fucking bow to you. Not just a little head bow either, but a full on, torso parallel to the ground type bow. You sir, are a con artist of the highest order with balls made from pure, machine tool grade steel.
How in the name of God did you manage it? How exactly, on what planet I ask, did you manage to convince the Cardinals that Kevin Kolb was worth Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round pick? That's practically stealing.
See, I know that people same the name Rodgers-Cromartie and it doesn't inspire thoughts of elite level corner play but it probably should. The fact is, Rodgers-Cromartie (henceforth DRC) is probably one of the most under rated defensive players in the entire NFL. Just go and look at his stats. DRC has talent and he has it in abundance.
Now pair that talent with Asante Samuel on the other side of the field. That is a scary corner pairing that should give quarterbacks nightmares anytime they think about throwing the ball in the short to intermediate range. And Reid picked up all of this for a backup QB.
You begin to see the sense of his taking a chance on Mike Vick. In return for the minor risk he took, he's bagged a high level quarterback who can also run like the wind. In addition, while he was training up Vick in his system he has been building up Kolb as the QB of the future, giving him some game time and letting him air the ball out, while saying all the right things about Kolb in press conferences.
Finally, it's all come together, it's all come good. Reid has traded a backup QB who is a 60% average completer with all of 2,082 yards, 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions to his credit, in exchange for an excellent corner and a future second round pick. That's just incredible to me. Now I do think Kolb will have some success in Arizona but I definitely think the Eagles have gotten the much better end of this deal.
But that's enough blowing smoke up Andy Reids butt, because there were a few other trades that caught my eye. Bill Belichick is playing craft games again. He's given the Redskins his 2013 fifth round pick. Patriots fans shouldn't be worried, by the time that draft comes around he'll probably have acquired about eight more picks in various rounds. So what did he get for his 5th rounder?
Albert freakin' Haynesworth.
I swear tis' the season to take the piss with ones trade moves. For all the bitching about Haynesworth and all the off field stuff he is a talented defensive linemen and to be honest, a fifth round pick in a draft two years from now is an absolute cheeky steal for Belichick.
If it doesn't pan out, who the hell cares? Boo hoo, he lost a fifth round pick. In return he gets a player who a) is more than capable of spelling for Vince Wilfork and b) is dangerous enough sitting on the same line as Wilfork, to make a serious wall of flesh and power for teams to face.
Bill Belichick will sleep easier tonight knowing he's just made a big stride to improve his defense for the coming year. Of course I jest... we all know Bill Belichick doesn't sleep. Ever.
The Dolphins meanwhile are looking to boost their offense for the coming year. They've chosen to do this by picking up Reggie Bush from the Saints. The details of the trade are not yet known (at the time of writing), but I can almost guarantee you know it will be a rip off from the Dolphins perspective. I know this because they're trading for Reggie Bush. Don't trade for Reggie Bush. Yeah he looks great at times, but he's not worth it!
What is more promising for Miami fans is talk of a trade for Dolphins quarterback Kyle Orton. Now that, that is a trade that they should definitely pursue. I don't understand why people don't give Kyle Orton enough credit, that guy kicks ass! He's been one of the top quarterbacks in the last two seasons and I think people in the press are being far, far too critical of him.
Of course, someone that the press love to be critical of and to be honest not without reason, is Donovan McNabb! Formerly of the Eagles, then the Redskins and now the Vikings. The price? A 2012 sixth round pick plus a conditional 2013 sixth rounder which, if I'm honest, is not a bad deal. McNabb isn't the greatest, but he has been to a number of NFC Championship games and even a Super Bowl.
Inconsistency is really McNabbs worst enemy, as he flops back and forth between brilliantly accurate bombs down the field, to flinging what should be a 10 yard hook route into the turf at the receivers feet. If he can overcome that then he has a great opportunity to go back to the Super Bowl with Minnesota. IF. On a more valuable note for the Vikings he's an experienced, easy going, professional quarterback who can teach young Christian Ponder a hell of a lot about the game. I can't really find fault with this deal.
So, that's all your trade news for now. Once free agency really gets up and running for real I'll start going through it in a bit of detail. Some of the things that have already caught my eye is Paul Pozjkhkjdsflny however you spell his name, the linebacker from the Bills, signing with the Jaguars. I think Paul is grossly under rated and that's a great pick up for the Jaguars.
So until next time, hit the facebook button at the bottom to put a link on your facebook page, or failing that just spread the word by mouth, e-mail etc.
Why you ask? Because you're a benevolent and wonderful human being, and this could serve as your good deed for the day.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Game on
So here we go, the season is back on. I was planning to sit out another week before coming back to this blog but I guess a few days wont make a difference. Free agency isn't due to start for another few days anyway.
And after all that crap, the deal done isn't all that different to the last one. Yeah so both sides have made concessions, but not huge ones. To be honest I think the league kind of bent over a lot farther than it really needed to but then without being in the negotiating or strategy rooms we cant tell why.
One thing I will say is this; the league owners voted 31-0 (the Raiders abstained) in favour of the deal. What that tells me, the fact that even the Bengals and Bills voted in favour of it (they were opposed to the last deal) is that there's something in there that really caught their eye and made them think they got a good deal. Considering the fact that they will be forced to spend at least 90% of the salary cap in real terms, so actually handing over hard cash to people, there has to be some kind of bullshit accounting trick up their sleeve for the future.
Maybe they'll start accounting veteran players as depreciation against tax. If ti's good enough for other leagues, it's good enough for the NFL.
And after all that crap, the deal done isn't all that different to the last one. Yeah so both sides have made concessions, but not huge ones. To be honest I think the league kind of bent over a lot farther than it really needed to but then without being in the negotiating or strategy rooms we cant tell why.
One thing I will say is this; the league owners voted 31-0 (the Raiders abstained) in favour of the deal. What that tells me, the fact that even the Bengals and Bills voted in favour of it (they were opposed to the last deal) is that there's something in there that really caught their eye and made them think they got a good deal. Considering the fact that they will be forced to spend at least 90% of the salary cap in real terms, so actually handing over hard cash to people, there has to be some kind of bullshit accounting trick up their sleeve for the future.
Maybe they'll start accounting veteran players as depreciation against tax. If ti's good enough for other leagues, it's good enough for the NFL.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
2011 NFL Draft; Indianapolis Colts
Finally found the time to get around to this. I swear that as the season closes in I'm progressively getting more and more pushed for time.
So the Indianapolis Colts. Since the draft its been postulated in many places that this one was conducted almost exclusively by Chris Polian, son of GM Bill Polian, as Bill sets his boy up for the future. Who said Nepotism was dead in the NFL? Well if what his him, he only had five picks to play with as the Colts traded away their seventh and fifth round picks.
His first choice - if indeed it was his - was Offensive Tackles Anthony Castonzo, Boston College.
Now on the surface this is a pick that makes sense. The Colts O-line is - in my present opinion - pretty under rated. It helps to have Peyton Manning, yes. But they're not too shabby themselves. Some of them are however starting to get a little creaky in the hips. That means fresh blood is needed and that's where Castonzo would seem to fit in perfectly.
Except.... I don't buy it. Or rather, I don't buy Castonzo. Against your average, run of the mill opposition Castonzo did fine. But against some of the tougher opponents Castonzo didn't look like he was in the same league. For me that translates into getting beaten a lot at the next level.
I just don't think that from a technical perspective he will cope. He tends to play very much standing up and can often be found leaning forward, with straight legs, in order to reach out and get at an opponent. What you'd prefer to see is him sitting back a little and just punching from a solid base. Against speed rushers in particular it's going to get nasty.
In round two the Colts came back for more with another Offensive Tackle, this time taking Villanova's Ben Ijalana.
Now Ijalana is a bit of a tricky one to project, because in college he did really well. On film, he looks great. He's a very solid tackle. But... the level of opposition was hardly top drawer. I'm not sure if he's faced a true standout pass rusher in his entire career?
At times then he does look a bit shaky, being a little too happy to let people run deep around him. With faster players in the NFL that could be an issue. He also has a bad habit at times of moving around on the line of scrimmage, once the offense is supposed to be set. A savvy defender jumping when he sees this will get the false start flag everytime.
Overall though, Ijalana seems quite good. Perhaps solid without being spectacular might be the best way to describe him.
In round three the Colts went with LSU defensive tackle tackle Drake Nevis.
Earlier in the year, pre-draft, I was high as a kite on Drake Nevis. Now... not so much. He is quick for his size and he does indeed demonstrate a lot of power on occasions. However the more I watch of Nevis the more I'm worried about his technique.
To give him his due, he does spend a lot of time getting double teamed which doesn't help his cause. Against a single block he's much better at breaking through and getting into the backfield. Consistency though from down to down is a concern.
I think then that much of Nevis's future will rest on how the Colts use him. As a 1 technique defensive tackle he'll probably face a lot of double teams. As a three technique he'll get more opportunities to go one on one with guards and that might just give him the shot he needs.
In round four the Colts took Syracuse running back Delone Carter.
Carter doesn't exactly have blazing speed on the field, but he's pretty tough and his cutting ability is ok. The Colts are probably quite a good fit for Carter, as his attributes fit reasonably well with the demands of their scheme, being a zone style rushing team that also rely on the backs for pass protection and sometimes as receivers.
Finally came corner Chris Rucker from MSU in the sixth round. Annnnnnd your guess is as good as mine. No film. No comment.
So that brings us to the end of the Colts round up. Not a bad draft. But not a great one either.
On another note, I have to confess something. I really cannot be fucked with this anymore. Thanks to the stupid ass lockout pretty much every professional media outlet that covers football has been hit and its been the same for me. People are just not interested in football right now and I don't blame them.
Frankly I'm sick and fucking tired of waiting for the off season to begin. I've long hoped that the owners would lay the players over a particularly pointed and painful barrel and then screw them hard. Peyton Manning does not need to earn another $5 million per year, especially not when it drives up the costs for the teams, which will then be born by the fans.
But right now I couldn't care less who wins. I just want proper football to come back. Because talking about rookies, months after they've all been drafted anyway, is doing my head in. I'm sick and fucking tired of watching college film, especially when I know I have to write out a large post on the players that will be read by not a whole lot of people.
So I've decided I just need a break from this. I'm going into a hibernation of sorts. I'll come back on August 1st or when the new league season kicks off, whichever comes first and review the situation then. Until that point, unless a miracle happens and suddenly hundreds of readers pour in, I'm just taking a break from football.
Apology's to all those who've been reading and following all this time. You can e-mail your discontent to me at keepingthechainsmoving@live.co.uk
I still use that e-mail for other things so I will get it.
So the Indianapolis Colts. Since the draft its been postulated in many places that this one was conducted almost exclusively by Chris Polian, son of GM Bill Polian, as Bill sets his boy up for the future. Who said Nepotism was dead in the NFL? Well if what his him, he only had five picks to play with as the Colts traded away their seventh and fifth round picks.
His first choice - if indeed it was his - was Offensive Tackles Anthony Castonzo, Boston College.
Now on the surface this is a pick that makes sense. The Colts O-line is - in my present opinion - pretty under rated. It helps to have Peyton Manning, yes. But they're not too shabby themselves. Some of them are however starting to get a little creaky in the hips. That means fresh blood is needed and that's where Castonzo would seem to fit in perfectly.
Except.... I don't buy it. Or rather, I don't buy Castonzo. Against your average, run of the mill opposition Castonzo did fine. But against some of the tougher opponents Castonzo didn't look like he was in the same league. For me that translates into getting beaten a lot at the next level.
I just don't think that from a technical perspective he will cope. He tends to play very much standing up and can often be found leaning forward, with straight legs, in order to reach out and get at an opponent. What you'd prefer to see is him sitting back a little and just punching from a solid base. Against speed rushers in particular it's going to get nasty.
In round two the Colts came back for more with another Offensive Tackle, this time taking Villanova's Ben Ijalana.
Now Ijalana is a bit of a tricky one to project, because in college he did really well. On film, he looks great. He's a very solid tackle. But... the level of opposition was hardly top drawer. I'm not sure if he's faced a true standout pass rusher in his entire career?
At times then he does look a bit shaky, being a little too happy to let people run deep around him. With faster players in the NFL that could be an issue. He also has a bad habit at times of moving around on the line of scrimmage, once the offense is supposed to be set. A savvy defender jumping when he sees this will get the false start flag everytime.
Overall though, Ijalana seems quite good. Perhaps solid without being spectacular might be the best way to describe him.
In round three the Colts went with LSU defensive tackle tackle Drake Nevis.
Earlier in the year, pre-draft, I was high as a kite on Drake Nevis. Now... not so much. He is quick for his size and he does indeed demonstrate a lot of power on occasions. However the more I watch of Nevis the more I'm worried about his technique.
To give him his due, he does spend a lot of time getting double teamed which doesn't help his cause. Against a single block he's much better at breaking through and getting into the backfield. Consistency though from down to down is a concern.
I think then that much of Nevis's future will rest on how the Colts use him. As a 1 technique defensive tackle he'll probably face a lot of double teams. As a three technique he'll get more opportunities to go one on one with guards and that might just give him the shot he needs.
In round four the Colts took Syracuse running back Delone Carter.
Carter doesn't exactly have blazing speed on the field, but he's pretty tough and his cutting ability is ok. The Colts are probably quite a good fit for Carter, as his attributes fit reasonably well with the demands of their scheme, being a zone style rushing team that also rely on the backs for pass protection and sometimes as receivers.
Finally came corner Chris Rucker from MSU in the sixth round. Annnnnnd your guess is as good as mine. No film. No comment.
So that brings us to the end of the Colts round up. Not a bad draft. But not a great one either.
On another note, I have to confess something. I really cannot be fucked with this anymore. Thanks to the stupid ass lockout pretty much every professional media outlet that covers football has been hit and its been the same for me. People are just not interested in football right now and I don't blame them.
Frankly I'm sick and fucking tired of waiting for the off season to begin. I've long hoped that the owners would lay the players over a particularly pointed and painful barrel and then screw them hard. Peyton Manning does not need to earn another $5 million per year, especially not when it drives up the costs for the teams, which will then be born by the fans.
But right now I couldn't care less who wins. I just want proper football to come back. Because talking about rookies, months after they've all been drafted anyway, is doing my head in. I'm sick and fucking tired of watching college film, especially when I know I have to write out a large post on the players that will be read by not a whole lot of people.
So I've decided I just need a break from this. I'm going into a hibernation of sorts. I'll come back on August 1st or when the new league season kicks off, whichever comes first and review the situation then. Until that point, unless a miracle happens and suddenly hundreds of readers pour in, I'm just taking a break from football.
Apology's to all those who've been reading and following all this time. You can e-mail your discontent to me at keepingthechainsmoving@live.co.uk
I still use that e-mail for other things so I will get it.
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
2011 NFL Draft: Houston Texans
The Houston Texans eh. Funny old team. I say it all the time but they basically are the 2008 New Orleans Saints; a great offense coupled with a shitty defense.
And they really do have a great offense. Think about it logically for a second. Quarterback Matt Schaub is one of the leading passers in the NFL right now. He doesn't get the credit and recognition he deserves, but then that's just how the NFL covering media works; unless you're riding the hot ticket to the playoffs then nobody cares about you.
Once you've become successful then all of a sudden everyone will jump on the bandwagon (again, see the Saints in '08 compared to '09) but until that point Schaub will just have to make do with quietly being one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Yes, I just said that. Matt Schaub.
Of course one of the reasons he's done so well is because of wide receiver Andre Johnson, who is arguably one of the best at his position in the NFL right now. In fact, all the Texans offense really needs now is say, a tight end who is considered to be under rated, like Owen Daniels for example, and then a running back who posted the most rushing yards of any back in the NFL in 2010, like Arian Foster for example.
So yeah, the Texans offense is unquestionably (to a sane and rational person) one of the best in the league right now. Unfortunately that defense is... terrible. Shocking. Awful. Miserable. And a whole bunch of other words that describe something being really bad.
This year then it was expected that the Texans might go heavy on defense. No, it was practically demanded that they should. With the benefit of hindsight, I think they might have taken the consensus opinion a little literally.
It all started in round one with J.J. Watt, defensive end, Wisconsin.
Now Watt is an odd one for the Texans, due to his career in college primarily consisting of being a 4-3 defensive end whereas the Texans, under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, are likely to switch to a 3-4 defense.
That begs the question then as to where Watt will fit in? He played some snaps standing up so he could play as a pass rushing outside linebacker, but he's a little thick for that. I should just point out that I mean size wise, not that he's dumb. Of course he could be, I've never met the guy. And now I'm just rambling.
The alternative is for him to play as a 3-4 DE, which is more akin to being a 3 technique tackle in a 4-3 defense. If I'm hedging my bets then I suspect this is where he will be played and where he'll fit in best. Of course I could be wrong so we'll try and look at it from both perspectives.
As an outside rushing backer my concern is that while Watt is plenty strong enough, he'll be a little slow and a little dumpy. He can always lose weight, I accept that, but it's not ideal. That said he was a pretty good rusher. Technique was good, he had a variety of moves up his sleeve, and he pursues well.
But I still stand by my thought that he would be better off as a Defensive End. He's got strength and his technique would be well suited to playing against the guards who would often be forced to slide over to take him, providing there is a pass rusher outside of him.
Either way, I think the Texans did well with their first pick. They got somebody who will achieve a reasonable degree of success whatever they ultimately decide to do with him.
Not content with that though, the Texans came back again in the second round and took Brooks Reed, defensive end, Arizona.
Now if the future is a little uncertain for Watt, then it's crystal clear for Reed. Outside linebacker. In fact, I'm a little amazed this guy was playing defensive end in a 4-3, because really he didn't seem to have the size. Speed however Reed definitely has in abundance.
On the few occasions that he played from a standing start you could see that Reed clearly has the drive and the physical tools to be a pass rusher. He may not be the greatest in the world and yeah, his strength is a little lacking so the run game might give him some issues, but speed wise Reed is well set. Keep and eye out for this kid in Houston this year.
Next up was Brandon Harris, corner, Miami, also taken in the second round and who marked the beginning of a Houston run over the next three picks on defensive backs, their weakest position by far.
Former Texans GM Charley Casserly, who I can't stand, thinks Harris will be nothing more than a fourth string corner so that instantly makes me want to root for him to do well. Having watched him play, I think he will.
To start with the downsides, Harris is a little short and sometimes he makes some dubious choices, but that never hurt Asante Samuel so never mind. On the plus side, he accelerates quickly, is smooth in most of his movements, balanced, and plays the ball well in the air.
I should temper that last statement by saying that I don't mean picks. Harris clearly ended up as a corner because his hands are rubbish, but to me that's not a huge issue. Given the choice of seeing a corner try to get a pick and risk giving up a touchdown, or having him simply bat the ball down, I'd rather he took the opportunity to bat it down.
And hey, let's put it this way; Harris is an upgrade on the current group of corners they have so Texans fans can't moan.
On to the fourth round and its Rashad Carmichael, corner, Virginia Tech.
Oh boy. At least now I have my Halloween night planned out this year. It'll start with a one hour special of watching tape of Mike Person trying to block, followed by a one hour special of watching Carmichael trying to tackle. It is honestly cringe worthy viewing.
That for me is an issue. I can live with players who are solid but not spectacular, but Carmichael has way too many weaknesses to exploit. He absolutely cannot tackle unless he happens to be chasing someone from behind (it has to be seen to be believed). On top of that, his coverage is far too loose. He's so concerned with avoiding being beaten deep that he gives receivers way too much of a cushion.
Frankly, I give Carmichael a big thumbs down.
On to the fifth round and Shiloh Keo, safety, Idaho.
Keo had a great combine in terms of the on field drills, but I didn't get the opportunity pre draft to get a look at him in a game. Uhm. That's still the case. I got Idaho offense, just not defense. So. Shit.
Still in round five the Texans came up with QB Taylor Yates, quarterback, North Carolina.
Hmm. I think if I was gonna take a quarterback and say "this is someone who we have no intention of playing for a few years, he's a project" then Yates would be a good fit. He has a lot of the basic skills down pat. His footwork is good, he scans the field well, he throws pretty well. Doesn't have the biggest arm in the world and doesn't do as much down field throwing as some, but still has plenty of scope for development.
I think Yates has really fallen on his feet in Houston. They have a legitimate quality starter, a back up with a few seasons of practice and some game time under his belt, and that just leaves Yates to concentrate on being the young, upcoming kid. The offense is good and there is plenty of talent around him so maybe in a few years we'll be talking about Yates the same way we currently talk about Kevin Kolb?
Round seven now and two picks. The first was offensive tackle Derek Newton, Arkansas State. If you know anything about him send me a letter, because I don't. Damn Arkansas State.
That just leaves Cheta Ozougwu (yes, I had to copy and paste that), defensive end, Rice. Ozougwu also has the dubious honor that must fall to someone each year of being the last pick in the draft, and therefore Mr. Irrelevant 2011.
I know Mike Mayock of NFL Network believes he could be a situational pass rusher, but that's about all I do know. No film, no idea.
So I slightly flat end to this one. Overall though I think the Texans did some good work. They've put a plan in place for the future of their quarterback position. They've added some depth and talent to their pass rush. They believe, even I don't fully agree, that they addressed that major concern in the defensive backfield.
I think this a good draft. It's not great, but it is good. If their new pass rushers and secondary guys can even just nudge this team along a little then with an offense as good as they have they could potentially make the playoffs this year. Of course, everyone's been saying that about the Texans for the last two years now, but maybe this time it'll actually bear fruit.
Next up is the Indianapolis Colts. If you want to e-mail me, probably to complain about something, the address is; keepingthechainsmoving@live.co.uk
Don't forget to hit that facebook button below and share with your friends, and I will see you all sometime this weekend with that Colts roundup.
And they really do have a great offense. Think about it logically for a second. Quarterback Matt Schaub is one of the leading passers in the NFL right now. He doesn't get the credit and recognition he deserves, but then that's just how the NFL covering media works; unless you're riding the hot ticket to the playoffs then nobody cares about you.
Once you've become successful then all of a sudden everyone will jump on the bandwagon (again, see the Saints in '08 compared to '09) but until that point Schaub will just have to make do with quietly being one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Yes, I just said that. Matt Schaub.
Of course one of the reasons he's done so well is because of wide receiver Andre Johnson, who is arguably one of the best at his position in the NFL right now. In fact, all the Texans offense really needs now is say, a tight end who is considered to be under rated, like Owen Daniels for example, and then a running back who posted the most rushing yards of any back in the NFL in 2010, like Arian Foster for example.
So yeah, the Texans offense is unquestionably (to a sane and rational person) one of the best in the league right now. Unfortunately that defense is... terrible. Shocking. Awful. Miserable. And a whole bunch of other words that describe something being really bad.
This year then it was expected that the Texans might go heavy on defense. No, it was practically demanded that they should. With the benefit of hindsight, I think they might have taken the consensus opinion a little literally.
It all started in round one with J.J. Watt, defensive end, Wisconsin.
Now Watt is an odd one for the Texans, due to his career in college primarily consisting of being a 4-3 defensive end whereas the Texans, under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, are likely to switch to a 3-4 defense.
That begs the question then as to where Watt will fit in? He played some snaps standing up so he could play as a pass rushing outside linebacker, but he's a little thick for that. I should just point out that I mean size wise, not that he's dumb. Of course he could be, I've never met the guy. And now I'm just rambling.
The alternative is for him to play as a 3-4 DE, which is more akin to being a 3 technique tackle in a 4-3 defense. If I'm hedging my bets then I suspect this is where he will be played and where he'll fit in best. Of course I could be wrong so we'll try and look at it from both perspectives.
As an outside rushing backer my concern is that while Watt is plenty strong enough, he'll be a little slow and a little dumpy. He can always lose weight, I accept that, but it's not ideal. That said he was a pretty good rusher. Technique was good, he had a variety of moves up his sleeve, and he pursues well.
But I still stand by my thought that he would be better off as a Defensive End. He's got strength and his technique would be well suited to playing against the guards who would often be forced to slide over to take him, providing there is a pass rusher outside of him.
Either way, I think the Texans did well with their first pick. They got somebody who will achieve a reasonable degree of success whatever they ultimately decide to do with him.
Not content with that though, the Texans came back again in the second round and took Brooks Reed, defensive end, Arizona.
Now if the future is a little uncertain for Watt, then it's crystal clear for Reed. Outside linebacker. In fact, I'm a little amazed this guy was playing defensive end in a 4-3, because really he didn't seem to have the size. Speed however Reed definitely has in abundance.
On the few occasions that he played from a standing start you could see that Reed clearly has the drive and the physical tools to be a pass rusher. He may not be the greatest in the world and yeah, his strength is a little lacking so the run game might give him some issues, but speed wise Reed is well set. Keep and eye out for this kid in Houston this year.
Next up was Brandon Harris, corner, Miami, also taken in the second round and who marked the beginning of a Houston run over the next three picks on defensive backs, their weakest position by far.
Former Texans GM Charley Casserly, who I can't stand, thinks Harris will be nothing more than a fourth string corner so that instantly makes me want to root for him to do well. Having watched him play, I think he will.
To start with the downsides, Harris is a little short and sometimes he makes some dubious choices, but that never hurt Asante Samuel so never mind. On the plus side, he accelerates quickly, is smooth in most of his movements, balanced, and plays the ball well in the air.
I should temper that last statement by saying that I don't mean picks. Harris clearly ended up as a corner because his hands are rubbish, but to me that's not a huge issue. Given the choice of seeing a corner try to get a pick and risk giving up a touchdown, or having him simply bat the ball down, I'd rather he took the opportunity to bat it down.
And hey, let's put it this way; Harris is an upgrade on the current group of corners they have so Texans fans can't moan.
On to the fourth round and its Rashad Carmichael, corner, Virginia Tech.
Oh boy. At least now I have my Halloween night planned out this year. It'll start with a one hour special of watching tape of Mike Person trying to block, followed by a one hour special of watching Carmichael trying to tackle. It is honestly cringe worthy viewing.
That for me is an issue. I can live with players who are solid but not spectacular, but Carmichael has way too many weaknesses to exploit. He absolutely cannot tackle unless he happens to be chasing someone from behind (it has to be seen to be believed). On top of that, his coverage is far too loose. He's so concerned with avoiding being beaten deep that he gives receivers way too much of a cushion.
Frankly, I give Carmichael a big thumbs down.
On to the fifth round and Shiloh Keo, safety, Idaho.
Keo had a great combine in terms of the on field drills, but I didn't get the opportunity pre draft to get a look at him in a game. Uhm. That's still the case. I got Idaho offense, just not defense. So. Shit.
Still in round five the Texans came up with QB Taylor Yates, quarterback, North Carolina.
Hmm. I think if I was gonna take a quarterback and say "this is someone who we have no intention of playing for a few years, he's a project" then Yates would be a good fit. He has a lot of the basic skills down pat. His footwork is good, he scans the field well, he throws pretty well. Doesn't have the biggest arm in the world and doesn't do as much down field throwing as some, but still has plenty of scope for development.
I think Yates has really fallen on his feet in Houston. They have a legitimate quality starter, a back up with a few seasons of practice and some game time under his belt, and that just leaves Yates to concentrate on being the young, upcoming kid. The offense is good and there is plenty of talent around him so maybe in a few years we'll be talking about Yates the same way we currently talk about Kevin Kolb?
Round seven now and two picks. The first was offensive tackle Derek Newton, Arkansas State. If you know anything about him send me a letter, because I don't. Damn Arkansas State.
That just leaves Cheta Ozougwu (yes, I had to copy and paste that), defensive end, Rice. Ozougwu also has the dubious honor that must fall to someone each year of being the last pick in the draft, and therefore Mr. Irrelevant 2011.
I know Mike Mayock of NFL Network believes he could be a situational pass rusher, but that's about all I do know. No film, no idea.
So I slightly flat end to this one. Overall though I think the Texans did some good work. They've put a plan in place for the future of their quarterback position. They've added some depth and talent to their pass rush. They believe, even I don't fully agree, that they addressed that major concern in the defensive backfield.
I think this a good draft. It's not great, but it is good. If their new pass rushers and secondary guys can even just nudge this team along a little then with an offense as good as they have they could potentially make the playoffs this year. Of course, everyone's been saying that about the Texans for the last two years now, but maybe this time it'll actually bear fruit.
Next up is the Indianapolis Colts. If you want to e-mail me, probably to complain about something, the address is; keepingthechainsmoving@live.co.uk
Don't forget to hit that facebook button below and share with your friends, and I will see you all sometime this weekend with that Colts roundup.
Monday, July 04, 2011
Two things
First of all, happy fourth of July to everyone in the US!
Secondly, I'm working on the Texans draft roundup as we speak. Will be up maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow.
Secondly, I'm working on the Texans draft roundup as we speak. Will be up maybe tonight, maybe tomorrow.
Friday, July 01, 2011
2011 NFL Draft: Washington Redskins
Jesus, finally here! Apology's about the delay.
So, the Washington Redskins eh? Notorious throughout the land for basically two things; 1) over spending on unworthy free agents, 2) semi-bad drafting.
In a bid to rectify this unfortunate reputation the Redskins approached the draft with a strategy unusual for them in that they traded about a bit and with the help of compensatory selections ended up with twelve picks in this years draft. What's even more surprising is that they actually made some good picks.
Starting in round one with Ryan Kerrigan, defensive end, Purdue.
Admittedly Kerrigan was a defensive end in college whereas for the Redskins he'll have to take on the role of a 3-4 outside linebacker, but the transition shouldn't be too painful. He even played a few snaps standing up in college and it didn't seem to effect his game much.
Now generally speaking I like Kerrigan. There is the odd issue here and there, like I'd like to see him work a bit more on his strength, but these tend to be in the category of "minor complaints". Those things aside, Kerrigan has bags of potential as an NFL pass rusher.
Speed is good and the thing I like most is the use of the hands. Too many players come into the NFL hoping to be the next Dwight Freeney or Jared Allen, but lacking the technical understanding of how to use their hands in various ways to get off blocks.
Kerrigan strikes me as being one of the better prepared players to take on the challenge. He's shown great leverage and great technique, plus buckets of determination to get into the backfield, chase plays down and get after a quarterback in trouble. All these things should help Kerrigan succeed at the next level.
Talking of next levels, its round two and Jarvis Jenkins, defensive tackle, Clemson. With the Redskins taking a tackle it's almost like they're expressing disappointment in Albert Haynesworth....
They might end up expressing disappointment in Jenkins too. I just don't see a lot in the kid. Pretty plain, average tackle who doesn't show any of the glints of promise that some others have. Maybe that's all the Redskins were looking for? Just a guy to plug the middle? I strongly doubt that, which is why I find this an odd pick. Just a bit flat.
In round three the Redskins went with Leonard Hankerson, wide receiver, Miami (Florida).
Now I'm a big Hankerson fan. Anytime a player forgoes the chance to come out of college in their junior year and stay on for another year to get their education, that always counts as a plus in my book. He also spent a lot of time in the last two off seasons seeking help from a former Dolphins receiver in order to develop himself a little more as a receiver, which can only speak highly of his work ethic.
On the field Hankerson has a number of great traits. He's a big guy (= big target), he's pretty quick, his route running has improved a lot and he has great hands. He falls very much into the scope of being a down field target man, though perhaps the best comparison I could give would be that he reminds me a lot of Andre Johnson.
As always with such comparisons I should stress that I'm not saying he'll walk into the league day one and be that good, just the style of play strikes me as being very similar. With time however? If receiver from this draft class is going to go on and emulate a guy like Johnson, then Hankerson could be the one to do it.
Round four now and it's Roy Helu, running back, Nebraska.
Since the draft, Helu has gone up in my estimation. He has obvious strength and is not afraid to put his head down and plough through defenders, but previously I questioned somewhat his vision and speed. Having taken a much deeper look I'm now satisfied that I was previously talking out of my arse.
Helu may not be blindingly quick, but there is a difference between the required speed to break away from defenders, leaving them in your dust trail, and the speed needed just to stop people catching you before you reach the end zone. Helu has the second. His vision and cutting ability also appear to be more than adequate.
At this juncture you could be forgiven for thinking that I'm about to go off on a starry eyed jaunt praising Helu to the ends of the time and predicting pro bowls and Super Bowls a plenty. Well... it's not quite that far. I just wanted to rectify my initial assessment that was quite down beat, when in fact I think Helu deserves more.
Round five and the Redskins went with Dejon Gomes, safety, Nebraska.
Good safety? Bad safety? Meh. Not really a lot to see to be honest. A few highlight reel plays here and there but spends most of the game not really doing a lot. Coverage can be reasonably good against tight ends and third string receivers, but there's just not a lot to show. Against someone like Dallas Clark etc, I can see him struggling.
Still in Round five, Niles Paul, wide receiver, Nebraska. I get the feeling someone in Washington watched a lot of Nebraska film in the run up to the draft.
If they did, then I'm not sure what it is they really saw in Niles Paul. He's not bad with the ball in his hands, but again I would protest that there were other, clearly better receivers out there on the board when the Redskins made this pick.
Not least because almost every other receiver still on the board at the time must have had more catches than Paul. Part of that is down to the fact he wasn't targeted all that often, part of it is because (and may have caused reason one) he has quite dead hands, seemingly dropping more passes than he actually catches.
Moving to round six and the Redskins still have six picks left! The first of these was Evan Royster, running back, Penn state.
First of all, you have to pat Royster on the back for setting a new career rushing record with Penn State. But at the same time... eh, I'm just not a huge Royster fan. I think blocking schemes had a hell of a lot to do with explaining Roysters success and I just don't see the combination of attributes that will produce a good running back at the next level.
Next up, Aldrick Robinson, wide receiver, Southern Methodist. No film. No comment. Next.
In to round seven and Brandyn Thompson, cornerback, Boise State. Not a huge fan if I'm honest. Like a lot of corners he gets those odd moments when a quarterback over throws a pass and he makes a pick, but generally speaking a little suspect. Very loose coverage.
Next up is offensive tackle Maurice Hurt, Florida. I'm indifferent to him. Doesn't strike me as anything more than a filler for training camp.
Second from last we have Markus White, defensive end, Florida State. Hard one to gauge. Against weaker opposition he can often find a way past the sub standard right tackles, but up against top drawer opponents White often gets brutally man handled. Lack of technique and lack of strength will cripple him at this level.
That just leaves Nose Tackle Chris Neild, from West Virginia. Again, another prospect who is ok, but really lacks anything that would suggest he's going to succeed at the NFL level. The main problem is that while he's strong enough to hold his own up the middle, he really doesn't have the extra speed or strength to make much of an impact beyond occasionally tackling a mid line runner.
So, there's your 2011 Washington Redskins. A mixed bag. A lot of players in there who I think will just kind of mill around and not do much, but some good ones as well. Ryan Kerrigan is notable for example for the fact he'll be playing opposite Brian Orakpo. If Kerrigan can live up to his potential then the Redskins will have a double sided pass rush to take notice of.
Hankerson and Helu are also good picks due to what they bring to the table. Hankerson is in the bizarre spot where he may just walk on to the field at training camp and be the number one guy. Santana Moss is up for free agency and the Redskins depth chart at that position isn't exactly brimming with threats to someone as good as Hankerson.
Helu meanwhile is in the position of being behind a pretty good O-line from a run blocking perspective. He might have to fight a bit harder than Hankerson to keep a spot and then get on the field, but he has talent and Washington might be a good place to help him exploit it.
Right, that's the NFC East finally done and with it the whole conference.
The plan is next to start the AFC, beginning with the AFC South, but I should just throw out a warning right now to those of you who drop by all the time. Basically, it takes absolutely ages to do these posts and unfortunately that really cuts into my time. I don't get paid at all for doing this, except on the odd occasion when someone clicks one of the adverts.
Now that's not so much of a problem, I mean I love football, but to be honest readership is sparse. There appears to be a hardcore group of you, mostly from the US as can be expected but also Italy, Denmark and Canada. However a hardcore group is, never the less, still just a small group of people and it is kind of disheartening to pour so much time into the project for so little exposure.
If my posts become as infrequent in general as they have been the last week or so (at least until the season proper starts) then forgive me, but I'm having to prioritise other things, like adequate sleep, thus forcing me to stretch my writing time for these posts out over the course of multiple days.
So, the Washington Redskins eh? Notorious throughout the land for basically two things; 1) over spending on unworthy free agents, 2) semi-bad drafting.
In a bid to rectify this unfortunate reputation the Redskins approached the draft with a strategy unusual for them in that they traded about a bit and with the help of compensatory selections ended up with twelve picks in this years draft. What's even more surprising is that they actually made some good picks.
Starting in round one with Ryan Kerrigan, defensive end, Purdue.
Admittedly Kerrigan was a defensive end in college whereas for the Redskins he'll have to take on the role of a 3-4 outside linebacker, but the transition shouldn't be too painful. He even played a few snaps standing up in college and it didn't seem to effect his game much.
Now generally speaking I like Kerrigan. There is the odd issue here and there, like I'd like to see him work a bit more on his strength, but these tend to be in the category of "minor complaints". Those things aside, Kerrigan has bags of potential as an NFL pass rusher.
Speed is good and the thing I like most is the use of the hands. Too many players come into the NFL hoping to be the next Dwight Freeney or Jared Allen, but lacking the technical understanding of how to use their hands in various ways to get off blocks.
Kerrigan strikes me as being one of the better prepared players to take on the challenge. He's shown great leverage and great technique, plus buckets of determination to get into the backfield, chase plays down and get after a quarterback in trouble. All these things should help Kerrigan succeed at the next level.
Talking of next levels, its round two and Jarvis Jenkins, defensive tackle, Clemson. With the Redskins taking a tackle it's almost like they're expressing disappointment in Albert Haynesworth....
They might end up expressing disappointment in Jenkins too. I just don't see a lot in the kid. Pretty plain, average tackle who doesn't show any of the glints of promise that some others have. Maybe that's all the Redskins were looking for? Just a guy to plug the middle? I strongly doubt that, which is why I find this an odd pick. Just a bit flat.
In round three the Redskins went with Leonard Hankerson, wide receiver, Miami (Florida).
Now I'm a big Hankerson fan. Anytime a player forgoes the chance to come out of college in their junior year and stay on for another year to get their education, that always counts as a plus in my book. He also spent a lot of time in the last two off seasons seeking help from a former Dolphins receiver in order to develop himself a little more as a receiver, which can only speak highly of his work ethic.
On the field Hankerson has a number of great traits. He's a big guy (= big target), he's pretty quick, his route running has improved a lot and he has great hands. He falls very much into the scope of being a down field target man, though perhaps the best comparison I could give would be that he reminds me a lot of Andre Johnson.
As always with such comparisons I should stress that I'm not saying he'll walk into the league day one and be that good, just the style of play strikes me as being very similar. With time however? If receiver from this draft class is going to go on and emulate a guy like Johnson, then Hankerson could be the one to do it.
Round four now and it's Roy Helu, running back, Nebraska.
Since the draft, Helu has gone up in my estimation. He has obvious strength and is not afraid to put his head down and plough through defenders, but previously I questioned somewhat his vision and speed. Having taken a much deeper look I'm now satisfied that I was previously talking out of my arse.
Helu may not be blindingly quick, but there is a difference between the required speed to break away from defenders, leaving them in your dust trail, and the speed needed just to stop people catching you before you reach the end zone. Helu has the second. His vision and cutting ability also appear to be more than adequate.
At this juncture you could be forgiven for thinking that I'm about to go off on a starry eyed jaunt praising Helu to the ends of the time and predicting pro bowls and Super Bowls a plenty. Well... it's not quite that far. I just wanted to rectify my initial assessment that was quite down beat, when in fact I think Helu deserves more.
Round five and the Redskins went with Dejon Gomes, safety, Nebraska.
Good safety? Bad safety? Meh. Not really a lot to see to be honest. A few highlight reel plays here and there but spends most of the game not really doing a lot. Coverage can be reasonably good against tight ends and third string receivers, but there's just not a lot to show. Against someone like Dallas Clark etc, I can see him struggling.
Still in Round five, Niles Paul, wide receiver, Nebraska. I get the feeling someone in Washington watched a lot of Nebraska film in the run up to the draft.
If they did, then I'm not sure what it is they really saw in Niles Paul. He's not bad with the ball in his hands, but again I would protest that there were other, clearly better receivers out there on the board when the Redskins made this pick.
Not least because almost every other receiver still on the board at the time must have had more catches than Paul. Part of that is down to the fact he wasn't targeted all that often, part of it is because (and may have caused reason one) he has quite dead hands, seemingly dropping more passes than he actually catches.
Moving to round six and the Redskins still have six picks left! The first of these was Evan Royster, running back, Penn state.
First of all, you have to pat Royster on the back for setting a new career rushing record with Penn State. But at the same time... eh, I'm just not a huge Royster fan. I think blocking schemes had a hell of a lot to do with explaining Roysters success and I just don't see the combination of attributes that will produce a good running back at the next level.
Next up, Aldrick Robinson, wide receiver, Southern Methodist. No film. No comment. Next.
In to round seven and Brandyn Thompson, cornerback, Boise State. Not a huge fan if I'm honest. Like a lot of corners he gets those odd moments when a quarterback over throws a pass and he makes a pick, but generally speaking a little suspect. Very loose coverage.
Next up is offensive tackle Maurice Hurt, Florida. I'm indifferent to him. Doesn't strike me as anything more than a filler for training camp.
Second from last we have Markus White, defensive end, Florida State. Hard one to gauge. Against weaker opposition he can often find a way past the sub standard right tackles, but up against top drawer opponents White often gets brutally man handled. Lack of technique and lack of strength will cripple him at this level.
That just leaves Nose Tackle Chris Neild, from West Virginia. Again, another prospect who is ok, but really lacks anything that would suggest he's going to succeed at the NFL level. The main problem is that while he's strong enough to hold his own up the middle, he really doesn't have the extra speed or strength to make much of an impact beyond occasionally tackling a mid line runner.
So, there's your 2011 Washington Redskins. A mixed bag. A lot of players in there who I think will just kind of mill around and not do much, but some good ones as well. Ryan Kerrigan is notable for example for the fact he'll be playing opposite Brian Orakpo. If Kerrigan can live up to his potential then the Redskins will have a double sided pass rush to take notice of.
Hankerson and Helu are also good picks due to what they bring to the table. Hankerson is in the bizarre spot where he may just walk on to the field at training camp and be the number one guy. Santana Moss is up for free agency and the Redskins depth chart at that position isn't exactly brimming with threats to someone as good as Hankerson.
Helu meanwhile is in the position of being behind a pretty good O-line from a run blocking perspective. He might have to fight a bit harder than Hankerson to keep a spot and then get on the field, but he has talent and Washington might be a good place to help him exploit it.
Right, that's the NFC East finally done and with it the whole conference.
The plan is next to start the AFC, beginning with the AFC South, but I should just throw out a warning right now to those of you who drop by all the time. Basically, it takes absolutely ages to do these posts and unfortunately that really cuts into my time. I don't get paid at all for doing this, except on the odd occasion when someone clicks one of the adverts.
Now that's not so much of a problem, I mean I love football, but to be honest readership is sparse. There appears to be a hardcore group of you, mostly from the US as can be expected but also Italy, Denmark and Canada. However a hardcore group is, never the less, still just a small group of people and it is kind of disheartening to pour so much time into the project for so little exposure.
If my posts become as infrequent in general as they have been the last week or so (at least until the season proper starts) then forgive me, but I'm having to prioritise other things, like adequate sleep, thus forcing me to stretch my writing time for these posts out over the course of multiple days.
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