Well, folks, as I am sure you already know, the regular season begins TOMORROW. Are you excited?! I'm excited! Before things get underway, I must publish my season predictions, including Super Bowl X-LAX--I mean, XLIX:
AFC East
1. New England
2. New York Jets
3. Miami
4. Buffalo
AFC North
1. Cincinnati
2. Baltimore**
3. Pittsburgh
4. Cleveland
AFC South
1. Indianapolis
2. Jacksonville
3. Houston
4. Tennessee
AFC West
1. Denver
2. San Diego*
3. Kansas City
4. Oakland
NFC East
1. Philadelphia
2. Dallas
3. New York Giants
4. Washington
NFC North
1. Green Bay
2. Chicago**
3. Detroit
4. Minnesota
NFC South
1. New Orleans
2. Atlanta
3. Carolina
4. Tampa Bay
NFC West
1. San Francisco
2. Seattle*
3. Arizona
4. St. Louis
AFC Playoffs (winners underlined)
San Diego @ Cincinnati
Baltimore @ Indianapolis
San Diego @ Denver
Indianapolis @ New England
New England @ Denver
NFC Playoffs
Seattle @ Philadelphia
Chicago @ San Francisco
Seattle @ New Orleans
San Francisco @ Green Bay
Seattle @ San Francisco
SUPER BOWL XLIX
Denver over San Francisco
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Thursday, August 28, 2014
32 Teams, 32 Fringe Players to Watch
The preseason (thankfully) comes to an end tonight as all 32 teams play their final exhibition game in preparation for final cuts and, of course, the regular season. Teams have to shave down their rosters from 75 to 53 come Saturday, so this is the final chance for many fringe players to make an impact. To conclude my preseason coverage/analysis, I will give you 32 names to watch.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills: T.J. Graham, WR - Graham was a third-round draft pick out of N.C. State in 2012, but has failed to make any sort of impact in his first two NFL seasons. He was one of former Bills coach Chan Gailey's final draft picks. With the new Doug Marrone regime came new Doug Marrone players, and Graham has been passed on the depth chart by Robert Woods, Marquise Goodwin, and trade acquisition Mike Williams, not to mention star-in-the-making Sammy Watkins. Graham's time may be up in Buffalo.
Miami Dolphins: Daniel Thomas, RB - Daniel Thomas was a second-round pick in 2011. When healthy, he has been featured in Miami's lousy backfield, but has failed to provide the ground punch Miami seeks. The Dolphins sought help in free agency by signing Knowshon Moreno fresh off a breakout season with the Broncos. Moreno and Lamar Miller are expected to see the lion's share of halfback reps this season, leaving Thomas to struggle with UDFA Damien Williams for his job.
New England Patriots: Stevan Ridley, RB - No, seriously. Earlier this week, Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston projected that Brandon Bolden, practice squad veteran Jonas Gray, and UDFA James White would round out the Patriots backfield behind Shane Vereen, with fumble-prone Stevan ridley being cut. It would certainly be a surprising move, even for the unpredictable likes of Bill Belichick. I would expect Bolden or Gray to be the more likely odd man out, but there's really no knowing with the Patriots.
New York Jets: Stephen Hill, WR - Hill has been one of the most disappointing draft picks of the Rex Ryan era, taken in the early second round of the 2012 draft. The reports speculating that Hill is either on the trade block--or worse, the roster bubble--have been relentless. I could see a very desperate team (like the Panthers) making a low-risk trade for Hill, but if there are no takers, there is a good chance he gets a visit from the Turk.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: Arthur Brown, ILB - Brown isn't in jeopardy of losing his roster spot--that I know of. But his disappointing play makes him an interesting consideration when cuts are being made. Brown was hugely underwhelming in his rookie campaign, attempting in vain to partially fill the shoes of Ray Lewis; more disconcerting yet is the fact that the Ravens have already moved on from Brown, and invested their future at middle linebacker in rookie C.J. Mosley.
Cincinnati Bengals: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB - There are two huge factors working against "the Law Firm" and his bid to make final cuts with Cincinnati. One, he is overpaid for the contribution he offers. Green-Ellis is making better than two million dollars, heading into his age-29 season, which is the other factor: his age. The Bengals' drafting of Jeremy Hill is a not-so-subtle way of indicating that Green-Ellis is done with the Bengals. I doubt they will spend $2.3 million to keep Green-Ellis on the bench.
Cleveland Browns: Chris Ogbonnaya, RB/FB - My confidence in aging veterans Rex Grossman and Jim Leonhard is not all that high, but I think their rosters chances are better than Ogbonnaya's. Chris Ogbonnaya has had ample opportunity to break out, with the injury bug annually wreaking havoc on Cleveland's backs (Peyton Hillis, Montario Hardesty, Dion Lewis), but he has failed to do so. With Dion Lewis healthy and showing well in camp, Ogbonnaya's roster chances appear slim.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR - Darrius Heyward-Bey has taken on a lot of undue pressure since he was a top-ten draft-pick by the Al Davis Raiders. The selection of DHB was one of the last acts of Al Davis that led many speculators to seriously wonder if the old man was senile. He could've had Crabtree; he took Heyward-Bey. Now, Darrius is on his third team, fighting Lance Moore for a spot. He did have a pretty TD grab in the preseason to help his cause.
AFC South
Houston Texans: Shiloh Keo, S - Early on, Keo looked like he might be a steal coming out of Idaho in the fifth round. Keo has played all 16 games in each of the past two seasons, and recorded 62 tackles with a pair of interceptions. With D. J. Swearinger, Kendrick Lewis, and Chris Clemons, Houston's secondary is suddenly crowded, and, as of yet, Keo's production does not guarantee him a roster spot. His three-year cushion is a lot for a fifth-rounder. It's time to produce or be cut.
Indianapolis Colts: Zach Kerr, DT - When Arthur Jones went down in Indianapolis' dress rehearsal against New Orleans, the undrafted rookie Kerr was thrust into action with the first-teamers. Kerr played pretty much the remainder of the game and--I thought--showed well. The extent of Jones' injury is unknown, but Kerr's performance in the fourth and final preseason game will tell us whether or not he can be trusted as the first man up behind Jones.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Allen Hurns, WR - I don't even think one may consider Hurns a "fringe player" any longer. He has been an absolute stud in preseason (Blake Bortles has made him look good). How is this for a preseason statline: 13 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown, with a 17.7 YPC average? In the Florida Times-Union, Jags coach Gus Bradley called Hurns a "diamond in the rough." I would not be surprised to see Hurns outdo Mike Brown for a roster spot.
Tennessee Titans: Colin McCarthy, ILB - OK, so we aren't going to get any answers on Colin McCarthy tonight. The inside linebacker is already on injured reserve (again). The question is, is this the last straw. McCarthy has been injured for more games than he has been healthy, and the new regime in Tennessee has to have the walking-injury on a short leash already due to his history of fragility. McCarthy has all-star potential when healthy--but he never is. He might have played his last down as a Titan.
AFC West
Denver Broncos: Virgil Green, TE - This one is tough. Denver has very little viable depth at tight end behind Julius Thomas and Jacob Tamme, so Green is worth keeping if only to play special teams, because he rarely catches passes, and rarely do the Peyton Manning Broncos employ blocking specialists at tight end. Truthfully, I like Green's roster chances, but his offseason and camp have been ominously quiet, and I haven't seen him make an impact in quite some time.
Kansas City Chiefs: A.J. Jenkins, WR - A high draft pick by the 49ers in 2012, it did not take the 49ers long to give up on Jenkins and exchange their underwhelming receiver for Kansas City's, Jon Baldwin. Baldwin has already gone on to be released by San Francisco, and I would not be surprised to see A.J. Jenkins meet the same fate in Kansas City. He is behind Dwayne Bowe, Donnie Avery, Junior Hemingway, and Frankie Hammond on the depth chart.
Oakland Raiders: Jack Crawford, DE - This is another case of simply not hearing from a player for so long that it becomes disconcerting. Crawford has been unable to climb the depth chart in his two seasons with Oakland, and remains buried beneath free-agency haul Lamarr Woodley, Justin Tuck, and C.J. Wilson. Greg Little might be another interesting candidate for release. Having already worn out his welcome in receiver-needy Cleveland, it's difficult to imagine Little having any more luck in Oakland.
San Diego Chargers: Marion Grice, RB - The Bolts beat me to the punch and released first-round bust Larry English before I could write this article. Marion Grice is a sixth-round pick out of Arizona State, but has been very unimpressive in OTA's, training camp, and exhibition work. His spot on the depth chart will likely go to the undrafted Branden Oliver out of Buffalo, who has vastly outperformed Grice in the preseason.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: Ryan Williams, RB - Williams had the talent to be a superstar with the Cardinals when he was drafted, but injuries and inconsistency derailed his career, leaving him to battle for a roster spot with the Cowboys. I am rooting for Williams, but with three good backs ahead of him in the pecking order (DeMarco Murray, Lance Dunbar, Joseph Randle), he is an underdog. He improved his chances in the 'Boys' third preseason game, but not playing special teams does not help.
New York Giants: Corey Washington, WR - Like Allen Hurns in Jacksonville, Washington has come out of nowhere to challenge his elders for a role in the offense. Nine catches, 152 yards, and four touchdowns into this preseason, Washington is likely to get the nod over veterans Mario Manningham and Preston Parker. Much like Victor Cruz a few years ago, Washington may well be on his way from preseason standout to legitimate receiving threat with the G-Men.
Philadelphia Eagles: Casey Matthews, ILB - Forever doomed to be "Clay's brother," Casey was handed a starting job straight out of the University of Oregon in 2011. He did not man it well, and ever since then, he has been relegated to backup duties. I am honestly surprised he has made it this far without being cut. Some other intriguing possible cuts include 6'7" WR Ifeanyi Momah, and former first-round pick Brandon Graham, an under-utilized edge rusher with trade potential.
Washington Redskins: Kai Forbath, K - When a team uses a draft pick on a kicker, the incumbent has received his death sentence. Washington drafted the big-legged Zach Hocker in the sixth round of May's draft, and the ensuing kicking battle has gone down to the wire. I have a hard time believing, however, that Washington would trash a draft pick, effectively investing faith in a kicker of questionable reliability like Forbath. Along with RB Evan Royster, longtime wideout Santana Moss may also finally meet his doom in the coming days.
NFC North
Chicago Bears: Armanti Edwards, WR - Edwards was a major bust in Carolina. A college quarterback, the Panthers tried the natural athlete at punt returner and receiver, but never saw him develop into a viable receiving option. After a short stint in Cleveland, he's made it to the round of 75 in Chicago, but is highly unlikely to beat out Josh Morgan and Santonio Holmes for one of the final roster spots. Meanwhile, rookie camp sensation Christian Jones has been pedestrian in preseason action, but I like him to make the cut.
Detroit Lions: Michael Egnew, TE - Freshly cut from the Dolphins, the former third-round pick is getting a second chance with the Lions, who claimed the bust off of waivers earlier this week. I don't know why; the Lions are very deep at tight end with Brandon Pettigrew, Eric Ebron, and Joseph Fauria. I suppose the Lions are hoping to see a flash of the brilliance that made Egnew a third-round pick out of Missouri. The chances are not good.
Green Bay Packers: Derek Sherrod, T - Another mega-bust, Sherrod inherited the right tackle spot in Green Bay after the retirement of Chad Clifton in 2011. Before he could get his career off the ground, however, Sherrod succumbed to a plague of injuries from which he is only now emerging. Had swing tackle Don Barclay not gone down to an ACL tear earlier in the offseason, Sherrod would possibly already be gone.
Minnesota Vikings: Christian Ponder, QB - Once the future of the franchise, Ponder has been a dreadful failure in Minnesota. His three-year "trial run" has expired and I think it is obvious that the Vikings need to go in another direction at quarterback, whether it be Matt Cassel or Teddy Bridgewater. Of course, with starting experience, Ponder may yet make the team, but as no better than a third-string quarterback in the case of an emergency.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: Peter Konz, C - It is a rare thing to see a center selected in the second round these days; rarer yet to see him cut after only two years, but in mid-June, Konz was splitting backup reps with Mike Johnson behind locked-in starter Joe Hawley. Teams do not keep three centers ever. Usually, a team will carry five interior linemen, including two versatile backups. Konz will have to prove he fits into that group to keep his roster spot. The loss of Johnson to a lisfranc injury increases his chances.
Carolina Panthers: Joe Webb, QB/WR - Carrying three quarterbacks is not in fashion these days. A week ago, I might have told you that Carolina would only carry two (Cam Newton and Derek Anderson), but Newton is earning the inauspicious title of "injury-prone," thanks to the row of turnstiles posing as his "offensive line," and his somewhat reckless mobility. Additionally, Newton has looked awful in preseason. It might behoove the Panthers to keep the versatile Webb--who has starting experience--on their roster.
New Orleans Saints: Shayne Graham, K - This is a case of someone just getting beat, plain-and-simply. Graham has made a career out of taking over as placekicker for desperate teams when injury or inefficiency struck their first options. By the looks of it, he will have to continue making his living this way, as the Saints seem poised to go with the younger, stronger Derek Dimke at kicker in 2014. Graham might get a look in Denver or Tennessee.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Da'Quan Bowers, DE - It doesn't seem like that long ago Da'Quan Bowers was considered a top-five draft pick. That was actually 2011. About a week before that year's draft, word got out that Bowers had some serious knee issues, and the Clemson All-Pro would not be drafted until the second round. Though round two turned out to still be way too high, a top-five selection would have made Bowers one of the biggest busts of all time. His continuous injuries imperil his roster spot.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: Rob Housler, TE - Though more likely to be traded than cut, Housler's days in the desert have almost certainly reached their end. Housler was supposed to be a superstar coming out of Portland State in 2011, but, just like so many others on this list, never panned out. Competing with draftee Troy Niklas and veteran John Carlson, Housler's snaps will be seldom. The Cardinals would do well to deal him for anything at this point.
San Francisco 49ers: Stevie Johnson, WR - Johnson was supposed to be the No. 3 wideout when San Francisco traded for him early in the offseason. That was before Brandon Lloyd showed up and proved that he wasn't washed up; before the Niners fell in love with rookie Bruce Ellington; and before Johnson established a rapport with Kaepernick--which he still hasn't. Quinton Patton worked ahead of Johnson in the preseason dress rehearsal.
Seattle Seahawks: Terrelle Pryor, QB - If the Seahawks carry only two QB's, Tarvaris Jackson is likely to be the guy to back up Russell Wilson. Told by Pete Carroll that he has had his best camp as a Seahawk, Jackson has held off Pryor, who would probably fare better on the market anyway. I feel like Buffalo would snatch him up in a heartbeat if he gets cut; the Bills are scrambling to find a backup to E.J. Manuel, who is already one of the league's worst starting quarterbacks.
St. Louis Rams: Austin Pettis, WR - How many JAG's can one team have? The Rams have not had a true-blue star wide receiver since the days of the Greatest Show on Turf. St. Louis is hoping Kenny Britt can reach that level now that he is reunited with Jeff Fisher, while they hold out hope that former second-round pick Brian Quick lives up to his draft position. Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey are the next men up, leaving Austin Pettis and the once-promising Chris Givens to fight it out over the final receiver slot.
Whew, that was a lot more difficult than I exptected. Welcome, welcome regular season. Goodbye fake, preseason football!
AFC East
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| Photo from thirddownconversion.com |
Miami Dolphins: Daniel Thomas, RB - Daniel Thomas was a second-round pick in 2011. When healthy, he has been featured in Miami's lousy backfield, but has failed to provide the ground punch Miami seeks. The Dolphins sought help in free agency by signing Knowshon Moreno fresh off a breakout season with the Broncos. Moreno and Lamar Miller are expected to see the lion's share of halfback reps this season, leaving Thomas to struggle with UDFA Damien Williams for his job.
New England Patriots: Stevan Ridley, RB - No, seriously. Earlier this week, Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston projected that Brandon Bolden, practice squad veteran Jonas Gray, and UDFA James White would round out the Patriots backfield behind Shane Vereen, with fumble-prone Stevan ridley being cut. It would certainly be a surprising move, even for the unpredictable likes of Bill Belichick. I would expect Bolden or Gray to be the more likely odd man out, but there's really no knowing with the Patriots.
New York Jets: Stephen Hill, WR - Hill has been one of the most disappointing draft picks of the Rex Ryan era, taken in the early second round of the 2012 draft. The reports speculating that Hill is either on the trade block--or worse, the roster bubble--have been relentless. I could see a very desperate team (like the Panthers) making a low-risk trade for Hill, but if there are no takers, there is a good chance he gets a visit from the Turk.
AFC North
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| Photo by Matthew Emmons, US Presswire |
Cincinnati Bengals: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB - There are two huge factors working against "the Law Firm" and his bid to make final cuts with Cincinnati. One, he is overpaid for the contribution he offers. Green-Ellis is making better than two million dollars, heading into his age-29 season, which is the other factor: his age. The Bengals' drafting of Jeremy Hill is a not-so-subtle way of indicating that Green-Ellis is done with the Bengals. I doubt they will spend $2.3 million to keep Green-Ellis on the bench.
Cleveland Browns: Chris Ogbonnaya, RB/FB - My confidence in aging veterans Rex Grossman and Jim Leonhard is not all that high, but I think their rosters chances are better than Ogbonnaya's. Chris Ogbonnaya has had ample opportunity to break out, with the injury bug annually wreaking havoc on Cleveland's backs (Peyton Hillis, Montario Hardesty, Dion Lewis), but he has failed to do so. With Dion Lewis healthy and showing well in camp, Ogbonnaya's roster chances appear slim.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR - Darrius Heyward-Bey has taken on a lot of undue pressure since he was a top-ten draft-pick by the Al Davis Raiders. The selection of DHB was one of the last acts of Al Davis that led many speculators to seriously wonder if the old man was senile. He could've had Crabtree; he took Heyward-Bey. Now, Darrius is on his third team, fighting Lance Moore for a spot. He did have a pretty TD grab in the preseason to help his cause.
AFC South
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| Photo by Phil Sears, USA Today |
Indianapolis Colts: Zach Kerr, DT - When Arthur Jones went down in Indianapolis' dress rehearsal against New Orleans, the undrafted rookie Kerr was thrust into action with the first-teamers. Kerr played pretty much the remainder of the game and--I thought--showed well. The extent of Jones' injury is unknown, but Kerr's performance in the fourth and final preseason game will tell us whether or not he can be trusted as the first man up behind Jones.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Allen Hurns, WR - I don't even think one may consider Hurns a "fringe player" any longer. He has been an absolute stud in preseason (Blake Bortles has made him look good). How is this for a preseason statline: 13 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown, with a 17.7 YPC average? In the Florida Times-Union, Jags coach Gus Bradley called Hurns a "diamond in the rough." I would not be surprised to see Hurns outdo Mike Brown for a roster spot.
Tennessee Titans: Colin McCarthy, ILB - OK, so we aren't going to get any answers on Colin McCarthy tonight. The inside linebacker is already on injured reserve (again). The question is, is this the last straw. McCarthy has been injured for more games than he has been healthy, and the new regime in Tennessee has to have the walking-injury on a short leash already due to his history of fragility. McCarthy has all-star potential when healthy--but he never is. He might have played his last down as a Titan.
AFC West
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| Photo by Andy Lyons, Getty Images |
Kansas City Chiefs: A.J. Jenkins, WR - A high draft pick by the 49ers in 2012, it did not take the 49ers long to give up on Jenkins and exchange their underwhelming receiver for Kansas City's, Jon Baldwin. Baldwin has already gone on to be released by San Francisco, and I would not be surprised to see A.J. Jenkins meet the same fate in Kansas City. He is behind Dwayne Bowe, Donnie Avery, Junior Hemingway, and Frankie Hammond on the depth chart.
Oakland Raiders: Jack Crawford, DE - This is another case of simply not hearing from a player for so long that it becomes disconcerting. Crawford has been unable to climb the depth chart in his two seasons with Oakland, and remains buried beneath free-agency haul Lamarr Woodley, Justin Tuck, and C.J. Wilson. Greg Little might be another interesting candidate for release. Having already worn out his welcome in receiver-needy Cleveland, it's difficult to imagine Little having any more luck in Oakland.
San Diego Chargers: Marion Grice, RB - The Bolts beat me to the punch and released first-round bust Larry English before I could write this article. Marion Grice is a sixth-round pick out of Arizona State, but has been very unimpressive in OTA's, training camp, and exhibition work. His spot on the depth chart will likely go to the undrafted Branden Oliver out of Buffalo, who has vastly outperformed Grice in the preseason.
NFC East
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| Photo by Patrick Semansky, AP |
New York Giants: Corey Washington, WR - Like Allen Hurns in Jacksonville, Washington has come out of nowhere to challenge his elders for a role in the offense. Nine catches, 152 yards, and four touchdowns into this preseason, Washington is likely to get the nod over veterans Mario Manningham and Preston Parker. Much like Victor Cruz a few years ago, Washington may well be on his way from preseason standout to legitimate receiving threat with the G-Men.
Philadelphia Eagles: Casey Matthews, ILB - Forever doomed to be "Clay's brother," Casey was handed a starting job straight out of the University of Oregon in 2011. He did not man it well, and ever since then, he has been relegated to backup duties. I am honestly surprised he has made it this far without being cut. Some other intriguing possible cuts include 6'7" WR Ifeanyi Momah, and former first-round pick Brandon Graham, an under-utilized edge rusher with trade potential.
Washington Redskins: Kai Forbath, K - When a team uses a draft pick on a kicker, the incumbent has received his death sentence. Washington drafted the big-legged Zach Hocker in the sixth round of May's draft, and the ensuing kicking battle has gone down to the wire. I have a hard time believing, however, that Washington would trash a draft pick, effectively investing faith in a kicker of questionable reliability like Forbath. Along with RB Evan Royster, longtime wideout Santana Moss may also finally meet his doom in the coming days.
NFC North
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| Photo by Brian Peterson, StarTribune |
Detroit Lions: Michael Egnew, TE - Freshly cut from the Dolphins, the former third-round pick is getting a second chance with the Lions, who claimed the bust off of waivers earlier this week. I don't know why; the Lions are very deep at tight end with Brandon Pettigrew, Eric Ebron, and Joseph Fauria. I suppose the Lions are hoping to see a flash of the brilliance that made Egnew a third-round pick out of Missouri. The chances are not good.
Green Bay Packers: Derek Sherrod, T - Another mega-bust, Sherrod inherited the right tackle spot in Green Bay after the retirement of Chad Clifton in 2011. Before he could get his career off the ground, however, Sherrod succumbed to a plague of injuries from which he is only now emerging. Had swing tackle Don Barclay not gone down to an ACL tear earlier in the offseason, Sherrod would possibly already be gone.
Minnesota Vikings: Christian Ponder, QB - Once the future of the franchise, Ponder has been a dreadful failure in Minnesota. His three-year "trial run" has expired and I think it is obvious that the Vikings need to go in another direction at quarterback, whether it be Matt Cassel or Teddy Bridgewater. Of course, with starting experience, Ponder may yet make the team, but as no better than a third-string quarterback in the case of an emergency.
NFC South
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| Photo from cbssports.com |
Carolina Panthers: Joe Webb, QB/WR - Carrying three quarterbacks is not in fashion these days. A week ago, I might have told you that Carolina would only carry two (Cam Newton and Derek Anderson), but Newton is earning the inauspicious title of "injury-prone," thanks to the row of turnstiles posing as his "offensive line," and his somewhat reckless mobility. Additionally, Newton has looked awful in preseason. It might behoove the Panthers to keep the versatile Webb--who has starting experience--on their roster.
New Orleans Saints: Shayne Graham, K - This is a case of someone just getting beat, plain-and-simply. Graham has made a career out of taking over as placekicker for desperate teams when injury or inefficiency struck their first options. By the looks of it, he will have to continue making his living this way, as the Saints seem poised to go with the younger, stronger Derek Dimke at kicker in 2014. Graham might get a look in Denver or Tennessee.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Da'Quan Bowers, DE - It doesn't seem like that long ago Da'Quan Bowers was considered a top-five draft pick. That was actually 2011. About a week before that year's draft, word got out that Bowers had some serious knee issues, and the Clemson All-Pro would not be drafted until the second round. Though round two turned out to still be way too high, a top-five selection would have made Bowers one of the biggest busts of all time. His continuous injuries imperil his roster spot.
NFC West
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| Photo by Stephen Brashear, AP |
San Francisco 49ers: Stevie Johnson, WR - Johnson was supposed to be the No. 3 wideout when San Francisco traded for him early in the offseason. That was before Brandon Lloyd showed up and proved that he wasn't washed up; before the Niners fell in love with rookie Bruce Ellington; and before Johnson established a rapport with Kaepernick--which he still hasn't. Quinton Patton worked ahead of Johnson in the preseason dress rehearsal.
Seattle Seahawks: Terrelle Pryor, QB - If the Seahawks carry only two QB's, Tarvaris Jackson is likely to be the guy to back up Russell Wilson. Told by Pete Carroll that he has had his best camp as a Seahawk, Jackson has held off Pryor, who would probably fare better on the market anyway. I feel like Buffalo would snatch him up in a heartbeat if he gets cut; the Bills are scrambling to find a backup to E.J. Manuel, who is already one of the league's worst starting quarterbacks.
St. Louis Rams: Austin Pettis, WR - How many JAG's can one team have? The Rams have not had a true-blue star wide receiver since the days of the Greatest Show on Turf. St. Louis is hoping Kenny Britt can reach that level now that he is reunited with Jeff Fisher, while they hold out hope that former second-round pick Brian Quick lives up to his draft position. Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey are the next men up, leaving Austin Pettis and the once-promising Chris Givens to fight it out over the final receiver slot.
Whew, that was a lot more difficult than I exptected. Welcome, welcome regular season. Goodbye fake, preseason football!
Saturday, August 23, 2014
What I'm Watching For: Preseason, Week 3: Saturday/Sunday
Saturday:
Tampa Bay @ Buffalo
Tennessee @ Atlanta
Dallas @ Miami
Washington @ Baltimore
St. Louis @ Cleveland
New Orleans @ Indianapolis
Minnesota @ Kansas City
Houston @ Denver
Sunday:
San Diego @ San Francisco
Cincinnati @ Arizona
1. Timeshare alert: Buffalo
Last week, it was the Steelers; this week it is the Bills.
Of course, right after I drafted C.J. Spiller with the final pick in the third round of my first fantasy draft, it comes to my attention that--he's not getting very much playing time, nor is he getting a viable amount of first-teams reps. In Buffalo's most recent preseason game, Fred Jackson out-touched C.J. Spiller 13-6, and played on 26 first-team snaps to Spiller's 12. You might say, "Well, it's preseason; the Bills know what they've got in Spiller, and they want to preserve him for your regular season." Sure, that's possible, but consider that Spiller didn't even get the start against Pittsburgh. That's a little more alarming. If the Bills are preserving Spiller, why play him at all if he is not going to start?
I will be watching Buffalo's dress-rehearsal matchup against Tampa Bay very closely. If Spiller gets drastically phased in favor of Jackson again, I will have to knock him down my draft board from the RB2 to the RB3 range, and I advise you to do the same.
It's a baffling situation considering Spiller is younger and more athletic than Jackson, but along with Doug Marrone's recent assertion that young backup Bryce Brown has the potential to start in the NFL, Spiller's apparent demotion could be further evidence that Buffalo intends to trade him. This is the same mistake Buffalo made by giving up on Marshawn Lynch in 2010, and it looks like history may repeat itself.
2. The Titans' tackle rotation
One of the most puzzling moments of free agency occurred when the Tennessee Titans took in Michael Oher from the Ravens, where the tackle of "Blind Side" fame had been on a downward spiral performance-wise since his rookie season. Not only did Tennessee sign Oher, they gifted him $9.5 million in guaranteed dough to man the right side of the offensive line, with stalwart Michael Roos on the left.
In the draft came the most inexplicable part. With the 12th pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, the Titans selected stud Michigan tackle Taylor Lewan. Why? In Tennessee's defense, Lewan was probably the best player available at that point in the draft, and, arguably, Tennessee did not have any major holes in their lineup (quarterback being a possible exception). So what this boils down to is either Oher or Lewan not playing--or, as briefly speculated after the draft, Michael Roos being traded. The Roos trade, at this point, seems unlikely, but the question at right tackle remains. Do you want a $9.5 million benchwarmer in Oher, or a first-round $11.5 million benchwarmer? I suppose Oher has the experience, but frankly, he has not played well in recent years; Lewan might simply be a safer option. Either way, the situation is befuddling. Lewan may get some looks at guard, and is definitely excellent insurance if anyone on the O-line gets hurt, but for now, the talented first-rounder is running with the twos.
3. Dallas' deteriorating defense
It all started when Jerry Jones inexplicably fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan after the 2012 season. Ryan had inherited the 31st-ranked defense in the league, and led them back up to a rank of 17th. He got the only real production to date out of first-round cornerback Morris Claiborne, and made Sean Lee a star inside linebacker.
Let me just get this out of the way: Jerry Jones is an idiot. Once upon a time, he went on a serious winning streak when he drafted Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Larry Allen; but ever since the Cowboys last won the Super Bowl in the 1995 season, Jones has done nothing but stand in the way of his team winning another title. The firing of Ryan is one of many terrible decisions executed during his reign of terror in the Big D.
Rob Ryan, as we know has since gone on to success as the defensive coordinator in New Orleans, bringing to the Big Easy a defensive presence it has not wielded since Sam Mills wore the fleur on his helmet. Meanwhile, under Monte Kiffin, Dallas' defense has reverted to its previous horrific form. Team leader and potential future hall-of-famer DeMarcus Ware was cut after an injury-riddled season. Morris Claiborne was barbecued in coverage as a sophomore, and a series of concussions prevented Sean Lee from making any kind of difference as the Cowboys embarrassed themselves all the way to last in the NFL in defense a season ago. And, in case you're wondering, no, Kiffin did not get fired. He was "demoted," and replaced by defensive line coach Rod Marinelli (of 0-16 Detroit Lions fame), but not fired--like Ryan was.
The offseason for Dallas has been a terrifying parade of injuries to the defense, beginning with Sean Lee, who tore his ACL during a non-contact drill early in OTA's when rookie guard Zack Martin plowed into him. Then second-round rookie edge rusher DeMarcus Lawrence broke his foot going one-on-one with Tyron Smith in practice. Outside 'backer Anthony Spencer is currently on the PUP list. Defensive tackle Henry Melton, who tore his ACL in 2013, avoided PUP, but is now missing time with a groin injury. Orlando Scandrick, the only solid performer in the the defensive backfield, will miss the first four weeks of the 2014 season because of a PED suspension (stemming from the usage of "molly," which is not a PED in any sense, but still an illicit drug). To top it all off, Lee's potential replacement, DeVonte Holloman, injured his neck in preseason, ending his career--also a result of friendly fire.
It's a shame, and a damn bad run of misfortune and mismanagement, but at this point, Dallas' defense is an wide open gate for offenses to pass (and run) through at will.
4. Pass Distribution in Indy
As T.Y. Hilton recently encapsulated with his "three No. 1 wideouts" comment, Indy's receiving corps is absolutely loaded. Reggie Wayne, Hilton, Hakeem Nicks, a healthy Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener--can these guys be stopped with Andrew Luck throwing them the ball? As the starters are likely to play well into the third quarter in the third preseason game, tonight should give us some sort of indication as to who will emerge from Indy's passing game as Luck's favorite target. My initial guess is Wayne--he is the most proven of the bunch with plenty of physical ability left in his tank. He is, however, recovering from a torn ACL, which could easily devalue the legendary receiver in both fantasy football and real life. If this is the case, Hilton is the clear-cut No. 1. In Wayne's absence, Hilton enjoyed a breakout year in which he posted 1,083 receiving yards, five touchdowns, and a fabulous playoff performance against the Chiefs. Add to the mix disgraced New York exile Hakeem Nicks, who is sure to rebound with a better ball club (than the Giants), and Hilton's claims aren't at all misguided or even exaggerated.
I also like Dwayne Allen to make a triumphant return to the Indy offense. He was one of Luck's favorite targets in 2012, but missed last season with a torn ACL. He is a superior receiving option to Coby Fleener (who isn't bad himself), and is sure to get his due share of targets.
5. The continuing story of Kansas City's bumbling offensive line
Did you see Eric Fisher in that game against Carolina a week ago?!
Neither did I. I think he forgot to get off the team bus. He might as well have, because Carolina's Greg Hardy strolled right past him time after time as if the former first-overall pick was not even there. Fisher is the most high-profile disappointment on Kansas City's offensive line due to his draft pedigree, but he is certainly not alone. Just yesterday, left tackle Donald Stephenson was busted for PED's and received a four-game ban--not like he was doing all that great on the blind side anyway. A Similar fate awaits guard Rokevious Watkins--when he returns from the PUP list. Center Rodney Hudson has looked good to me (in my admittedly limited viewing of Kansas City's offensive line), but has aroused concern during the offseason, leading to split reps with Jeff Allen.
Kansas City's offensive line might just be bad enough to warrant moving LeSean McCoy ahead of Jamaal Charles on your draft board. Charles will probably still have a good fantasy season, but more importantly, the Chiefs' shaky O-line could cost them dearly in the real world.
Tampa Bay @ Buffalo
Tennessee @ Atlanta
Dallas @ Miami
Washington @ Baltimore
St. Louis @ Cleveland
New Orleans @ Indianapolis
Minnesota @ Kansas City
Houston @ Denver
Sunday:
San Diego @ San Francisco
Cincinnati @ Arizona
1. Timeshare alert: Buffalo
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| Fred Jackson is a serious threat to C.J. Spiller's fantasy draft stock. (photo from the Score) |
Of course, right after I drafted C.J. Spiller with the final pick in the third round of my first fantasy draft, it comes to my attention that--he's not getting very much playing time, nor is he getting a viable amount of first-teams reps. In Buffalo's most recent preseason game, Fred Jackson out-touched C.J. Spiller 13-6, and played on 26 first-team snaps to Spiller's 12. You might say, "Well, it's preseason; the Bills know what they've got in Spiller, and they want to preserve him for your regular season." Sure, that's possible, but consider that Spiller didn't even get the start against Pittsburgh. That's a little more alarming. If the Bills are preserving Spiller, why play him at all if he is not going to start?
I will be watching Buffalo's dress-rehearsal matchup against Tampa Bay very closely. If Spiller gets drastically phased in favor of Jackson again, I will have to knock him down my draft board from the RB2 to the RB3 range, and I advise you to do the same.
It's a baffling situation considering Spiller is younger and more athletic than Jackson, but along with Doug Marrone's recent assertion that young backup Bryce Brown has the potential to start in the NFL, Spiller's apparent demotion could be further evidence that Buffalo intends to trade him. This is the same mistake Buffalo made by giving up on Marshawn Lynch in 2010, and it looks like history may repeat itself.
2. The Titans' tackle rotation
One of the most puzzling moments of free agency occurred when the Tennessee Titans took in Michael Oher from the Ravens, where the tackle of "Blind Side" fame had been on a downward spiral performance-wise since his rookie season. Not only did Tennessee sign Oher, they gifted him $9.5 million in guaranteed dough to man the right side of the offensive line, with stalwart Michael Roos on the left.
In the draft came the most inexplicable part. With the 12th pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, the Titans selected stud Michigan tackle Taylor Lewan. Why? In Tennessee's defense, Lewan was probably the best player available at that point in the draft, and, arguably, Tennessee did not have any major holes in their lineup (quarterback being a possible exception). So what this boils down to is either Oher or Lewan not playing--or, as briefly speculated after the draft, Michael Roos being traded. The Roos trade, at this point, seems unlikely, but the question at right tackle remains. Do you want a $9.5 million benchwarmer in Oher, or a first-round $11.5 million benchwarmer? I suppose Oher has the experience, but frankly, he has not played well in recent years; Lewan might simply be a safer option. Either way, the situation is befuddling. Lewan may get some looks at guard, and is definitely excellent insurance if anyone on the O-line gets hurt, but for now, the talented first-rounder is running with the twos.
3. Dallas' deteriorating defense
It all started when Jerry Jones inexplicably fired defensive coordinator Rob Ryan after the 2012 season. Ryan had inherited the 31st-ranked defense in the league, and led them back up to a rank of 17th. He got the only real production to date out of first-round cornerback Morris Claiborne, and made Sean Lee a star inside linebacker.
Let me just get this out of the way: Jerry Jones is an idiot. Once upon a time, he went on a serious winning streak when he drafted Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Larry Allen; but ever since the Cowboys last won the Super Bowl in the 1995 season, Jones has done nothing but stand in the way of his team winning another title. The firing of Ryan is one of many terrible decisions executed during his reign of terror in the Big D.
Rob Ryan, as we know has since gone on to success as the defensive coordinator in New Orleans, bringing to the Big Easy a defensive presence it has not wielded since Sam Mills wore the fleur on his helmet. Meanwhile, under Monte Kiffin, Dallas' defense has reverted to its previous horrific form. Team leader and potential future hall-of-famer DeMarcus Ware was cut after an injury-riddled season. Morris Claiborne was barbecued in coverage as a sophomore, and a series of concussions prevented Sean Lee from making any kind of difference as the Cowboys embarrassed themselves all the way to last in the NFL in defense a season ago. And, in case you're wondering, no, Kiffin did not get fired. He was "demoted," and replaced by defensive line coach Rod Marinelli (of 0-16 Detroit Lions fame), but not fired--like Ryan was.
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| I could put a picture of the real Rob Ryan here--or I could use this photo of a hilariously accurate lookalike at a Saints game. |
It's a shame, and a damn bad run of misfortune and mismanagement, but at this point, Dallas' defense is an wide open gate for offenses to pass (and run) through at will.
4. Pass Distribution in Indy
As T.Y. Hilton recently encapsulated with his "three No. 1 wideouts" comment, Indy's receiving corps is absolutely loaded. Reggie Wayne, Hilton, Hakeem Nicks, a healthy Dwayne Allen, Coby Fleener--can these guys be stopped with Andrew Luck throwing them the ball? As the starters are likely to play well into the third quarter in the third preseason game, tonight should give us some sort of indication as to who will emerge from Indy's passing game as Luck's favorite target. My initial guess is Wayne--he is the most proven of the bunch with plenty of physical ability left in his tank. He is, however, recovering from a torn ACL, which could easily devalue the legendary receiver in both fantasy football and real life. If this is the case, Hilton is the clear-cut No. 1. In Wayne's absence, Hilton enjoyed a breakout year in which he posted 1,083 receiving yards, five touchdowns, and a fabulous playoff performance against the Chiefs. Add to the mix disgraced New York exile Hakeem Nicks, who is sure to rebound with a better ball club (than the Giants), and Hilton's claims aren't at all misguided or even exaggerated.
I also like Dwayne Allen to make a triumphant return to the Indy offense. He was one of Luck's favorite targets in 2012, but missed last season with a torn ACL. He is a superior receiving option to Coby Fleener (who isn't bad himself), and is sure to get his due share of targets.
5. The continuing story of Kansas City's bumbling offensive line
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| If you're expecting a big season from Jamaal Charles, beware: KC's O-line is looking shabby. (photo: Don McPeak, USA Today) |
Neither did I. I think he forgot to get off the team bus. He might as well have, because Carolina's Greg Hardy strolled right past him time after time as if the former first-overall pick was not even there. Fisher is the most high-profile disappointment on Kansas City's offensive line due to his draft pedigree, but he is certainly not alone. Just yesterday, left tackle Donald Stephenson was busted for PED's and received a four-game ban--not like he was doing all that great on the blind side anyway. A Similar fate awaits guard Rokevious Watkins--when he returns from the PUP list. Center Rodney Hudson has looked good to me (in my admittedly limited viewing of Kansas City's offensive line), but has aroused concern during the offseason, leading to split reps with Jeff Allen.
Kansas City's offensive line might just be bad enough to warrant moving LeSean McCoy ahead of Jamaal Charles on your draft board. Charles will probably still have a good fantasy season, but more importantly, the Chiefs' shaky O-line could cost them dearly in the real world.
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