2011 Training Camp / Preseason Observations, News & Tidbits Thread (1 Viewer)

[Toads]

You're doing the Lord's work in here Faust. Thanks a bunch.

That's a Big Amen there!

 

[Faust]

Sorry guys - slacking off for the weekend, but back at the helm again tonight!

Postcard from camp: Seahawks

Excerpts:

THREE OBSERVATIONS

1. Seahawks players are noticeably bigger than during Year 1 of the Carroll Era. General manager John Schneider and Carroll said late last season they wanted the team to get bigger and stronger, and you can see it in the personnel moves that have been made. For instance, three of the top five wideouts last year were 5-foot-10 or shorter and only one was taller than 6-1. This season four of the top five projected receivers are 6-1 or taller. The shortest is Golden Tate at 5-10.

Also, only one starting offensive linemen is listed under 6-5: right guard John Moffitt, who is listed at 6-4. Starting tackles Russell Okung and James Carpenter are 6-5, left guard Robert Gallery is 6-7 and center Max Unger is 6-5. The only thing this group is missing is experience. Carpenter and Moffitt are rookies, Okung is in his second season and Unger should be considered a redshirt sophomore after missing all but the first half of last year's season opener because of a toe injury.

2. The defense appears to be ahead of the offense. Seattle is expected to have a minimum of seven new starters on offense, including four on the line and one each at wide receiver, quarterback and tight end. On Wednesday the defensive line reportedly "set the tempo" in practice, and Thursday the secondary made its presence felt with at least three interceptions. Tarvaris Jackson did capitalize for one long touchdown, but overall the afternoon belonged to the D, most notably rookie linebacker Malcolm Smith demolishing fullback Dorson Boyce before stopping running back Justin Forsett behind the line of scrimmage.

Speaking of defense, tackle Brandon Mebane was unblockable during one-on-one drills. At 6-1, 311 he has the quickness and burst to beat blockers with spin moves and/or his ability to get low and turn the corner. But the fifth-year pro also has the strength to bull-rush blockers. On Thursday he displayed both skills, first as a tackle, then as an end. In a word, Mebane was beastly.

3. The Raiders connection could be key. Everyone has talked about the Minnesota migration to the Pacific Northwest, with former Vikings Darrell Bevell (offensive coordinator), Sidney Rice (wideout) and Jackson (QB) all joining the Seahawks this year. But three former Raiders could play an equally important role this season: Tom Cable (offensive line coach), Robert Gallery (left guard), Zach Miller (tight end) and Paul McQuistan (backup offensive tackle).

Last year in only his second full season as head coach, Cable guided the Raiders to their first non-losing season since 2002. His reward was a pink slip. The move raised a lot of eyebrows around the league, but Seattle eagerly jumped in to hire Cable, who is a respected line coach. Gallery thinks so highly of Cable after playing under him when Cable was a position coach and head coach in Oakland that he put the Seahawks at the top of his wish list. Gallery is not a dominant interior lineman, but he was the Raiders' most dependable and consistent blocker when healthy. His presence could be key on a line that features two rookies, a second-year pro and a second-year starter. And Miller gives the Seahawks a receiving option who can work the seams of the defense.

STEP ON UP

Tarvaris Jackson, quarterback

He was thought to be the quarterback of the future in Minnesota, after the Vikings selected him in the second round of the 2006 draft. But Jackson was forced onto the field late in his rookie season and early in his second year. His inconsistencies through his first three seasons led the team to go after Brett Favre; however, the Seahawks believe that Jackson's physical abilities, time on the sideline learning under Favre and familiarity with Bevell's offense will produce a breakthrough season this year.

Jackson is 10-10 with 18 touchdowns and 18 interceptions in his career as a starter. He spent the offseason working out with Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald and former NFL offensive coordinator Jerry Sullivan, and should benefit from having worked with both Bevell and Rice in Minnesota. If the Seahawks can mount an effective run game and keep Jackson from trying to win games by himself, a breakthrough season is definitely possible.

NEW FACE, NEW PLACE

Sidney Rice, wide receiver

The Seahawks created a splash when they were able to land the No. 1 wideout on the free-agent market. The Vikings badly wanted to re-sign Rice, who had a breakout season two years ago with 83 catches for 1,312 yards and eight touchdowns but was limited by a hip injury to two scores and 280 yards on 17 receptions last season.

The transition should be fairly smooth considering Rice is familiar with Bevell, Jackson and the offense from his years in Minnesota. Thus far the fifth-year pro has been impressive in camp. He stretches the field and has the size (6-4, 202) to go up and win jumpballs. His presence also should create more opportunities for Mike Williams, who is more of a complementary receiver despite leading the team with 65 catches for 751 yards and two scores.

LOOKING AT THE SCHEDULE

The Seahawks won't have time to get their legs. Two of their first three games are within the division; they open at San Francisco, then host the Cardinals a week after playing at Pittsburgh. As if that weren't daunting enough, their next three games are versus Atlanta and at both the Giants and Browns.

The good news is that the schedule is favorable late in the year, when four of their final six are at home, including divisional matchups with St. Louis and San Francisco. That could work in the Seahawks' favor because they've won five of their last six home games against NFC West foes.

 

[Faust]

Postcard from camp: Dolphins

Excerpts:

Three Observations

1. It's too early to close the book on Chad Henne. Dolphins fans welcomed the 26-year-old incumbent quarterback to training camp with boos and chants expressing their desire for the team to trade for the Broncos' Kyle Orton -- interesting in that Henne's first three seasons don't look so very different from Orton's. Orton, as a Bear, threw 30 touchdowns to Henne's 27, had 27 interceptions to Henne's 33, and completed 55 percent of his passes to Henne's 61 percent. More than that, says Sparano, "I see progress in this guy. I see it right now, in training camp. I'm seeing another jump." Henne has been throwing the ball downfield, particularly to Brandon Marshall, with more confidence and accuracy than in any previous camp. Even as some clamor for his backup, Matt Moore -- he of the 55.6 quarterback rating last year with the Panthers -- to start Week 1, Henne deserves one more opportunity before being deemed a failure.

2. The defense could be one of the NFL's best. It should, at the least, be stable: It returns 10 of 11 starters from a unit that ranked sixth overall last season (the only new face is inside linebacker Kevin Burnett, formerly of the Chargers). Included among the returnees is former CFLer Cameron Wake, who last year, in his second NFL season at the age of 28, came out of nowhere to rank third in the NFL with 14 sacks. Wake, who knows now not to take his success for granted, spent the offseason watching a tape not of his sacks, but of plays on which he faltered. "I looked at stuff I should have done better: I should have gotten here quicker, my steps were wrong," he says. "There were sacks I left on the field."



3. Mike Pouncey might be the league's most polished rookie. Pouncey, the Dolphins' first round pick, played only one year of center at Florida, but that was because his twin brother, Maurkice, held down that job until he was drafted by the Steelers before last season. Maurkice started 16 games and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie, and now Mike seems set to do the same. "I think an awful lot of his brother," says Sparano of Maurkice. "We've played against him. When you play against somebody and he makes that kind of impression on you -- I was pleased there was another one. I think he's the real deal out there." Mike, now in his second season as a center, says, "Now I feel comfortable at it, and I wouldn't want to play another position. I like being the guy making all the calls."

Step On Up

Paul Soliai, nose tackle. The 355-pound Soliai, 27, suddenly became the very surprising answer to the trivia question "Who is the highest-paid defensive player in Dolphins history?" when they applied their franchise tag to him. He has made 19 starts in his four-year career, yet will earn $12.476 million this season. "Obviously the way we've made the commitment to Paul tells you what it is we think about him," says Sparano. "In our [3-4] defense, it's hard to find those type of players. It's hard to find Vince Wilfork. When you find those guys, you've got to keep them." Soliai, who will make more than 22 times what he did last year -- yet whose first two seasons in the league were marked by listlessness and weight problems -- should have great cause to continue his rapid ascent as the anchor of what ought to be a very good defense.



New Face, New Place

Reggie Bush, running back. After five increasingly disappointing years in New Orleans -- five years in which his number of receptions dropped in each one, and in which his rushing yards fell in each of the last three -- the former No. 2 overall pick gets a fresh start in Miami, after a July trade. The plan is also for him to have a new role: no longer as a jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none type, but as an every-down running back. "It's an opportunity for me to kind of prove a lot of the doubters wrong," says Bush, who is not listed on the Dolphins' punt return depth chart. It's an opportunity that won't necessarily last long, as Bush has averaged just 4.0 yards per carry and 12 games per season in his career, and has rookie Daniel Thomas, Miami's second-round draft pick, waiting in the wings.

Looking At The Schedule ...

A 5-11 record is a definite possibility. But there are certainly other possibilities. Miami's schedule presents seven games that will be very difficult to win (at home against the Patriots and Eagles and on the road against the Jets, Giants, Chiefs, Cowboys and Pats), and four games that should be very difficult to lose (at home against the Broncos, Redskins, Bills and Raiders). That leaves five "swing" games -- at home against the Texans and Jets, and away against the Browns, Chargers and Bills. In other words, this most-difficult-to-project team could just as easily go 9-7, and challenge for a wild-card berth, as 4-12. The truth, like most truths, likely lies somewhere in the middle.

 

[Faust]

Camp Confidential: Dallas Cowboys

Excerpts:

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can the defense learn Rob Ryan's scheme in time? The Cowboys brought in Ryan to be their new defensive coordinator. And while they signed free-agent safety Abram Elam and free-agent defensive end Kenyon Coleman -- both played under Ryan in Cleveland the past two seasons -- the group they're bringing back on defense is otherwise the same as the one that allowed the second-most points in the league last season. Ryan is charged with fixing that, but of course the lockout denied him the opportunity to use spring minicamps and organized team activities as part of his installation process. The defense is trying to cram a whole offseason's worth of learning into one month, and there's a lot to learn. Ryan's defense is based on multiple and ever-changing looks, and a complexity designed to make things as confusing as possible for opposing offenses. But Garrett said he has faith in the quality of his defensive personnel and the ability of his flamboyant new coordinator to teach.

"It's difficult. There are a lot of looks," Garrett admitted. "But the other part to that, too, is that I think he grew up in a very fundamentally sound system in the NFL -- linebacker coach for New England for four years during their Super Bowl era in the early 2000s. So he has a very good feel for base defensive football, and then he has an ability to evolve in different situations and make it more difficult for opposing offenses. So we feel excited about that, and we're excited to see our players play within this system."

2. Can they put together an offensive line? There are some new and inexperienced pieces here. Rookie Tyron Smith, the ninth overall pick in this past draft, will start at right tackle. Every day Smith gets an extra tutoring session with offensive line coach Hudson Houck and a series of rotating instructors that has included Kosier, linebacker DeMarcus Ware, left tackle Doug Free and others. Smith is ultra-talented but needs work on his footwork and learning the schemes. And as with the players learning the new defense, he has to cram. The Cowboys moved Kosier from left guard to right so he could work more closely with the rookie, but now they need a left guard. And while that still has a good chance to be Montrae Holland or Phil Costa, later-round rookies David Arkin and Bill Nagy have been getting first-team reps lately and one of them could end up starting Week 1.

3. Who is the No. 3 wide receiver? One of the first things the Cowboys did when the lockout ended and free agency began was cut receiver Roy Williams to help create cap room. That also created a vacancy at the No. 3 wide receiver spot behind Miles Austin and Dez Bryant. Kevin Ogletree appears first in line to grab the opportunity, though Raymond Radway and Dwayne Harris have shown flashes. Some have suggested the Cowboys need to go out and get a veteran to fill the spot, but with tight end Jason Witten a near-lock for 90-plus catches, running backs Felix Jones and DeMarco Murray potential factors in the passing game and depth at both of those positions, the Cowboys feel as though the No. 3 wide receiver might be the No. 5 target for Tony Romo for most of the season.



THE BUTLER CAN DO IT

Third-year linebacker Victor Butler has been an eye-opener in camp, and some have suggested he might be a threat to Anthony Spencer's starting spot on the side opposite Ware. More likely, he's a guy to add to the pass-rush mix and give them depth and the ability to vary those looks even more. If anything, the camp Butler is having could serve to motivate Spencer to return to his 2009 form after a disappointing 2010.

"You can never have too many pass-rushers on one team," Ware said. "When the Giants won against the Patriots, they had several really great pass-rushers. Pressure is what gets things going. So to be able to develop another third-down guy will really help us out a lot."

TURNING UP A CORNER

The Cowboys did not sign free-agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, though they tried, and they'll go with Mike Jenkins and Terence Newman as starting cornerbacks again. The problem is, injuries have kept both Jenkins and Newman sidelined so far in camp, and Newman is out until at least the regular-season opener. This is a spot where the Cowboys struggled mightily in 2010, and they're not going to have their defense the way they want it until they get Jenkins and Newman back on the field. The one positive to come out of this is that backup corner Orlando Scandrick has looked very good in a starter's role so far in camp, so maybe they have some quality depth there that they didn't know they had.

OBSERVATION DECK

[*]The Cowboys might have more at defensive end than we thought immediately post-free agency. Coleman looks as if he's poised to steal Igor Olshansky's starting spot from him, and Jason Hatcher has looked rejuvenated and been an asset in the pass rush. Letting Stephen Bowen go to the Redskins felt like a loss at first, but re-signing Marcus Spears and Hatcher and bringing in Coleman might have made them deeper than they'd have been if they'd stayed pat.

[*]The kicking competition looks miserable, with neither David Buehler nor Dan Bailey having seized the opportunity and Kai Forbath unable to get on the field because of injury. Don't rule out the possibility that the kicker the Cowboys go with this season isn't on the roster yet.

[*]Jones and Romo aren't new or exciting names around here, but they look as good as anyone in camp on offense. When I watched them practice against the Chargers on Thursday, the Cowboys were using Jones around end a lot, and he looks like he has great burst. The offensive linemen I spoke with all hope he gets a chance at full-time carries, because they believe he and Bryant can be "spark plug" guys.

[*]Elam was a critical signing, as he'll be responsible for the secondary calls and has been vitally important in helping the holdover players understand the language Ryan is speaking. I'm interested to see if the secondary looks more organized Sunday night having had an additional week-plus practicing with Elam.

[*]The Cowboys are serious about Nagy, who was a seventh-round pick after not playing much in his senior season at Wisconsin. He was seriously hurt in a moped accident as a junior and then was passed on the depth chart by a few other guys, so much of the action he got as a senior was actually at tight end. But the Cowboys love his athleticism and maturity. They could start him at guard early in the season, and there are some who think he could eventually start at center for them down the road.

 

[Faust]

Camp Confidential: New York Jets

Excerpts:

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can Mark Sanchez become a four-quarter quarterback? He already has won four playoff games in two seasons -- impressive stuff -- so you know he can win big games. His problem is consistency, playing well from week-to-week and quarter-to-quarter in the regular season.

Yes, quarter-to-quarter. The Jets didn’t score an offensive touchdown in the first quarter over their final 15 games (counting playoffs), and a lot of that falls on Sanchez. Part of it could be attributed to inexperience, needing time to adjust to defensive wrinkles, but a lot of it stemmed from his inaccuracy. He completed only 55 percent of his pass attempts, about six or seven points below where the Jets want him to be.

If Sanchez can eliminate the inconsistencies and settle down -- he led the league in dropped interceptions -- the Jets will have a real chance to do something special. We already know he can make plays in the fourth quarter, but now he has to play the first like the fourth. Problem is, he lost 75 percent of his receiving corps before camp opened, putting the onus on him to familiarize himself with a new group. That takes time.

2. Can the Three Amigos (Egos?) co-exist? On paper, the Jets have one of the best receiving corps in the league: Santonio Holmes, Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason. They’ve combined for more than 1,700 receptions and 24,000 yards, not to mention two Super Bowl-winning catches (Holmes and Burress). But now there will be a transition period, especially for Burress and Mason.

Not only are they learning a new system, they’re adjusting to life as secondary options. That’s not always easy for a receiver accustomed to being No. 1. Naturally, they’re all saying the right things, insisting they’re in it for the team, not themselves. We’ll see. Holmes is the No. 1 guy in these parts, and his new teammates will have to deal with that. If not, it will put a lot of pressure on Sanchez, who realizes he has a lot of mouths to feed.

The fact that Burress missed two weeks with a sprained ankle really slowed the process.

3. Do the Jets have a pass rush? This question really bugs Ryan because, as he likes to point out, the Jets finished eighth in sacks (40). Not bad, right? But sacks don’t mean everything, as coaches like to point out when it benefits their agenda. For instance: The Jets led the league in most big plays allowed on third down, and the primary reason was the lack of a consistent pass rush.

The Jets didn’t acquire anyone to help the pass rush, unless you count first-round defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, but he’s really not an edge rusher. He’ll be more of a first- and second-down run defender than a pass-rusher in the sub packages. If anything, the Jets lost some pass rush because they released Jason Taylor and didn’t replace his five sacks.

What to do? Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine are masters of the blitz, designing clever pressure packages that confuse quarterbacks. They manufacture pressure, and sometimes simulate pressure, to rattle quarterbacks. For the most part, it works, but it’s a dangerous way to live, as the Jets discovered last season. They have fantastic cover corners in Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, which makes it possible to employ that kind of scheme, but sooner or later the lack of a big-time rusher will catch up to them.

The Jets took a flyer on former Bills No. 1 pick Aaron Maybin, signing him to a minimum contract, but let’s be honest: He’s not the answer. It’ll be an upset if he makes the team.



BIGGEST SURPRISE

The Jets parted ways with two of their longest-tenured players, defensive end Shaun Ellis (Patriots) and wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery (Steelers). They were two of the most respected players in the locker room, players you always figured would retire as Jets.

Cotchery, unhappy in his role as the No. 3 receiver, requested his release. The Jets didn’t handle it well, cutting Cotchery before securing Mason, but it worked out in the end. They offered Ellis a one-year deal for the minimum salary, which he found insulting. He wound up signing with the rival Patriots, a PR hit for the Jets.

It makes them look cold, but the Jets evidently felt it was time to move on. The Cotchery decision could come back to bite them because he’s 29 and still can be an effective player.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

After a 20-month prison sentence that cost him two seasons, Burress needs practice more than anyone. But he missed the first two weeks of camp and the first preseason game with a sprained ankle, a significant setback as he attempts to regain his form and learn the Jets’ offense.

The Jets hope that the 6-foot-5 Burress can cure their red zone issues, but he and Sanchez are having trouble connecting in practice. This is going to take time. Don’t be surprised if Burress is a part-time player in the first month of the season.



OBSERVATION DECK

[*]Revis is having the best camp of his career. Yes, it’s true: This is only his third holdout-free training camp. But know this: He’s locking down receivers with the same determination he did in 2009, when he shut down No. 1 receivers on a weekly basis. This bodes well for the 10 players around him.

[*]Burress is making most of the headlines -- Plax this, Plax that -- but the real prize of the offseason shopping spree is Mason. Ryan gets excited about reclamation projects, but let’s be honest: Burress hasn’t played in two seasons because he was in prison, and now he expects to come back to the pre-prison Plaxico. Whoa, let’s hold everything. Burress might turn out to be a good pickup, but it’s going to take time. Give him a few games into the season. In the meantime, they’ll ride Holmes and Mason.

[*]You may not know this name -- Rob Turner -- but the Jets will miss him. He backs up at center and guard, plays tight end in the “jumbo” package, lines up on defense in goal line and blocks from the wedge on kickoff returns. In short, he does everything but mop the floors. Unfortunately for the Jets, Turner broke his leg in the preseason opener and will be lost for at least two months. It’s a big loss, even though the average fan might not think so.

[*]The Jets are going to be vulnerable in the middle of the field in pass coverage. The safeties have suspect speed and the front seven also is short on the quicks. Opponents with athletic tight ends and crafty slot receivers are going to cause major issues for the Jets.

[*]The run defense could be vulnerable up the middle. Dependable nose tackle Sione Pouha is hobbled by a sprained knee (not serious, but a nuisance), and inside linebacker Bart Scott is taking some time off with what’s believed to be a high-ankle sprain. Again, it’s not serious, but when two of your inside guys are hurting, it’s never a good thing.

[*]Aside from Sanchez, the key player is running back Shonn Greene, the new feature back. No doubt, Greene has the talent to be the No. 1 tailback -- and he is -- but what about his durability? That always has been a question that dogs Greene. He’ll have to bring his A-game every week -- assuming he recovers soon from a skin infection on his right foot. When you’re a ground-and-pound team, you need a workhorse -- and LaDainian Tomlinson, 32, probably is too old to be that guy.

[*]Remember this name: Jeremy Kerley. He’s a diminutive receiver/kick returner from TCU, and he will bring a lot of electricity. He’s only 5-9, if that, but he has tremendous acceleration and change of direction. He’ll be an immediate factor on punt returns and, if needed at receiver, he has the ability to make plays from the slot.

 

[Faust]

Quick hits from Texans' win over Saints

Quick observations and thoughts on the Houston Texans 27-14 preseason win over the New Orleans Saints at Reliant Stadium Saturday night:

The big guns: The three main guys on offense all looked great. Matt Schaub threw with precision and was in control, hitting on 12 of 16 passes for 163 yards and a 107 passer rating. In his first preseason action with Andre Johnson in the lineup, he found his No. 1 guy four times for 100 yards, even with a Johnson drop. Arian Foster ran very well, with 47 yards and two touchdowns on five carries.

Emerging: Ben Tate did some very nice work as the second running back behind Foster, showing just why the Texans found him such a system fit when they used a second-round pick on him last season. He carried nine times for 95 yards and a score and also caught a 13-yard pass. Once Derrick Ward and Steve Slaton are healthy, the Texans will have quite the loaded backfield.

Run room: The defense did well sniffing out screens and short stuff from Drew Brees and frustrated the quarterback. But New Orleans ran well with their frontline offense finding 86 ground yards and a 4.6-yard average in the first half including a 17 yard run and a touchdown run. The new defensive front would surely like to be more discouraging to an offense looking to hand it off.

Also: First round end J.J. Watt was disruptive and energetic, again. … Kareem Jackson did well to let Devery Henderson get in trouble for taking a couple swings in an after-the-whistle incident. … Xavier Adibi started in place of DeMeco Ryans (elbow) as one of the inside linebackers. Adibi was way late diving in to hit an already-down Lance Moore, drawing a personal foul early. … Chase Daniel's 56-yard touchdown pass to Joseph Morgan came over new safety Danieal Manning.

 

[Faust]

Quick hits from Titans' loss in St. Louis

A few quick thoughts from the Tennessee Titans' 17-16 loss at the Edward Jones Dome against the St. Louis Rams Saturday night:

The veteran quarterback: Matt Hasselbeck was very good again, with seven completions in nine attempts for 74 yards. He’s done well to find a rhythm with his new team and the Titans should have gotten more than 13 points while he was in game. Still, three scoring drives in the first three possessions with him at quarterback is a nice development. He left the game after getting the wind knocked out of him when his neck was bent awkwardly as he went to the ground on a hit. But indications are that he is fine.

The rookie quarterback: Jake Locker did not do well when he took over for Hasselbeck. His first throw, however, was a perfectly placed pass up the right side on a roll out to Jared Cook, who made a great stretching catch. Locker finished, however, 8-for-18 for 82 yards and an overthrow interception. A week after he posted a passer rating of 130.8 his number was 35.0. Undrafted receiver James Kirkendoll should have held on to a touchdown throw that would have helped things a great deal.

Bad start: The first play from scrimmage brought back memories of last season when the secondary struggled. Cortland Finnegan let Brandon Gibson go, thinking he was passing him to a safety. But there was a mix up and Michael Griffin wasn’t close. So Sam Bradford hit Gibson for an 83-yard touchdown. Finnegan looked great in the slot as a rusher, with multiple impact blitzes that caused the Rams problems.

Also: Rookie corner Tommie Campbell actually looked to be in good position on a Donnie Avery 19-yard touchdown catch from A.J. Feeley but didn’t find the ball. … The Titans are running and defending screens far better than they did in the 2010 season. ... Rookie linebacker Colin McCarthy had a sack and was among the team’s most active defenders in the second half. … Kicker Rob Bironas looked to get on track with field goals of 46, 25 and 23 yards.

 

[Faust]

Breaking down Broncos vs. Bills

Some thoughts about the Denver Broncos' 24-10 win over the visiting Buffalo Bills on Saturday night:

It was a good overall game for Denver. The Broncos played well both offensively and defensively.

Quarterbacks Kyle Orton and Brady Quinn were terrific. They combined for 20-of-29 passing for 265 yards. Quinn worked with the second team ahead of Tim Tebow. Quinn played well for a second straight game.

Don’t expect Quinn to give up his backup spot in the coming days. Tebow played late and he didn’t do much. The fact that Quinn threw 16 passes and Tebow tossed just two shows the team is much more interested in seeing Quinn play than seeing Tebow at this point. Tebow’s arrow is simply not pointing in the right direction as we approach the start of the season.

The Broncos didn’t run the ball well. Knowshon Moreno had 28 yards on six carries. Willis McGahee had just six yards on five carries. The Broncos want to run the ball often so, this is an area that must be improved on.

Receiver Brandon Lloyd looked to be in midseason form as he had four catches for 55 yards.

Denver’s defense -- which was ranked No. 32 in the NFL last season – was strong, especially against the pass. Buffalo starting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was just 6-of-16 passing for 44 yards.

Von Miller, the No. 2 overall pick in the April draft, showed his explosiveness with a sack, much to the delight of the home crowd.

 

[Faust]

Observations on the New Orleans Saints

When the New Orleans Saints move their training camp to Oxnard, Calif., next week it might be a more pleasant experience for the offense than the defense.

It could have been a miserable week for both units, but the first-team offense finally showed signs it’s getting on track in Saturday night's 27-14 preseason loss to the Houston Texans. It took until the sixth preseason possession, but the first-team offense scored its first touchdown.

Even before that, the Saints looked good on their first two drives. But the first drive ended with Drew Brees getting hit and fumbling in the red zone. Brees completed 7 of 14 passes for 109 yards and the first offense moved the ball well after struggling in last week’s preseason debut.

The first-team defense didn’t have nearly as much success. The Texans scored 17 points against New Orleans’ starting defense. That was a big switch from last week when the defense was dominant against San Francisco.

Although the humidity in Oxnard should be much lower than Louisiana, fiery defensive coordinator Gregg Williams probably won’t notice the difference. He’s going to be looking to fix a lot of things -- and probably won't be in the best of moods -- after Matt Schaub, Arian Foster and Andre Johnson made his defense look bad.

Some other observations on the Saints.

[*]I liked the way Sean Payton mixed the playing time for running backs Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles with the first-team offense. All three made contributions and Ingram scored the lone touchdown for the first offense on a powerful 1-yard run.

[*]Zach Strief got the start at right tackle after the Saints released former starter Jon Stinchcomb. But Charles Brown also got some playing time and the Saints will soon have to make a decision on which of the two young tackles they want to start. On the Saints’ television broadcast, general manager Mickey Loomis said the team likes both Brown and Strief and “there’s no bad choice’’ for the starting job.

[*]Joseph Morgan, an undrafted rookie from Walsh College, continues to be one of the biggest surprises of the preseason. Right after Brees and the starters left, backup quarterback Chase Daniel hit Morgan on a 56-yard touchdown pass. Morgan returned a punt for a touchdown in the preseason opener and is making a strong case for a roster spot.

[*]With free safety Malcolm Jenkins sitting out, Paul Oliver got the start. Things didn’t go well for him. He was beaten in coverage several times and missed an open-field tackle on Foster.

[*]Jonathan Casillas got the start over Scott Shanle at weak-side linebacker. Casillas was active, but maybe a little too eager to make a big impression. He got flagged for an unnecessary-roughness penalty for a late hit.

[*]The Saints have a crowded backfield, but there might be room for Patrick Cobbs, who was signed this week. He looked good as a runner and receiver late in the game. He's also got a track record as a strong special-teams player.

 

[Faust]

Three things revisited: Rams-Titans

Looking back upon three things discussed here before the St. Louis Rams' 17-16 preseason victory over Tennessee on Saturday night:

1. Three wide receivers: Mardy Gilyard, Danario Alexander and Donnie Avery are fighting for what could be one roster spot. Gilyard had a 30-yard kickoff return, an 18-yard punt return and a tackle for no gain while working with the punt coverage team. His 12-yard reception in the final minute moved the Rams into position for the winning field-goal attempt. Avery beat the Titans' second-team defense for a 19-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. He mistimed his jump for a deep ball that might have been tough to come down with anyway. Alexander's nifty move along the right sideline produced a few extra yards. To be continued.

2. Steven Jackson's debut. The Rams' Pro Bowl running back found little room against the Titans' defense. He carried six times for 10 yards. His lone reception gained four yards. There wasn't much to analyze. The Rams' first-team offense did very little after Sam Bradford's 83-yard scoring strike to Brandon Gibson on the first offensive play of the game.

3. Quinn off the edge. The Titans' offensive line generally contained Rams rookie first-round draft choice Robert Quinn. Once the regular season begins, the Rams will likely work Quinn into the mix as a situational pass-rusher. Quinn played every-down defensive end with the backups in this game. The Rams dropped him into coverage on a third-and-13 play in the third quarter. Quinn came close to a sack on a third-and-8 play later in the quarter, but Jake Locker escaped and ran for a first down.

 

[Faust]

Rapid Reaction: Jets 27, Bengals 7

Thoughts from the Jets 27-7 preseason win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

WHAT IT MEANS: Rebounding from a so-so performance last week, the New York Jets improved in all phases and defeated the helpless Cincinnati Bengals on a rainy Sunday night at New Meadowlands Stadium. Plaxico Burress was the star, but this was more than a one-man show. Midway through the preseason, the Jets (1-1) have to feel good about themselves. And there appeared to be no major injuries.

LIKE OLD TIMES: Burress made his Jets debut and gave the rain-soaked fans what they wanted -- a moment to talk about. The moment came with 51 seconds left in the second quarter, when he made an over-the-shoulder, 26-yard touchdown catch. With his back to Mark Sanchez, Burress threw his 6-foot-5 body into a dive, securing the high, arching pass as he skidded across the wet turf.

With that one play, Burress announced his return to football. After nearly two years in prison, he was back, demonstrating the kind of athleticism you wouldn’t expect from a 34-year-old receiver that spent that much time in the big house. It came against a backup cornerback named Fred Bennett, but that didn’t matter. It was all about body control, hand-eye coordination and sticky hands.

Burress played 30 of 32 plays in the first half, finishing with three catches for 66 yards. Translation: A smashing debut.



SANCHEZ ROCKS: After an efficient but largely non-descript performance last week, Sanchez (12-for-20, 173 yards, two TDs) delivered some big plays in the passing game. The protection was better this week, thanks to the return of All-Pro center Nick Mangold. He led the offense to two touchdowns (drives of 16 and 99 yards) and a field goal in seven possessions, wrapping up the night with a 10-play, 99-yard touchdown drive.

Until then, the Sanchez-led offense was like the weather -- blah. In fact, the Jets started 0-for-6 on third down. The turning point was a 43-yard pass to a wide-open Dustin Keller, providing good field position after being backed up at their 1. From there, Sanchez hit Keller on a third-down catch, setting up the Burress highlight-film catch.

WIDE-OPEN OFFENSE: For the second straight week, the Jets relied heavily on a three-receiver attack. In fact, they used their “11” personnel package (3 WRs, 1 TE, 1RB) on 19 of 32 plays in the first half. With Derrick Mason (knee) sitting out, they used Burress, Santonio Holmes (16-yard TD) and rookie Jeremy Kerley in three-wide packages.

NO GROUND AND POUND: By placing an emphasis on the passing attack -- a necessity, given the new parts -- the running game was out of sync. LaDainian Tomlinson got the start with Shonn Greene (foot) out of the lineup, and the 32-year-old looked a bit sluggish. He rushed for 16 yards on nine carries. Tomlinson got a lot of work, appearing in 31 of 32 plays in the first half. Joe McKnight and Bilal Powell didn’t see significant time until the second half.

OPPORTUNISTIC D: The Jets roughed up the offensively challenged Bengals, intercepting three passes -- Eric Smith, Jim Leonhard and Brashton Satele. The three turnovers set up 17 points for the Jets, and that was pretty much the story of the game. Keep in mind, the Bengals no longer have Carson (I Wanna Retire) Palmer at quarterback. They started rookie Andy Dalton and replaced him with journeyman Bruce Gradkowski.

WELCOME MAYBIN: Bills castoff Aaron Maybin, the 11th overall pick in the 2009 draft, made his presence felt in his Jets debut. After only three days of practice with the team, Maybin recorded a strip sack on Bengals third-string QB Jordan Palmer. Hey, that might have been enough to grab a spot on the 53-man roster.

 

[Faust]

Bengals Week 2 preseason recap

The Cincinnati Bengals completed their second preseason game on Sunday. Cincinnati lost to the New York Jets, 27-7. Here are some observations:

The Good

Punter Kevin Huber may be an early candidate for Bengals MVP. He is having a great preseason and booted several more impressive punts Sunday against the Jets. Huber had nine punts for 424 yards, which is a stellar 47.1 average.

Cincinnati's first-team defense made some strides this week. The offense struggled early (we will get to that later). But the defense did a decent job of keeping the game close in the first half. Cincinnati's first-team defense gave up 10 points before most of the starters were pulled. The Jets had a lengthy touchdown drive before halftime against a mix of Bengals starters and backups.

The Bad

Cincinnati's offense does not look ready for Week 1. This unit is just too sloppy. Cincinnati's first three possessions ended like this: an Andy Dalton interception, a 17-yard loss on a fumble that forced a punt and another interception. The timing just looks off, although Cincinnati's starting offense eventually warmed up at the end and scored its first touchdown of the preseason.

Overall, the Bengals need to start better. They have been outscored 41-10 in the first half when starters get a majority of the playing time. Yes, it's only the preseason. But it doesn't look good when Cincinnati's first team routinely fails to set the tone. The Bengals aren't the Pittsburgh Steelers or Green Bay Packers. Cincinnati is a young team that needs to show something in the preseason to gain momentum and confidence for the regular season.

 

[Faust]

Breaking down Chargers vs. Cowboys

Random thoughts from the Chargers’ 20-7 win at Dallas on Sunday night:

[*]I like the way Ryan Mathews ran the ball. Give him credit He ran hard and he is making strides after starting training camp slow because of poor conditioning. He was terrific on a 15-yard touchdown run. He had 35 yards rushing on seven carries.

[*]Sixth-round pick Jordan Todman continues to look good. He had 27 yards on five carries, and he had a big play nullified by a penalty. He could be in the mix on third downs.

[*]Philip Rivers and Vincent Jackson are ready to play Minnesota. The game is in three weeks. But this pass-catch combination is set. Rivers completed 8 of 11 passes for 92 yards. Jackson had three catches for 49 yards.

[*]With starter Antonio Gates out as a precaution, veteran backup Randy McMichael showed he his value. He had three catches for 24 yards, including a nifty 7-yard touchdown catch.

[*]San Diego head coach Norv Turner has said the key to not starting slow again is to avoid committing turnovers early in the season. Turner has to be pleased San Diego did not commit a turnover in this game.

[*]Corey Liuget is going to make lot of plays. The No. 18 overall draft pick has been explosive and he has been beating his opponent routinely. Expect him to make his presence known as a starter at defensive end as a rookie. He had a sack

[*]Backup defensive lineman Vaughn Martin is making strides. He had two sacks Sunday, He has been a long-term project and the former Canadian college player is starting to live up to his potential. Perhaps we’ll see him as a rotational player this season.

[*]Overall, San Diego’s defense played strong for the second straight game. Dallas’ first-team offense did have one dominant drive. But this was a solid outing for Greg Manusky’s unit.

[*]Starting receiver Malcom Floyd left the game with a concussion. He will be monitored. The NFL takes concussion treatment extremely serious. So, I wouldn’t be shocked if Floyd doesn’t play next week.

[*]After an eight-tackle performance last week, rookie free-agent linebacker Darryl Gamble had two tackles Sunday.

 

[Faust]

Trying to figure out Alex Smith; Texans' offense cruising

The second weekend of preseason football isn't necessarily just a dress rehearsal. The game plans crafted by coaches aren't as comprehensive as the ones used during the regular season, but they provide us with a glimpse at which teams and players have the goods to get it done.

Granted, it is still tough to make strong assessments based on a little more than a quarter of play, but we can still pick up valuable insight from watching players perform in a structured environment.

Here's what I learned from watching the games on Saturday night:

» Alex Smith is still maddeningly inconsistent. The presumed starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers shows flashes of brilliance as a passer, but those moments are often undone by inexplicable turnovers that leave you scratching your head.

Smith led the offense on two long drives against the Raiders by efficiently getting the ball to his playmakers on quick-rhythm throws. His accuracy was superb. In fact, he delivered a 32-yard bullet to Josh Morgan that showcased his courage, toughness and anticipation in the pocket.

On the other hand, Smith tossed a bonehead interception to Matt Shaughnessy on a misread of a zone blitz. Granted, the pre-snap disguise of zone pressures can fool even savvy signal callers, but the failure to diagnose the basic zone blitz used by the Raiders is surprising for a seven-year veteran with a ton of experience. Jim Harbaugh was willing to gamble on his ability to rebuild Smith into a capable playmaker, but early indications suggest his quarterback remains an enigma.

» Gary Kubiak has the Houston Texans' offense in midseason form. The savvy offensive architect called a flawless first half against the New Orleans Saints that showcased balance, explosiveness and versatility. The Texans scored on their first four possessions and missed a chip-shot field goal attempt at the end of their fifth drive.

Matt Schaub was outstanding operating from the pocket. His timing, execution and ball placement was superb against the Saints' zone coverage. He tested the weak points of coverages by connecting to seven different receivers on a variety of horizontal and vertical throws. Schaub also worked efficiently off bootleg and play-action fakes, and he routinely delivered the ball in rhythm to his playmakers.

The Texans' success through the air was complemented by a physical ground attack that featured Arian Foster and Ben Tate running roughshod through the middle of the Saints' defense. The duo combined for 142 rushing yards on just 14 attempts. Although Foster's success isn't a surprise considering he led the league in rushing a season ago, Tate's effectiveness was shocking to say the least. The second-year back repeatedly found open creases between the tackles, including a 43-yard jaunt on a delayed draw. With Tate suddenly emerging as a viable option in the running game, the Texans have a two-headed monster that threatens to pose serious problems for opponents.

The Texans have fielded one of the league's most explosive offenses the past few years. Kubiak just might make them even more dangerous this season.

» The Seahawks' offense is stuck in neutral behind a struggling offensive line. Seattle's first-team offense struggled moving the ball for the second week in a row, largely because of the ineptitude of its frontline. Yes, the Seahawks are without left tackle Russell Okung, but the failure to create a push at the point of attack is a significant problem. The Seahawks' top runners -- Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett -- amassed only 10 yards on 10 attempts. The running game was so bad that it failed to score on four consecutive runs from inside the 2-yard line against the Vikings' second-team defense.

The offensive line's inability work in concert in pass protection remains a problem as well. The unit has been overwhelmed physically and tactically by opponents, and its inability to protect Tarvaris Jackson in the pocket has resulted in little production in the passing game. While Jackson can shoulder some of blame for a few errant tosses, he has been harassed and forced to flee the pocket, which has killed any and all rhythm.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll wanted to get his team off to fast start by leaning on an offense with several explosive weapons, but his leaky offensive line is preventing the unit from gaining any traction during the preseason.

» The Titans have discovered a gem in Jamie Harper. The extended holdout of Chris Johnson has enabled the team to uncover another potential playmaker in Harper, a fourth-round pick. He has been outstanding throughout training camp and flashes the skills to be an effective complement to CJ2K.

At 5-foot-10 and 233 pounds, Harper is a rugged runner with the strength and power to grind out tough yards between the tackles. Yet, he also shows the vision, quickness and cut-back skills to slip through creases on the backside of plays. He showed just what he is capable of on his 46-yard burst against the Rams. Although he lacked the speed to take it the distance, his ability to break off big runs at his size gives the Titans a formidable weapon to spell Johnson.

 

[Faust]

Beck shows command of 'Skins system; Browns' McCoy sharp

The second week of the preseason allows coaches to get a better feel for their respective squads due to the extended play of their starters. Teams usually keep their first-teamers on the field until halftime to give their units plenty of time to establish rhythm and continuity.

Given more time to see the "ones" in action, we can begin to make strong assessments on where players fit in the pecking order. Let's take a look at what I learned from watching Friday night's games:

» John Beck could be an effective starting quarterback for the Redskins. The fifth-year pro was exceptional directing the first-team offense against the Colts. He showed an excellent command of the system, completing 14 of 17 attempts for 140 yards and leading the Redskins to scores on each of his four possessions. Beck frequently located his second and third reads in his progressions. His pocket awareness, anticipation and accuracy were better than anticipated, and he also flashed enough athleticism to be a credible threat on the perimeter. Granted, the effectiveness of the Redskins' run game -- Tim Hightower and Roy Helu combined for 171 yards on 20 carries -- allowed Beck to work comfortably off play-action fakes inside and outside of the pocket. Given his superb execution and production during his first appearance as the starter, it is easy to see why Mike Shanahan is willing to stake his reputation on the unheralded Beck.



» Reggie Bush will be a difference maker in Miami. The sixth-year pro put on an exceptional display of skill during his debut performance with the Dolphins. Bush tallied 81 total yards on 10 touches, and flashed the speed, quickness and burst of an explosive weapon out of the backfield. As a runner, he attacked the line of scrimmage quickly and displayed nifty footwork slipping through cracks. His ability to elude defenders in the hole is exceptional, and he showed toughness while finishing his runs with authority. The Dolphins took advantage of Bush in the passing game by frequently aligning him as a slot receiver in their spread and empty formations. Given the middle of the field to work with, Bush had his way with Panthers defenders on option routes, providing quarterback Chad Henne a high-percentage target on third downs. Although it is tough to accurately gauge the Dolphins' plans for Bush based on one preseason appearance, it is obvious that his combination of skills will make Miami's offense more explosive in 2011.



» The Packers might have the best quarterback situation in the league. The Super Bowl champions have three quarterbacks on their roster -- Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn and Graham Harrell -- with the potential to be effective starters. While Rodgers has cemented his place among the league's elite, it has been the emergence of Flynn and Harrell that should have the rest of the league green with envy. The Packers' young signal callers have been outstanding this preseason, displaying the confidence, poise and awareness of savvy veterans. Flynn, in particular, has been razor-sharp with his timing, awareness and accuracy. His ball placement has been superb, and he has shown the ability to fit passes into tight windows without taking unnecessary risks. Coming off his solid performance as a one-game starter a year ago, Flynn looks like a quality starter. Not to be outdone, Harrell has also shown excellent timing and anticipation. He has delivered the ball on time and avoided the miscues that often plague young quarterbacks. He isn't a finished product at this point, but he flashes enough potential to merit serious consideration as a down-the-road prospect. Given the scarcity of quality quarterbacks in the league, the Packers' possession of three such players puts them in a prime position moving forward.



» Lee Evans gives the Ravens' offense an added dimension. The eighth-year pro gives Baltimore the vertical playmaker it desperately needed, a legitimate speed demon with the burst and acceleration to run past defenders on deep balls. He has averaged 4.2 receptions of 40-plus yards per season in his career, and his 15.7 yards per catch average is indicative of his big-play ability. He flashed some of that ability against the Chiefs when he blew past a hapless defender for a 43-yard gain from Joe Flacco. Evans will not only deliver his own big plays with his ability to stretch the field, but will also create opportunities for Anquan Boldin and others. For an offense that has lacked the long-ball element for the past few seasons, Evans is a welcome addition.

» Colt McCoy is quickly mastering Pat Shurmur's West Coast offense. McCoy followed up his impressive preseason debut with another solid performance (10 of 18 passing for 96 yard and three touchdowns) against the Detroit Lions. McCoy continued to display outstanding poise and awareness in the pocket. He worked through his progressions quickly and delivered the ball to receivers on time. He also showed a mastery of the nuances of the system on each of his three touchdown throws. On his first touchdown to Evan Moore, McCoy delivered the ball on time on a "sprint-right" option pass that took advantage of the tight coverage from Lions defenders. McCoy released the ball on his third step and put it in a spot where only his intended receiver could make the play.

McCoy then lobbed a perfect pass on his second touchdown to Moore, a throw in the front corner of the end zone on an "all-go special" that used motion to create a favorable matchup for his receiver. McCoy's timing of motion combined with a perfect throw made the play indefensible.

Finally, McCoy's 19-yard touchdown to Greg Little showcased his ability to quickly read and diagnose the Lions' two-deep coverage against an empty formation. McCoy correctly worked the front side "smash" concept to take advantage of Little's speed against the Lions' safety. By delivering the ball on time to the front corner of the end zone, he made his third touchdown look like a simple case of pitch and catch to his receiver.

McCoy has exceeded all expectations with his remarkable play this the preseason, and looks poised to have a big year in Cleveland.

 

[Faust]

What we learned during second weekend of NFL preseason

If this is how Plaxico Burress can play after nearly three years off, then there’s reason for Jets fans to be excited about how he’ll look once he gets a few games in his back pocket.

Making his first game appearance for the Jets — and seeing his first NFL action since Nov. 23, 2008 — Burress hauled in three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown Sunday night. Mark Sanchez targeted him on his first pass, a 20-yard completion down the middle. And he found him again on his last pass, a sprawling 26-yard TD grab by Burress near the left corner of the end zone.

Sure, it was a preseason game against the Bengals, but all indications at this point are that Burress can help the Jets’ offense.

On New York’s other first-half touchdown, Sanchez faked a handoff to LaDainian Tomlinson heading left, Burress held the defense by bluffing a wide receiver screen on the right, then Sanchez fired one down the middle to an open Santonio Holmes.

Assuming Burress can stay healthy — possibly a dangerous assumption — he is not only another viable option in the passing game, he’s a player opposing defenses will notice and worry about.

But the Bengals-Jets game was just one of seven NFL preseason contests played over the weekend. Here’s what else we learned over the past two nights:

• Felix Jones looks ready to carry the load: Marion Barber’s off to Chicago, so the Cowboys badly need Jones to take a major step forward in his fourth NFL season. He’s only had 10 carries spread over two preseason games, but all indications are that Jones is ready to make that leap.

Against the Chargers on Sunday night, Jones had 56 yards rushing on seven attempts, with a long of 22. It wasn’t even so much the stats, though, as how he got there — Jones jumped into the hole hard when it was there and continued running with authority after being hit.

Both of Jones’ expected backups, Tashard Choice and rookie DeMarco Murray, are dealing with injuries, so the onus could fall even harder on Jones once the regular season opens.

• Tim Tebow’s fading fast in Denver: Tebow threw a total of two passes in the Broncos’ 24-10 win over Buffalo Saturday. That number falls well short of starter Kyle Orton’s 10-for-13 outing and, more importantly, Brady Quinn’s 10-for-16 night.

Orton essentially locked down the Denver starting job with two solid preseason efforts, but it’s also become pretty apparent that Quinn has taken over the backup role. What’s that mean for Tebow? Nothing yet — the Broncos can keep developing him as the No. 3 guy. It’s still not a great sign for the second-year QB that he’s been outplayed this preseason by Quinn, who didn’t exactly bring Pro Bowl credentials with him to Denver.

• Seattle‘s offensive line needs help: Starting left tackle Russell Okung will likely be out of the Seahawks lineup until at least Week 1. But even he might not be able to save Seattle’s O-line.

Facing an aggressive Minnesota front in a 20-7 loss Saturday night, the Seahawks’ line was manhandled. If not for Tarvaris Jackson’s ability to scramble and get out of trouble, he could have been sacked six or seven times in the two quarters he played — the Vikings’ one sack is about as misleading a stat as you’ll get.

And not only was Jackson under duress during his time on the field, but also Seattle’s running game stayed stuck in neutral, too. Marshawn Lynch had three carries for two yards, Justin Forsett had seven carries for eight yards, and the Seahawks were stuffed four consecutive times after setting up first-and-goal on the Minnesota 2 late in the first quarter.

The Seahawks had an impressive offseason and improved in a number of areas, but unless the line comes together, it won’t matter.

• Houston‘s 3-4 a work in progress: The Texans’ first-team offense looks like it’s firing on all cylinders already. Houston hung 17 on New Orleans’ first-team defense Saturday night in a 27-14 Texans win with Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson and Arian Foster looking like they’re in midseason form.

Houston’s defense, on the other hand, still has a ways to go. That’s to be expected, to some extent, with the Texans breaking in new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme. They did generate four sacks against New Orleans, including one that resulted in a Drew Brees fumble and turnover to stuff the Saints’ opening drive.

The Texans’ run defense, however, leaves something to be desired. New Orleans didn’t break off any long ground plays, but the Saints’ running backs found some pretty inviting holes up front early.

So far, Phillips’ defense is struggling in that regard, but getting to the QB more is a trade-off Houston might be willing to make.

• Jake Locker takes a step back: The Titans’ rookie QB had a stellar first preseason outing, finishing 7-of-10 for 89 yards and a TD. He followed that up with a shaky 8-for-18, one-interception showing Saturday in a 17-16 loss to St. Louis.

Those bumps in the road are to be expected, and Matt Hasselbeck’s presence in Tennessee means that Locker can ease himself in a bit. Still, Locker’s second effort probably was more indicative of where he is as an NFL-caliber QB right now than his first.

• Alex Smith is still Alex Smith: Anyone waiting for the light to go on for Smith in his seventh NFL season should be considered an eternal optimist. There just hasn’t been much to indicate that Smith will ever turn the corner, and this preseason falls right in line.

During San Francisco’s 17-3 win over Oakland, Smith finished 8-for-13 for 126 yards and one interception, with the 49ers’ offense scoring three points in his one half of work. Smith can be decent, even pretty good at times, but those displays occur far too infrequently for San Francisco to be considered a major threat with him at the helm.

 

[Faust]

A few excerpts from Peter King's MMQB

The Chiefs led the NFL in rushing by 133 yards over Oakland. Charles, the wispy and explosive back, gained 1,467 yards, 6.4 yards a pop. Thomas Jones gained 896, for 3.7 a rush. Thus the hand-wringing. Haley's theory is he's eating the clock and keeping Charles healthy for 16 weeks, and he has zero regrets.

Now, to make the offense more explosive, he's focusing on the passing game. Multiple receiver sets, namely. And on this afternoon in humid western Missouri, the Chiefs' offensive versatility with Matt Cassel under center is on display.

Cassel had a good year last year, a B year, with 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions. That part was great. The completion percentage, 58.2 percent, was just OK. Twenty-five NFL quarterbacks were better. This year, Cassel knows he has to be better, and the multiplicity of the passing game -- even after the late-week distraction of top pick Jonathan Baldwin -- is better.

I couldn't keep up with the different formations I saw in the afternoon practice, with Dwayne Bowe and Tony Moeaki the relative constants. Bowe's split wide right, mostly, and Moeaki either tight to the formation, or in the slot right or left. On one set, third-down back Dexter McCluster is the single back, with Charles in the slot; one another, Charles is the single back and McCluster off the field. Steve Breaston, the Arizona import, and another former Card, Jerheme Urban, are in the slot or split wide left.

One can see how much Cassel gravitates to Moeaki. He's Dallas Clark. The way Peyton Manning flexes Clark tight and wide and in the slot is the way Kansas City wants to use Moeaki, who had 47 catches a year ago but could have 80 in this offense if he stays healthy, which has been a problem at times for him in college and the NFL."You can make Moeaki whatever,'' said Haley. "You can make him Wes Welker if you want.''

And on one set, huge tight end Leonard Pope was a sixth offensive lineman, lined up next to the right tackle, and Moeaki was in the slot.

"I try to learn everything,'' Moeaki said after practice. "I want my position coach to have confidence that they can put me anywhere and have confidence in me to run the play right.''

I told him he looks like Dallas Clark, the way he was used in this practice. "I watch a lot of Dallas Clark film,'' he said. "We both went to Iowa, and so it's good to be able to see what he's been able to do in the NFL. I watch him to see how he gets open against all different defenses. That's helped me.''

Now for the Baldwin postscript. On Friday, word leaked that Baldwin hurt his hand or wrist in a fight with Thomas Jones and will be out for the rest of the preseason. (The team clammed up tight.)

Baldwin came in from Pitt in the first round with lots of questions; his character was widely questioned by NFL general managers, and Chiefs GM Scott Pioli went out on a limb to take him. Pioli has emphasized character so much that the Baldwin pick was a big surprise to his peers. Clearly, Pioli felt Baldwin's transgressions -- mainly, speaking out publicly against his coaches -- were overblown.

But when I heard about this fight, and heard that it was Jones, I felt sure it had something to do with the offense's most respected leader putting the immature kid in his place. The team had no comment about it, but here's the story with Baldwin now: He's got an 0-and-2 count on him, he just fouled a ball off, and he can't afford to have another strike against him.

Because he's a first-round pick, he'll get multiple chances to make it right. But if he screws up a couple more times, it could turn into a painfully costly mistake for the Pioli regime.

"Not only did they have the quarterback in place, obviously, with Sam Bradford, a guy who has the chance to truly be special. But there was a structure in place that I could learn from, a coach I could learn from, a front office I could learn from.''

On the practice field, even in only the third week they've been together, McDaniels and Bradford look to work well together. "We're not going to just run plays,'' McDaniels said. "We're going to USE players. And Sam is good -- you can tell -- in using all aspects of this offense.''

McDaniels hasn't ripped up the departed Pat Shurmur's West Coast Offense. In the short period he's had to fold some of his concepts into the Rams' 2011 playbook, McDaniels has asked a lot of Bradford. Under Shurmur, the center made the line calls and identified the middle linebacker, for purposes of offensive symmetry. Now it's Bradford's job, and you can see him in practice, pointing out the middle 'backer ("53's the mike!'') and surveying the secondary pre-snap to get a good read of what he's going to do when the ball's snapped.

"Josh's mindset is, if the defense wants to play us a certain way, fine; we'll do something else to make plays,'' said Bradford. "What I like about the offense is there always seems to be an answer.''

Immediately, McDaniels will try to fold in some more downfield concepts. Bradford had the lowest average completion among starting quarterbacks last year -- Ram receivers had a 9.9 yard-per-catch average last year -- while McDaniels' receivers in Denver were at 12.9. Take a look at the Rams receivers, and you don't see a proven deep threat among them. But Brandon Lloyd was roster flotsam in Denver before last year, and he finished with an 18.8 yard average on 77 catches. It can be done.

"I couldn't care less about my average, about my stats,'' Bradford said. "I'd just like to score more.''

If the Rams are held to 20 points or fewer 13 times this year -- as happened last year -- I'll be stunned. McDaniels, for now in his niche, should be able to see to that.

We're all talking about Julio Jones' impact on the Falcons' offense, and I write about it in the upcoming SI NFL Preview. But on Friday night, slot man Harry Douglas said, basically, "Don't forget about me." His 76-yard catch-and-run at Jacksonville showed his speed and also Jones' downfield blocking ability.

Colt McCoy's a 68 percent passer with four touchdowns and no picks in two games.

The flip side of McCoy strafing the Lions is that Detroit's secondary got burned consistently. That's the Achilles heel of the Lions, and it could derail any legitimate playoff chances they have.

So much for the quarterback competition in Washington. That's what a 14-of-17 start did for John Beck and the Shanahans. It's not over, because if Beck bombs this week (doubt he will) and Rex Grossman is great, it could give the coaching staff pause. But I sincerely doubt anyone but Beck starts against the Giants in three weeks.

All along we've thought Ryan Torain might be the biggest threat to Tim Hightower for carries in Washington. Turns out it might be rookie Roy Helu, who has been a perfect fit in the Redskins' one-cut-and-get-upfield running style.

When I visited Vikings camp, I thought what a natural fit it would be for Donovan McNabb to form a bond with his tight ends. The line would be a work in progress, with only wideout Percy Harvin there to scare defenses, and rookie Kyle Rudolph was the most impressive young receiver in camp. So that's what the Vikings did Saturday night in Seattle: target the tight ends and running backs. Smart.

Charlie Whitehurst completed 10 of his first 11 throws against the Vikings, and Tarvaris Jackson struggled again. For better or worse, the Seattle quarterback position is going to be a competition, and soon.

I think the Ryan Williams injury -- he tore the patellar tendon in his right knee Friday night against Green Bay -- is obviously a blow to the rookie from Virginia Tech because he was going to be at least the co-running back with Beanie Wells for the Cards. What a great opportunity for Williams, particularly after Arizona traded Tim Hightower to show how much faith the coaches had in the Hokies rookie.

It's as big a blow to the team. A month ago, the Cards had a stable of three runners plus a change-of-pace back in LaRod Stephens-Howling. Now Alfonso Smith, a 2010 free agent from Kentucky, is the nominal backup to Wells. This is a perfect spot for a look at Tiki Barber. Not necessarily a signing of Barber; a look. But GM Rod Graves told Barber's agent, Mark Lepselter, Saturday the Cards were looking in a different direction.

I just don't get why a team desperate for an experienced back wouldn't look at him. It can't do any harm to work him out. I realize there are some teams who need spare running backs to also play special teams. But teams like Arizona, Detroit and Tampa Bay have enough youth all over their roster to take on a veteran back and make him a runner only.

The play of rookie running back Kendall Hunter (he had a 53-yard touchdown run against Oakland Saturday night) is the biggest reason -- unless someone in the organization flat-out promised Frank Gore a new deal -- it would be silly to risk what are becoming precious cap dollars on a back like Gore, who has been hurt so much. Hunter's only 5-7, but he can block and run well enough for the Niners to think he's Gore's heir.

 

[Faust]

Camp dismissed: What we know, what we don't know

FLOWERY BRANCH – When the Falcons opened training camp on July 29, there were several questions about the makeup of this year’s roster.

The Falcons didn’t know if they could keep the offensive line together. They didn’t know if they could improve the pass rush and didn’t know if all of the players would return in shape after the 132-day lockout.

Camp ended on Sunday after a brisk one-hour walk-through.

So far, here’s what we know and what we don't know:

WHAT WE KNOW

1. Rookie Julio Jones and a reinvigorated Harry Douglas should provide more explosive plays. With all the talk about creating move explosive plays – gains of 20 yards or more -- Falcons coach Mike Smith has inspired a new statistic. Let’s just call it the “EPR, the “explosive play ratio.” The Falcons want to win the EPR by having more 20-yard gains than the opponent. Smith insists that the explosive play ratio is nearly as important as the turnover ratio. All five of the Falcons’ explosive plays in the preseason have come from Douglas, who had 76-yard touchdown against Jacksonville, and Jones. “Harry has had a very strong camp for us,” Smith said.

2. Michael Turner is ready for another big year. He went out in the second game against Arizona last season with a groin injury. It nagged him all season long, but he still managed to rush for over 1,300 yards. Turner had offseason surgery and is running strong. While Jacksonville held him to 14 yards on seven carries, he shot out of the backfield like a rocket against Miami.

3. Matt Ryan is ready to take the next step. He’s led the Falcons to the playoffs in two of his first three seasons. The next step is a playoff victory. The most encouraging word came from offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey who said that Ryan is able to see the entire field and usually corrects his own mistakes before Mularkey even gets to point them out. Ryan has an arsenal of weapons at his disposal that should make the Falcons’ offense unpredictable and tough to stop.

4. Safety William Moore could be a star. The coaches hope that with a better understanding of the defense, the second-year starter will turn in more punishing hits, interceptions and game-changing plays. The block he made to spring Brent Grimes on a 62-yard interception return against Jacksonville was a classic Moore hit.

5. The draft class could contribute. Jones and punter Matt Bosher, a sixth round pick, are expected to make immediate contributions. Linebacker Akeem Dent, a third-rounder, has been slowed by a knee injury, but should be a key special teamer. Running back Jacquizz Rodgers, a fifth-rounder, should contribute on third downs. Offensive lineman Andrew Jackson and defensive end Cliff Matthews appear headed to the 53-man roster.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW

1. Do the Falcons have a dynamic duo at defensive end in Ray Edwards and John Abraham? The Falcons signed Ray Edwards on the first day of training camp, but he has yet to fully participate in practice or play in a game as an Atlanta Falcon. They are bringing him along slowly after he had offseason knee surgery..

2. Will the line be as mean and nasty without Harvey Dahl? Garrett Reynolds and Mike Johnson are vying to replace guard Harvey Dahl, who signed as a free agent with St. Louis. Dahl and right tackle Tyson Clabo combined to form one of the nastiest tandems in the league. Reynolds appears to be ahead of Johnson, who missed a week of the action with a concussion. This battle could go down to the wire.

3. Who is the nickel back? The coaching staff is taking a long look at Dominique Franks after he turned in a stellar training camp. He’s battling incumbent Christopher Owens for the position. If the Falcons are not comfortable with the outcome of the competition, they will look at the veteran cornerback market to see if any salary-cap casualties could come in to help improve the pass defense, which ranked 22nd in the league last season.

4. Is Matt Bosher the answer to replace Michael Koenen? The rookie has shown a strong leg in training camp while being asked to punt, kickoff and hold for placements. He has boomed punts of 63 and 50 yards. Bosher has to work on coffin corner punts to pin teams inside the 20. Also, on nine kickoffs he’s only had one touchback

5. Will the defense be able to get off the field on third downs? The defense allowed the opposition to convert 39 percent (79 of 201) of the time on third downs last season, which was ranked 22nd in the league. The Falcons are experimenting with different third-down defenses in the exhibition season. Last season, they sat in coverage and at other times they tried to blitz out of a 3-3-5 formation. "We’re still trying to get that ironed out,” safety Thomas DeCoud said. “It’s one of the things we have to work on. We’ve made it a point of emphasis this year.”

 

[Faust]

Camp Confidential: St. Louis Rams

Excerpts:

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Steven Jackson's role. The Rams' Pro Bowl running back has been an outspoken advocate for running behind a fullback in a traditional two-back offense. Jackson realized life would change as McDaniels installed what will be primarily a one-back system. He expects a less regimented running game and less reliance on pounding the ball between the tackles. More of his receptions will come by design instead of on checkdowns, flares and the like.

"This offense allows me to open my whole repertoire of talent and put on display the things I can do outside the tackles," Jackson said. "You don’t have a fullback and I hate to lose Mike Karney, but at the same time, it allows me on a bigger stage to show my overall talent as a football player."

The Rams ran one-back offenses earlier in Jackson's career. He'll have to set up his blocks instead of relying on a fullback to clear the way. A basic play called "Big Jab" illustrates the differences. It's a strongside run masquerading as an inside-zone play to the weak side. The back must freeze the weakside linebacker with his eyes long enough for the offensive lineman to reach the second level.

"Things like that, you can’t pick up on a live game, of course, but on the coaches’ film, it makes a difference," Jackson said.

2. The thinking at wide receiver. The Rams ran out of viable receiving options during their forgettable Week 17 defeat at Seattle last season. With an ascending young quarterback in place and multiple Rams receivers coming off injuries, this offseason seemed like a good time for the organization to invest heavily in a dynamic receiver.

Sidney Rice was available, but the Rams didn't flinch when the division-rival Seahawks signed him to a five-year contract. The Rams signed Mike Sims-Walker to a one-year deal and went to camp with a mostly undistinguished group.

"A lot of people think we have to have some guy that runs 4.25 [in the 40-yard dash] and weighs 230 pounds and he’s 6-foot-5," McDaniels said. "You don’t have to have that guy. You can do it different ways and that is what we are going to try to do."

Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson, Sims-Walker, Austin Pettis and Greg Salas are heavy favorites to earn roster spots if healthy. Mardy Gilyard, Donnie Avery and Danario Alexander are fighting for one or two roster spots. None commands double-team attention or special game planning from opposing defensive coordinators.

Tight ends factor heavily into the Rams' plans for the passing game. The team envisions a "12" personnel grouping with Lance Kendricks and Mike Hoomanawanui at tight end with two wideouts and Jackson in the backfield. If teams stick with the base defense, the Rams expect Kendricks and Hoomanawanui to create coverage mismatches. If teams choose to play nickel, they can prepare to see a 6-foot-3, 240-pound running back coming their way. Either tight end could shift to fullback for another dimension.

3. Seeking to upgrade run defense. The Rams shelled out top dollar for only one free agent this offseason. Safety Quintin Mikell, who broke into the NFL with Philadelphia when current Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo ran the Eagles' secondary, brings a physical presence. The Rams are paying him $6.5 million per year because Spagnuolo pretty much had to have him.

"I don't know if anyone else would be able to feel this or see this, and I can't remember when he was a rookie if he already had these mannerisms, but he plays the game like Brian Dawkins," Spagnuolo said. "His mannerisms, the way he's a knee-bender. He plays fast, he loves the game, he's matured."

Sitting in his office following a recent practice, Spagnuolo cued up a 2004 play he shows annually to defensive backs. Green Bay, facing first-and-goal from the Philadelphia 7-yard line in a 2004 game at Philadelphia, hands off to Najeh Davenport around the right side. One of the Packers' big tight ends engages No. 46 for the Eagles at the line of scrimmage. Before this year, Spagnuolo never revealed No. 46?s identity to his Rams players. It’s Mikell, far lighter than his opponent, disengaging from the block and cutting down Davenport for a 1-yard loss."

"Boom, bang, bang, get out of here, and make the tackle," Spagnuolo says, taking on the voice of narrator. "I want to teach the smaller guys that size isn't a big deal, that it's about power and leverage, and if you run fast at 200 pounds and a 300-pounder is running slow, you can do that."

The Rams gave up too many long runs last season. They're expecting Mikell and fellow defensive newcomers Justin Bannan, Daniel Muir, Ben Leber and Brady Poppinga to upgrade that area.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Gibson's development at receiver. The Rams have felt better about their restraint at receiver in part because Gibson, 24, showed up for camp ready to build on a 53-catch 2010 season. Gibson and the tough, steady Amendola have been the two best receivers in camp.

"Gibby has had a great camp," Bradford said. "He looks faster than last year. He looks more confident."

Gibson's 83-yard touchdown reception against Tennessee in the Rams' preseason game Saturday night was more than twice as long as any pass he's caught in a regular-season game.

"His route running has been great, he’s picking up schemes, learning how to block and he’s more of a complete receiver than he was," said Mikell, Gibson's former teammate in Philadelphia.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Jerome Murphy's broken ankle. Bradley Fletcher and Ron Bartell arguably give St. Louis the best starting cornerback tandem in the division, at least until Patrick Peterson gets up to speed in Arizona. Depth is a concern after the Rams lost Murphy. Al Harris, 36, adds toughness and experience, but there isn't enough depth to comfortably weather another injury at the position. The Rams would be wise to monitor the waiver wire for cornerbacks and consider potential trade options as the regular season approaches.

OBSERVATION DECK

• The Rams added veteran right guard Harvey Dahl to upgrade their talent and give their offensive line an edge. NFC West fans should remember Dahl. While with Atlanta, he enraged then-49ers coach Mike Singletary to such a degree that Singletary got into a verbal sparring match with Dahl during a game. The Rams would have reason to celebrate if Dahl's mean streak rubbed off on third-year right tackle Jason Smith.

• Dahl's reputation as a brawler created an image in my mind of a player supplementing average talent with toughness. Dahl is better than that physically. He looks more like a tackle than a guard, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing about 305 pounds. He has thicker legs than Smith and has showed good athleticism in camp. McDaniels favors big guards.

• Veteran newcomers have transformed the Rams from one of the NFL's youngest teams to one of the older ones, based on average age. The team took advantage of a flooded market in free agency. Most veterans signed one-year deals without salary-cap ramifications beyond this season. With so many veterans taking one-year deals around the league, a similar market could await next offseason. Teams like the Rams can have it both ways. They're relying most heavily on a young core featuring Bradford, Smith, Rodger Saffold, James Laurinaitis, Chris Long, Robert Quinn, Fletcher and others. But they also have veteran depth.

• Cadillac Williams and Jerious Norwood are giving Jackson something he hasn't had in the recent past: veteran backups who command respect through their accomplishments. Jackson: "Yeah, coming here, they had their hands full. I think between my mentality on the field and how I felt as a player about the organization and what I would like to see, I think I kind of showed them in a way without saying it, 'Go fill the other areas of need and I’ll take care of the running back position. I can hold down the fort and when we feel comfortable enough, then go get another running back or two.' "

• Laurinaitis is seeking to become more aggressive now that he has a fuller grasp of the defense entering his third season under Spagnuolo. ESPN credited him with four tackles for loss in 2009 and eight last season. Laurinaitis wants that number to climb. "We would rather have tough, physical play where you are attacking downhill than being assignment perfect every time," he said.

• Long made an interesting observation about players the Rams have added in recent years. Several were coming off recent Super Bowl victories. Fred Robbins, Poppinga and Harris are three. Long: "I don’t think that’s an accident."

• Quinn has a chance to play about 40 percent of the defensive snaps if all goes to plan. The Rams aren't counting on him for every-down production as long as veteran James Hall remains productive. Quinn couldn't have a better mentor. Hall, 34, still goes out to practice early for one-on-one work with retired defensive tackle La'Roi Glover.

• Kendricks' addition through the draft raised questions in my mind about whether Hoomanawanui still figured prominently in the Rams' plans. He does. Bradford shot me an are-you-crazy look when I shared those thoughts with him at camp. "There is definitely a place for him," Bradford said.

• Jackson's carries per game could fluctuate more in McDaniels' offense because so much of the plan hinges upon what the opposing defense offers. Jackson: "That is exactly what this will represent."

 

[Faust]

AFC North Stock Watch

Week 2 of the preseason is in the books for the AFC North division. Let's see who's stock is rising and falling.

Falling

1. Cincinnati Bengals' starters: Cincinnati's first team is getting hammered in the preseason. The Bengals are being outscored 41-10 in the first half when starters get a majority of playing time. That is inexcusable for the preseason. Starting slow is a habit the Bengals need to break. This team is too inexperience and not good enough this year to overcome these kind of deficits in the regular season.

2. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton: Cincinnati's second-round pick added two more interceptions Sunday night against New York. One interception was a drop and deflection from receiver A.J. Green, and the second was a pass that sailed too high. Dalton also had a poor exchange with tailback Cedric Benson that resulted in a fumble and a 17-yard loss. The growing pains continue for Dalton. He threw for 86 yards, two interceptions and had a 16.4 passer rating against the Jets.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line: Via injuries and inconsistent play, the Steelers' offensive line remains a work in progress. Two left tackles -- Jonathan Scott and Marcus Gilbert -- both went down with injuries in Pittsburgh's 24-14 preseason win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Pittsburgh's offensive line also is having trouble keeping players off quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He played well but was sacked twice and hit several more times by Philadelphia.

Rising

1. Steelers' defense: Pittsburgh's first-team defense looked in midseason form with a healthy Troy Polamalu in the lineup. The Steelers baffled Eagles quarterback Michael Vick and forced three interceptions. Pittsburgh treated the first half like a regular-season game and was fast and physical. The Steelers return all 11 starters from last year, which is extremely valuable following the NFL lockout.

2. Browns quarterback Colt McCoy: Cleveland's second-year quarterback continued his solid preseason with a three-touchdown performance against the Detroit Lions. McCoy didn't throw for many yards (96). But he ran the offense efficiently for the second straight week.

3. Ravens receiver Lee Evans: It was a successful Ravens debut for Evans, who was recently acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills. He tied for the team lead with three catches for 68 yards in Baltimore's 31-13 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. The biggest play came on a hookup between Flacco and Evans for 43 yards. But Evans not only showed deep speed, he showed versatility. Evans' two other receptions came on a quick slant and out route for first downs.

 

[Faust]

Rivers, Chargers look ready; Burress excites Jets fans

The second weekend of preseason football isn't necessarily just a dress rehearsal. The game plans crafted by coaches aren't as comprehensive as the ones used during the regular season, but they provide us with a glimpse at which teams and players have the goods to get it done.

Here's what I learned from watching Sunday's games:

» Philip Rivers is on top of his game. The three-time Pro Bowl selection has picked up where he left off a season ago as the league's leading passer. Rivers connected on 8 of 11 passes for 92 yards with a touchdown against the Cowboys. He showed outstanding poise and awareness in the pocket, and seemed unfazed by Dallas' pressure. His keen understanding of blitz and coverage resulted in big plays due to his ability to hit the hot receiver in open windows. Rivers also distributed the ball to five different receivers on a variety of throws, which prevented the Cowboys from condensing the field with tight coverage. With Rivers in a good rhythm, the Chargers scored 10 points on three possessions and continued to exhibit their trademark explosiveness when he is at the helm.

» The Cowboys' running game is in much better shape behind Felix Jones and a rebuilt offensive line. Jones was terrific against the Chargers on the way to tallying 56 rushing yards on only seven attempts. His combination of speed, burst and agility allows him to slip through small creases between the tackles despite the presence of defenders in the hole. Jones flashed surprising power on contact, and was able to run through arm tackles that typically result in negative runs. While Jones is to be commended, the Cowboys' offensive line is much improved over last year's version. The addition of several young players -- Tyron Smith, Bill Nagy and David Arkin -- has added size, strength and athleticism to a line that failed to consistently create a push at the point of attack a season ago. Though their inexperience will lead to some miscues, there is no doubt that the infusion of talent to the Cowboys' offensive line will lead to better production in the running game.

» Rob Ryan will have to scale back his "boom or bust" blitz tactics. The Cowboys' defensive coordinator wants to get after the passer with aggressive rush schemes, but he doesn't have cover corners in place to hold up under that approach. The team's top corners, Mike Jenkins and Terence Newman, are out nursing injuries and their replacements struggle in isolated matchups. In addition, they repeatedly made mental mistakes that allowed receivers to run freely through zones. Against the Chargers, Rivers repeatedly found open receivers against the blitz-heavy approach and his ability to punish the Cowboys for bringing pressure forced Ryan to alter his tactics early in the game. The return of Jenkins and Newman should help the Cowboys fare better with the high-pressure schemes, but Ryan might be forced to reduce his blitz calls with the rest of the secondary unable to effectively hold up their end of the bargain in coverage.

» Andy Dalton is not ready to be a starter. It's still early in the preseason, but the Bengals rookie looks overwhelmed as a starting quarterback. He is coming off his second straight poor performance and he doesn't look prepared to face the speed of pro defenders nor the complex coverage thrown at him by NFL defensive coordinators. Dalton connected on only 8 of 19 pass attempts for 86 yards with two interceptions. Although he didn't look hesitant or indecisive in the pocket, he struggled with his accuracy and ball placement against tight coverage. His lack of precision resulted in tipped passes or overthrows, which were easily picked off by Jets defenders. While he led the Bengals to a score against the Jets regulars, his inability to move the offense effectively is an issue that might prompt Marvin Lewis to turn to Bruce Gradkowski as the starter when the regular season opens.

» Plaxico Burress is still rounding back into shape, but he will be a difference maker for the Jets. The 10th-year pro provided a glimpse of the playmaking skills he brings to the table during his impressive debut against the Bengals. Burress finished the night with three receptions for 66 yards, including a 26-yard touchdown on an acrobatic catch in the corner of the end zone. Although his route running was a little ragged, he flashed outstanding ball skills and athleticism in his first outing after a two-year layoff. His combination of size, strength and skill still makes him a difficult guard on the perimeter, and Mark Sanchez showed a willingness to throw the ball up to him in contested situations. While he must continue to refine the rough parts of his game, Burress displayed the kind of big-play potential the Jets envisioned when they added him to the roster early in training camp.

 

[Faust]

Fast Forward: Preseason Week 2

Excerpts:

New York Jets 27, Cincinnati 7

Plaxico Burress looked as good as a 34-year-old receiver who has been in prison for two years can look. He wasn't overly quick, but he got in space and made catches, including a diving fade grab. Burress won't be as productive as he was before he shot his career in the foot, err leg, mostly because he won't be as good in yards after the catch. He will get plenty of yards, catches and touchdowns to be worthy picking among the top 50 receivers.

Dustin Keller and backup tight end Jeff Cumberland had busy nights, making it more apparent Mark Sanchez is going to try to take the next step by using his tight ends more. The Jets' options are sleepers, but Cumberland won't be drafted in any standard leagues.

Jets rookie Bilal Powell was busy but mostly ineffective in relief of Joe McKnight. McKnight hasn't done anything to impress anyone, but he is the third back behind starter Shonn Greene and veteran LaDainian Tomlinson.

Andy Dalton and all the Bengals offensive players were real bad again. This could be the worst offense in football, which doesn't bode well for those drafting Cedric Benson.

San Diego 20, Dallas 7

Philip Rivers looked impressive as always. He has looked good enough this preseason to consider picking him before Peyton Manning, especially amid the neck issues. Rivers is going to benefit greatly from a full season of Vincent Jackson and better health from tight end Antonio Gates (foot) ... hopefully on the latter.

Ryan Mathews is making strides as a feature back. No one should really be worried about short-yardage bowling ball Mike Tolbert or rookie Jordan Todman stealing Mathews' thunder. If anything, they will merely help keep Mathews healthier than he was a year ago.

Tony Romo is getting picked a lot higher everywhere than is suggested by this fantasy writer. He didn't look good without Miles Austin or Dez Bryant making a real impact in this one. Jason Witten remained Romo's favorite short target, though.

Felix Jones continues to take advantage of rookie Demarco Murray's (hamstring) absence. Jones has been impressive in camp and games to date and is a breakout candidate after a few disappointing seasons as Marion Barber's backup. Jones is the man now.

New England 31, Tampa Bay 14

Tom Brady wasted no time getting something started with Chad Ochocinco, an outstanding sign for both of them. They have the potential to be a dynamic duo and somehow their big names aren't ridiculously inflating their draft positions.

Aaron Hernandez had another strong performance, making him a potential breakout star at the thin tight end position. The fact he isn't even the first choice at the position on his own team helps numb his perceived value.

The Pats running game looks 100 percent ready for the season. That's bad news for defenses. The absences of Shane Vereen make the depth chart go BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead and then rookie Stevan Ridley, who looked real good again. He did lose a fumble, though, so expect him to not get any of Bill Belichick's trust early in the regular season.

The Bucs showed nothing on offense, a sign they might be more likely to bust than breakout for fantasy owners this season. It is the belief here Josh Freeman will take a step back before he takes a significant step forward.

Dezmon Briscoe has been a sleeper in camp, but his quiet showing should likely keep him off fantasy draft boards.

Pittsburgh 24, Philadelphia 14

Michael Vick was really embarrassed by the Steelers defense in this one. To be fair, DeSean Jackson was a holdout and Jeremy Maclin is dealing with an illness and has yet to practice. It still cannot be encouraging if you're one of the few getting sucked in to making Vick the first quarterback off the board on draft day. You shouldn't do it, and this game against the Steelers is the latest exhibit to defend that argument.

Ronnie Brown might be the most underrated of the Eagles big offense signings. He is going to do wonders to keep the load off LeSean McCoy. Brown is merely a handcuff pick for a top-eight back, but he could be a real important one.

Ben Roethlisberger doesn't get any fantasy love outside of Pittsburgh. You could still see him slip out of the top 10 quarterbacks drafted. He is going to have one of his deeper supporting casts yet this season. Jericho Cotchery is not going to excite anyone, but he is a solid No. 3 after Mike Wallace and the venerable Hines Ward.

Isaac Redman is going to be another important handcuff option for a top 10 fantasy back in Rashard Mendenhall. There is going to be a lot of grinding out of the clock this season, most of which will have Mendenhall resting on the bench in blowouts.

Washington 16, Indianapolis 3

Roy Helu, hello! The Colts run defense was gashed by Tim Hightower, too, but Helu is the one getting drafted many rounds later and has the high ceiling long term.

Leonard Hankerson, another of our top 25 rookies to target in drafts, had a better showing this week. He could be a surprise down the stretch this season.

John Beck looked real sharp and perhaps the Redskins won't be as much of a lost cause as so many have thought. They really need someone to step forward at quarterback. Beck and Rex Grossman have both played well. It will be real interesting to see Beck develop a fuller game in preseason Week 3.

Peyton Manning (neck) is hurt enough to consider taking about his games played streak ending in Week 1 -- not to mention the owner is tweeting about Brett Favre. The Colts have looked like diddly pooh this preseason.

Dallas Clark looks healthy, which justifies picking him among the top three tight ends.

Miami 20, Carolina 10

Chad Henne looked a lot more capable, spreading the ball around his primary threats in Brandon Marshall, Davone Bess and Anthony Fasano. There are plenty of threats in this Dolphins offense for Henne to be a viable option in two-quarterback fantasy leagues.

Daniel Thomas looked a lot more capable in this one, as well. He will still be the change-of-pace back for Reggie Bush, but if the Dolphins can get this offense going, there could be enough goal-line chances to make Thomas a 10-touchdown rusher.

Cam Newton didn't look impressive, staying real conservative with short passes again. The good news, for Newton hopefuls, is Jimmy Clausen showed nothing either. And Derek Anderson didn't even play. Anderson should start, but fantasy writers don't run football teams.

Jeremy Shockey showed up some, perhaps a sign the Panthers are going to really rely on the tight end. Greg Olsen had a big first week. I'd still stay away from Shockey in drafts.

Baltimore 31, Kansas City 13

Lee Evans didn't waste time making his presence felt for the Ravens. He is going to be a real important downfield target for emerging Joe Flacco. Evans is a nice veteran sleeper, especially since all of those Derrick Mason throws have to go to someone and Anquan Boldin is sure to be doubled on the other side.

Matt Cassel and the Chiefs offense didn't show much again, but Dexter McCluster could be an intriguing sophomore scat back. We have yet to see much from Steve Breaston or rookie Jonathan Baldwin (broken thumb). McCluster might be the one to surprise us, depending on whether he is receiver or running back eligible in your league.

Baldwin should be sliding down draft lists, not for injury or lack of talent. He got into a fight with Thomas Jones and has the stigma of being a diva. The Chiefs are sure to work him in more slowly than most NFL wideouts.

Detroit 30, Cleveland 28

Colt McCoy might have done more for his fantasy value these past two weeks than any other player. He tossed another three touchdowns, two to backup tight end Evan Moore. Moore could be a sleeper if anything happens to primary option Ben Watson. The Browns just might have the real McCoy.

Rookie Greg Little reeled in a McCoy touchdown, looking capable to making a fantasy impact this season. It is more likely we get better value out of the Browns' third-year receivers, though: Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi (foot). Moore is a third-year receiver at the tight end spot.

Montario Hardesty (knee) is moving up the depth chart without having to play yet. Brandon Jackson has shown nothing as Peyton Hillis' backup. Hardesty will get game action Thursday, though, and should be intriguing to watch, especially with the projection here that Hillis pounds himself into injury this season.

Matthew Stafford enjoyed another effective outing, looking like he could be the best of the fantasy backup quarterback picks. He won't be drafted in the top 12, but a full season of health in Year 3 will allow him to finish there.

Jacksonville 15, Atlanta 13

Jacquizz Rodgers enjoyed a coming out party. He is buried beneath a workhorse, Michael Turner, and a bulldozer, Jason Snelling, but Rodgers gives the spark of speed as a change of pace. He could be a factor when the vets are a bit banged up later in the season.

The Jags QBs did not impress, but it is becoming clear Blaine Gabbert is no real threat to David Garrard. That's good news to third-year receiver Mike Thomas and tight end Marcedes Lewis. It is tough breaking out or staying elite with a rookie passer.

Harry Douglas and Julio Jones both had good outings again, making them potential sleepers in what could be a great passing offense. Matt Ryan is ready to take that next big step into the NFL elite. Someone is going to have to emerge behind Roddy White.

Green Bay 28, Arizona 20

Bad news for defenses: The Packers worked a no-huddle offense and both Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley proved healthy this week. It is very likely the Super Bowl champions are going to be better this year -- a scary thought but an opportunity to take chances on injury-risk sleepers in Grant and Finley. Oh, and that no-huddle? Yeah, the Packers could become the modern-day Buffalo Bills with their fast-break offense.

With the Colts' Manning still ailing, Vick looking mediocre to date in the preseason and no one buying 100 percent into Brady, Rodgers is perhaps the only QB certain to go in Round 1 of your drafts.

Beanie Wells moves up the draft charts with the devastating season-ending injury to Ryan Williams (torn patellar tendon). Williams was going to be an outstanding sleeper and a potential future star. Now his career is in jeopardy and Wells will only have to contend with the likes of return man LaRod Stephens-Howlings and rookie Alfonso Smith.

The Cardinals did the right thing getting ahead of the curve on the revival of Larry Fitzgerald's stardom. They locked him up with a large extension, perhaps knowing after this upcoming season with Kevin Kolb is going to raise Fitzgerald's stock. He probably should still get picked among the top five receivers in the NFL, despite coming off a subpar season by his standards.

St. Louis 17, Tennessee 16

The Titans just might be ready to hunker down against the holdout Johnson because of what they have behind him. Javon Ringer is capable of being a starter and rookie Jamie Harper had a smashing coming-out party this weekend. They are going to rise up draft lists until Johnson finally decides to report.

Donnie Avery (knee) caught a TD pass and looked healthy, adding to the amazing logjam among Rams receivers. Danny Amendola, Mike Sims-Walker, Brandon Gibson (83-yard TD), Danario Alexander, Marty Gilyard and Greg Salas all look capable of taking Sam Bradford up a tier or two among fantasy QBs. It is going to be interesting to see who starts and who gets cut. Avery might be the most exciting of those options and he is getting picked behind almost all of them.

Jake Locker came on earlier than expected for Matt Hasselbeck and didn't impress. Hasselbeck looked really good, meanwhile, making it more and more likely Locker will spend the entire year on the pine. Locker looks undraftable in fantasy.

Cadillac Williams looked good again as Steven Jackson's backup. He is a solid handcuff and Jackson's age and history of workload could make Williams a factor again midseason.

San Francisco 17, Oakland 3

Alex Smith looked a bit better than completely worthless this go around and Braylon Edwards made some nice grabs. The star of the show in this stinker was clearly rookie Kendall Hunter. He could really shoot up draft lists if Frank Gore's unhappiness spirals him downward, or into a trade. Hunter looks capable of being a factor in this league, perhaps as early as this season. Hunter might not be ahead of Anthony Dixon yet as Gore's backup, but Hunter's ceiling is a lot higher.

The Raiders offense looked bad again behind Jason Campbell, whose stats actually looked better than the true results. Third-year receiver Darruis Heyward-Bey actually caught a few balls, though.

Houston 27, New Orleans 14

Pierre Thomas still starts, but Mark Ingram is still going to be an impact player. The Saints famously like to rotate their backs and Ingram got the goal-line touchdown. He is going to be the more productive fantasy option, even if Thomas holds the starting role.

Arian Foster looked plenty worthy of being a No. 1 back in fantasy, but Ben Tate's smashing success in this one suggests Foster just might have something to take a chunk out of his numbers. Tate looked like the game-breaker that made him a potential starter over Foster last training camp. It should be an interesting combo to watch. If you draft Foster, you must get Tate -- perhaps the most important handcuff in fantasy.

With Marques Colston (knee) coming off microfracture surgery, we all need to be paying attention to the likes of TE Jimmy Graham, WR Robert Meachem and WR Lance Moore. They are all sleepers and they all made contributions in Colston's absence this weekend.

Denver 24, Buffalo 10

It might be a case of showcasing quarterbacks for a trade, but the Broncos have put not only Kyle Orton, but now Brady Quinn ahead of Tim Tebow on the depth chart. Quinn has been impressive and is better than some of the mediocre starters in the NFL right now. Quinn could start for Oakland and Cincinnati at least, and perhaps Miami, Jacksonville, Washington and Seattle -- maybe more.

Don't worry, Tebow fans. This downgrading is merely making Tebow affordable. He is going to be a factor in all fantasy leagues before the end of the season, guaranteed.

C.J. Spiller had an opportunity this week to pass Fred Jackson on the depth chart and become a fantasy sleep all over again in Year 2. It was not a good effort, though. Like Tebow, though, perhaps it just makes him more affordable to us bargain-bin sifters in the latter rounds.

Orton was sharp and Brandon Lloyd was picking up where he left off a year ago. He is going to be a decent value after being the No. 1 scoring receiver a year ago.

Eric Decker could be a nice surprise player later this season. He was highly regarded in college at Minnesota. He needs to pass disappointing Eddie Royal on the depth chart, though.

Ryan Fitzpatrick did not look good. He is a bit overrated in drafts right now. The Bills offense is going to be bad, despite the progress Fitzpatrick made with Steve Johnson a year ago.

Minnesota 20, Seattle 7

Donovan McNabb looked real sharp. He is perfectly suited for this situation in Minnesota. He is going to make everyone around him better, even No. 1 overall fantasy pick Adrian Peterson.

Rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph caught some of the passes that are going to be going to sleeper Visanthe Shiancoe. McNabb loves using his tight ends and both of these guys are likely to outperform their draft position.

Tarvaris Jackson looked terrible and has to be giving way to Charlie Whitehurst, who played very well again.

The Seahawks receivers were underwhelming, but it could be a function of the new system getting put in -- not to mention the inability of Jackson.

 

[Faust]

Gordon: Avery's comeback gets Rams attack up to speed

Wide receiver Donnie Avery is back. And so is the excitement in the Rams offense.

That was the best news gleaned from the Rams rather uneven preseason performance against Tennessee on Saturday night.

Avery can run again. He claimed a 4.25 time in the 40-yard dash during his recovery from knee surgery.

Then he showed that burst against the Titans, blowing past their defense on his 19-yard touchdown reception.

This is an element the team missed dearly last season, after Avery suffered a season-ending knee surgery. Mark Clayton arrived in a trade, flashed his own big-play skills . . . but then he, too, suffered a season-ending injury.

Those casualties hamstrung the Rams offense last season. Quarterback Sam Bradford stayed in ball-control passing mode most of the season at the behest of then-coordinator Pat Shurmur.

This season, new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels hopes to get the ball downfield with Bradford and the much-improved receiving corps.

Bradford had the lowest average completion among starting quarterbacks last year -- Ram receivers had a 9.9-yards-per-catch average last year -- while McDaniels' receivers in Denver were at 12.9, wrote Sports Illustrated NFL columnist Peter King. Take a look at the Rams receivers, and you don't see a proven deep threat among them. But Brandon Lloyd was roster flotsam in Denver before last year, and he finished with an 18.8-yard average on 77 catches. It can be done.

Clayton is still recovering from his injury, but it appears Avery has made it back from his repairs. Maybe, just maybe, he could become the field-stretching target the Rams envisioned when the team drafted him instead of DeSean Jackson.

Averys persistence in rehabilitation impressed the organization.

Im really proud of Donnie and happy for him, Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said during his postgame news conference. Id see him in the training room all last year -- thats not easy to do. And it was in a preseason game he got hurt. So he was out the entire season, all 16 games. His teammates are celebrating when they win; Im sure he feels just as bad when we didnt.

And then he has a little setback in training camp, but he bounces back and played the way he did tonight. It was good. Encouraged.

With Avery back to full speed, the Rams have eight solid job candidates at receiver. Spagnuolo and McDaniels will sort through the current mix of size, shiftiness and speed to settle on the 2011 corps.

Brandon Gibson, the teams No. 2 receiver by default last season, turned heads with his 83-yard reception on the opening offensive play Saturday night. He is not a big-time deep threat, but he offers decent wheels to go with decent size.

During in-game interviews, Gibson gushed about the new offense.

Thats what this offense brings to the table, a lot of explosive plays and hopefully we can continue to build on that, he said. In order to keep the defense honest, youve got to take shots. Thats a well-known fact, so I think were going to build on that as well.

Newcomer Mike Sims-Walker caught one big pass over the middle, but failed to corral another that turned into a Titans interception.

It felt good to be out here, Walker said Saturday. Ive got some rust to knock off still. I havent practiced much and its kind of aggravating not being able to do what I want, but it was good to get out of here and get hit again, catch a ball or two and get your feet wet.

Those three receivers and ever-reliable Danny Amendola appear to be Bradfords top targets for this season. Behind them, the Rams have rangy playmaker Danario Alexander, a resurgent Mardy Gilyard, sturdy rookie Greg Salas and third-round pick Austin Pettis.

Gilyard has flashed promise in both kick returning and kick coverage. His explosiveness was also evident with his one reception Saturday; he has the wheels to turn short passes into major gains.

Salas got a lot of late-game work against the Titans. He dropped one pass, but came back and made a terrific catch and carried a defender past the first-down marker. That was why the Rams drafted him.

While the Titans appeared to lose interest during garbage time of this game, the Rams receivers were making the most of their long-awaited repetitions. No. 3 quarterback Thaddeus Lewis did the team a huge favor by throwing the ball around to multiple targets.

Id just use Greg Salas as an example, Spagnuolo told reporters Sunday. He didnt play in the first game, so we certainly wanted to amp up his reps.

And wed like to get a number of those receivers more reps going forward, but we dont know how many plays in a game the offense is going to get. It certainly was less this week than it was last week, just by the nature of the way it went.

So were going to have to make sure that in practice we get them to them. I think all the guys realize that every rep, whether its on the practice field, in the Dome, away at Kansas City or away at Jacksonville is going to be really important.

The energy this competition is generating is palpable. The receivers keep trying to one-up each other.

As Avery works to get a leg up on his rivals, the whole offense benefits from the job race. Thanks to his (thus far) successful comeback, it appears this team will be a lot more fun to watch this season.

 

[Faust]

On the Steelers: Dwyer shrinks to occasion

Jonathan Dwyer reported to training camp a little over three weeks ago looking every bit like a nose tackle. Trouble is, Dwyer is a running back, and the way he showed up at Saint Vincent College, it's a wonder coach Mike Tomlin did not send him running down Route 30.

Strength/conditioning coach Garrett Giemont took care of the running part. He ran Dwyer for three weeks, and two things happened that have put Dwyer back in the running to make a contribution to the Steelers. He lost 20 pounds and now looks more like the 239 they have next to his name on the roster, and rookie halfback Baron Batch's season ended with a torn ACL.

Thursday night at Heinz Field, Dwyer led the Steelers with 44 yards on 13 carries and also played some fullback and looked OK doing that. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians has been experimenting in the backfield, using Dwyer and Isaac Redman at fullback as a possible answer to the missing No. 2 tight end, where H-back David Johnson could wind up.

"It's something they wanted me to do, see if I could do it," Dwyer said of playing fullback. "I said I would, just showing them what else I could do."

Dwyer insists he had to block at Georgia Tech, where he was the star running back who averaged 6.24 yards a carry, ran for 3,226 yards and scored 35 touchdowns in three seasons.

"We still had to block on the backside and on toss sweeps, stuff like that," Dwyer said.

Said Redman: "Dwyer looked pretty good. He had a couple of carries from the fullback spot. He looked pretty powerful."

Dwyer, drafted ahead of Antonio Brown in the sixth round by the Steelers last year, blamed himself and the lockout for packing on the pounds. Besides his cardio workouts at camp, he spoke with a nutritionist about eating properly.

"I trained for a long time and then, during the lockout, I rested my body, gained weight and just messed up," Dwyer said. "But it's getting better now; I'm losing weight every day, improving every week."

If he knows that Batch's injury likely opened a spot for him on the roster, Dwyer did not say so.

"That was very unfortunate. He's a good player, and it's tough not to see him out there for us. I wish he were out there."

Quick hits

• It was hard to determine how the Steelers offensive line played Thursday because of all the moving around after the knee injuries to left tackles Jonathan Scott and rookie Marcus Gilbert. Quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich both came under pressure and wiggled away from some of it. Roethlisberger was sacked on the first drive, but that was minimized by the facemask penalty on the play. Two linemen also had holding penalties on that first drive -- Gilbert and Ramon Foster, who started at left guard.

Roethlisberger was sacked again on the second drive, even though he was not brought down and got off the pass. The officials ruled that defensive end Jason Babin had the quarterback "in the grasp" and ruled him down. That's a phrase we haven't heard much for the past decade, but look for it to happen more often this season because of the new emphasis on safety. It could hurt quarterbacks such as Roethlisberger and Philadelphia's Michael Vick who are escape artists.

Leftwich also was sacked, making it three sacks in the first half.

• Dennis Dixon completed 8 of 11 passes in the second half for 90 yards, and Charlie Batch did not play. The Steelers likely were not "showcasing" Dixon for a possible trade. He needed the work -- he spent the 2010 season on injured reserve with a knee injury after starting and winning the first two games of Roethlisberger's suspension.

• Jerricho Cotchery looks like a great pickup. He plays the game like Hines Ward, and, while there would seem to be no room for him to play much if Emmanuel Sanders returns to full health, they will work him in.

• Antonio Brown is playing like Mike Wallace, who had just one pass thrown to him Thursday night and caught none. Wallace has one catch for 3 yards in two preseason games, but that is of little concern.

• Steelers corners had a better game than Eagles corners, the biggest upset of the night. One of the new ones, Donovan Warren, played a lot of cornerback in the first half. He has had a nice camp and has an outside shot to bump one of the other corners off a roster spot.

Warren opted for the draft after his junior season at Michigan because he believed he would be drafted in the top three rounds. Draft analysts and the NFL advisory board that issues recommendations to juniors on when they might be selected agreed with him. Instead, he went undrafted and signed with the New York Jets as a free agent. The Jets cut him, did not carry him on their practice squad, and he was nowhere last season. The Steelers signed him in January for this season, and he is making a strong statement after three weeks of camp and two preseason games.

The Steelers usually keep six cornerbacks and four safeties. The four safeties are Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Ryan Mundy and Will Allen. There are eight cornerbacks for six seats: Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, William Gay, Keenan Lewis, Crezdon Butler, rookies Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen, and Warren. If they keep Warren and the two rookies, two veterans must go.

 

[Faust]

Observation deck: Bears-Giants

Observations from the Bears 41-13 preseason loss to the New York Giants on "Monday Night Football":

Last October, the Giants slapped 10 sacks on the Chicago Bears.

Monday night, they didn't.

That's probably the most encouraging thing I can say about the Bears loss Monday night at New Meadowlands Stadium. This is not meant as (a total) back-handed compliment. In all sincerity, the Bears' first-team offensive line rebounded nicely from last week's four-sack outing and probably isn't in danger of the kind of shakeup a poor performance in this game could have generated.

Tackles J'Marcus Webb and Gabe Carimi were each called for a false start, but I thought Carimi, especially, held his own against Giants defensive end Justin Tuck. The first-team offensive line played into the third quarter but allowed only one sack. Even that instance seemed more the fault of Cutler, who escaped the pocket but then slid to the ground rather than throw the ball away.

Stranger things have happened, but the Bears would be justified in keeping this offensive line together for at least another week. On a night when many people will overreact to a mostly meaningless preseason score, I also think:

1. Receiver Roy Williams needs to get his act together. His drop of Cutler's first third-down pass of the night, inexplicably undetected until Giants coach Tom Coughlin challenged it, was indicative of the performances he's put forth recently in practice. His second third-down opportunity was more difficult but still could have been caught.

Regardless, how much could Cutler possibly trust Williams at this point? And will the Bears keep him in the starting lineup or at least give Earl Bennett more repetitions? There is no doubt about Bennett's connection with Cutler. He targeted Bennett five times, connecting for three catches and 58 yards.

2. BREAKING: Tailback Matt Forte is fast. Forte put his speed on display during the first-quarter screen pass he took across the field and down the left sideline for 42 yards. That's the kind of (dare I say) Marshall Faulk-like open-field running he brings to the Mike Martz offense.

3. Goal-to-go woes. We've chronicled the Bears' ineffectiveness in goal-to-goal situations over the past few years, and it's worth noting two more failures Monday.

In the first quarter, Forte managed 2 yards on first-and-goal at the 7. The Bears wound up throwing on second and third downs before settling for a 23-yard Robbie Gould field goal.

The Bears signed free agent Marion Barber for these kinds of situations, but in the third quarter, Barber failed on three consecutive runs to push the ball into the end zone. The last attempt was on fourth down at the 1-yard line. Barber still runs hard, but nothing requires more power than a goal-line play.

4. A punting competition? The Bears signed free agent Adam Podlesh to a five-year contract worth $10 million, and almost half of that total is scheduled to be paid out in the next 12 months. You don't commit that kind of money to a punter who isn't a lock to make the team, so it was surprising to hear ESPN announcers describe Podlesh's punting battle with Spencer Lanning based on discussions with Bears coaches.

Lanning has had a nice summer, and I wouldn't blame a blocked second-quarter punt on him. But it would be a stunner if Podlesh weren't the Bears' punter to start the season.

5. Devin Hester's night. It was an interesting one, to say the least. He broke open down the right sideline in the first quarter for a 37-yard reception, but it could have gone for a touchdown if Cutler had got it out in front of him a little more. Later on the drive, however, Hester slipped near the goal line and couldn't reach a pass that otherwise would have gone for a score. He finished with three receptions for 46 yards.

6. Giving up 41 points: I know the final score was ugly, but the Bears defense that will spend regular-season games on the field didn't provide too many causes for alarm as far as I was concerned. The Giants offense went three-and-out on its first two possessions. Linebacker Lance Briggs didn't play and middle linebacker Brian Urlacher left after four series. Not much to see here.

 

[Faust]

Observation deck: Giants-Bears

Observations from the Giants 41-13 preseason victory over the Chicago Bears on "Monday Night Football":

We preach all the time that preseason games don't matter, but so few people really take it to heart. Fans like to hang on every play, to wonder whether or not it matters that Eli Manning doesn't look sharp, or to try and figure out whether or not Brandon Jacobs deserves more carries than Ahmad Bradshaw. But in the end, there are no accurate judgments to be made off of these games and the only thing that actually matters in any of them is that nobody gets seriously hurt.

And that's why, regardless of the final score or the potentially very encouraging way the rest of the team played during the game itself, Monday night's victory over the Bears was a disaster for the New York Giants.

Shortly before halftime, Giants starting cornerback Terrell Thomas collided with Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and limped off the field. At halftime, Giants coach Tom Coughlin revealed to ESPN's Suzy Kolber than Thomas had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and would miss the entire season.

This is devastating news, first and foremost, for Thomas, one of the very good guys and leaders on the Giants' roster and a player who has one year left before free agency. Thoughts go out to him, and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

But it's also awful news for the Giants, who earlier this preseason lost cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Bruce Johnson to major injuries (and later in this game saw Brian Witherspoon carted off with a knee injury). Amukamara is out for at least a couple of months, Johnson for the year and now a team that was already struggling for depth at cornerback has lost one of its starters. They've gone from hoping Aaron Ross could be a reliable No. 3 corner and play as their extra defensive back in passing situations to hoping Ross can be a reliable starter and probably using safety Deon Grant in that role as they did last year. The Giants weren't deep to begin with, and they came out of their second preseason game with a major hole on the roster and in the starting lineup.

So that's all that matters from this game, period. But if you want to know what else I saw that might have a chance to matter down the road if by some coincidence regular-season developments jive with preseason performance in specific areas, here you go.

1. On the bright side, Ross looked very good. He knocked down two Jay Cutler passes intended for Roy Williams on third down early in the game. He made another play on a receiver later to prevent a touchdown (though he may have pushed off on that coverage). He made a nice tackle on Marion Barber behind the line of scrimmage in the third quarter. You could do worse than Ross as a fill-in cornerback when one of your starters gets hurt, and it's encouraging that he played well. But again, the Giants were figuring on Ross as their third corner, not one of their top two.

2. Oh, and X-rays on William Beatty's foot were negative. Which is a good thing. Beatty didn't have to take on Julius Peppers all night as we expected, since the Bears moved Peppers over to the other side to terrorize Kareem McKenzie and the Giants' overmatched tight ends. Beatty looked better overall in this game, holding his own and keeping his man off the quarterback, though he still looks a little grabby to me. You don't like to see a left tackle reaching quite as much as Beatty does to try and prevent the edge rush. He's got to do a better job of getting his whole body in front of his guy, or he's going to be a walking holding penalty.

3. Giants' special teams looked better. Devin Thomas is really showing his speed and athleticism on kick returns. Matt Dodge and Steve Weatherford both bombed huge punts all night. There was good kick coverage, including a big tackle by receiver Victor Cruz as he continues to work to try and secure a spot in the receiving corps. Jerrel Jernigan doesn't show much on punt returns, but the Giants had so many problems on special teams last year that if they can get it down to just one, Coughlin is going to be ecstatic.

4. How did those receivers keep getting open between Corey Webster and Kenny Phillips? It happened twice in the first half, and Cutler hit it for a big gain each time. It looked as though the receiver got by Webster and Phillips didn't get over in time to help. There are three possibilities that I can see: 1. Webster let his man go by him without making sure he had the safety help; 2. Phillips was supposed to help but was slow getting over; 3. Phillips went with the tight end up the seam after the tight end got by middle linebacker Jonathan Goff, which would kind of lead back to (1.) though with some blame to be shared by Goff. Either way, I'm certain it'll be discussed in detail in meetings this week. The Giants will obviously need mistake-free play from Webster and Phillips with as vital a piece as Thomas now missing from the secondary.

5. Victor Cruz, preseason wonder. Domenik Hixon had the big touchdown catch, but I really believe the Giants are trying to bring Hixon along slowly as he's coming back from his knee injury. And if that's the case, it opens up opportunities for guys like Cruz to get more reps at wide receiver. Cruz lined up with the starters in the team's three-receiver sets at the start of the game, and he did a lot of good, athletic, impressive things, just like he did last year in the preseason. As long as he keeps contributing on special teams, he's a good bet to make the roster. And if he does and Hixon is still being babied come the regular season, Cruz should get a serious chance to show whether or not his preseason success can carry into the regular season this time.

6. Some notes on the sure things. Manning looked fine, though I wouldn't put him in John Beck's class as a preseason quarterback. (Easy, folks... I kid because I love...) Brandon Jacobs looked especially spry on his touchdown run. And how about Justin Tuck's downfield tackle on Matt Forte? Tuck's a beast, but I couldn't help thinking a linebacker or a safety should have made that unnecessary. Overall, the Giants' defense looked very good, especially when it came time to keep the Bears out of the end zone in goal-line situations. Mark Herzlich's interception on the fourth-down play late in the fourth quarter was the most fun of the stops.

7. Still could use a tight end. Not that this is a Priority No. 1 at this point, but Travis Beckum and Bear Pascoe have been fully underwhelming at a key position for the Giants' passing game. We saw Manning audible at the line a few times and look to check it down, but with Steve Smith in Philadelphia and Kevin Boss in Oakland, he's still looking for reliable options to serve as safety valves. There was a third-down throw on which he and Mario Manningham couldn't connect that made you think he missed Smith. But two more preseason games to go and work still to be done, as is the case with every team.

 

[Faust]

Preseason action warrants attention in fantasy football

The NFL preseason isn't going to significantly alter the fantasy value of most players, unless of course your name is Ryan Williams and you suffered a season-ending knee injury. But just because most fantasy stars don't see a full compliment of plays at this time of year doesn't mean there aren't plenty of fantasy implications you can't pluck from the contests. With that in mind, here's a look at the most fantasy-relevant events that occurred in Week 2 of preseason action.

Tim Hightower and Roy Helu look strong: Aside from learning that the Indianapolis Colts still can't stop the run, we also found out that Hightower and Helu could turn into a nice one-two punch for the coach Mike Shanahan. The former Cardinals runner racked up 70 yards and a touchdown, while the rookie posted 101 yards and a ridiculous 7.2 yards-per-carry average. Hightower is the Redskins runner to target in drafts, but Helu should also be drafted in all leagues with 10-plus teams.

Felix Jones looks good for the Cowboys: A preseason sleeper on NFL.com, Jones has been impressive in preseason work. Against the Chargers, he racked 56 yards on seven carries while showing the type of explosiveness and elusiveness that made him such a prominent selection in the 2008 NFL Draft. With Marion Barber out of the mix, Jones is in a position to put up the best totals of his career. Right now, he's a solid flex starter with the upside to be a superb No. 2 fantasy runner.

Mathews gets the start over Tolbert: Fantasy owners shouldn't take into account who starts and who comes off the bench in this backfield. Ryan Mathews rushed for 35 yards and one touchdown against the Cowboys, but he continued to give way to Mike Tolbert on passing downs and in the red zone. Even when Tolbert fumble deep in Dallas territory, coach Norv Turner still went right back to him. If you're looking for Mathews to break out this season, well, it's not going to happen.

Plaxico Burress returns to the field: In his first NFL action since 2008, Burress hauled in three passes for 66 yards and scored one touchdown on a 26-yard pass from Mark Sanchez. While he is going to need some time to shake off the rust, Burress is clearly going to see a prominent role for the Jets right out of the gate. If nothing else, he's going to give Sanchez a big target in the red zone. Look for the veteran to be drafted as a No. 4 wideout, but he could turn into a No. 3.

Spiller starts ahead of Fred Jackson: Much like the situation in San Diego, C.J. Spiller and Jackson are going to share the carries this season. Spiller was unimpressive, though, as four of his 10 rushes went for no gain or negative yardage, which was a problem for him as a rookie. It doesn't help that the Bills field a questionable offensive line at best, but that's part of the reason neither of these backs should be seen more than a potential flex starter across the board.

Tim Tebow is off the fantasy radar: At least, he's off the radar for now. Kyle Orton is entrenched as the Broncos' No. 1 quarterback, and Brady Quinn came in second against the Chiefs. Reports suggest that both signal-callers have looked better than Tebow, who appears to be a work in progress. So while he might have the biggest fantasy upside of this trio, he's going to have a tough time making an impact, at least early in the season, while holding a clipboard on the bench.

The Law Firm holds court in Tampa: The Patriots backfield is more crowded than a Waffle House near a fat farm, but Benjarvus Green-Ellis still looks like the starter. He saw almost half of the offensive snaps after two quarters against the Buccaneers, finishing with 51 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Still, it's hard to draft him as more than a flex starter with Danny Woodhead also in the mix and rookie Stevan Ridley showing some serious skills during preseason work.

Colt McCoy ... a deep sleeper? It can be argued that McCoy has been one of the most impressive quarterbacks in the league this preseason. He completed 10-of-18 passes for 96 yards and three touchdowns against the Lions, which was good for a solid 152.1 passer rating. McCoy, who has spent time with Brett Favre learning the West Coast offense, is looking more like a late-round flier in fantasy leagues. His development is also good for rookie Greg Little, who has sleeper appeal.

Reggie Bush still the starter: I'm not sure which Bush the Dolphins have seen over the last few years, but apparently the team thinks he can be a featured back at the pro level. I tend to disagree, as the USC product has been about as durable as a glass vase dropped from the Empire State building. In the end, I wouldn't be shocked if Daniel Thomas, not Bush, led the Fins in backfield carries and fantasy points. But right now, neither should be drafted as more than a third option.

Cedric Benson could be in trouble: At the risk having people in the Queen City upset with, the Bengals, well aren't very good. Andy Dalton looked like a deer in the headlines at times against the Jets, and the offensive line resembled a bunch of turnstiles against the aggressive Jets defense. All of this is bad news for Benson, who rushed for 14 yards on seven carries and isn't likely to get much help from his teammates this year. He's someone to avoid outside of a flex spot.

Jahvid Best suffers a concussion?: The fantasy appeal of Best has been on the rise ever since the Lions lost rookie Mikel Leshoure for the season. Now the featured back for coach Jim Schwartz, he's clearly a No. 2 option for owners. However, the fact that he was tested for a concussion during the contest and was held out of Sunday's practice is a reminder that Best is not the most durable back in the world. And with Leshoure out of the mix, he doesn't have a great handcuff behind him.

Colston makes preseason debut: Marques Colston, who is coming off multiple knee surgeries, saw his first action of 2011 against the Texans. The veteran caught the one pass thrown in his direction, but it was Lance Moore and Devery Henderson who started at wide receiver. Clearly, the Saints are being cautious with Colston during the preseason. And while he didn't look to be hindered, the fact that he's endured so many knee problems makes him a legitimate bust candidate. Draft with caution.

 

[Grahamburn]

It's like opening a present every time I see that Faust has posted in this thread.

 

[saintfool]

Colston makes preseason debut: Marques Colston, who is coming off multiple knee surgeries, saw his first action of 2011 against the Texans. The veteran caught the one pass thrown in his direction, but it was Lance Moore and Devery Henderson who started at wide receiver. Clearly, the Saints are being cautious with Colston during the preseason. And while he didn't look to be hindered, the fact that he's endured so many knee problems makes him a legitimate bust candidate. Draft with caution.

funny, i was reading just the other day about how devery might get cut because he's already disappointing. arrington is having another good camp. morgan has had another game with a touchdown.

 

[Faust]

Colston makes preseason debut: Marques Colston, who is coming off multiple knee surgeries, saw his first action of 2011 against the Texans. The veteran caught the one pass thrown in his direction, but it was Lance Moore and Devery Henderson who started at wide receiver. Clearly, the Saints are being cautious with Colston during the preseason. And while he didn't look to be hindered, the fact that he's endured so many knee problems makes him a legitimate bust candidate. Draft with caution.

funny, i was reading just the other day about how devery might get cut because he's already disappointing. arrington is having another good camp. morgan has had another game with a touchdown.

saintfool - keep us posted on what you are hearing and seeing from the Saints camp in preseason - always appreciate the local feedback, and also feel free to post any links that you have from the local beat writers!

 

[PhantomJB]

Colston makes preseason debut: Marques Colston, who is coming off multiple knee surgeries, saw his first action of 2011 against the Texans. The veteran caught the one pass thrown in his direction, but it was Lance Moore and Devery Henderson who started at wide receiver. Clearly, the Saints are being cautious with Colston during the preseason. And while he didn't look to be hindered, the fact that he's endured so many knee problems makes him a legitimate bust candidate. Draft with caution.

funny, i was reading just the other day about how devery might get cut because he's already disappointing. arrington is having another good camp. morgan has had another game with a touchdown.

Would love to see a link since it seems to conflict with earlier reports from the Sun Herald that he was doing well...http://www.sunherald.com/2011/08/09/3338102/henderson-quietly-having-good.html

 

[Faust]

Postcard from camp: Browns

Three Observations

1. The Browns are very young. Veteran linebacker Scott Fujita tells a funny story about the first defensive huddle of training camp. "Three of the guys, I didn't even know who they were," Fujita says. Such is life in the post-lockout NFL, where new regimes and giant rosters have many teams shifting bodies in and out.

Fujita says the Browns know how important every snap in practice is with such a young team. The Browns have two rookies -- Jabaal Sheard and Phil Taylor -- starting on the defensive line. They have a rookie fullback in Owen Marecic, the former two-way player from Stanford who has ditched his linebacker gig. They have a rookie receiver, second-round pick Greg Little, who is pushing hard for playing time. And, of course, they have a second-year quarterback in Colt McCoy and second-year defensive backs Joe Haden and T.J. Ward.

Fujita says he's never been on a team so young, but he's also been impressed by how quickly the Browns are learning. Cleveland doesn't face the Steelers or Ravens until December, which should give the team some time to ramp up to a spirited finish. It won't be easy.

2. Colt McCoy exudes the leadership of a veteran. One of my favorite anecdotes about McCoy is from last season. On the eve of his first start, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, McCoy stood up and addressed his teammates. The Browns had lost Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace to ankle injuries. McCoy told his teammates not to worry about him, that he was ready to play well and lead. The gesture was appreciated in the room.

And though McCoy went 2-6 as a starter, he displayed a calm in the huddle that belied his youth. Joe Haden said it best: "Colt's just a winner."

During the lockout, McCoy organized several team workouts at both the University of Texas and Baldwin Wallace College, further cementing his status as the young face of the Browns franchise.

New coach Pat Shurmur, who last season was the St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator, did wonders with Sam Bradford. The early reviews of the Shurmur-McCoy union are also positive. McCoy ran a version of the West Coast offense for four years at Texas. "Just physically, emotionally, and how they're wired to play the position, there are a lot of similarities in Sam and Colt," Shurmur says.

3. With the new NFL rule moving kickoffs to the 35-yard line, the Browns will have to figure out new ways to get Josh Cribbs involved. In Friday night's preseason game against the Lions, McCoy targeted Cribbs four times in the first half as Cribbs lined up at wide receiver. He caught two passes for 10 yards. On Wednesday in Berea, Cribbs voiced his displeasure with the league's decision to move kickoffs up from the 30-yard line. Cribbs says it was an unnecessary change. "[The league's] intentions are good, but the [injury] stats aren't there to back up the reasoning," he said. Cribbs has returned eight kickoffs for touchdowns in his career, including a personal best of three in 2009. Last season was the only year he failed to return a kickoff for a score.

Step On Up

Tony Pashos, right tackle. The Browns boast a terrific left side of the offensive line in tackle Joe Thomas and guard Eric Steinbach. Cleveland needs better production along the right, in particular from tackle Tony Pashos. At 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, Pashos has the build and the nasty streak to make right tackle a position of strength in Cleveland. But he has to stay healthy. Pashos started just six games last season before landing on the injured reserve list in October with an ankle injury. He had similar bad luck in 2009, breaking his shoulder blade in October with the San Francisco 49ers.

New Face, New Place

**** Jauron, defensive coordinator. **** Jauron joined the coaching staff as defensive coordinator and has changed the Browns' scheme from a 3-4 to a 4-3. Fujita says the shift in philosophy will allow the Browns to play at a quicker pace than they did last year. With so much youth along the defensive line, it will be crucial that the Browns think fast and play fast.

"It does let athletes make a lot of plays," Fujita says of Jauron's scheme. "We were in a 3-4 system last year with so many checks on a play-by-play basis that it was mentally exhausting for everybody. This year, you line up, you might have a check or two, but for the most part it lets guys play fast." Finding ways to pressure opposing quarterbacks will be a top priority.

Looking At The Schedule ...

The Browns begin with three home games in their first four. They open at home against Cincinnati, travel to Indianapolis, and then have back-to-back home games against Miami and Tennessee. Socking away some wins early is a must.

In a scheduling quirk, the Browns face the Steelers and Ravens four times in the last five games of the season. That's a tough ask any time of the year, but especially in December and January. If things break right for the Browns, an eight- or nine-win season is not out of the question.

 

[JoeSteeler]

It's like opening a present every time I see that Faust has posted in this thread.

Great work Faust!

 

[Faust]

Depth could make Saints' RBs better

If you go back and look at the film of New Orleans playing Houston in Saturday’s preseason game, it quickly becomes apparent the Saints don’t have a featured running back. They have three.

Rookie Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles all got work with the first-team offense. That’s not some sort of competition or preseason experiment. The Saints are likely to use all three in a similar rotation during the regular season.

“I think it’s a great trio,’’ quarterback Drew Brees said. “When you look at all their strengths and their abilities with the diverse group we have, it’s hard when you give a defense that 1-2-3 punch because all of them can do so many good things and you’re able to rotate them and keep them fresh, and that’s only going to help us and our offense and how complex we’re going to be and what we’re going to be with formations and personnel groups. It’s really becomes a great weapon for us.’’

Although the trade of Reggie Bush made headlines, I’ll make a case that the Saints are better off at running back now than at any time since the 2006 season. That’s the last real productive year the Saints had from Deuce McAllister before age and injuries caught up to the veteran. That also was Bush’s rookie year, and he might have had his best season as he was used in tandem with McAllister.

Since then, the Saints have used a committee of running backs that has included the likes of Bush, Thomas, Mike Bell and Chris Ivory. They’ve won a lot of games, but the play of the running backs has been decent, not great.

With Ingram, Thomas and Sproles, things should change for the better. Ingram might be the most complete back the Saints have had since McAllister. At 5-foot-9, he’s built low to the ground, but he’s powerful. He’s also shown good speed and was able to catch the ball out of the backfield in college. That skill could be utilized even more in New Orleans’ offense.

But the Saints don’t need Ingram to do everything. Thomas is similar in a lot of ways -- he can run inside and outside and catch passes. Thomas was limited to six games last season, but was the closest thing the Saints had to a consistent running threat in 2009 when he averaged 5.4 yards per carry.

Ingram and Thomas are likely to split most of the carries out of the backfield, but the Saints didn’t go all out in recruiting the free-agent Sproles to have him come in and be a decoration. He’s going to be part of the backfield rotation with Ingram and Thomas.

Sproles will take on many of the roles Bush had. He’ll be used as a change-of-pace back, often going in motion and being used as a receiver. Sproles has the same kind of dynamic speed Bush had, but he might be better in some ways. Bush had trouble staying healthy throughout his time in New Orleans.

In his past three seasons in San Diego, Sproles did not miss a game. He also handled return duties.

Tampa Bay (LeGarrette Blount), Atlanta (Michael Turner) and Carolina (DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart) might have better individual running backs than the Saints. But put Ingram, Thomas and Sproles together and the Saints have a triumvirate of running backs that could make their offense more complete than it’s been since the days when McAllister still was going strong.

 

[saintfool]

Colston makes preseason debut: Marques Colston, who is coming off multiple knee surgeries, saw his first action of 2011 against the Texans. The veteran caught the one pass thrown in his direction, but it was Lance Moore and Devery Henderson who started at wide receiver. Clearly, the Saints are being cautious with Colston during the preseason. And while he didn't look to be hindered, the fact that he's endured so many knee problems makes him a legitimate bust candidate. Draft with caution.

funny, i was reading just the other day about how devery might get cut because he's already disappointing. arrington is having another good camp. morgan has had another game with a touchdown.

Would love to see a link since it seems to conflict with earlier reports from the Sun Herald that he was doing well...http://www.sunherald.com/2011/08/09/3338102/henderson-quietly-having-good.html

2nd week in a row without a reception. He was a disappointment last year and I'm pretty sure is in the last year of his contract. With Morgan coming on strong. Meachem healthy and Arrington teasing folks yet again with some production, there are many who would think Henderson is very vulnerable.

 

[Faust]

Broncos officials see Tebow as fourth best QB in camp

A rough month in the development of Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow is about to get a little rougher.

Michael Silver of Yahoo! Sports got some some eye-opening quotes from various members of the Broncos organization that will make waves in Denver.

“If everything was totally equal, and this were a competition based only on performance at this camp, Tebow would probably be the fourth-string guy,” one source told Silver. “Kyle [Orton] is far and away the best, and Tebow’s way behind [brady] Quinn, too. And I’m telling you, Adam Weber is flat-out better right now.”

Weber, an undrafted rookie, has no chance to actually pass Tebow on the depth chart. But Weber has looked impressive when given the chance, and Tebow is struggling to work under center or grasp a pro offense.

One Broncos executive says to, “Forget about how [Tebow] delivers the ball, or how accurate it is. First he has to know where to go with it.”

We’re getting to the point that this feels like piling on. It seems clear Tebow has a long way to go, and this Broncos staff may never fully embrace him as the answer. They see him as a project.

Silver confirms the Broncos were willing to trade Kyle Orton to the Dolphins for a third-round pick in late July. Receiver Brandon Lloyd called it a “relief” when Orton stayed put.

“Sometimes the best things that happen to you in life are the things that don’t happen,” one high-ranking official told Silver.

The usual caveats apply. Tebow was always supposed to take time. Through hard work, the Broncos think perhaps he could improve enough to start.

Maybe Tebow will be a succesful starter someday, in Denver or elsewhere. If that happens, we’ll hear a lot about how Tebow proved the “haters” wrong and overcame some low moments in his career.

It’s hard to imagine it will get much lower than being called the fourth-best quarterback on the Broncos, by the Broncos.

 

[Faust]

Michael Turner back at full speed

Like a lot of NFL teams, the Atlanta Falcons can be pretty tight-lipped about injuries. But sometimes the full truth comes out after the fact.

In this radio interview, running back Michael Turner admitted that he was bothered by a groin injury almost all of last season. Turner still rushed for 1,371 yards and 12 touchdowns, but said he first suffered the injury in Week 2 against Arizona.

‘It got to the point where I was use to running like that,’’ Turner said. "I needed a special wrap every week to help me run, but it is what it is. It is football. Everybody is not 100 percent. That’s not the plan. I just take it is as that and wait until the offseason to get it fixed.’’

Turner hasn’t been able to match his numbers from 2008 when he ran for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns, but he doesn’t pay attention when people suggest he’s slowing down.

‘You can’t listen to what everyone says about you,’’ Turner said. ‘Everybody doesn’t know the truth. I just stayed focused at football and helped my team win every week.”

Turner said he’s healthy now and feels fresh. He might even get a little bit of a lighter load this year. The Falcons already had Jason Snelling as Turner’s primary backup. But they drafted Jacquizz Rodgers, who looks like he could be used as a change-of-pace back.

“He’s a little guy that packs a lot of punch. He can get the tough yardage. He’s not a guy who takes the ball and bounces away. He’s been a very patient runner and he doesn’t just run through a hole that gets closed up very quick. He sets up his blocks well and he’s going to be a good kid.”

 

[Faust]

Post-camp feel: How I rank the NFC West

General impressions on how the NFC West standings should shake out following visits to each training camp in the division:

1. St. Louis Rams

Projected wins: 8

General feel: The Rams have been and remain on an upward trajectory. Sam Bradford, though good for a rookie in 2010, must improve quite a bit for the Rams to navigate a relatively tough schedule well enough to win the division. He has a good chance to do that under new coordinator Josh McDaniels.

What I like most: Beyond Bradford, the Rams have added veterans from winning organizations to the most consistent defense in the division. The change at offensive coordinator gets plenty of attention, but the Rams have good continuity overall. Every member of coach Steve Spagnuolo's original 2009 defensive staff remains with the organization.

Lingering concerns: Drawing road games against Super Bowl participants Green Bay and Pittsburgh shrinks the Rams' margin for error. I understand the Rams' thinking at wide receiver without endorsing it fully. Depth at cornerback appears tenuous. How much does Steven Jackson have left after carrying so much of the load?

2. Arizona Cardinals

Projected wins: 7-8

General feel: Life is much less stressful once an organization has identified and acquired a franchise quarterback. The Cardinals will be significantly improved on offense from 2010 as long as Kevin Kolb remains behind center. At worst, he'll be better than what the team had at quarterback last season.

What I like: Kolb has breathed life into the Cardinals. The team was also more aggressive than usual in its courtship of free agents. Cornerback Richard Marshall, guard Daryn Colledge, tight end Jeff King, tight end Todd Heap and linebacker Stewart Bradley should help. Re-signing Larry Fitzgerald doesn't make Arizona better this season, but his contract status could have been a distraction.

Lingering concerns: Kolb had some injury problems in Philadelphia and now he's playing for an offense with potentially shaky pass protection. On defense, the team still appears to lack the outside pass-rushers needed to make any 3-4 system work properly. Adrian Wilson's injury situation doesn't help.

3. San Francisco 49ers

Projected wins: 6-7

General feel: The 49ers are starting fresh under a new head coach, making it tougher to get a feel for what to expect in the short term. Better-than-expected play at quarterback could send the 49ers north in the standings pretty quickly. I am saying there's a chance. Lower expectations from the outside should help this team.

What I like: Harbaugh seems like a good fit for the organization given his Bay Area roots, offensive philosophy and background as an NFL quarterback. The team should immediately become more competent on offense and in its overall game management, improving the 49ers' chances in close games. The 49ers have young, promising pieces in place on offense. Defensive personnel subtractions stirred fears early in free agency, but most were by design.

Lingering concerns: One knock on the 49ers is that they too frequently overrate their own talent. Six of their own first-round draft choices project as starters on offense, one of the highest figures in the league. But how many will play at a first-round level? Bringing back quarterback Alex Smith for a seventh season with the team made sense under the circumstances without inspiring much confidence for the season ahead.

4. Seattle Seahawks

Projected wins: 5-7

General feel: The Seahawks made strong moves to upgrade their talent for the long term, but too many questions remain to feel great about the 2011 season. Like the 49ers, the Seahawks could outperform expectations with better-than-expected play at quarterback. Overall, though, they feel like a team eager to let young players develop before acting more boldly to upgrade the quarterback position in the offseason.

What I like: The Seahawks aren't trying to fool anyone. They're going young and willing to live with the short-term consequences. They've improved the young talent along their offensive line while giving their quarterbacks a chance with free-agent additions Sidney Rice and Zach Miller. They have the makings for a good defensive line against the run as long as Red Bryant is healthy.

Lingering concerns: How many teams around the league would be excited about going into a season with Tarvaris Jackson as the starting quarterback and Charlie Whitehurst in relief? One NFL team executive I spoke with recently said he suspected Seattle was hoping to get Carson Palmer. Elsewhere on the roster, Russell Okung's recurring ankle injuries threaten to weaken a young offensive line. That could make it tougher to realize expected gains in the running game.

 

[Faust]

Fantasy Buzz

Through two weeks of preseason games there is no shortage of news for all 32 teams. We contacted our sources from around the league to get the inside scoop on a noteworthy piece of news for each team, organized by division, as it relates to fantasy football. The crucial news and insights that follow are sure to help you prepare for your fantasy draft.

AFC East

For everyone else, it's just preseason, but for JETS WR Plaxico Burress, Sunday night's game was his first NFL game since 2008, and he produced three catches for 66 yards and one touchdown. Burress should be considered as a No. 3 WR in fantasy leagues, especially considering Mark Sanchez will love targeting him in the red zone. Sunday should have quelled most, not all, fears about the 34-year-old Burress' return.

Last Friday night's DOLPHINS game is another reminder that you have to pay close attention to how Tony Sparano divides carries between Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas. Bush looked great in his first game with Miami, while Thomas struggled near the goal line. The interior O-line certainly looked improved — a positive for both backs, but it is still unclear how either back will fair in fantasy.

PATRIOTS TE Aaron Hernandez has proved thus far in the preseason that you shouldn't have to worry about drafting him, even with Rob Gronkowski being a better red-zone target. Hernandez is one of Tom Brady's favorite targets between the 20s and he has 110 yards receiving and one TD through two preseason games. In PPR leagues, Hernandez might be a better choice than Gronk.

As sexy as it has seemed to peg C.J. Spiller as a breakout candidate, his performance against Denver (six carries for 10 yards) has to temper those expectations. The BILLS' offensive line is still a weakness, which will hamper both the run and the pass. Spiller is oozing with potential, but he is clearly the No. 2 back in Buffalo and the O-line doesn't look improved.

AFC North

BROWNS TE Evan Moore, who had two TD catches against Detroit last Friday, suffered what head coach Pat Shurmur called a "mild concussion." Moore, who could be considered a sleeper in deeper leagues because of a strong summer, also suffered a concussion last season. A converted wideout, Moore runs well and is an intriguing player in an offense that has an improved passing game.

In two preseason starts, BENGALS rookie QB Andy Dalton has thrown zero TD passes and three interceptions while completing 19-of-34 passes for 155 yards. At best, he merits late-round consideration in bigger leagues until he shows more. … Through two games, rookie WR A.J. Green has been targeted a team-high 10 times, catching 5-37-0 (long of 11).

STEELERS RB Isaac Redman has rushed for a team-high 68 yards on 13 carries through two preseason games and is a reasonable late-round pickup for owners who invest in Rashard Mendenhall early.

So far, so good for new RAVENS WR Lee Evans. He caught all three passes thrown to him in his preseason debut with Baltimore, including one that ended in a 43-yard gain. Evans will start for the Ravens, and he's going to get some chances to stretch the field.

AFC South

With each passing day, the health of QB Peyton Manning's neck becomes a greater mystery. And, as a result, the fantasy outlook for usual COLTS heavy hitters like Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne takes a hit. Owner Jim Irsay said this weekend the team was evaluating the QB position, but it's hard to imagine that anyone other than Manning starting Week One will make potential Clark and Wayne owners rest easy about their 2011 prospects.

TEXANS RB Ben Tate on Saturday night, in his first NFL action in more than a year, flashed the big-play ability that convinced Houston to make him its second-round selection in 2010. Tate carried the ball nine times for 95 yards, also holding up well as a blocker and receiver. The performance boosted his chances of being Arian Foster's top backup.

With the TITANS' top two running backs — Chris Johnson continues his ugly holdout and backup Javon Ringer was sidelined with a hip injury — out last Friday night against the Rams, fourth-round rookie Jamie Harper excelled. He carried the ball 11 times for 83 yards, and found paydirt for the second week in a row. Harper, who has been very sharp this preseason, continues to see his fantasy value increase the longer Johnson's spat with the team continues.

With both JAGUARS signalcallers, David Garrard and Blaine Gabbert, failing to grab hold of the starting QB battle, one of the few bright spots for the offense has been fourth-round rookie WR Cecil Shorts. Although Shorts' five grabs for 52 yards are fairly pedestrian, he continues to stand out among an unremarkable receiving corps.

AFC West

Perhaps no player around the league is primed for a big season more than CHARGERS WR Vincent Jackson. After a couple of rocky offseasons where he was unable to negotiate a long-term contract, the receiver is finally set to hit the open market next spring. From the looks of his play during the preseason, he will be in great demand from teams looking for an elite pass catcher. Jackson and QB Philip Rivers have shown no lockout rust, and through two games, the wideout is gaining 20.6 yards per reception (five catches, 103 yards). With an elite QB launching him passes and the drive for a new contract supplying motivation, Jackson will be tough to stop.

Fantasy owners expecting new RAIDERS TE Kevin Boss to come right in and duplicate the statistics of Zach Miller, who left in free agency for the Seahawks, will be in for a rude awakening. Boss is a solid receiver, but his career-high in receptions (42 in 2009 for the Giants) is less than Miller's career-low. The new tight end is not as fast or athletic as Miller, and it will be a challenge for Boss to be the downfield threat that Miller was. Also, Boss suffered a knee injury during Oakland's second preseason game and might be limited in practice the rest of the preseason.

It's now or never for RB Knowshon Moreno in Denver, and the former first-round pick is playing like a man who wants to save his job. Moreno has seen limited playing time during the preseason, as BRONCOS coaches want to keep their starters fresh for the regular season, but he has taken advantage of his time on the field. The starting back is gaining more than five yards per carry (10 carries, 51 yards) and has earned praise from his teammates this summer. Head coach John Fox's offense has served running backs (and fantasy owners) well in the past, and it could do the same for Moreno.

There is lots of confusion surrounding the CHIEFS' receiving corps. Rookie Jonathan Baldwin was drafted to be a starter, although a (hand/wrist) injury suffered in preseason will keep him out for an unknown length of time. That could leave Jerheme Urban starting across from Dwayne Bowe, with Steve Breaston in the slot. Even if Urban is starting Week One, don't expect him to provide much of a jolt to a fantasy lineup. The journeyman is a favorite of K.C. head coach Todd Haley, but he has had only two career games with more than 80 receiving yards and none since 2008.

NFC East

COWBOYS observers continue to insist that there are only three true pass catchers on the roster worth drafting: WRs Miles Austin and Dez Bryant and TE Jason Witten. Although it could be a prolific passing game, those three and the running backs (led by Felix Jones) will be the primary receivers. TE Martellus Bennett has been a disappointment, and no one clearly has stepped forward at the No. 3 WR spot.

EAGLES WR Jeremy Maclin is still on track to play in the regular-season opener. The team believes his stamina won't take too big a hit, even though he essentially has been inactive much of the offseason, but the coaches will work him back into the rotation until then and not ask too much of him. In the grand scheme of things, Maclin's fantasy value should remain high when you take what he should produce over the course of the entire season into account.

REDSKINS QB John Beck led an efficient game (14-of-17 passing, 140 yards) in a 16-3 win over the Colts last Friday night, parrying Rex Grossman's move in the first preseason contest. The battle remains open, but our sources still think Beck has the edge as long as he stays healthy. Is he a draftable fantasy quarterback? Maybe not, but don't rule out decent production.

Victor Cruz and Domenik Hixon are battling hard for the GIANTS' No. 3 WR position, and with the losses of Steve Smith and TE Kevin Boss, the winner could end up seeing 5-7 passes thrown his way per game.

NFC North

LIONS RB Jahvid Best reportedly suffered a concussion at Cleveland on Friday night. Best suffered a pair of concussions in 2009, his final season at Cal. "We'll take it slow with him," Lions head coach Jim Schwartz said on Sunday, according to the club's website. "Based on his situation from a couple years ago, we'll be very, very cautious with him." However, Schwartz also said, according to DetroitLions.com, that once medically cleared, Best would return to action.

VIKINGS QB Donovan McNabb elicited more positive reviews for his second preseason performance than his first. He checked down and used his running backs and tight ends a lot, which is what he always has done, so there is a thought that he could be productive in this system at those two positions of strength, as could WR Percy Harvin.

It certainly looks like the deadly Aaron Rodgers-Greg Jennings connection remains in perfect synch for the PACKERS. In each of Green Bay's first two preseason games, Jennings was on the receiving end of a TD pass from Rodgers on a back-shoulder fade route.

A strong preseason from BEARS RB Marion Barber is not a good development for Chester Taylor, who is battling for a roster spot, but it's also bad news for Matt Forté's fantasy stock. Barber is in line for a role as a short-yardage and goal-line back, and he could limit Forté's touchdown opportunities. Forté has rushed for only 10 TDs in the past two seasons, so owners might want to supplement him with another back who is going to get the vast majority of his team's goal-line touches.

NFC South

The BUCCANEERS are hoping WR Arrelious Benn will make his preseason debut Aug. 27 against the Dolphins. He's been sitting out, as the team does not want to rush his recovery from surgery to repair a torn ACL, but it's expected that a starting job is awaiting him, even though his fellow WR Dezmon Briscoe impressed in training camp. Benn is worth considering with a late-round pick in deeper leagues.

PANTHERS WR Steve Smith returned to practice last week after missing a week with a dislocated finger, but he has yet to play in a preseason game. It's a mild concern that he and QB Cam Newton, who is the front-runner to start in Week One, haven't had the opportunity to work together in a game situation yet, but fantasy owners should view Smith as a No. 3 receiver in most formats. Smith could have some very quiet weeks, however, as Newton goes through growing pains. … In both preseason games, the Panthers had two tight ends — Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey — in the starting lineup, and offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski wants to have both players involved. Although they eat into each other's fantasy value, Olsen is the better option and our sources predict he will get the lion's share of the touches. He's worth considering as a No. 2 tight end in deeper leagues after being traded from the Bears, where he was underutilized as a receiver in Mike Martz's offense.

Owners considering QB Drew Brees should be encouraged to hear Brees emphasize the importance of reestablishing balance between the pass and run, even though it's an indication his passing attempts will drop from last year's career-high 658. Brees was at his best in 2009, when the SAINTS ranked fourth in passing and sixth in rushing. They ranked third in passing and 28th in rushing in '10, but Brees threw twice as many interceptions as he did the previous season and one fewer touchdown.

FALCONS WR Harry Douglas is among the preseason leaders in receiving yards (134) and he has scored a touchdown, including a 76-yarder on a short crossing route against Jaguars, in each of the first two exhibitions. The Falcons are excited about the third-year slot receiver, but fantasy owners shouldn't get caught up in the preseason hype. Douglas is worth considering with a flier late in deep-league drafts, but he still is competing with Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez for targets, and Atlanta is going to stay pretty balanced on offense with RB Michael Turner carrying the load.

NFC West

In the wake of CARDINALS second-round rookie RB Ryan Williams' season-ending ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee suffered in the third quarter of Arizona's preseason loss to the Packers, it goes without saying that fellow RB Beanie Wells' fantasy stock rises significantly. All signs pointed toward Wells and Williams — who we hear couldn't have been looking more impressive before his injury — sharing the rushing load this season. As it now stands, though, Wells shapes up as the team's rushing workhorse. LaRod Stephens-Howling temporarily moves up the depth chart to serve as Wells' primary backup, but the odds are strong that the Cardinals will scour the waiver wire in search of an experienced back who could make his presence felt quickly. For those of you in keeper leagues, it's worth noting that the very promising Williams is expected to make a complete recovery in time for next season.

It appears the RAMS' logjam at wide receiver is no closer to being unraveled through the first two preseason games, with slot specialist Danny Amendola looking like the only sure thing. The best guess for now is that the front-runners for starting roles are the same as they were entering the preseason — Brandon Gibson, who scored an 83-yard TD on the opening play of the Rams' preseason win over the Titans, and Donnie Avery, who had a 19-yard TD later in the game in his first action of the preseason.

It looks like 49ERS newly acquired WR Braylon Edwards could be making a case for the No. 1 wideout spot over the injured Michael Crabtree. Edwards raised eyebrows in the Niners' preseason victory over the Raiders with a one-handed, 32-yard reception of a pass thrown by Alex Smith.

The SEAHAWKS' offense has left a lot to be desired so far this preseason, and that's especially the case with second-year WR Golden Tate, who the team is hoping will develop into a consistent big-play threat this season after a very uneven rookie campaign. Tate looked anything but golden in the Seahawks' preseason loss to the Vikings when a third-down strike by QB Tarvaris Jackson bounced off Tate's hands and was subsequently returned for a 64-yard TD by Vikings defender Marcus Sherels.

 

[Faust]

Rookie update: Where the first-year quarterbacks stand

Rookie quarterbacks mostly belong only on dynasty league rosters. I can't remember the last time a rookie came in and set the league on fire by being an elite fantasy quarterback. It usually takes a few years minimum to become an elite fantasy quarterback.

Let's take a look at some of the better rookie prospects and where they stand.

One note and an important one: I took the time to read and review Pro Football Weekly's 2011 Draft Preview — no, really, I did! Understanding a player's role, his skills and the team around him always gives you an edge over your fellow owners because you understand the bigger picture. The Draft Preview gives you everything you need on a rookie's strengths and weaknesses entering the league.

While I've written a few sentences on the pros and cons of each rookie listed, you should check out PFW's book, as that's where I garnered the information. I've been buying the Preview every year since my career in the industry began. Surprisingly, you can still find it in some bookstores. They're also great reference books, but if you don't go that route, PFW also has a great draft prospects section on its site, as well.

Cam Newton, Panthers

Newton will start the third preseason game, which could decide whether he becomes the regular-season starter. While he has been impressive so far, head coach Ron Rivera says he is improving his mechanics and decision-making ability, and playing three quarters this week allows the coaching staff to see how he handles it for a full game.

Newton is big at 6 feet 5 inches, 248 pounds, with excellent arm strength that can go deep. His athleticism allows him to throw off balance while moving, he has great composure and is clutch, especially with his legs as he's a strong runner. He faces a learning curve, having come from a run-first offense that worked out of the gun. He can be too quick to run, has limited vision and inconsistent mechanics. He's also streaky, can be inaccurate, throws into coverage and relies too much on upper-body strength.

Newton's legs are what make him interesting. Many expect him to start, but even then, I don't draft him. Sure, in dynasty and large leagues with rosters of 18 or more, you can stash him as a third quarterback. Rushing yards and touchdowns can equalize and make an average NFL quarterback an elite fantasy quarterback. That's what makes him intriguing. He's a late-round pickup at best but a better waiver-wire grab as he's someone to watch once the season begins. He's currently going undrafted in most leagues, and when taken, it's as a flier pick toward the end.



Christian Ponder, Vikings

When the Vikings brought Donovan McNabb to Minnesota by trade, it was to start. Unless the team falls flat on its face, expect to see Ponder riding the pine while learning the offense. It's not a given who wins the backup job between Ponder and Joe Webb, but I can see Ponder in games if the team falls out of playoff contention.

Ponder is intelligent, mentally tough and has the intangibles a team likes. He does everything well: He's confident, plays through pain, gets rid of the ball quickly and understands timing. He can move with his feet, has composure to respond to pressure and is the player you want with the ball at the end of the game. He does have questionable arm strength and physical limitations. He also suffered through injuries in college and took unnecessary risks.

Ponder's well-suited for the West Coast offense, but he only has value in dynasty leagues. If the Vikings fall out of playoff contention, the team will begin to play him as he's the future, not McNabb. I won't draft him, and neither will many others, as he's going undrafted in most leagues.



Andy Dalton, Bengals

Dalton and the Bengals are struggling this preseason, and they've been dreadful offensively. Dalton should enter the season as the starter, but offensive coordinator Jay Gruden is installing his West Coast offense, which everyone needs to learn. That's just the playbook, as you also have to develop chemistry, cohesion and efficiency to be successful.

Dalton is smart and plays tough with a discipline in his approach. He is confident, commanding and delivers under pressure with a quick release. He can be clutch and fits a West Coast offense. Despite decent size (6-2, 215 pounds) he does not have above-average athleticism or arm strength. He can force the ball into coverage and doesn't plant his feet at times, resulting in bad decision making.

A new offense and new coordinator with a rookie quarterback means it's going to be a long season for this team. I'm not sure head coach Marvin Lewis will survive. The West Coast offense is not the easiest to learn, and despite Dalton becoming the likely starter, I won't draft him and neither have other owners, as he's going undrafted. Making it worse, Carson Palmer and Bruce Gradkowski are still being drafted!

Jake Locker, Titans

The plan is for Locker to sit behind Matt Hasselbeck and learn. He's had his moments and was solid in his first preseason game yet shaky in the second. Knowing he's not starting, the team is happy with his progress and indicate he's having a solid camp. He'll see some time on the field to give him experience. Don't forget, Hasselbeck has missed time over the years because of injury, so the odds are Locker will get some playing time this year.

Locker has great arm strength, plays tough, is athletic with quickness and speed and can come through in the clutch. At 6 feet 2½ inches, 231 pounds, he has excellent feet, can avoid the rush and move the ball with his legs. However, he struggles with his reads, forces the ball and is not accurate (54 percent completion mark in college).

I envision Locker seeing time but with the team picking his spots depending on the score and situation. They will not make the mistake of putting him on the field too soon, especially if RB Chris Johnson (holdout) is not around to help take pressure off the position.

It's his legs that make him a difference maker in fantasy football. If he does get an opportunity, he'll provide fantasy points rushing as Vince Young used to do. Despite this, I won't draft him but watch him once the season begins. Owners agree: He's rarely drafted, and even if he is, toward the end of the draft.

Blaine Gabbert, Jaguars

Gabbert may have the best chance of the rookie quarterbacks to see the playing field this year, other than perhaps Newton. He's in a battle with veteran David Garrard and looked solid in the first preseason game but ordinary in the second. He lacks the experience needed to assume the starter's job right now. Everything equal, you go with the veteran who's been to war, and good or bad, Garrard's a veteran unless you are in complete rebuilding mode. The Jaguars believe they're not, though some would disagree. Unless Gabbert blows by Garrard for the remainder of camp, it's Garrard's job to lose.

Gabbert's big at 6 feet 4 3/8 inches, 234 pounds. He has a strong arm, quick release and is able to deliver it from various angles. He can throw on the move accurately, is mentally tough, plays through pain and is a team player who cares about winning more than his own stats. At times he can throw sidearm, he worked only out of the shotgun and struggles through his reads. He can also lose his poise and get rattled.

Gabbert seems to have a long learning curve, but the team is happy and feels he's ahead of its expectations. I view him as raw but with great upside. Yet, if Garrard begins to struggle, I could see the team giving Gabbert a shot. Garrard would probably have to completely collapse or the team fall out of contention. This team goes through RB Maurice Jones-Drew, counts on a strong defense to keep the scoring low and has untested wideouts. Too many fantasy negatives to consider, and thus, I'll pass on Gabbert. He's currently not being drafted in most leagues.

Colin Kaepernick, 49ers

Kaepernick has played well in the first two preseason games, and head coach Jim Harbaugh has heaped praise on him in camp. He's still a rookie, and the praise is more about his progress than playing lights-out football. Although veteran Alex Smith hasn't played particularly well in the first two preseason games, Harbaugh will stick with him as long as he doesn't regress. He'll let Kaepernick adjust to the NFL in the form of a clipboard. Why? It took Harbaugh a few years before becoming a legitimate NFL quarterback. I believe he understands the bad situation he's inheriting and how raw Kaepernick is.

Kaepernick is a sponge, absorbing all the knowledge he can. He's a hard worker and competitor who can avoid the rush, does not panic and can run. He has good size at 6 feet 4 5/8 inches and 233 pounds but is slender, lacking upper-body strength. He did come from an offense that didn't require reads as in the NFL. At times he doesn't realize he puts too much velocity on the ball and needs to learn to soften his throws. He palms the ball when moving, creating potential turnover scenarios, and posted inflated numbers without facing top-level competition.

Smith has his own issues, but he's never had great coaching and played in too many different offenses, struggling along with everyone else. Barring bad play, Smith will be the every-week quarterback, relegating Kaepernick to the bench. I don't see Kaepernick playing much this year as Harbaugh is installing a new offense and will rebuild this team. It's better for Kaepernick to learn how to play in the NFL. Once this team has a stronger nucleus, it can help someone raw like him succeed. I'll pass on him as other owners are. He's not being drafted in fantasy leagues.

 

[Faust]

Rookie update: Where the first-year running backs stand

Rookie running backs can make an immediate fantasy impact. Sadly, two have succumbed to injury and are gone for the 2011 season.

The Lions' Mikel Leshoure, out with a torn Achilles tendon, was going to be part of a tandem with Jahvid Best. The other is the Cardinals' Ryan Williams, lost with a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee. This is the opportunity Beanie Wells has wanted despite two lackluster and disappointing pro seasons. We wish them both well with their recovery. It's still an under-the-belt hit to fantasy owners as there are two fewer running backs to draw from. Let's focus on running backs who can actually make an impact.

One note and an important one: I took the time to read and review Pro Football Weekly's 2011 Draft Preview — no, really, I did! Understanding a player's role, his skills and the team around him always gives you an edge over your fellow owners because you understand the bigger picture. The Draft Preview gives you everything you need on a rookie's strengths and weaknesses entering the league.

While I've written a few sentences on the pros and cons of each rookie listed, you should check out PFW's book as that's where I garnered the information. I've been buying the Draft Preview every year since my career in the industry began. Surprisingly, you can still find it in some bookstores. They're also great reference books, but if you don't go that route, PFW also has a great draft prospects section on its site, as well.

Mark Ingram, Saints

Ingram is having an outstanding camp and is my pick to be the top rookie running back. He's going to be part of a one-two punch with Pierre Thomas, and I also like him as a goal-line back. His ability to move a pile and his yards after contact will make all the difference in fantasy points and total touchdowns.

Ingram's not huge but has good size, 5 feet-9 1/8 inches and 215 pounds. He's a patient runner and has good vision with a natural feel for running lanes. He's quick-footed with short-area burst and can avoid direct hits. What I admire most about him is his power and the toughness he displays gaining yards after contact. He protects the football and can put a team on his back, if needed. However, he does not have elite skills, does not have top-end speed, and defenders can catch him from behind. He also has questionable hands and is not a good route runner; he will have to improve those skills to expand his role in the Saints' pass-first offense.

I believe Thomas will be a top-15 fantasy back by season's end. If he becomes a consistent goal-line back, a top-10 finish is possible. Right now his ADP (average draft position) shows him as the 29th running back off fantasy draft boards, going 65th overall in ADP, the sixth round in a 12-team league. I think he's currently undervalued. Maybe he'll begin to move up as he's having a solid camp, but right now grab him and be happy.

Daniel Thomas, Dolphins

Thomas is having an inconsistent preseason. In his defense, he says he's a back who needs a few carries under his belt to get going. I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt as many bruisers say that. He does need to improve as a goal-line back to give him some way of producing more points in a committee approach.

Thomas is durable at 6 feet 0¼ inch and 230 pounds. He has the moves to be a punishing runner and a decent receiver. He won't see many balls come his way through the air as that's the role Reggie Bush will play, but Thomas has good balance and body control. He can pick his holes with good vision and is agile for a back his size. He lacks breakaway speed, at times carries the ball too loosely, dances too much and does not power through when making contact. He will also need to work on pass protection. He's a big back who has finesse but does not power over runners using his size as an advantage.

The team will build around the rushing attack as QB Chad Henne has not shown the ability to carry a team. Thomas' ADP shows he's currently the 31st running back being taken, 75th overall, the seventh round in a 12-team league. Based on his scouting report and his current camp, that's not a bad spot to take him. I'd rather take him as a No. 3 fantasy back with upside, and he has upside at that point in the draft.

Roy Helu, Redskins

Helu in a preseason game showed the explosiveness that head coach Mike Shanahan has raved about. While I'm not comparing two different backs, I remember how he raved about Clinton Portis and his first year in the league. Let's hope Helu can play like Portis did that year. Regardless, Tim Hightower has just about locked up the starting job. He's done that with excellent running and great blitz-pickup ability — a weakness for Helu. Ryan Torain is out with a broken hand, so Helu has a chance to make an impact.

At 5 feet 11½ inches, 219 pounds, Helu has size with speed and an ability to get to the edge. That, combined with agility and elusiveness, makes him a home-run threat. You add good hands and you see why Shanahan raves about him. Like other burners, he can be inconsistent and shut down. He needs to learn to run lower and is not great at breaking tackles, nor is he a great blocker. There are mental and physical toughness questions regarding his desire to compete. He is suited for an offense that stretches the field.

Helu is someone I would take in the early late rounds. He's currently the 59th runner taken, 94th overall, the eighth round in a 12-team league. That's too rich for my blood as there are legitimate questions surrounding him and how the team plans on using him. I would rather take him a few rounds later. Now, if he drops, that's different, so don't just write him or any player off in a fantasy draft because eventually every player, no matter how much you dislike him, can become a value pick.

Kendall Hunter, 49ers

Hunter will learn from Frank Gore, one of my favorite running backs. Gore's a tough, physical runner, confident and mentally tough enough to overcome multiple ACL tears. Hunter is battling Anthony Dixon for the honor of backing Gore up. The team is not happy with Dixon not being physical as a runner, whereas Hunter has been improving on his blitz pickups and showcasing his abilities. There's a good chance he'll see a workload that showcases his explosiveness and speed as compared to Gore's power.

Hunter has solid inside rushing skills as he's built low to the ground, has good balance and tackle-breaking ability. He has good vision and an ability to pick a hole and hit it quickly with the burst to get to the outside. He brings durability issues, and at 5 feet 7¼ inches, 199 pounds, you know why. He needs to work on running routes, blocking and learning how to secure the ball better.

I like Hunter's potential as a niche player, similar to Darren Sproles when he was with San Diego. Hunter won't see extensive time, but the team will pick its moments. With Gore's injury history and Dixon being unproven, Hunter could be thrust into more touches than we expect. In the few leagues in which he's being taken, his ADP registers him as the 82nd rusher taken, 210th overall. That's late in a draft, but in a league with rosters of 18 or more, I'd take him as a flier pick and see what he has to offer.

Jacquizz Rodgers, Falcons

Rodgers will be a tease like Jerious Norwood. Norwood was explosive, but his playing time and when he would bust a highlight-reel play was always unpredictable. The team also re-signed Jason Snelling, so although they're saying there's a role for Rodgers, the team will probably pick and choose where they use him. Remember, Snelling is a veteran, in the same offense and has played as the third-down back.

Rodgers is a strong runner with solid lower-body strength, is competitive and runs hard. He can stop, start and cut sharply. He has short-area quickness, agility, great peripheral vision, elusiveness and is efficient. He's able to catch and protects the football. Despite that, he's small at 5 feet 5 1/8 inches and 196 pounds, bringing up durability questions. Surprisingly he was used heavily in college, with more than 900 touches in three seasons. Considering he has wear and tear, along with his size, one wonders if he can handle a full NFL season.

Michael Turner is starting, with Snelling backing him up and also able to play the third-down role. That tells me Rodgers will see some third-down duties but not enough touches to warrant counting on him. Rodgers is not draftable and is a player who will need an injury to get any kind of extensive playing time.

Alex Green, Packers

Green projects to be a third-down back, and when you add a healthy Ryan Grant and James Starks as the primary ballcarriers, you'll see Green being used in limited packages. He comes from a spread offense and needs to learn to play in the NFL, but the team is happy with his camp and his ability to pick up the responsibilities of a third-down back. He will see playing time based on his solid camp.

Green has size at 6 feet 0¼ inch, weighing 225 pounds. He has good feet, speed to accelerate and is agile for a big man. He also has soft hands and can turn upfield quickly. He has issues fumbling, runs upright and lacks power. His numbers were padded in a pass-happy offense where he also faced nickel and dime packages, so the jury is out on how he'll handle the NFL.

Owners are generally not drafting Green, and when they do, his ADP shows him as the 80th back taken, 210th overall. What makes him intriguing is the lack of production Grant has shown the last couple of years. He's a player to keep an eye on in-season but not on draft day. He could become a waiver-wire pickup if Grant or Starks falters, and it's not a given one won't.

Jamie Harper, Titans

I merely list Harper because Chris Johnson could be a holdout, and recent reports indicate it could be a long one. Javon Ringer is also suffering from a hamstring injury, allowing the fourth-round pick to take advantage of the situation. He's had a solid camp highlighted by a great Week Two preseason game.

At 5 feet 11 3/8 inches, weighing in at 233 pounds, Harper is a big boy. He has solid straight-line speed, is quick-footed and able to sidestep and spin off defenders. He's agile and a decent receiver who can play off screens while adjusting to throws with his soft hands. At times he dances too much, does not play up to his size and has never been a featured back.

I like Harper's potential and believe you have to waste a draft pick on him if C.J. is still holding out. Sure, Ringer would be the starter, but Harper would spell him. Right now Harper is not being drafted — a horrible mistake as C.J.'s holdout may not end for a while. I would take him at the end of a draft as a flier pick if Ringer's still hurt or the team hasn't brought a veteran in. After all, if he doesn't pan out, we need waiver-wire fodder after Week One, and that's what flier picks are for!

 

[Faust]

Rookie update: Where the first-year wide receivers stand

Wideouts are tricky because in the last few years a few have showcased themselves as solid if not spectacular producers. From the now-retired Randy Moss of many years ago to the Buccaneers' Mike Williams, you never know how many will break out as rookies. The general rule I followed was to stay away from rookie wideouts, but they can no longer be ignored.

One note and an important one: I took the time to read and review Pro Football Weekly's 2011 Draft Preview — no, really, I did! Understanding a player's role, his skills and the team around him always gives you an edge over your fellow owners because you understand the bigger picture. The Draft Preview gives you everything you need on a rookie's strengths and weaknesses entering the league.

Although I've written a few sentences on the pros and cons of each rookie listed, you should check out the book as that's where I garnered the information. I've been buying the Draft Preview every year since my career in the industry began. Surprisingly, you can still find it in some bookstores. It's also a great reference book, but if you choose not to go that route, PFW also has a great draft prospects section on its site, as well.

Julio Jones, Falcons

Jones has looked great in camp, partly because he was able to work with QB Matt Ryan during the lockout and begin developing chemistry. He's a physical specimen who has the tools to succeed.

Jones is big for a wideout at 6 feet 2¾ inches, 220 pounds. His speed is deceptive and he's physical with mental toughness, a reason he's able to play through pain. He can get off the line and create separation with his speed as well as outreach and outfight defenders for the ball. He has strong hands, great concentration, runs physically after the catch, can take a hit and is tough to bring down. He knows a pro-style offense and has a strong work ethic. At times he struggles off the press against bigger cornerbacks, is not elusive and has had his share of injuries. The NFL season is longer, players bigger and more physical, so injury will always be a concern.

Jones is the fourth option behind RB Michael Turner, WR Roddy White and TE Tony Gonzalez. He'll have his moments because White will see double-teams early on. That's what makes Jones intriguing. He's such a specimen, I wonder if opponents will struggle to cover him one-on-one. Maybe not this year but eventually, as he's a young man who's still growing. His ADP (average draft position) shows him as the 45th wideout taken, 119th overall, the 10th round in a 12-team league. I would not hesitate to take him as my No. 4 fantasy receiver, and I realize that's a slight risk, but his name and rep will not allow him to drop him further in a draft. I would decide whether to take him based on the depth of receivers at that point in my draft.



A.J. Green, Bengals

Despite the team struggling on offense, and what will surely be a long season, Green has looked solid. He's been physical, jumping and taking the ball away from defenders, and shown quickness. However, this team will not be good this year as it's installing a West Coast offense, has a first-time NFL offensive coordinator in Jay Gruden and a rookie quarterback.

Green is a solid wideout at 6 feet 3 5/8 inches, 211 pounds. He has playmaking ability and athleticism, is fluid and agile with good balance and timing. He has great hands with hand-eye coordination and body control. He sells his routes and is a great red-zone target who will catch the ball in traffic and over the middle. He needs to bulk up to adapt to the NFL, lacks the acceleration of elite wideouts and still needs to improve his leaping ability and route running.

Green's ADP is the 40th wideout taken, 99th player overall, good enough for the ninth round in a 12-team league. That's too rich for me. He's a player on a team with too many question marks. I like him in two or three years but not this year. I'll let someone else draft him, and so should you.

Jonathan Baldwin, Chiefs

Baldwin injured his thumb supposedly in a fight with veteran RB Thomas Jones. This is a setback as he's now going to lose valuable time, including the rest of the preseason.

Baldwin's a big target at 6 feet 0¾ inches and 216 pounds. He's quick off the line, has long strides that can eat chunks of yardage and can make highlight-reel plays. He's durable and a physical specimen but is immature and lacks professionalism and polish. He needs to work on routes, is not a good blocker and does not always dominate his competition.

Given his camp struggles and now that he's missing time due to a cracked thumb following a previous hamstring injury, I'll pass on Baldwin. He has a long way to go, and owners recognize that by not drafting him. He's gone in less than 1 percent of leagues right now. That's what makes him a waiver-wire pickup, which is where he belongs as he is not ready to start in the NFL.

Greg Little, Browns

Little came into camp with the potential to start but has been struggling with dropped passes and inconsistency. Injuries to other wideouts are allowing him to work with the first team. The team views him as someone who can be more physical than anyone it has, but it understands he's young and needs work. He will eventually contribute as this team goes through its growing pains with a new offense. He will be inconsistent the first half of the season until he gets comfortable.

Little is big at 6 feet 2½ inches, 231 pounds. He's an athletic playmaker with great body control, strong hands and good instincts and is agile and powerful. He's also a physical blocker but does not have elite top-end speed. He also struggles to separate vertically from fast corners, has average quickness and needs seasoning as a wideout, including route running. The real killer is that he's known to be immature and high-maintenance.

Little is well-suited for the West Coast offense, and a foot injury to Mohamed Massaquoi is allowing him extra reps with the first team. His talent's too good not to see the team making him its eventual playmaker. The good news is that he's not going in many drafts. When he does, he's the 71st receiver taken, the 207th overall. That's the 18th round in a 12-team league. He's someone I'll let drop and look toward the waiver wire as he's a rookie on a bad team.

Cecil Shorts, Jaguars

Shorts is having a solid camp and playing on a team without any proven wideouts, so he has a shot at gaining some playing time. He's running his routes well and is a natural receiver.

Shorts has great body control and good size at 5 foot 11¾ inches, 205 pounds. He can create separation, can catch in stride and can be used as a "Wildcat" quarterback. He has a solid character with a solid work ethic. He has average speed, can be jammed and bumped and is not a speed burner or explosive. He also lacks field vision after the catch and has not faced top-tier competition.

Shorts sustained a lower leg injury of some kind, but he's been playing well overall. He's in a battle with Jarett Dillard, whom the team is still high on despite two lost seasons because of injury. Playing on a run-first team with questionable quarterback play tells me the team's No. 3 wideout is not worth drafting. Owners agree as he's currently not going in any drafts. Despite Mike Thomas being the No. 1 and Jason Hill No. 2, both are unproven, so there's potential for Shorts. I recommend that you wait until after the season starts to watch his growth.



Torrey Smith, Ravens

At one point, Smith was a potential No. 2 wideout on the team, but the trade for Lee Evans from the Bills changed that. Anquan Boldin and Evans are locked into the starting spot with Smith playing the slot. Smith has struggled running routes and making breaks and cuts without acceleration, so that role is not a given.

Smith has acceleration with straight-ahead speed and can make plays downfield. He adjusts to the ball, has upfield burst and is slippery after the catch. He can also play the Wildcat quarterback position. He is a great character guy after having the burden of helping his mom raise his siblings. His return ability makes him a plus for those in return-yardage leagues. He can be bumped, catches too many passes with the body, does not get great leg extension and ran simple routes in college. He would also disappear from a game at times.

Winning the slot role is not a given as he may be battling David Reed. Nothing's a given, but we do know he will see playing time. However, it's not as pressing to get him going now as the team has Evans and even the return of Reed can help. This will allow Smith time to develop. The young rookie will contribute but, barring injury, will not make an impact on a team that goes through QB Joe Flacco to RB Ray Rice and then Boldin and Evans. Right now, owners are letting him slide and not drafting him. When he is drafted, it's right at the end of most drafts. I'll pass on him, as well.

Titus Young, Lions

Young is battling for the No. 3 spot, and his job on the team is as a deep threat. He won't pass Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson. His job is to create enough separation to keep defenses honest and for the quarterback to get the ball to his top three options, Jahvid Best and the two receivers. The team does not need him to come in and produce as much as to be effective in stretching the field.

Being a speedster, Young is not a big wideout, checking in at 5 feet 11¾ inches, 174 pounds. He's speed nothing more. He can create separation, navigate through zone coverage, is light with his feet and able to make the first tackler miss. He'll go over the middle, is a willing blocker and has the intangibles a coach loves. He's coachable and works hard, and football is important in his life. However, he's slight, not physical and needs to get bigger. That's not too uncommon among smaller vertical wideouts.

Remember, last year the team used the TE position extensively, and that tells me there are not enough footballs to go around. Not only that, but Young has missed extensive camp time with a hamstring injury. If you're not on the field, you can't learn the playbook or the speed of the NFL. He has no value early on in the season. Right now he's not being drafted, and I would recommend the same to you.

Randall Cobb, Packers

Cobb just suffered a knee bruise, so he's limited but still having an outstanding camp. As good as his reviews are, he's still buried on the depth chart. The fact the team is playing him all over the field makes him a potential player to fill all receiver positions as the season wears on. Cobb has Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Donald Driver all ahead of him. He's behind Driver, who's behind the drop-happy Jones as the second starting wideout, and behind Driver in the slot competition. Driver is injury-prone, so there's a good chance Cobb will see the field. Head coach Mike McCarthy says he's a natural, and fundamentally sound in the slot. Cobb loves football and loves watching film. As someone smallish, 5 feet 10 inches and 195 pounds, he does fit the slot and he'll also return kicks.

Cobb is athletic, instinctive, light on his feet, able to create separation and has soft hands, enabling him to make one-handed grabs. He has solid vision after the catch and is elusive in space, with a mental toughness to go over the middle. The team can also use him as a Wildcat quarterback. However, he's inexperienced as a receiver and needs to work on his route running. He does not have elite top-end speed and is not explosive. The pounding the NFL gives is also a concern because of his size, so he needs to bulk up and get stronger.

Cobb is not being drafted in many leagues as he's the 84th receiver taken, 210th overall. However, in a deep league, I would take him as a late-round flier merely to sit on him and see how he plays out in the first few weeks of the season. The better proposition is to watch him on the waiver wire, yet the Packers are a high-powered offense and you may not be able to grab him off the wire in time. Be quick about it if his role changes.

Denarius Moore, Raiders

Moore is lighting it up in camp, and head coach Hue Jackson is heaping praise on him. He's consistently open and, simply put, outshining the competition, with comments that he's the best player on the field. Jackson views him as a playmaker and he wants playmakers on the field. Moore can also return punts, giving him greater versatility.

Moore can stretch the field vertically — a Raider trait — and has second-level ability to accelerate, with good balance and body control. He does not waste movement and can create room using double moves. He has solid hands and big-play ability. He is not a big receiver at 5 feet 11 5/8 inches, weighing 194 pounds. He does not have elite top-end speed or explosiveness and needs to build up strength to handle jams at the line. He's not a great blocker, struggles to read coverages and could take time to learn the NFL game.

Ironically, owners are passing on Moore as he's going in less than 3 percent of drafts. When he's drafted, his ADP has him as the 76th wideout taken, 209th pick overall. This kid is impressing everyone, so one must take him seriously on draft day. My point: Take a flier if he's there at the end of the draft. I have no qualms in carrying six or seven wideouts in the hopes of landing at least one or two sleeper or value picks. I like what I'm seeing, hearing and reading about Moore, though it's too early to anoint him as the next coming. Remember, it's still the Raiders!

 

[Faust]

Rookie update: Where the first-year tight ends stand

Like wideouts, rookie tight ends rarely make an impact as their game is twofold, serving not only as a receivers but as blockers. Their learning curve is a bit different from wideouts, which some fantasy owners fail to realize. I remember a "duh" moment and telling a friend that tight ends aren't just used as big men who run routes, they block, too! Quite the concept, he thought. I'll add that my friend was from a foreign country, but it was still funny!

Do any rookie tight ends have the potential to make an impact?

One note and an important one: I took the time to read and review Pro Football Weekly's 2011 Draft Preview — no, really, I did! Understanding a player's role, his skills and the team around him always gives you an edge over your fellow owners because you understand the bigger picture. The Draft Preview gives you everything you need on a rookie's strengths and weaknesses entering the league.

Although I've written a few sentences on the pros and cons of each rookie listed, you should check out the book as that's where I garnered the information. I've been buying the Draft Preview every year since my career in the industry began. Surprisingly, you can still find it in some bookstores. It's also a great reference book, but if you choose not to go that route, PFW also has a great draft prospects section on its site, as well.

Kyle Rudolph, Vikings

The problem with Rudolph is that Visanthe Shiancoe is the starter and a pass-catching tight end. Rudolph will eventually be a solid tight end, but right now, he's going to have to learn how to play the game.

Rudolph is a solid tight end, coming in at 6 feet 6 1/8 inches, 259 pounds. He has a strong work ethic, is mentally tough and will play through pain. He can find the open area in coverage, is graceful with his adjustments and is a mismatch in the red zone. However, he doesn't have elite speed, needs to work on his blocking skills and was only an average producer throughout his college career.

Rudolph is not being taken in fantasy drafts, and for good reason. He's a bit raw and playing behind a proven fantasy starter. Rudolph has skills, so if Shiancoe gets hurt, there's an opportunity here. However, will he pick up enough of the offense to be able to make an impact? He has looked lost at times and, because of that, don't draft him but watch how he grows during the season just in case.

Lance Kendricks, Rams

There's good news here as Kendricks is going to see time on the field. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels uses the TE position as an offensive weapon. Not like an Antonio Gates or Jason Witten, but Kendricks did see seven targets in the first exhibition game. There's no doubt he has talent, and he'll need it as McDaniels is not afraid to send him downfield.

Kendricks is solid at 6 feet 2 7/8 inches, 243 pounds. He has great hands, attacks the ball and has outstanding athletic and movement skills. He can stretch a seam and escape linebackers. He's a willing blocker, a good competitor and is versatile as he's able to line up in many positions. He needs to add some bulk, though, to handle some of the bigger defensive ends. He can improve his route running and may need some time to adjust to the NFL.

The team plans on creating mismatches with Kendricks and TE Michael Hoomanawanui. Kendricks' size alone will give a secondary fits in trying to bring the big man down. This is a shift in philosophy, because the Rams have not had a worthy fantasy tight end since I started working in the industry in 1997! Kendricks' ADP (average draft position) is as the 25th tight end taken, 209th overall, the final rounds in most drafts. In larger leagues, I have no problem taking him as my second tight end, but why? You're better off using the waiver wire to grab him if he shows improvement. Great potential, but let it play out.

Julius Thomas, Broncos

Thomas is supposedly going to contribute this year, but remember this is a John Fox team. Fox, as a head coach has always teased us with potential at the position. Forgotten players such as Jeff King and Dante Rosario did show fantasy promise at times in their career but were never consistent on a run-first team. That stated, Thomas is having a solid camp and is surprising everyone. That shouldn't come as a surprise as he's an ex-basketball player, and hoops guys tend to be athletic and shine at times.

Thomas is 6 feet 4 5/8 inches, 246 pounds. He's athletic and is fluid, with natural hands. He has great eye-hand coordination and is explosive. He was a California prep basketball standout; thus, it's no surprise he has leaping ability. However, he's raw, with only one year of football, and rarely blocked.

QB Kyle Orton says Thomas has a feel for his position and can make all the catches. I like his potential, but let's be honest: Not only is he a project, but history dictates he'll have moments and nothing more. Like most rookie tight ends, let's watch this play out, and you can pick him up if he continues to show the potential he's been showing in camp.

 

[Faust]

Three and out: It’s Beanie’s time to shine

Beanie Wells has sleeper appeal: The Arizona Cardinals seem to have some issues in their backfield. First, the team traded Tim Hightower to Washington. And then last week, rookie Ryan Williams was lost for the season with a knee injury. But coach Ken Whisenhunt told the Arizona Republic that he feels no urgency to sign another running back. And when the team does make a move, that player will merely complement Wells. Whisenhunt is showing a lot of faith in the Ohio State product, who has a ton of talent but hasn’t been able to avoid the injury bug. But as I’ve mentioned in the past, the fact that Wells is destined to see a featured role in the offense makes him a potential asset in fantasy land. His current ADP of Round 10 on NFL.com makes him a draft steal.



McFadden is back at practice: One of the more talented runners in fantasy football, Darren McFadden has returned to Raiders practice after suffering a broken orbital bone in his left eye on Aug. 3. And according to Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune, Run DMC “looked as if he had never been away.” That’s good news for fantasy owners, especially when you consider how highly McFadden will be taken in drafts. In 2010, he finished sixth in fantasy points at his position on NFL.com — and that was in just 13 games. Therein lies the issue with McFadden, who hasn’t played a full season at the NFL level. If you do grab him in Round 1, it would certainly behoove you to also grab backup Michael Bush as insurance in the middle to late rounds.



Keep an eye on Delone Carter: Fantasy owners in larger leagues looking for a potential deep sleeper at running back should remember Carter’s name. He might be listed fourth on the Colts current depth chart, beat writer Phillip B. Wilson of the Indianapolis Star suggests that Joseph Addai and Carter are the top two backs on the roster. That’s not a surprise, as Donald Brown has been a disappointment thus far. When you consider Addai’s lack of durability, it wouldn’t be a stretch to predict that Carter could end up seeing a good amount of playing time in 2011. If he does in fact open as the second back in the rotation, he’ll also be a worthwhile handcuff for Addai.

 

[Faust]

A few quick hits from around twitter:

Jim Corbett

Mike Sims-Walker catching everything in Rams camp Sam Bradford and ex Jags WR have really clicked last 2 weeks Rook TE Lance Kendricks, too

Adam Caplan

I don't recall a rookie WR having this much of an impact in camp like Denarius Moore for the Raiders. And he's very legit.

Chris Wesseling

Not yet. Still behind at least DHB. RT @Southrnbuckeye: is Moore the starter in OAK, love to see him line up across Ford.

Steve Corkran

re-tweet by caplannfl

Campbell on the money to Darrius Heyward-Bey ... through his hands. DHB had Branch and Huff beat on post route. Gotta catch those.

Chris Wesseling

Love that #Raiders beat writer @CorkOnTheNFL tweets "Mama, mama, there goes that man again" every time Denarius Moore makes a great play.

James Walker

Another random AFCN thought: Former #Browns QB Jake Delhomme had a 78.3 completion percentage through two preseason games last year.

Vito Stellino

re-tweet by ChrisWesseling

Gabbert is QB of future but he's averaging 4.64 yards per pass attempt. Clauson was lowest in league last year at 5.2 Gabbert not ready

Evan Silva

Note: That's with #Saints 1st-tm offense. Ingram got some more red-zone work in the preseason opener with the 2nd-tm. Scored a 14-yard TD

Evan Silva

Thru 2 preseason games, Pierre Thomas has not played a single snap inside the opposing 20-yard line. Ingram has 5 red-zone snaps, Sproles 2.

Chris Wesseling

#Cowboys owner Jerry Jones: Felix Jones is having "probably the best camp of any player" on the team. dallasne.ws/rrB7l0

jaguarsinsider

Jacksonville Jaguars

re-tweet by caplannfl

Garrard on Cecil Shorts: "His hands are remarkable...I love the way he plays...I love his intensity...I love his understanding of the game."

Greg Cosell

Liked C. McCoy on film last week. Quick drop + set, light feet. Decisive w/reads + throws, compact delivery. Poised in pocket. Anticipation.

Greg Cosell

Most overlooked aspect of Roethlisberger is how gifted he is as a passer: Power arm, accurate down field, accurate on move. Excellent passer

Greg Cosell

Liked Newton v. NYG. Stayed in pocket, showed anticipation. Needs work on footwork, balance, weight transfer. Needs to be firmer in pocket.

 

[Thomsen]

Latest from rapidreports:

Aug. 23, 2011 10:29 p.m. - by Larry Holder - RB Ingram sits because of knee swelling

Coach Sean Payton said RB Mark Ingram had swelling in his left knee so he sat Ingram. Payton said Ingram may also miss Wednesday's practice. Payton said he doesn't feel like Ingram will fall behind at all. "He's going to be fine and he's having one of the better camps in this young class," Payton said. Saints RapidReports

Aug. 23, 2011 8:38 p.m. - by Tom James - Collie out again, one day after return

Updated Tuesday practice injury list: RB Javarris James (head/concussion), LB Gary Brackett (elbow), LB Cody Glenn (groin), WR Austin Collie (foot). Collie had returned to practice Monday after sitting out with a sore knee. Colts RapidReports

Aug. 23, 2011 7:09 p.m. - by Joe Oberle - WR Aromashodu making his case with big plays

Several wideouts are battling for roster spots, and OC Bill Musgrave said that WR Devin Aromashodu keeps showing up on the team's film. "He’s an exciting player," Musgrave said. "He’s definitely in the mix at that deep wide receiver position, and he seems to be making a big play for us every time we turn around." Vikings RapidReports

Aug. 23, 2011 6:34 p.m. - by Mark Ludwiczak - Jackson speaks with OC Modkins about starting job

One day after voicing his concerns about the prospect of losing his starting job, RB Fred Jackson said he spoke with offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins about the matter. "We had a productive talk," Jackson said. "He told me that I was a starter and we can go from there. But we'll see how things pan out." Bills RapidReports

Aug. 23, 2011 5:53 p.m. - by Ron Clements - Sims-Walker shows promise when healthy

QB Sam Bradford on WR Mike Sims-Walker: “It’s been great working with him, especially this week when he’s been healthy. He’s had two really good practices. It seems like we’re starting to become more on the same page.” Rams RapidReports

Aug. 23, 2011 5:45 p.m. - by Ron Clements - Gibson developing into a leader

QB Sam Bradford on WR Brandon Gibson: “Gibby’s had a great camp. Compared to last year, he’s matured a lot. He’s actually taken more of a leadership role with the wide receiver group. He’s been very dependable, does his job all the time and runs great routes. I’ve been very impressed.” Rams RapidReports

Aug. 23, 2011 5:37 p.m. - by Larry Holder - TE Graham progresses from last year

Drew Brees on TE Jimmy Graham's development: “I’ve seen him do things and react to things this year that would have been way over his head last year, but he’s a smart guy who wants to be great and loves football. When you have that, you have potential.” Saints RapidReports

Aug. 23, 2011 5:33 p.m. - by Larry Holder - Saints 1-2-3 RB punch is an asset

Drew Brees on the diversity of RBs Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles: “It’s hard when you give a defense that 1-2-3 punch ... you’re able to rotate them and keep them fresh and that’s only going to help us and our offense and how complex we’re going to be.” Saints RapidReports

Aug. 23, 2011 5:31 p.m. - by Ron Clements - Kendricks set on being a starter

Even as a second-round pick, rookie TE Lance Kendricks entered training camp with the mindset to simply “make the team.” Kendricks has been a camp standout and could be an opening-day starter. “I know it sounds cliché, but I think, with that mindset, it’s helped me progress faster,” he said. Rams RapidReports

Aug. 23, 2011 4:48 p.m. - by John Keim - Shanahan: Both Grossman and Beck will work with No. 1s

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan still would not reveal who will start at QB vs. Baltimore on Thursday, but he said that both Rex Grossman and John Beck will work with the starters. Redskins RapidReports

Aug. 23, 2011 4:18 p.m. - by Paul Dehner Jr. - Dalton performance lacks consistency

In 11 preseason drives led by QB Andy Dalton, the Bengals first-team offense went without a first down six times. Five times they punted and three times Dalton tossed an interception. The two long scoring drives have been encouraging, but finding consistency will be the priority over the final two preseason games. Bengals RapidReports

 

[Faust]

Fantasy Football 2011: Second-year breakout players

This is one of our favorite groups to target on draft day. The Year 2 players often make great sleepers for psychological reasons. This is usually because they failed to break out as rookies. Some came close, like Jacoby Ford, but there are still questions surrounding these players. So, while many created excitement going into their rookie campaigns, they now reside among the large group of players who “haven’t gotten it done.”

This creates some nice opportunities for value.

Brandon LaFell, WR, Panthers

We like LaFell a lot as far as his ability goes. He hasn’t jumped off the screen as a pro, but he has flashed the skills we saw in college enough to make us think he will be hooking up with Cam Newton regularly at some point. Of course, for LaFell, after wading through the rookie waters in 2010, he will now have to deal with his QB doing the same thing. We like him as a deep sleeper, but his success will ultimately be tied to Newton, whom we think gets better game by game.

Eric Decker, WR, Broncos

We told you about him last year in our rookie report, and our opinion has not changed. What has changed is his situation. Decker now has a chance to cement himself as a staple of John Fox’ new offense. Fox loves having a big receiver to block in his power running attack, and Decker fits the bill nicely. This will keep him on the field and we like him as a player between the 20s … but also in the red zone. Decker makes for a very nice deep sleeper in large redraft leagues. Few people are talking about him.

Arrelious Benn, WR, Bucs

He’s a far more popular player than LaFell or Decker, but since he is coming off a nasty injury, we’re a bit surprised. Still, he is very talented and he was forging a nice relationship with QB Josh Freeman before he went down. Benn should be a starter very soon and he could easily have WR3 value at some point in 2011. He’s a nice way to add depth in the later rounds.

C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills

The Bills are trying to give him a chance to take the job, but it’s been a bumpy ride for Spiller so far. We’re not writing him off. C.J. has too much speed and ability to be ignored in fantasy drafts. The problem the Bills have is that Fred Jackson has cleanly outperformed him. It’s always dicey for a team’s chemistry when they promote the unworthy. For fantasy GMs, Spiller could present some nice redraft value if he can be had as your 4th or 5th running back. Don’t reach for him, but don’t be afraid to nab him if he slips a bit.

Jacoby Ford, WR, Raiders

Ford is a player — pure and simple. He’s lightning fast, but what really caught our eyes is his tenacity and willingness to fight for the football. This kid has heart and rare ability and he is a great guy to target as a fourth or fifth receiver. If he starts (which we are still unsure of, amazingly) he is worth taking as your third or fourth receiver. We like him that much.

Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers

Does he really belong here? Yes. Mathews may go too early, but be prepared for him to fall as folks buy into Mike Tolbert. Don’t get us wrong, we’ve been on Tolbert all along, but Mathews still has half of the job and it’s still the San Diego offense. If Mathews plays well, they will find ways to use him. It’s actually the same story with this guy. It’s about health. He showed us his upside last year, but he didn’t show it enough and he killed the folks who drafted him. He’s now one of the RB3s you can draft who has legit real-deal upside. If you can get him as your third or fourth back, you should do it.

Jimmy Graham, TE, Saints

We pimped Graham large in 2010 and we are back for more. His potential in the Saints offense is sky high, and you can still get him as the seventh or eighth TE taken. That’s solid value. He’s the one Saints player, aside from maybe Marques Colston, who has a chance to stay on the field. Brees was looking for him a lot toward the end of 2010 and we expect that to continue.

Sam Bradford, QB, Rams

Bradford was a game-ready rookie, but his team lacked the weapons to make him more than a backup. St. Louis has made some modest improvements and we expect a better year from Bradford statistically speaking. He’s moved up about 10 spots in the ranking since the end of 2010. He represents good value in the second half of drafts.

Ben Tate, RB, Texans

Arian Foster’s amazing 2010 has made folks forget about Tate. It’s understandable, but the former Auburn standout is healthy now and he’s flashing his old explosiveness. If the second-year back gets an opportunity, we expect great things. And, if you roster Foster, we strongly recommend a subsequent investment in Ben Tate. It could save your bacon down the line.

Jermaine Gresham, TE, Bengals

He needs some help from his rookie quarterback, but he showed promise in 2010. He’s just another example of the crazy depth at the TE position. We expect Gresham to get stronger as the year wears on.

Riley Cooper, WR, Eagles

Cooper is one of our favorites though he is buried on the Eagles’ depth chart. If Jeremy Maclin is slow to recover, Cooper will be a great add and he makes a very nice deep flier in big leagues, especially if you take an early gamble on Maclin. Cooper has the skill set of a plus starter on the NFL level. It’s just a matter of time.

 

[Faust]

Daniel Thomas Struggling To Pick Up Offense?

The Miami Dolphins thought very highly of Kansas State running back Daniel Thomas. So high in fact that they traded up into the second round to get him. In their minds, Thomas was the replacement for the departing Ronnie Brown. He was, to the Dolphins, viewed as the primary rusher. A RB who could handle a 20-30 carry a game load. The Dolphins were so sure they had made the right decision with drafting Thomas that they decided against high priced available veteran free agents who were used to being the lead back and opted instead to sign a more specialized back in Reggie Bush.

Entering the third week of the pre-season, head coach Tony Sparano has announced that Reggie Bush and not Daniel Thomas is the teams starting running back. Is Daniel Thomas struggling to pick up the offense? Or is he struggling to make the adjustment into the NFL?

Last week Thomas had a better showing than he did the week before. To his credit the play of the offensive line improved as well. It was Bush however that surprised fans and media alike by taking the first team carries into the line of scrimmage and not around it. When Thomas entered the game, production dropped considerably. In fact, Thomas failed to pick up one yard on first and goal on consecutive attempts.

Thomas has shown flashes of what he may someday become. Yet he struggles with hitting open holes with any conviction. He doesn’t dance behind the line of scrimmage, he almost entirely stops. One of Thomas’ positive attributes was his ability to break tackles. Thus far he is being taken down by the first hit. He is also running more upright than he did in college. His body becomes a much bigger target for defenders and he is developing a habit of not continually moving his feet after first impact.

Thomas is rookie and although the running back position is one of the easier positions to transition to at the NFL level, he is doing so without the benefit of an off-season that caters to getting players ready for what they are seeing now. Still, there must be some concern over the ability being shown now when the team looks at 31 year old Larry Johnson. Presumably to carry the load in case Thomas’ struggles continue.

Thomas has a bright future and it only takes one light to come for him to realize what is doing wrong and what he needs to be doing right. Unfortunately for the Dolphins they don’t have the time to take a wait and see approach.

Thomas will spend most of the opening drive/s on the bench watching Reggie Bush take his carries. The carries he was supposed to inherit when the Dolphins declined to sign Ricky Williams or Ronnie Brown. He needs to step up. He is not in danger of losing his job or a roster spot, but it’s not smart to get into a coaches doghouse this early. He is young and he is in fact a rookie. Playing at the NFL level for a mere two and a half weeks.

He simply has a long way to go.

 

[Faust]

Postcard from camp: Bengals

Excerpts:

Three Observations

1. Where have you gone, Ochocinco? Just by habit, I walked into the Bengals locker room and looked toward the right side, middle of the room, where Chad Ochocinco once held court. He's gone now, and so is the "retired" Carson Palmer, two of the more identifiable Bengals of recent vintage and, really, of all time. No more Ochocinco manning the stereo. No more Palmer sitting at his stall in the front, right corner of the room. The vibe feels different. It is different. "We still have a good locker room and good players," center Kyle Cook pointed out, looking around the room. "We still have the guys like [guard] Bobbie Williams and [tackle] Andrew Whitworth and [running back] Ced [benson]." Of the absence of Ochocinco and Palmer, Cook said, "Them being gone, it's tough because they were good players, but this is a new year. It's a totally new team, and we've got to move on." The Bengals really have.

2. Jay Gruden will bring energy -- and long work hours -- to his role as Bengals offensive coordinator. And with a rookie quarterback, he will need it. I met Jay for the first time last year while I was moonlighting as a sideline reporter for the United Football League, and I immediately recognized the focus and determination that runs through the Gruden family tree (Jay is Jon's younger brother). Though not nearly as animated as Jon, Jay is a coach's coach who loves to talk about the intricacies of the offensive game. (He is installing the West Coast offense in Cincinnati). He played quarterback at Louisville, starred in the Arena Football League as a player and coach, and was an offensive assistant on Jon's Buccaneers team that won Super Bowl XXXVII over the Oakland Raiders. In my year covering the UFL, Jay coached the Florida Tuskers to the title game, losing to Jim Fassel's Las Vegas Locos.

I asked Jay about taking on his new role with a rookie quarterback, and he emphasized how well Dalton was digesting the verbiage of a complex offense. "He's handling all of the audibles and all of the good things that you have to do as a quarterback," Gruden said. "He's a calm, cool customer right now. We definitely like what we see in his progression." One of the big questions will be how much the Bengals max protect versus how much they turn their weapons loose. "Especially with the exotic blitzes you see on second and long and third down, the problem is when you max protect, you don't get anybody out [on routes] hardly, and if [the defense] plays Cover 2 man or drops eight [defenders], you've got problems," Gruden said. "We have to have a good combination of both."

That Dalton's first two preseason games were against the Detroit Lions -- who unleashed Ndamukong Suh on him -- and the New York Jets will only help him in the long run, Gruden guessed. "Let's see worst-case scenarios for him and prepare and show him what it's going to be like in the regular season," Gruden said. "It's not going to be easy any week, any game that we play. He's going to see some things, take his licks, get up and come back at 'em."

3. Dalton is going to love throwing the football to A.J. Green. The rookie wide receiver from Georgia stands 6-foot-4 and is already making an impression on the coaching staff. "He's the real deal," Gruden said. "So far he's everything as advertised." Gruden says the biggest adjustment Green is going to have to make as a pro is using receiver fundamentals to combat the best defensive backs in the world. "He's going to see some different looks," Gruden said. "He's been able to use his raw talent to get open his whole career. Now he's going to have to make sure his depth and his routes are consistent, to set up people, and find holes. That's going to take some time, but as far as raw talent goes, he's a special character."

Step On Up

Cedric Benson, running back. Two years ago, Benson led a renaissance in Bengals football. He had 301 carries for 1,251 yards in helping lead Cincinnati to the playoffs. Last season, he carried the ball 20 more times but had 140 fewer rushing yards. With a rookie quarterback under center, Benson's production will be the key to the Bengals' offensive success. "Cedric hopefully is going to be a major part of the offense," Gruden said. "It opens up the play action and bootlegs and all that. Without the running game, our playbook diminishes considerably. [benson] is very, very important."

New Face, New Place

Nate Clements, cornerback. Clements grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio, and played college football at Ohio State. And after 10 seasons in Buffalo and San Francisco, he is happy to be playing in his native state. He also noted that rumors of the Bengals' demise are greatly exaggerated. "Two years ago, this team swept the division," Clements said. "We have what it takes. It's been proven and guys realize that. Success doesn't discriminate against anybody. With winning comes confidence. That's the key, to start fast, win games and that breeds confidence within the group. This is a young, talented team. I'm excited."

Looking At The Schedule ...

Cincinnati opens the regular season as it should -- against intrastate and division rival Cleveland at Browns Stadium. For the two teams chasing the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens in the AFC North, the game should reveal plenty about their prospects in 2011. None of the Bengals' first five opponents (Browns, Broncos, 49ers, Bills and Jaguars) had a winning record in 2010. Of course, neither did the Bengals. With a rookie quarterback under center, the odds for a playoff season are long. Another losing season appears likely.

 

[Faust]

Ravens Training Camp Notes: Monday Edition

The Baltimore Ravens were back on the practice field Monday afternoon in preparation for what should be the most important of the four pre-season games this Thursday evening hosting the Washington Redskins. Tomorrow is the last practice session that the media can attend before the walk-through on Wednesday. The pace of the practice was fast and crisp.

With center Matt Birk still injured and guard Marshal Yanda still not returning to practice the right side of the offensive line has Oniel Cousins at right guard and newcomer Mark LeVoir at right tackle. TE Dennis Pitta is running with the first team and Ed Dickson the second. With no Jarret Johnson at linebacker today, Prescott Burgess was taking his place with the first team defense.

RB Ricky Williams catches a deep pass, out-racing Terrell Suggs on a nice, soft Joe Flacco pass. Today, Flacco is picking apart the secondary so far. Rookie WR Torrey Smith slows down the progress as he drops a Flacco pass right in his hands on a ten-yard curl route.

Safety Bernard Pollard, at 6'1" and 224 pounds, looks huge standing next to the other members of the Ravens secondary. CB Chris Carr was practicing but came out of drills and was seen on the sidelines with a trainer giving him attention.

LB Albert McClellan gets apick off of a deflected pass on a play right before OLB Sergio Kindle stands up RB Jalen Parmele when they meet behind the line of scrimmage.

Note to self: Picking the 53-man final roster will involve a lot of real tough decisions!

Rookie CB Jimmy Smith has all the physical skills, stuffing WR David Reed, but Reed collects himself and gets separation, hauling in a pass down the right sideline. Ed Reed and Tom Zbikowski make up the 1st team safety combination, with the aforementioned Pollard and Haruki Nakamura as the 2nd team.

Not forgetting about the kicking game, placekicker Billy Cundiff hits 26 and44 yard field goals but his 58 yard attempt falls way short in the swirling wind, brought out of the end zone by Lardarius Webb.

FB Vonta Leach is making loud noises with his crushing blocks, drawing "oohhhs" from the players watching drills. In the next series, Sergio Kindle meets Ray Rice at the goal line and had the drill been at full speed, the results would have been interesting to witness.

WR Anquan Boldin catches everything thrown his way and runs out every play to the end zone like a consummate professional. There is no question that Boldin is Flacco's go-to guy, obviously taking the place of the departed Derrick Mason as Joe's favorite and primary target. Surprisingly, Lee Evans seems to be on the same page as if he's been here a lot longer than just over a week.