* OFFICIAL * 2012 Training Camp / Preseason News & Tidbits Thread (1 Viewer)

[Faust]

Leonard Hankerson shines for Redskins, report says

By Marc Sessler

Writer

If everything goes as planned, Robert Griffin III will be throwing the ball in a Washington Redskins uniform for the next decade-plus. His cast of receivers, however, still is being sorted out.

Pierre Garcon and Santana Moss are penciled into the top slots, but the competition behind them presents an opportunity for the likes of Josh Morgan, Anthony Armstrong, Brandon Banks and Leonard Hankerson.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Hankerson has "made a strong bid" for a prominent role in the offense with a productive training camp. While Morgan has been sidelined with a hamstring injury, Hankerson has been the most consistent of the bunch, according to the newspaper.

"It always can be a whole lot better," Hankerson told The Post on Monday. "But I feel like I'm right there. I feel like I'm getting better. I feel like I'm doing what the coaches ask me. And I feel like I'm taking a step each and every day, and that's what it's all about."

We listed Hankerson among our potential breakout players for 2012 after he played well in a pair of starts as a rookie last season before being lost to injury. He's a nice fit in the slot and gives RG3 a young wideout to pair with. A franchise quarterback in the house could get Hankerson's young career on track in a hurry.

 

[Faust]

DeMarco Murray compared to Emmitt Smith, Dorsett

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League editor

Everything is bigger in Texas. That includes expectations for any Dallas Cowboys draft pick that exhibits early signs of brilliance.

Running back DeMarco Murray was better and faster than anyone expected. He showed a better ability to avoid contact than he did in college and an ability to run between the tackles. He looked like a "cornerstone back" to use the phrasing of Greg Cosell of NFL Films. And that's exactly what the Cowboys expect out of Murray now.

"There are those in the Cowboys' organization who believe Murray has a chance to be one of the great ones, like (Emmitt) Smith and Tony Dorsett," Clarence E. Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram writes.

Yeah, those are pretty lofty expectations. Murray displays a willingness to work extra, show maturity, and always practice hard. Murray ran over cornerback Teddy Williams at a recent practice and the defender had to be checked for a concussion.

"Just playing football," Murray said. "I'm just trying to set the tempo right now."

Felix Jones will be a useful backup if he can stay healthy. But this is Murray's backfield now. Dez Bryant gets all the attention, but Murray's ability to live up to these newfound expectations could matter more for the 2012 Cowboys.

 

[Faust]

Cam Newton rapidly improving in Year 2 with Carolina Panthers

By Daniel Jeremiah

Analyst, NFL.com and NFL Network

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- "If you could be any animal for two weeks, which one would you pick?"

Those were the very first words I heard when I stepped onto the practice field at Wofford College this past Friday. The question was posed by a smiling Cam Newton to fellow quarterback Derek Anderson as they warmed up for a sweltering afternoon practice at Carolina Panthers training camp.

If the pressure of a "sophomore slump" is weighing on the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, he sure does a great job of disguising it.

Here are five observations on Newton from my visit:

1. He's HUGE! That is the very first thing that you notice when you see Newton in person. He has the physique of an NFL defensive end. His shoulders are incredibly broad and his lower body is powerfully constructed. It is very easy to see why he is such a nightmare for defenders to tackle in the open field. Most scrambling quarterbacks can only pick up yards with speed or elusiveness, but Newton adds the element of power.



2. His touch and accuracy are much better. With big-armed quarterbacks, it is often difficult to get them to vary ball speed. Newton has made major progress from his rookie season in this area. During practice, he eased off the gas on underneath throws and his accuracy improved as a result. When he did need to fit the ball into a tight window down the field, he was able to crank up the velocity, but he's beginning to understand that the fastball isn't always required.

3. Newton's developing very good chemistry with third-year wide receiver Brandon LaFell. Newton repeatedly hooked up with LaFell during every portion of practice. The young receiver was more fluid as a route runner than he's been in the past and he was attacking the ball in the air. There is no disputing that Steve Smith is still the clear No. 1 weapon in this passing game, but I expect LaFell to have a breakout season in 2012. He finished last season with 36 catches for 613 yards and three touchdowns. As long he stays healthy, I can see him approaching the 1,000-yard mark this year.

4. The Panthers have flanked their franchise quarterback with arguably the deepest running back stable in the NFL. There are several teams with solid depth in the backfield, but I'd take the collection of runners in Carolina over any other combination in the league. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have been a dynamic pairing over the last few seasons, and now they've added a human bowling ball in Mike Tolbert. The Panthers' ability to effectively run the ball is going to make their play-action passing game extremely difficult to defend. Opposing defenses are going to need their safeties to help in run support and that is going to create a lot of one-on-one matchups down the field for Newton to exploit. Both Smith and LaFell averaged more than 17 yards per catch in 2011; they should be even more dangerous in 2012.

5. Cam just loves to play the game of football. I was very fortunate to be around Ray Lewis during my four years in the Baltimore Ravens personnel department. There are several different traits that have made Lewis one of the greatest defenders in NFL history, but the one that stands out to me is his tremendous passion for the game. Cam Newton shares that same love and joy on the practice field. He might not be quite as intense as Lewis, but he has outstanding energy right from the moment he steps onto the field. He sets the tempo for this Carolina Panthers team, and his confidence and swagger have given this organization a new identity and hope for the future.

 

[Faust]

On Eagles backup running backs

By Dan Graziano | ESPN.com

I get questions about who will back up LeSean McCoy as running back for the Philadelphia Eagles. The two-part answer is (a) Dion Lewis and (b) yes, if McCoy had to miss time they'd be in big trouble. But there is a lot of interest around two rookie running backs in Eagles camp -- seventh-round draft pick Bryce Brown and undrafted free agent Chris Polk. It's possible only one makes the team. It's possible one or both someday overtakes Lewis for the backup role. Lots of things are possible.

When I was there last week, Brown looked like the better runner and Polk the better pass protector. To read Sheil Kapadia, Polk is an otherworldly pass protector:

During this afternoon's session, the undrafted free agent out of Washington sent cornerback Brandon Hughes flying on a blitz pickup that drew perhaps the loudest ovation of the day.

"I actually messed up on that play, because I went to the wrong side," Polk said. "But I knew he was coming so I just had to get back there quick. I don't want the quarterback getting hit on my behalf, so that's something I try to hang my hat on."

Earlier in practice, during one-on-one blitz pickup drills, Polk (5-11, 215) stoned free safety Phillip Thomas, eventually pinning him to the ground.

Given Polk's skill set and the Eagles' current roster makeup, let's think outside the box for a moment: Could he be this team's answer at fullback?

It's an interesting idea, but I can't speak to how realistic it is. What's more interesting to me is the importance the Eagles place on pass protection when determining the roles of their running backs. If the backup's more significant role is to protect the quarterback because they'd have to throw a lot more with McCoy out, that's the kind of thing that could swing things in Polk's favor.

 

[Faust]

Camp Confidential: New York Jets

By James Walker | ESPN.com

CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Bart Scott just wouldn't stop talking.

The charismatic linebacker's mouth was running 100 miles per hour during New York Jets practice last weekend. Scott got on the Jets' quarterbacks, Tim Tebow and Mark Sanchez. Scott got on Jets offensive coordinator Tony Sparano. Scott got under the skin of the offensive linemen.

No one was immune in training camp -- and Jets head coach Rex Ryan likes it that way.

"The funny thing is when you talk like that, it puts pressure on you to play well," Ryan explained. "You can tell that Bart feels great about himself, and he feels great about this team. That is why he is the way he is right now. He is all over everybody -- offense, defense, especially offense."

The Jets were humbled by last season's 8-8 record and late-season implosion. But if Scott's mouth is any indication, it appears this team is getting its swagger back.

There have been no Super Bowl predictions and no preseason talk of supplanting the New England Patriots in the AFC East this year. But watching the Jets practice, you sense this team has an edge to it. Sometimes that edginess goes overboard and leads to fighting among themselves, which explains the reported 20-player scuffle the Jets had on Monday and a second fight on Tuesday.

The Jets undoubtedly will do damage this year. The question is, will they do more damage to themselves or their opponents? New York must first prove that this group is bonding and will no longer be "team turmoil" in 2012.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Can the Jets handle the Sanchez-Tebow dynamic? Even President Obama has his concerns about the Jets’ two-headed monster at quarterback. Obama said he doesn’t think Tebow’s immense presence will be good for Sanchez. The Jets, however, claim they're unfazed by Obama’s comments.

“He doesn’t play football for the Jets,” New York guard Matt Slauson said.

But it is clear the Jets have to keep an eye on the Tebow effect all season. In New York’s team-wide scrimmage over the weekend, 9,200 fans packed in to watch the Jets, and Tebow received by far the loudest ovation. The loud cheers while Tebow entered the huddle for the first time had to bother Sanchez to some degree.

It appears Sanchez and Tebow get along fairly well. But things could become tense if Sanchez struggles early in the regular season.

2. Is chemistry still an issue? The Jets didn’t miss the playoffs last year due to lack of talent. New York missed the postseason for the first time under Ryan due to lack of togetherness and chemistry.

Things fell apart for the Jets in the locker room and it showed on the field. Too often players weren’t on the same page, and Ryan admittedly dropped the ball in fixing those issues. It’s Ryan’s job to make sure these things no longer happen. But there already are ominous signs that the locker room could be combustible again in 2012.

In addition to the reported scuffles, cornerback Antonio Cromartie created tension by claiming to be the second-best receiver on the team. These things add up. The Jets need to put an end to the in-house silliness now before it shows up in the regular season.

Sanchez, a team leader, wasn’t particularly happy about the brawl that went down.

“At this point in camp, especially after the scrimmage, tempers flare,” Sanchez explained. “That stuff happens; there’s no excuse for it. There’s no throwing the ball at a teammate. There’s no shoving the guy out of bounds into the signs. One, it doesn’t look good, and two, it sends the wrong message to our team. We want to take care of our guys.”

3. Who is the No. 2 receiver? Cromartie apparently thinks it’s him. But despite his controversial comments, the Jets have to find other players to step into that role full time. Players such as Patrick Turner, Chaz Schilens, Jeremy Kerley and rookie Stephen Hill are all competing for the role to start opposite Santonio Holmes.

The Jets will rely more on the run than the passing game. But they must make the most of passing opportunities. Holmes’ rib injury will allow other receivers to get more reps. This is a golden opportunity for someone to emerge and provide another target for Sanchez.

Hill appears to have the best chance to fill this role long term. But it may take an experienced player such as Turner or Schilens to step up until Hill acclimates to the NFL game.

REASON FOR OPTIMISM

As noted earlier, New York’s defense looks tremendous. The Jets were the most impressive defense of all the AFC East training camps we’ve visited in the past two weeks. The front seven is allowing few rushing lanes, and the cornerbacks are covering well, as expected.

“I feel great about the defense,” Ryan said.

It’s easy to forget that New York had a top-five defense last year, because the Jets didn’t play that way at times. But this defense believes it can rank No. 1 in the NFL in 2012. Based on what we’ve seen, that goal is not out of reach. New York’s defense doesn’t have many holes.

REASON FOR PESSIMISM

The Jets' passing game appears shaky, which could be a major issue for the team this season.

New York wants to ground and pound its way to victories. But the NFL is a passing league, and winning by running the ball 40 times is becoming increasingly more difficult. The Jets at some point will have to air it out if they want to score enough to win consistently. The defense is great. But New York can’t win every game 13-10 or 17-14. That puts too much pressure on one side of the ball, and the offense not holding up its end of the bargain is one issue that caused chemistry issues last year.

What if teams stack the box against tailback Shonn Greene and Tebow and the Wildcat? Can Sanchez make enough big throws to keep defenses honest? The Jets were 2-5 last year when Sanchez threw the football 35 times or more. Expect opposing defensive coordinators to keep that stat in mind when preparing for the Jets this year.

Sparano wants to play conservatively and win on the ground first. But defenses won’t make it easy. At some point this year, Sanchez and his receivers will be forced to win games, and this team might not have enough quality personnel to pass the football consistently.

OBSERVATION DECK

[*]Tebow admittedly never played special teams. But the backup quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner looks like a natural in the third phase of the game. Tebow will serve as the punt protector, which gives the Jets options on fakes, as Tebow could either run or attempt a pass on fourth down. Tebow also has been getting work on the kickoff team, and he looks good moving downfield and tracking the ball carrier.

[*]New York’s starting offensive line and backups appeared to have been pushed around too often during our camp visit. That should be a concern for Jets fans. New York wants to establish a physical identity on offense, but the line has been unable to establish many running lanes against its defense. Granted, most defenses aren’t as good as New York’s. Preseason games will provide a better indication of where the Jets’ offensive line stands.

[*]Hill needs to work on his consistency. There are days in practice when he is a non-factor and others when he shows why he's a highly-touted, second-round pick. Hill beat Cromartie and Darrelle Revis on a pair of deep balls in practice in recent days. Yet, Hill disappeared in Saturday‘s team-wide scrimmage. Hill has the physical tools; he just needs to sharpen his routes and bring strong effort consistently. “The route running is still coming. I’m not even going to say I’m perfect on it,” Hill said. “I’m still working and still learning on it. Revis and Cromartie are actually helping me on it, because they’re noticing I do certain things [to tip them off].”

[*]One of the most impressive players during our visit to training camp was defensive end Aaron Maybin. The former first-round pick of the Buffalo Bills has really come into his own with the Jets. Last year, he recorded a career-high six sacks, and he looks even better in his second year in the system. Maybin says the “mayhem” is back, and it has looked that way in training camp. He had a sack and quarterback pressure in Saturday’s scrimmage.

[*]It's difficult to get a feel for new Jets safety LaRon Landry. His action in camp remains limited, due to last year’s Achilles injury that was never surgically repaired. Landry practices with the team about once every three days to stay fresh. He played in Saturday’s scrimmage but wasn’t tested much. The Jets have high expectations for Landry, so we're curious to see how well he moves in exhibition games.

[*]Free-agent signing Yeremiah Bell is bringing exactly what the Jets expected at safety. He’s made some big hits and solid plays against the run, but he hasn’t been great in coverage. The combination of Bell and Landry on the back end means the Jets must do a lot of scheming to protect their safeties. That involves a lot of blitzing to get to the quarterback and playing Bell or Landry in the box.

[*]The backup running back situation is an interesting one. Joe McKnight entered camp as the favorite, due to his athleticism and experience. But relative unknown Bilal Powell has been outperforming McKnight. Powell has been more consistent, and McKnight still has a penchant for fumbling.

 

[Faust]

Good news for Cardinals on Kolb, Wells

By Mike Sando | ESPN.com

Three critical injury situations in the Arizona Cardinals' offensive backfield appear to be improving.

Quarterback Kevin Kolb, sidelined by a chest injury after four pass attempts during the team's exhibition opener Sunday, was throwing during the team's walk-through session Tuesday, Kent Somers reported.

Starting running back Beanie Wells, sidelined by knee surgery after topping 1,000 yards rushing in 2011, was activated off the physically unable to perform list, the team announced.

Backup running back Ryan Williams -- the term "backup" doesn't do him justice relative to the Cardinals' expectations for him -- remains on course in his rehabilitation from surgery to repair a torn patella. Williams did not play Sunday, but he has looked good in practice.

Any positive news on these three key injury fronts is welcome, of course. It's a little concerning, however, when a team goes into a season with injury concerns to three players so central to its plans.

 

[Faust]

Pardon me while I gush about Dwayne Allen

By Paul Kuharsky | ESPN.com

ANDERSON, Ind. -- I’ve not visited the Texans yet and I am excluding Andrew Luck from the conversation.

Given those two conditions, I’ve found a singular newcomer in watching practices of the Colts, Titans and Jaguars who’s only competition as an eye-catcher thus far is a player heading into his seventh season -- Titans free-agent addition Kamerion Wimbley, a defensive end.

Who’s this attention grabber?

Colts third-round rookie tight end Dwayne Allen.

As simpletons who need guys to fit cookie-cutter molds and job descriptions, many of us have been tempted to cast Allen as a blocker set to balance out the guy the Colts drafted a round ahead of him, Coby Fleener.

But while Fleener’s been streaky in the early stages of his first camp, I’m told Allen’s steadily been the same guy I’ve been watching over the last couple of days. He’s thick (6-foot-3, 255 pounds), athletic and versatile. He’s playing the “F” spot in the offense of Bruce Arians, a “move” tight end who can line up anywhere, shift anywhere, block as needed and get open to show off his quality hands and run with the ball.

It’s probably too gushing a review off a small sample, but even this cynic is having trouble resisting …

Allen looks like he was built for this offense.

It’s a great time to be a tight end coming into the NFL, I asked, isn’t it?

“It’s a great time to be a tight end coming into Bruce Arians’ offense, definitely,” he said. “Because it’s a very tight end-oriented offense and of course Andrew Luck is very tight end-friendly. With the three- and four-tight end sets he ran at Stanford, his comfort level right now is going to be hitting the tight ends and moving the sticks that way. ”

Allen and Fleener joke about their joint mission: Make sure Luck stays devoted to his tight ends and that the Colts stay a two tight end team. Don’t allow Arians and Luck to become curious about what five fast, tough wide receivers would look like on the field together.

Rookie receiver T.Y. Hilton could certainly understand it if the Colts rarely pull Allen from the offensive huddle.

“For his size and the things he’s doing?” Hilton said. “It’s incredible. I haven’t seen anyone like him. Running over people, he can block, and his route running is phenomenal.”

The early comfort level shouldn’t be a surprise.

“They are not asking me to do anything different than I’ve already done in college,” Allen said of his tape from Clemson. “I moved around a lot and showed a lot of versatility in college, especially this past year. So they’re just utilizing my talents.”

“Can I block? Yes. And I pride myself in my blocking. But I also think I am a hell of a receiver. And I pride myself on my route running and catching the ball.”

 

[Faust]

Jay Cutler: Bears' talent increase is obvious

By Kevin Seifert | ESPN.com

New Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery delivered quarterback Jay Cutler an offseason bouquet of sorts, acquiring his favorite wide receiver in Brandon Marshall and drafting a look-alike in Alshon Jeffery. Cutler returned the favor in part during a meeting with reporters Monday, suggesting the team's talent has been notably elevated in Emery's six-month tenure.

"I think Phil Emery and the scouting department, you can definitely tell the difference in talent in the three years I was here to here," Cutler said in the video. "Even the guys that didn't get drafted can play football."

Cutler isn't the type to send calculated love letters through the media, so we're left to assume that his response reflects a genuine assessment of the Bears' talent. I can't profess to have a deep knowledge of the Bears' undrafted rookie class, but I do know that offensive lineman James Brown made a good early impression. Cutler also appears comfortable throwing not only to Jeffery but also tight end Evan Rodriguez, an intriguing fourth-round pick.

 

[Faust]

Luke Kuechly making a splash

By Pat Yasinskas | ESPN.com

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- It doesn’t take long to spot Luke Kuechly on the Carolina Panthers’ practice field. That’s because he’s the guy making big plays.

It happened Tuesday morning when quarterback Cam Newton slightly overthrew tight end Gary Barnidge and Kuechly was there to make the interception. It happened in Saturday’s Fan Fest, when Kuechly picked off another pass.

And it’s been happening in virtually every practice since the start of camp, according to coaches and players. Sure there have been a few moments where Kuechly has looked like a rookie. But, more often than not, Kuechly has been showing why the Panthers pounced on him with the No. 9 overall pick in the draft. He played middle linebacker at Boston College, and there’s still a chance Kuechly could end up back there some day. But Jon Beason is in the middle right now, and Kuechly is working on the outside with the first team and making strong impressions.

Offensive tackle Jordan Gross has seen a lot of linebackers come and go through the years, but he said it’s obvious Kuechly is going to have an instant impact. Kuechly can drop in pass coverage, chase down running backs, and he’s even showing some strong skills as a pass-rusher.

“He’s been as advertised,’’ Gross said. “He’s got a nose for the ball and he throws his body around, and that’s what you want out of a linebacker. One thing that stands out is that when he blitzes, he rushes the passer, he doesn’t just blitz and stop if a lineman picks him up. He’s got moves, and his effort is good. If you get your hands on him, he wants to get off there and make a play. He doesn’t really act like a rookie at all.’’

The rookie moments have faded and that’s expected to continue. The Panthers already are set on Kuechly and Beason as starting linebackers. The third spot is up for grabs between Thomas Davis, who is returning from a knee injury, and James Anderson, who led the team in tackles last season.

 

[netnalp]

Paul Dottino on Twitter

*Spencer Paysinger is facing an uphill battle for a roster spot.

*Mark Herzlich will eventually be the starting MLB; matter of when, not if.

*Compared Mark Herzlich to Gary Reasons.

*Said Mark Herzlich has looked "terrific" so far.

*Questioned Ramses Barden's heart/desire and talent level.

*Manning is looking very sharp.

*Not too worried about loss of Aaron Ross as the team has enough talent at CB.

*Will Hill is looking more and more like the 3rd Safety.

*Thinks Osi Umenyiora will have a big year in his contract year.

*Thinks Baas will have a good season as well.

*We could see Jason Pierre-Paul in a stand-up stance in sub packages.

*Bear Pascoe is a move TE/H-back, not a traditional TE. And since Martellus Bennett is paid like a starter, he better win the starting job.

*Said there is still some questions/worries about the TE position.

*No answer about David Wilson's ball security and blitz pick-up skills improving. He needs to see him in a game situation.

*Mitch Petrus will not compete for a starting job this year.

*Shaun Rogers will have to play better than Norman Hand in did because Rogers will have a bigger role.

*David Douglas is in a fight for the #6 WR spot. Not ready to give him a roster spot yet.

*Danny Ware and David Wilson will be #2 RB by committee.

*David Diehl has looked very focused.

*Starters will probably get the first 2 possessions on Friday vs Jaguars.

*Not sure if Prince Amukamara will play on Friday because of the minor hamstring issue.

*Plaxico Burress and/or Jeremy Shockey will NOT be back with the team.

*Keith Rivers has looked very active.

*Da'Rel Scott will see the field some this year.

*As of right now, Da'Rel Scott is outperforming Andre Brown for a roster spot.

*Linval Joseph has had a very good camp and has clearly played better than Marvin Austin.

 

[Faust]

Broncos camp report: Eternals Bailey, Manning have it covered on both sides

By Mike Freeman | National NFL Insider

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Maybe the most physically gifted athlete in NFL history sits humbly, smiling. There are no proclamations of greatness. He doesn't need them. No cockiness, no smart ###-ness. Not his style. Just Champ Bailey talking football.

Or, more to the point, longevity. The fact that Bailey has played the corner position, still covering the opposition's best receiver, week in and week out, remains one of the most incredible stories football has ever seen. It's difficult to quantify but Bailey joins an elite and small group that covered the best receiving weapons, one-on-one, well into his 30s, and at a Pro Bowl level.

One was Washington's Darrell Green, who played into his late 30s and until the day he retired covered the best receiving option. There are a few others, like Willie Brown, but what Bailey is doing might surpass even those Hall of Famers. As Bailey has aged, the speed of the game has changed dramatically. He's covering faster receivers than Green or Brown ever did, but still staying with them, stride for stride.

Bailey is also dealing with rules changes that cause a defensive back to be flagged if a pinky grazes a shoulder pad. The football world Bailey still dominates is more complex than the ones his aged and skilled predecessors played in.

"I remember five years ago people told me since I was getting to my 30s that I'd be retiring soon," the 34-year-old Bailey said in an interview. "Well, here I am."

Here he is, indeed. While Peyton Manning may be the story of the Denver Broncos, it is Bailey, again, who is the non-aging centerpiece. Receivers have come and gone. Corners have come and gone. So have NFL commissioners, presidents, space stations and sitcoms. The Earth has warmed, oceans have risen, dynasties have fallen ... all during Bailey's career, which started in 1999.

Bailey has stayed indestructible while still possessing incredible speed. He denied what a teammate told me, that Bailey plans to play two more years and then retire.

"I'm planning year to year," he said. "Right now I feel too good to think about retiring."

Maybe the best way to describe what Bailey has done is let another eternal do it for him.

"I played against Champ three years in college, and so I remember him as a true freshman at Georgia," Manning said. "I remember how talented he was, and you just knew he was going to be a good player. I played against him my second year in Indy when he was with the Redskins, so I was telling somebody that the other day -- they're like, 'Champ played for the Redskins, and you played against him?' It's just like forever ago, I guess. But I think it's pretty well documented that every time I've played against him, you always get asked about Champ, and he's the best corner I've played against in my career, and he's been unbelievably consistent.

"I've played the Broncos a number of times, and he always shows up, he's always ready to go. He presents an intense matchup problem. Champ has never intercepted me in the NFL, but I don't think I've ever thrown a touchdown on him either, so it's a pretty good battle. He got me in college one time on an interception, so I'm glad we're on the same team. [The Colts] always had healthy respect for Champ. We never threw away from a certain guy because we felt like we loved our receivers. With Marvin [Harrison] and Reggie [Wayne], we're going to throw to those guys, but you always knew where Champ was. If you couldn't set your feet into it, it wasn't worth throwing. If you threw behind him, he was going to make you pay. ..."

And here he is ... again.

Team Objectives

• Protect Manning. The main objective. The most necessary. The most obvious. What I'm told by some on the Broncos is this: They're not worried necessarily about that one huge hit on Manning somehow destabilizing his intricate and various neck surgeries. They are worried about repeated, smaller hits. Hell, the Broncos might max protect every play for the first part of the season. That's an exaggeration but you get the point. The team will do everything it can to keep Manning in one piece.

• Kill the legend of Tim Tebow. I've heard this from several players. It's not said with animosity or jealousy but there is a segment of the team, not a small one, that felt Tebow was all about Tebow and both he and the media forgot that other segments of the team (emphasis on team) helped push the Broncos to the playoffs. The players who say this aren't naïve. They know that if the Broncos win, Manning will get the credit. But to them, Manning is a Hall of Famer who can actually, well, throw the ball. And has a track record of greatness.

• Let Jack Del Rio do his thing. As a coach in Jacksonville, he had his faults, but overall Del Rio is smart and a solid defensive mind. Del Rio and coach John Fox will make a formidable duo on the defensive side of the ball. Plus, Del Rio has more weapons to work with in Denver than he did in Jacksonville.

Camp Battles

Backup quarterback: The biggest of the battles. Caleb Hanie and Adam Weber are fighting to back up Manning. Normally, before Manning's surgeries, the backup had a doctorate in clipboard holding. Now it's different. Hanie will likely win the battle.

Somebody to Watch

Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas. Quite simply, a freaking beast. Manning will use Thomas as his Broncos version of Marvin Harrison (but not Eric Decker, who is also quite good). "Demaryius is a guy that we are going to feature," Manning said. "His size and strength and speed just [allow] you to do certain things with him that other players just can't do." Thomas is part of a Broncos receiving group that could be formidable because it's fast and Manning is so accurate with his throws.

Injury Roundup

• Decker has a strained groin (hate when that happens) and joins a number of receivers who are fighting nagging injuries. D'Andre Goodwin has a foot issue and Tyler Grisham has a hurt knee.

• RB Mario Fannin tore his Achilles tendon in the Broncos' first scrimmage.

The Final Word

The conventional thinking about the Broncos goes like this: If they made the playoffs last year with a quarterback who can't throw in a straight line, imagine what they'll do with Manning. There is a great deal of truth to this. Who knows how many wins a healthy Manning can generate, but it's not an insignificant number. One NFL scout believes Manning, alone, is worth nine victories to the Broncos. Could be right. If Manning stays upright (a significant if) that conventional wisdom could easily come true.

 

[Faust]

Rudolph brings sure hands to tight end position

By Kent Youngblood | Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

Kyle Rudolph, the last player off the practice field, walked through the gate, then paused.

First impression: The hot afternoon sun doesn’t seem so bad when a 6-foot-6, 260-pound guy is blocking it out. And then he shakes your hand. Engulfs it, really, your hand disappearing into a tape-covered paw.

You think, “Aha. Now it makes sense.”

Rudolph is the Vikings starting tight end, feeling better than he has in two years, able to once again put a linebacker or two in his rearview mirror, reliable enough to be an XXXL-sized security blanket for quarterback Christian Ponder. The two are practically joined at the hip pads. Friends off the field, football’s equivalent of a battery on it.

“He gets open,” Ponder said, simply. “And if he’s barely open, I’m going to give him the ball. He has such great mismatches, and he has such a catching radius it’s unbelievable.”

Catching radius is another way of saying Rudolph is one of those guys who catches anything that comes near him, increasing a quarterback’s margin of error exponentially. The reasons are simple: He is very big, he has very long arms and hands that are both super-sized and soft.

The man does not drop the ball.

According to ESPN Stats & information, Rudolph dropped just one of the 37 passes thrown to him during his rookie season in 2011. He finished with 26 catches for 249 yards and three touchdowns.

And he wasn’t 100 percent. In October of 2010, Rudolph had his junior season at Notre Dame cut short by hamstring surgery. And while he was back on the field once last year’s lockout ended, Rudolph said he was never really himself. He was pain-free, but would watch himself on film and think, “That’s not me.”

“It didn’t really start coming back until late last season,” Rudolph said. “There were a few times, late, when I was able to run past a linebacker. Then, to have that time off in the winter to train and continue to work on that? Now I feel I’m all the way back. It’s been two years, almost exactly two years, since the injury.”

A tough combo

The Vikings bolstered their wide receiving corps in the offseason. But tight end always will be a key in offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave’s system. After the Vikings signed John Carlson during the offseason, it seemed he and Rudolph would provide a dual threat that is becoming more common in the NFL.We’ll have to wait until Carlson recovers from his knee surgery to see what the combination can do. But it appears Rudolph could be poised for a breakthrough season. He clearly has the trust of his quarterback, which is a must. His ability to catch a ball is manifest. Add in more speed and attention to detail?

“He has begun to really step up for us, and come out with a lot of confidence,” Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said. “Of course you know he and Christian have a great rapport; he is going to be a favorite for Christian. . He is embracing the fact that he is our starting tight end and we are counting on him in a big way to be productive.”

Rudolph has worked hard on running crisper routes, exploding out of breaks to create more separation. His speed should be a problem for linebackers, his size for defensive backs; after a recent practice Antoine Winfield talked about that. “He boxes out so well,” Winfield said. “It’s almost impossible for guys like me to get around him to the ball.”

Not that Rudolph needs a lot of room. He has his height, his hands, his health. And a year of experience.

In a recent training camp practice the offense was working against the blitz when Ponder, under some pressure, threw the ball over the middle to Rudolph, who had a defensive back all over him. Guess who came up with the ball?

“He has gained strength without losing any movement,” Musgrave said. “He is one of the guys that we are going to count on to contribute who wasn’t a full-time starter last year.”

 

[Faust]

Postcard from camp: Broncos

Jim Trotter

Where's SI.com?

At the Broncos' year-round Dove Valley complex in Englewood, Colo. It is a stunning afternoon, with at least 4,000 fans lining the grass knolls around the far field. The players are in pads, which pleases me to no end because my first three camp stops featured players in shorts. Quick thoughts: Peyton Manning looks good; the goal-line run game needs work (it failed to get in the end-zone on four rushes from the 5-yard line or closer, although two play-action TD passes bailed it out); and Dove Valley has become the hub of the NFL world, with multiple national media coming through on a daily basis.

Three Observations

1. The buzz around the organization has not diminished since Peyton Manning came to town. The Broncos are drawing record crowds to their practices, where predictably most eyes are on Manning. Fans celebrate his completions and sigh in slight disappointment at his incompletions. Either way, the fans have brought added energy to practices. Coach John Fox loves it because it's a small step toward simulating game conditions. Plus, skill position players typically love to put on shows, and the larger the crowds, the greater the stage, the higher the competition.

On this day, wideout Demaryius Thomas stood out, even catching a downfield pass for a touchdown before high-fiving fans. Manning lauded the 6-foot-3, 229-pound Thomas, who figures to be a key target for him. Eric Decker, who was a popular option for Manning the first week of camp, has missed time recently with a groin injury. He can't rush a return to health, but, at the same time, it's imperative that he take as many reps as possible with Manning, who has yet to get fully comfortable with his receivers. He told SI it might take an entire year for that to happen, adding that it's a "process." Said Decker: "There's no gray area with him. It's either you do it the right way or you do it the wrong way."

2. It's debatable which group is most excited about Manning's arrival: the wideouts, the defense or the running backs. Willis McGahee, the team's leading rusher last season, couldn't stop smiling when discussing his new QB. "Having him is going to take a lot of hits off me," he said. "I'm not going to get that pounding like I did in the past. I'm not going to say that we're not going to run the ball as much, but as far as keeping nine out of the box, defenses have to respect (Manning). You can try that one-on-one coverage with no safeties out there, and he's going to pick you apart."

Defenders are ecstatic because last year their margin for error was almost nil with the Broncos struggling to score points. Yes, they won games. But it was draining in so many ways for them to have to be nearly perfect for any chance of victory. Now? "You know how you're so excited for something, you don't even want to talk about it until it happens?" says defensive end Elvis Dumervil. "This is one of those moments. I've played against him and seen what has he has done to guys, what he has done to me."



3. One of the more notable comments from Manning had nothing to do with his offensive mates. It was about outside linebacker Von Miller, whom Manning said might be the most complete pass rusher he has worked against in practice. That's quite the statement, considering he went against Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis for years, but Manning, while extremely complimentary of his former teammates, said Miller, the 2011 Defensive Rookie of the Year with 11.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, has a unique combination of size, strength and burst.

New defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio echoed that, saying: "He's got some freaky rush ability. He bends, accelerates and has power. Typically one guy doesn't get all of that. One guy has one or two of them but is lacking something. Von has the ability to bend like Gumby and burst like a (defensive back), but he can be strong like a lineman at times."

Step On Up

Ty Warren, defensive tackle. The Broncos are stressing the need to upgrade their run defense after allowing five of their last six opponents, including the playoffs, to rush for at least 140 yards last season. Warren could play a major role after missing the past two seasons because of arm (Broncos) and hip (Patriots) injuries. The 31-year-old is fresh and claims to feel better physically than he has in a decade. That's good news, because the Broncos are hoping to shut down teams on early downs and force a lot of 3rd-and-longs, situations in which they can turn loose elite pass rushers Dumervil and Miller.

New Face, New Place

Tracy Porter, cornerback. The Broncos struggled against teams that used spread formations last season -- remember Tom Brady burning them for six touchdown passes in the playoffs? -- and Porter is expected to help change that after four seasons in New Orleans. He has speed and a history of making big plays, including a pick-6 of Manning to clinch Super Bowl XLIV. If he and Drayton Florence, the former Bill who is expected to play in nickel packages, step up, opponents are going to have a tough time, particularly when trying to cope with Denver's pass rushers.

Looking At The Schedule

The star power that is Manning is reflected in the schedule, which features five primetime games. None is more important than the opener, at home against the Steelers in a rematch of last season's AFC wild-card win by host Denver (and Tim Tebow). If the Broncos prevail, it's highly possible they could be 4-0 heading to New England and San Diego in back-to-back weeks. That's because three of their first four are at home, the exception being a Week 2 trip to Atlanta.

 

[Faust]

Postcard from camp: Patriots

Ben Reiter

Where's SI.com?

In Foxboro, Mass., where Patriots practice on Friday turned into an impromptu party for Tom Brady. Fans sang "Happy Birthday" to their beloved quarterback, who turned 35, but not all of Brady's teammates were aware of the occasion. "I didn't even know about it!" said second-year offensive tackle Nate Solder, after practice. "Is that why they were singing? Look at me, I'm so oblivious."

When you work for Bill Belichick, the only time to really celebrate is after a Super Bowl win, which, after New England's loss to the Giants last February, now somehow hasn't happened for seven years. The Patriots, though, have averaged 12 wins a season since their last championship, and they enter 2012 as the AFC favorite, and with very few obvious holes.

Three Observations

1. Will the offensive line hold up? Solder might have good reason not to focus on things such as his teammates' birthdays, as the 17th pick in last year's draft is about to embark on the most important year of his life. Matt Light, who spent most of the last 11 seasons protecting Brady's blind side, has retired, and the 6-foot-8, 319-pound Solder, who allowed four sacks as a rookie, will replace him at left tackle.

Light, though, is not the only large man missing from the practice field, as right tackle Sebastian Vollmer and left guard Logan Mankins are both injured, and veteran right guard Brian Waters -- who made his sixth Pro Bowl last season, his first with New England -- did not report to camp, for reasons that remain unexplained (he might very well be retired). A patchwork line could be the only reason this year's offense might not surpass last year's, which trailed only the Saints.

2. Brandon Lloyd will be what Chad Ochocinco was supposed to be. One reason to expect the offense to be even more productive is Lloyd, the 31-year-old wideout signed to a three-year, $12 million, free-agent deal in March. Lloyd jumped at the chance to be reunited with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who was the Broncos head coach when he had his stunning 1,448-yard breakout in 2010, and to finally play for a winner. Lloyd's teams have gone just 32-73 in his career, and he has yet to appear in a playoff game.

Lloyd has been outstanding since Day 1 of training camp, and has delighted the Patriots and their fans with his acrobatics and precise routes. "Shoot, I mean, just terrific all around," says cornerback Kyle Arrington. "He's a heck of a route runner. Great hands. Freakish catches. He's definitely going to be exciting to watch." He's also going to add another dimension to an already multidimensional offense: a genuine deep threat. For all of his production, Brady never really had one last year, as Ochocinco failed in his season in New England, and Brady's top three receivers -- Wes Welker, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez -- all operate best at short range, between the hash marks.

3. The secondary remains a concern. For a time last season, the Patriots' banged-up, underwhelming secondary seemed as if it would certainly set an NFL record for passing yards allowed in a season. A moderate late season improvement meant it did not, but only barely, as the Packers became the record-holders by yielding 4,796 aerial yards, 93 more than New England.

The Patriots have the offense to win more than their fair share of shootouts, but they could use an improved performance from their defensive backs. That's particularly so on days on which the offense isn't clicking -- such as in the Super Bowl, when New England scored a season-low 17 points, and Eli Manning completed 30 of his 40 passes for 296 yards.

The good news is that the secondary is completely healthy, including key contributors in cornerback Ras-I Dowling and safety Patrick Chung, who played in just two and eight games, respectively, last year. They will join now-tested mainstays like Arrington, who in four years' time went from undrafted rookie to practice squad member to the NFL's interceptions co-leader (he had seven last season). Anyway, the secondary doesn't have to be great. Average will be good enough.

Step On Up

Stevan Ridley, running back. Ridley had a rollercoaster rookie year. He gained 139 yards on 16 combined carries in Weeks 3 and 4, and just 83 over the Patriots' next eight games. After a strong finish to the regular season -- he averaged exactly 70 yards per game in wins over the Broncos, Dolphins and Bills -- he hardly saw the field in the playoffs, as he had just four carries as Belichick turned to the proven and sure-handed BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Green-Ellis, though, is now a Bengal, and Ridley seems poised to beat out Shane Vereen to become the Patriots' lead back, as he's shown an impressive mix of strength and speed in camp. He should be another reason this iteration of the Patriots' attack will make last year's look pedestrian.

New Face, New Place

Dont'a Hightower, linebacker. The Patriots traded the 31st and 126th picks in the draft to grab the 6-2, 265-pound Hightower at No. 25, and he has already shown why. The former Alabama captain has widely been viewed as their camp's second most impressive player, after Lloyd. "Big boy," says linebacker Rob Ninkovich. "He going to be a force playing inside, and having guys try to block him."

Last year's co-sacks leaders -- Mark Anderson and Andre Carter (they both had 10) -- have not returned, but the presence of Hightower and fellow first-rounder Chandler Jones, a 6-5, 266-pound defensive end out of Syracuse and the brother of UFC star Jon "Bones" Jones, means that the front seven likely won't suffer.

Looking At The Schedule

It doesn't seem quite fair, but the NFL's schedule makers have given last year's Super Bowl opponents rather different roads to potential repeat appearances. While the Giants have the league's most difficult schedule, as measured by 2011 records -- their opponents went a combined 140-116 last season -- the Patriots have the easiest, as the teams on their slate combined to go 116-140. A league-low four of them had at least nine wins. While it is unlikely that the Patriots will run the table -- a Week 4 game at Buffalo seems daunting, as do back-to-back early December home matchups against the Texans and 49ers -- last year's 13-3 record should constitute a mere starting point, unless that shaky offensive line leads to an unexpected amount of playing time for Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallett, the backups to the freshly 35-year-old Brady.

 

[Faust]

Video Link:

Peter King's team report: Falcons

SI.com's Peter King visits the Falcons and says how WR Julio Jones and RB Jacquizz Rodgers are the keys to Atlanta's new offense.

 

[Bronx Bomber]

Giants

David Wilson just jumped to 2nd on the depth chart: http://www.giants.com/team/depth-chart.html

Ralph Vacchiano ‏@RVacchianoNYDN

Interesting. Giants first official depth chart has David Wilson as the No. 2 back. He's been the fifth RB in camp all summer. #NYG

Ralph Vacchiano ‏@RVacchianoNYDN

No surprise: With Hakeem Nicks out, Victor Cruz and Domenik Hixon are the starting WRs. #NYG

Ohm Youngmisuk ‏@NotoriousOHM

Hakeem Nicks runs routes on side during practice without any trouble

New York Giants ‏@Giants

WR Hakeem Nicks says he is on pace to play in the season opener vs. Dallas!

Ohm Youngmisuk ‏@NotoriousOHM

Coughlin said he wants to see ball security and big play potential from his two top draft picks in Jax

My link Garafolo

RB Da'Rel Scott suffered a thigh contusion. “That’s his second injury,” Coughlin said, referring to the ankle sprain he suffered in the first practice of camp. “That doesn’t help.”

CB Terrell Thomas (knee) was not on the field and won’t address reporters until Wednesday. Coughlin said after practice he had not yet seen Thomas.

WR Hakeem Nicks (foot/PUP) ran routes on the side, as planned. Coughlin said Nicks will need “a good week more off, I would think,” meaning he might return to practice before the team’s second preseason game.

THE STARTERS

WR Domenik Hixon is on the All-Pro team when it comes to the first rep of team drills. He opened with a catch on a slant. And he nearly opened the second round of team drills with sliding catch but couldn't hang on. S Kenny Phillips: "You ain't so loud now, homeboy." This came during a weird sequence in which DE Justin Tuck kicked the ball away as the offense was trying to line up near the defensive huddle, Phillips playfully smacked LT David Diehl in the face mask and TE Martellus Bennett yelled at the defense for being a player short. It was quite the chirpy few minutes.

Then, late in practice, there were a few near-fights. CB Prince Amukamara and Hixon were nose-to-nose at one point. "Don't waste daylight if you're not going to fight," Tuck yelled as he took off his helmet after the play. Hixon, by the way, is a sneaky trash talker that gets under the defensive players' skin. You know, just in case you were wondering how two of the nicer guys on the roster could almost get into a fight there. Had they not been two gentlemen, there probably would've been a fight for whatever got Amukamara fired up. "It ain't over yet," DE Jason Pierre-Paul told Amukamara. "You'll see him in the locker room." And then, Pierre-Paul smacked Amukamara in the face mask. Ah, camp.

“What scuffle?” Coughlin said when asked about Amukamara-Hixon as well as WR Julian Talley vs. an angry CB Michael Coe. Told they were more like shoving matches “That’s about what they were. … I think they’d like to play against somebody else, yeah. I certainly don’t think about the number of practices we’ve had – 10 – that anybody’s tired of hitting on each other. But I’m sure they’re anxious to play someone in another uniform.”

Back to football: Tuck, as I've said here before, is like Hixon in that he gets off to a strong start in team drills. He beat Diehl to make a stop on a run.

Pierre-Paul got his hand on a swing pass to end the first session of team drills as a win for the starters in what seemed to be a modified 2-minute drill. Pierre-Paul later staggered Diehl with a rush, though he might've gotten his hands a little high there.

On that play when Pierre-Paul got into Diehl, Amukamara leaped to knock away a pass from Manning up the left sideline for WR Jerrel Jernigan. Manning had trouble hooking up with a few players downfield in that direction.

WR Victor Cruz provided feedback to rookie WR Rueben Randle when the youngster dropped a pass on a short stop. "Catch it first," Cruz said while taking a knee about 20 yards behind the play.

Cruz, by the way, ended practice with a touchdown over the top of the starting defense. Manning had his choice of Cruz or Bennett there because both were wide open. And in fact, Bennett collided with Cruz, who managed to hang on and stay in bounds.

RG Chris Snee, healthy and happy, easily handled LB Chase Blackburn in space on a screen pass. Blackburn later got held by OL Selvish Capers on a screen to the other side of the field.

K Lawrence Tynes went 5-for-5: extra point, 28, 33, 38 and 43 yards.

 

[Faust]

Bears training camp: Brandon Marshall, Jay Cutler looking good

By Chad Reuter NFL.com

Draft analyst

WHERE IS NFL.COM?

For the 11th straight summer, the Chicago Bears are holding their training camp at Olivet Nazarene University, a small private school located about an hour south of Soldier Field in Bourbonnais, Ill. Thousands of fans filled the bleachers (and any piece of ground surrounding them) on the east and north sides of the practice fields on a sun-drenched Monday afternoon.

OBSERVATION DECK

1. Brandon Marshall should have a huge season. The decision to ship two third-round draft picks to the Miami Dolphins for the periodically troublesome receiver in March was a no-brainer for new Bears general manager Phil Emery; the move looks even shrewder in August. Throughout practice, Marshall simply overwhelmed any cornerback trying to challenge him at the line of scrimmage, using his powerful extension to push Tim Jennings and D.J. Moore off balance (or to the ground). He also caught a touchdown over the top of rookie Isaiah Frey (who has held his own for most of camp) by using a late arm extension to create space before the ball arrived. Even top linebacker Lance Briggs tried and failed to get a shot at an uncovered Marshall on one play; the erstwhile receiver simply out-quicked Briggs at the line before crossing into the open area over the middle for a big catch. In 2007 and 2008, when Marshall and Bears quarterback Jay Cutler were with the Denver Broncos, Marshall caught a total of 206 passes for 2,590 yards. Marshall looks primed to match that kind of production in 2012.

2. Jay Cutler looks like himself. The way Cutler threw the ball around the field -- whether he was directing an efficient two-minute offense or drilling passes between defenders in the red zone -- showed that there are no lingering effects from the broken thumb that ended his 2011 season prematurely. Not only did he fire passes from the pocket, but he also ran several bootlegs, utilizing his athleticism and accuracy while throwing on the run.



3. Matt Forte also looks ready to go. It's difficult to get a true feel for running backs in camp, where contact with defenders is limited, but there's no mistaking Forte's quickness and kinetic energy. He showed off his receiving skills in the red zone, making Bears fans think their favorite back's sprained right medial collateral ligament has fully healed. He did fumble once during practice, but for the most part, he looks as though he plans to make good on that huge new contract.

4. Brian Urlacher did not practice -- again. The 34-year-old Pro Bowl linebacker's bothersome left knee didn't require surgery, but he hadn't taken part in any offseason work through Monday's practice, which, head coach Lovie Smith said, he missed for personal reasons. The Bears expected Urlacher to be ready for camp, but he has had five straight scratches. Urlacher played all 16 games in 2011, but the fact that he's heading into his 13th season with injury issues isn't a great sign.

THE NEW GUYS

Alshon Jeffery. Teams rarely bank on rookie receivers being able to make a big impact right away, simply because of the steep learning curve they face. Jeffery has the physical attributes to become a pretty good NFL receiver, but he is obviously still learning the playbook; on one red-zone rep, Cutler had to audibly direct Jeffery outside. The second-round pick's lack of speed is also an issue, and he needs to use his hands more effectively when separating from pro cornerbacks at the top of his routes or downfield. In that way, Jeffery needs to be more like Marshall if he wants to earn Cutler's trust.

Shea McClellin. Fans expect a lot out of first-round draft picks, but as Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Jason Babin might attest, it can take some time for highly touted rookies to find their feet. Babin has recorded 30.5 sacks and made two Pro Bowl appearances over the past two seasons, but the 2004 first-round pick failed to notch more than five quarterback tackles in any of his first six campaigns. McClellin might come into his own sooner than Babin, because he does have a nice spin move, hustles and flashes some power -- but he looked less than dominant against the Bears' starting tackles. In any case, the former Boise State star will be a solid overall player in 2011, even if he doesn't start filling his stat sheet with sacks right away.

Geno Hayes. Smith unsurprisingly grabbed Hayes up this offseason when he became available. The former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker is the perfect pursuit-hound for the Bears' scheme; he can take away throws to backs in the flat and play tough on the edge versus the run. Hayes was taking some reps with the starters on Monday due to Urlacher's absence, allowing coaches to play Briggs in the middle -- where he was quite effective. The depth that Hayes provides might prove very valuable if Urlacher's knee costs him time during the season.

OVERHEARD

"NFC North cornerbacks are going to have a hard time checking Brandon Marshall -- he just wants to compete. It's going to be a fight every play."

-- Matt Bowen, former NFL defensive back and current NFL analyst for the Chicago Tribune, Comcast SportsNet Chicago and National Football Post.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Julius Peppers doesn't have to take a lot of practice reps to assert his dominance. No other defensive end on the Bears' roster comes close to possessing his combination of power and quickness. Entering his 11th season, Peppers looks ready to collect 10 or more sacks for the eighth time in his career.

2. After Cutler's injury in 2011, a five-game losing streak cost the Bears a playoff berth. This offseason, Emery grabbed veteran quarterback Jason Campbell as an insurance policy. Campbell has always had the physical gifts to play the position. He didn't look exceptional when running a two-minute drill in Monday's session, nor did he put a lot of pace on every throw. But he is certainly an improvement over former top backup Caleb Hanie.

3. Second-year wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher has impressed coaches and fans by running the same crisp routes and showing the same good hands he flashed during his days at Ohio State and as a participant in the 2011 Senior Bowl. But he's still learning lessons. In one instance, Sanzenbacher made the wrong choice on an option route over the middle, leading to an interception by Briggs. Afterward, Cutler had what he termed a "discussion" with the young player about what he had expected on the play.

4. Devin Hester was used over the middle, down the sideline and on reverses during practice, and also showed off his punt-return chops in front of appreciative fans. The Bears know, however, that Hester will need to prove he can consistently stay on the same page with Cutler on intermediate and deep routes before he can reach his potential as a big-play threat.

5. Charles Tillman is one Bears cornerback who can match up with Marshall at the line of scrimmage. He forced one of the few incompletions between Cutler and Marshall during Monday's practice by sticking on the receiver and winning a 50-50 ball situation on a red-zone play. Tillman might be among the toughest matchups Marshall sees all year -- facing that kind of coverage in practice will only make the veteran receiver better.

6. Left tackle J'Marcus Webb's strength, length and athleticism are among the best in the league -- he can be as good as he wants to be. On the other hand, right tackle Gabe Carimi, who looks fully healed from an injury suffered last fall, showed inconsistent lateral agility in one-on-one drills and team work. Both young tackles should be helped by the presence of new offensive coordinator Mike Tice, who is going to regularly run the ball and move the pocket.

7. Like Carimi, Stephen Paea is a second-year player trying to make an impression in 2012 after an injury-marred rookie campaign. He looks like a perfect fit as a one-gap nose tackle, where he can use his ability to get leverage on his blocker to cause problems in the run game and get into the vision of opposing quarterbacks when attacking the pocket. Paea probably won't put up big numbers this year, but he'll be a constant irritant for opposing offensive lines.

OUTLOOK

The Bears have one of the best quarterback-running-back-receiver trios in the league with Cutler, Forte and Marshall. The defense is strong enough to limit opponents to 20 points per game, assuming that combo can stay healthy and help the offense control the ball more effectively than it did last season. Expect the Bears to be in the mix for a playoff spot in 2012, even while playing in the tough NFC North.

 

[Faust]

Peyton Manning has Broncos abuzz

By John Clayton | ESPN.com

Thanks to the decision-making of John Elway and the optimism created by the signing of Peyton Manning, the business model of the Denver Broncos couldn't be any better.

Manning helped to sell the last available luxury suites at Sports Authority Field. Loyal fans made sure the Broncos rank among the top three in season-ticket sales this season, amazing for the nation's No. 18 media market. On Saturday, the Broncos drew 41,304 for a scrimmage, easily eclipsing the team's previous record for attendance at a scrimmage, 20,782 in 2010. A league-high 21 radio stations compete for Broncos content.

The Mile High City is sky-high since Manning joined the team, and rightfully so. Elway, a Hall of Fame quarterback, put the Broncos on the football map. Manning, a future Hall of Famer, has Broncos fans hoping their GPS points to the playoffs.

Here are the five observations from Broncos training camp.

1. Manning looks good enough: Even if the Broncos signed Manning at 85 percent of his skill set, it was a remarkable acquisition. Tebowmania was fun, but it was shallow. Though he would never say it publicly, Elway knew Tim Tebow couldn't sustain success as a quarterback. Tebow wasn't an accurate thrower, and eventually defensive coordinators would have found ways to stop his style of option football. Manning's knowledge and experience trump Tebow's legs and competitiveness. Coming off four neck operations, Manning knows he's not 100 percent as a thrower, but he's good enough to compensate. Because he had a neck fusion procedure, his most inconsistent throws might be to his right, where he has to plant his right foot, extend his arm and fire. He'll get better as the damaged nerve in his neck regenerates and full arm strength returns. Throwing to his left appears to be no problem. Throwing accurate, short passes in the middle of the field isn't an issue. He shows flashes of being able to throw the deep ball, something that was inconsistent in his final season on the field in Indianapolis, in 2010. More than anything else, Manning provides credibility for the Broncos. His presence alone makes them a contender for the AFC West title.

2. A bigger and badder Willis McGahee: McGahee turns 31 in October, which is ancient for a running back. Since college, McGahee has conquered doubts, and he has an answer this year. He dedicated himself to the weight room and arrived in camp a muscular 245 pounds, about 10 pounds heavier than last year. His upper body is ripped. His body fat dropped to 9 percent. He's coming off a successful season in which he rushed for 1,199 yards and averaged 4.8 yards per carry. The presence of Manning could help his game. Once Tebow took over as the starter, defenses stacked the line against the run. That forced McGahee to run against eight- and nine-man fronts. The threat of throws from Manning will create more seven-man boxes and running lanes for McGahee. The Broncos have options in the backfield. They drafted speedy Ronnie Hillman in the third round to give them a younger version of Darren Sproles. While McGahee feels secure about his role in this year's offense, a former first-round pick, Knowshon Moreno, is facing a career crisis. The Broncos' top pick in 2009 is listed fourth on the depth chart behind McGahee, Lance Ball and Hillman, and he's fighting just to make the team.

3. Does Manning have enough at wide receiver? As he proved in Indianapolis, Manning can make the best out of any group of receivers. He has some interesting things to work with in Denver. The best raw receiver he has is 6-foot-3 Demaryius Thomas. In his final six games last season, including two in the playoffs, Thomas caught 31 passes for 601 yards -- and that's with Tebow at quarterback. If Thomas can average five catches a game from Tebow, imagine what he could do with Manning. The rest of the receiving corps should allow Manning to work the middle of the field. Brandon Stokley was Manning's favorite slot receiver in Indianapolis. Eric Decker is also a good slot receiver. The Broncos signed former Bengals slot receiver Andre Caldwell and have him working on the outside. They have journeymen Jason Hill and Matt Willis on the outside but could use one more outside threat, although that's something on next year's shopping list. The Broncos will go week by week between packages with three receivers and schemes with two tight ends. At least the Broncos feel solid about having Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreessen as Manning's top two tight ends.

4. Concerns at outside linebacker: On Monday, the Broncos signed 36-year-old Keith Brooking to provide necessary depth at linebacker. Weakside outside linebacker D.J. Williams is fighting a six-game suspension, so John Fox has to figure out alternatives for replacements. Wesley Woodyard is the current option, but there is little behind him. If Brooking makes the team, he could help on the weak side or in the middle. His signing shows the Broncos aren't totally confident in Nate Irving, a third-round choice in 2011. There is also a question at defensive end. When the Broncos released their depth chart Monday, Robert Ayers, a 2009 first-round choice of former coach Josh McDaniels, was listed behind Jason Hunter. The coaching staff is trying to kick-start Ayers into playing more to his potential. If he doesn't, Hunter will start.

5. Improvements in the secondary: Manning's signing is clearly the biggest improvement for the Broncos. Some moves in the defensive backfield might rank second. The Broncos gave a one-year contract to former Saints cornerback Tracy Porter, whose man-to-man skills will work well opposite the ageless Champ Bailey. Free-agent addition Mike Adams replaced the retired Brian Dawkins at safety, but the Broncos now have depth at the position. They signed Drayton Florence from the Bills to be their third corner. Rahim Moore is battling Quinton Carter for the starting free safety job.

 

[Faust]

Notes from Patriots-Saints scrimmage

By James Walker | ESPN.com

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The first of two scrimmages between the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints is in the books. It was a good opportunity for both teams to practice against someone else leading into Thursday's preseason game at Gillette Stadium.

Here are several observations:

[*]It was a disappointing scrimmage for the Patriots' offense. Quarterback Tom Brady and Co. did not look sharp in team drills. Brady was off and missed at least four throws he usually makes. He was picked off twice by Saints linebacker Curtis Lofton and safety Malcolm Jenkins, respectively. Brady also overthrew receiver Brandon Lloyd on a pair of deep bombs that could have been big plays. Brady also missed Patriots Pro Bowl tight end Rob Gronkowski over the middle. You could tell in Brady’s body language that he wasn’t happy with Tuesday’s practice.

[*]Meanwhile, the Saints’ offense had more success against New England’s defense. New Orleans’ quarterback Drew Brees was the sharper quarterback of the two and made nice connections to receiver Joseph Morgan, Lance Moore and Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham. Brees’ only glaring mistake was an interception over the middle to Patriots safety Steve Gregory.

[*]It was a tough day for cornerback Kyle Arrington. New England’s interception leader in 2011 was beat on a pair of big gains to Moore and Graham. Arrington is getting a lot of work in the slot but still needs to work on his technique playing the position.

[*]Patriots rookie defensive end Chandler Jones flashed on Tuesday. He had a nice play against Brees where he provided good pressure and batted the ball down. Due to injuries and opportunities, Jones and Hightower are getting some important reps with the first team this week, which the Patriots hope will speed up their development.

[*]Brian Hoyer probably had the best day of New England's quarterbacks. Hoyer wasn’t perfect, but he did make some very good and accurate passes in team drills, a couple of which thread the needle between defenders. Hoyer is battling with fellow backup Ryan Mallett for the No. 2 quarterback spot behind Brady.

 

[Faust]

Seahawks update on Owens, QB situation

By Mike Sando | ESPN.com

RENTON, Wash. -- A few very quick notes from Seattle Seahawks camp after speaking with coach Pete Carroll and others:

[*]QB update: Matt Flynn and Russell Wilson are going to get the important reps for the time being. Flynn will start the exhibition opener and play the first half. Wilson will play the second half. According to Carroll, the team knows enough about Tarvaris Jackson to limit his reps in the meantime. Flynn is not the starter for the season necessarily, but he'll get his chance in the role this week, at least.

[*]Owens update: Terrell Owens is expected to join the team for practice Wednesday. Carroll said the team wanted a power receiver and that Owens, along with the recently signed Braylon Edwards, give them someone in the Mike Williams mold physically. Carroll described Owens as humble and hungry. He said the locker room in Seattle was far too strong for any one player to disrupt what the team has going. He also said he's not worried about Owens causing any problems based on their conversations. Carroll was an assistant coach with San Francisco when Owens was beginning his career with the 49ers. Carroll said it's clear Owens is in a different place -- a better place -- right now. Owens will not play Saturday against Tennessee.

[*]Teammates react: Receivers Doug Baldwin, Sidney Rice and Ben Obomanu said they'll welcome Owens and compete hard with/against him. Baldwin said Owens was incredibly impressive in his workout.

I've got some loose ends to tie up, plus an "NFL Live" appearance in the near future. Back with much more in a bit.

 

[Faust]

Trent Richardson might miss Cleveland Browns' opener

By Marc Sessler

Writer

Brandon Weeden has been named the starting quarterback in Cleveland, but Browns running back Trent Richardson was drafted to be the team's workhorse.

It appears he won't be let out of the stable just yet.

Richardson sat out Tuesday's practice with a sore left knee and might miss Friday's preseason opener, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer. It's the same knee Richardson had scoped in February. The third overall pick had the knee in a sleeve Tuesday as he rode a stationary bike off to the side of the team's workout.

Here's the rest of the news in a busy day for running backs around the league:

» The Arizona Cardinals activated running back Beanie Wells off the active/PUP list and he took part in Tuesday's walkthrough, The Arizona Republic reported. Wells is being pressed for carries by second-year back Ryan Williams, who carred the ball often Tuesday. Wells enjoyed his best season in 2011, but the committee approach is alive and well in Arizona.

» Broncos rookie running back Ronnie Hillman has spent the past week sidelined with a hamstring injury, The Denver Post reported Tuesday. Team executive John Elway has gushed over Hillman's speed and versatility, and he was drafted to take the No. 2 role behind Willis McGahee, but until he gets on the field, Hillman sits No. 3 on the depth chart behind Lance Ball.

» NFL Network's Michael Lombardi listed New England Patriots running back Brandon Bolden as a fantasy sleeper on Tuesday's edition of "Inside Training Camp." The undrafted rookie has turned heads this offseason, but Stevan Ridley is our pick to take the bulk of work left by the absence of BenJarvus Green-Ellis. We'll keep our eye on Bolden.

» The Kansas City Chiefs saw last season wiped out by early injuries to key starters, including running back Jamaal Charles, who rumbled for 1,467 in 2010 before tearing his ACL in Week 1 in 2011. We're about to see his return. The Kansas City Star reported Monday that Charles will play in Friday night's preseason tilt against the Arizona Cardinals.

» Anthony Allen and Bernard Pierce are fighting it out for the No. 2 role behind Ray Rice, but with Pierce struggling through a hamstring injury, Allen has been given an opportunity to make his case. It's not going well for the second-year back. The Baltimore Sun reports Allen "hasn't demonstrated much in the way of moves." We don't see a real competition here. Pierce was drafted to contribute.

 

[Faust]

Don't worry about Richardson's knee -- yet

By Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com

Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson, the third overall pick and projected centerpiece of the offense, could miss the preseason opener with a sore left knee.

There's no reason to worry right now. This could be precautionary. This could be an injury that goes away after a couple days of rest. This really could be no big deal.

But there is reason to worry if this becomes a trend. The fact this is the same knee that underwent arthroscopic surgery on Feb. 3 has to cause some uneasiness for the Dawg Pound. And the fact Richardson declined to talk to reporters about the knee doesn't clear up anything about the severity of the injury.

“We’re evaluating it,” coach Pat Shurmur told reporters, via WKNR in Cleveland. “There’s a chance he won’t play on Friday. I’m always concerned about injuries, but at this point we’ll just find out what it is. He’s been practicing well. Just a little sore.”

There's really no reason to play Richardson Friday and put the knee at further risk. The Browns' focus has to be to get Richardson ready for the regular-season opener and not the preseason one. Richardson has had some issues getting on the practice field recently. He was removed from Saturday's practice with a headache before sitting out Tuesday with the sore knee.

At this point, it's wait-and-see mode for the Browns.

 

[netnalp]

Giants camp report

Garafolo - Star Ledger

 

[EBF]

That, in a nutshell, is why you should avoid building dynasty teams around a RB whenever possible.

I'm a huge Richardson fan, but those guys take so much punishment. It is a miracle they stay healthy as often as they do.

 

[Faust]

Training Camp 2012: Day 13

August 7th, 2012 - 1:00pm by Gray Caldwell

With just two days until their first preseason game, the Broncos took to the practice fields at Dove Valley in full pads once again. Below is a recap of the session.

Today’s trivia question is further explained in the “Quick Hits” portion of this blog, but it boils down to this: The offense was given a scenario to execute — down two points with 18 seconds remaining, the ball on its own 45-yard line and one timeout remaining. Quarterback Peyton Manning quickly hit his target for a 15-yard gain to the defense’s 40-yard line and called a timeout with seven seconds remaining. Who caught the pass? Leave your guesses in the comments section, and the answer — and winner of a Broncos prize pack — will be revealed in the comments section of the blog at 6 p.m. MDT.

ROLL CALL

Safety Jim Leonhard, safety Quinton Carter, tackle Ryan Harris, defensive tackle Justin Bannan, wide receiver Greg Orton and wide receiver Tyler Grisham did not practice on Tuesday. Defensive tackle Ty Warren left practice early due to “stomach issues,” Head Coach John Fox said.

Linebacker Keith Brooking was on the field in a No. 57 jersey, shorts and shells. He took part in some of the early drills during practice, including individual drills with the linebackers and a handful of reps during 7-on-7s.

PLAYMAKERS

[*]During one-on-ones between receivers and cornerbacks, Champ Bailey kicked off the drill by breaking up a touchdown pass from Peyton Manning to Eric Decker.

[*]On the next play, Manning threw an incomplete pass in Matthew Willis’ direction with Tracy Porter in tight coverage. After the play, Manning yelled “Gotta run to the pylon!” while Secondary Coach Ron Milus praised his cornerback: “That’s good coverage, 22!”

[*]Gerell Robinson started off a strong practice with a leaping touchdown grab over cornerback Ramzee Robinson. Later in one-on-ones, he had another leaping TD, this time from Caleb Hanie over the head of cornerback Tony Carter.

[*]The Manning-to-Decker combination was successful later in one-on-ones, as the wide receiver hauled in a one-handed touchdown catch just behind Bailey, who was right there in coverage.

[*]There were two notable pass breakups during the drill. The first was made by Carter, who slapped the ball away from Mark Dell. Second was safety Rahim Moore, who broke up a pass from Manning intended for tight end Joel Dreessen. The crowd responded to the play, as one fan shouted, “Atta boy, Rahim!”

[*]During red-zone drills, the defense made some key plays as well. First, Porter prevented a touchdown catch by Demaryius Thomas, then a group of Broncos — led by safety Mike Adams — forced an incompletion in the back of the end zone on a pass intended for tight end Jacob Tamme. Later, wide receiver Cameron Kenney, cornerback Joshua Moore and safety Anthony Perkins all took turns tipping a pass around in the air, and Perkins nearly came away with a diving interception in the back of the end zone before the ball fell incomplete.

[*]Both the offense and defense had a lot of exciting plays during a variety of two-minute drills throughout practice. For more on those sessions, check out the “Situational Football” blog.

QUICK HITS

[*]A group of rookies were among the first players out onto the field on Tuesday — Derek Wolfe, Ronnie Hillman, Osweiler, Malik Jackson and Jamie Blatnick got to work early.

[*]Practice ended with one more situation for the offense to try to overcome: down 24-22 at its own 45-yard line with 18 seconds left on the clock and one timeout remaining. Manning hit (today’s trivia answer) for a 15-yard gain to the defense’s 40, and called a timeout with seven seconds remaining. His next pass was incomplete, but one second remained on the clock. Coaches called practice before Matt Prater would’ve run onto the field to attempt the long field goal.

The team is back on the field this evening for a walkthrough open only to media. Wednesday morning brings another practice free and open to the public, which starts at 8:50 a.m. MDT. Gates open at 7:50 a.m. It will be approximately a half-hour shorter than typical morning practices — it is scheduled to end at 11 a.m. MDT — as the team travels to Chicago that afternoon.

-Gray Caldwell

 

[Faust]

Royster gets first crack at Redskins RB

By Dan Graziano | ESPN.com

With Tim Hightower still out as he continues to recover from last year's serious knee injury, second-year man Evan Royster will start at running back in the Washington Redskins' preseason opener Thursday night in Buffalo, coach Mike Shanahan told reporters Tuesday.

I don't see this as a surprise. Royster looked like the best back in camp when I was there last week, and the conversations I had with Redskins people while there led me to believe they think Royster has a higher ceiling than fellow second-year back Roy Helu does assuming both players are fully healthy. I know they also like rookie Alfred Morris, and that he's not out of this mix, and the chief concern they have with both Royster and Helu is health.

So the fact Royster gets the first start doesn't automatically mean he's the favorite to open the regular season as the starter. For one thing, Hightower's recovery is proceeding, and if he can get healthy he's the starting running back. Also, since the chief worry about both Helu and Royster is health, we have to see not only how they look in the preseason but also how they hold up.

Shanahan's history leads me to expect Royster to play the majority of the game Thursday, rather than share time equally with Helu and/or Morris. Shanahan likes to give his running backs "whole games," or something close to it, in the preseason to simulate the kind of work they'd be asked to do if pressed into a starter's role during the season. So it wouldn't surprise me to see Royster play the bulk of Thursday's game and then see either Helu or Morris start and play most of the Aug. 18 preseason game in Chicago.

Also, I'm curious to see how much the evaluation of the running backs is affected by the injury issues with which the Redskins are dealing. Fullback Darrel Young is out for this game, as are starting right tackle Jammal Brown and left guard Kory Lichtensteiger, and right guard Chris Chester is a question mark due to a sprained ankle. It's tough for a running back to look his absolute best when he's missing his fullback and three-fifths of his offensive line.

To sum up: Consider this Royster start an interesting clue, but remember there's a lot more to sort and figure out about the Redskins' running back situation.

 

[EBF]

Dion Lewis:http://gcobb.com/2012/08/07/lesean-mccoy-speaks-about-the-physicality-of-training-camp/

Despite the plethora of injuries being the biggest story of training camp, there have been some players making their presence felt this preseason. According to McCoy, fellow running back Dion Lewis is one of them.“A lot of people don’t know how good he really is except the guys here. He’s jumped out and has had an amazing camp so far; I think the first guy who can really show everybody what he can do.”

 

[Faust]

Postcard from Bengals camp

By Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com

CINCINNATI -- Here are some quick thoughts from my first day at Bengals' camp, where 640 fans and myself endured the 91-degree heat Tuesday afternoon:

[*]The first round of team drills went to the defense. The receivers couldn't get open. On one play, quarterback Andy Dalton just threw the ball in the ground after the pass rush got to him.

[*]Dalton went on to throw two impressive passes later in practice. He dropped a 15-yard pass over a defender and right into the hands of A.J. Green on the right sideline. He then hit Mohamed Sanu in stride down the left sideline after the rookie got past safety Robert Sands.

[*]The two receivers who stood out Tuesday were rookie Marvin Jones and Andrew Hawkins. Jones got open a couple of times over the middle and then got free deep, but backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski didn't see him.

[*]There was a small scare toward the end of practice, when Pro Bowl defensive tackle Geno Atkins hobbled off the field. He got retaped and stayed to watch the rest of practice.

[*]There was a brief scuffle that included backup guard Clint Boling. There's no truth to the rumor that Rex Ryan is coming down to scold the Bengals.

[*]Cornerback Leon Hall wore a yellow jersey throughout practice, which signifies him as the defensive leader of the day. The Cincinnati beat reporters call it the "Tour de Zimmer" after defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. It's kind of like a gold star that you wear. I would immediately give that yellow jersey to defensive end Carlos Dunlap, who was unblockable today.

I'm wrapping up my visit with the Bengals on Wednesday. My Camp Confidential piece on the team, which will have more in-depth observations, will run Friday.

Hope everyone enjoyed a very busy day on the AFC North blog.

 

[Faust]

Cowboys Tuesday practice observations

By Dan Graziano | ESPN.com

OXNARD, Calif. -- I was going to start off writing about the Dallas Cowboys' center position, but it's such a beautiful night here I just feel too good to start off with a negative. So we'll get to center, but I'm going to start with the defensive line.

I was critical of the Cowboys' draft in general, and my feelings on third-round pick Tyrone Crawford were that they'd picked a guy who couldn't help them this year -- a project defensive end for a 3-4 defense when they'd already traded their second-round pick and still had 2012 needs to address. But watching Crawford practice -- watching him in drills against the likes of Tyron Smith -- it's easy to see how the Cowboys could indeed find a role for him this year as a situational pass-rusher in nickel or dime packages. I asked Cowboys coach Jason Garrett about Crawford and this year, and this is what he told me:

"The vision we had for him in Year 1 was, 'Come in here and be a contributor as a pass-rush guy, and then we feel like you can be big enough to play the five-technique in our base defense.' We loved his relentless nature. Passionate kid still learning the game of football. His body's going to get bigger. He's going to get stronger. He has position traits to be a starter in the future, and right now he can have a role for us because we potentially like how he can rush the passer in a third-down situation."

Crawford is listed at 285 pounds, and most of the rest of the defensive linemen on the Cowboys' roster exceed 300. So they will need to see him bulk up before he can be a starter for them. But rushing the passer is a lot about speed, instinct and determination, and Crawford doesn't need to bulk up in order to deliver in that aspect of the game. So keep an eye out for how they deploy him on third downs. Could be that I was (hope you're sitting down!) wrong about that one.

Some other things I saw/heard/noticed/surmised during my second and final day at Cowboys training camp:

[*]As great as the Cowboys' skill-position players are, they're going to have a hard time being productive if the center can't get the ball to the quarterback. And the Cowboys' centers... well, they struggle with that. Starter Phil Costa had trouble with it last year. The guys they thought would push Costa for the job this camp -- Mackenzy Bernadeau, Bill Nagy and Kevin Kowalski -- are all hurt. David Arkin, a guard who's never played center before, has been getting snaps there, but he was so bad Tuesday that they had to take him out of his spot as the second-team center, replace him with Harland Gunn (another guard they're trying out at center) and use Costa, the starter, as the third-team center. It was, to use a highly technical football term, not good. Bernadeau did do some work early in position drills and could start practicing later in the week, but Kowalski and Nagy don't look as though they'll factor into this mix in the preseason. Cowboys player personnel director Stephen Jones acknowledged after the practice that it was ugly, but he said he has high hopes for Bernadeau as a real option and that they weren't yet in the market for a free-agent center.

[*]Bernadeau and Gunn stayed after practice to work on snaps on the side.

[*]Fifth-round pick Danny Coale did a lot of work in individual wide receiver drills as well as punt return drills, though he was still held out of 11-on-11s as he recovers from his injury. He also could return to practice later in the week. Garrett didn't list him among the No. 3 wide receiver candidates earlier in the day, but it's possible he could work his way into the mix as the year goes along.

[*]The guys Garrett did list were Kevin Ogletree, Andre Holmes and Dwayne Harris. He was making a point that Miles Austin's ability to play an inside slot position as well as play on the outside gives the Cowboys leeway when picking their No. 3, as they don't need it to be one or the other. He said they look at Ogletree and Harris as guys who can play both inside and outside while Holmes profiles more as an outside guy.

[*]Austin, incidentally, is still out with a hamstring injury, but this is not being deemed serious because it's not as though Austin has a history of missing time with hamstring injuries. Wait. What? Oh.

[*]After briefly leaving camp and coming back at the team's request, Cole Beasley continued to look good as a wide receiver and catching punts. Not sure if he can push himself into the mix, but he's playing very well.

[*]DeMarco Murray looks fantastic, running with vision and power and showing no signs of the ankle injury that ended his 2011 season early.

[*]And yeah, I could gush some more about how good Dez Bryant looks, but I feel like I've done enough of that. Just... I mean... if you don't want to draft him for your fantasy team, I'll be happy to scoop him up one pick later, is all I'm saying.

[*]I head home to New Jersey on Wednesday, but Cowboys Camp Confidential is scheduled to run Friday and I have a bunch more stuff from Cowboys camp to share with you over the coming days and probably into next week. If the posts are a little light tomorrow, you'll know my plane doesn't have WiFi.

 

[Faust]

Chad Johnson among players with rising fantasy football value

By Michael Fabiano NFL.com

Fantasy Editor

Whether you're a fantasy football expert or someone who is playing for the very first time (welcome aboard!), you probably know the names Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Arian Foster and Calvin Johnson. While making intelligent draft picks in the first few rounds is important to building a championship contender, it's also vital to have a list of some players to target in the middle to late rounds. After all, it's in those rounds where you'll attempt to unearth some potential sleepers. One way to find those bargains is to keep close tabs on what's going on during training camp and preseason. If you're unable to do that, well, that's what I'm here for!

Here are 10 players who have seen their fantasy appeal increase in the last two weeks.



Jake Locker, QB, Tennessee Titans: Locker showed flashes of potential during his limited time on the field as rookie, and NFL Network Insider Michael Lombardi has "learned" that he's now the favorite to start ahead of the incumbent Matt Hasselbeck. Furthermore, NFL Network and NFL.com reporter Ian Rapoport has also suggested that the Titans "hope Locker emerges" as the No. 1 quarterback. With offensive coordinator Chris Palmer at the helm, the team will throw the ball more often. That's good news for Locker, who will have late-round fantasy value if he does emerge as the Week 1 starter.



Rashad Jennings, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars: As if the running back position wasn't already loaded with question marks, the holdout of Maurice Jones-Drew makes it even more difficult to trust overall. With reports out of Jacksonville suggesting that the Jaguars and Jones-Drew aren't even talking, well, fantasy owners should get familiar with Jennings. Though he missed all of last season with a knee ailment, the Liberty product has been drawing rave reviews in training camp and could be in for a larger role if MJD's holdout continues. For fantasy leaguers who do draft "Pocket Hercules," adding Jennings in the late rounds is a smart move.

Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LeGarrette Blount might be listed as the No. 1 running back on the team's current depth chart, but I think it's just a matter of time before Martin overtakes him. The rookie out of Boise State has been one of the standouts of Bucs camp, even drawing comparisons to Jones-Drew and Ray Rice because of his size and skillset. Sure, there is some risk taking a rookie running back these days. But outside of Trent Richardson, there isn't a better first-year runner to go after in both seasonal and dynasty leagues. Martin will have middle-round value as a No. 2 or 3 fantasy option.

Stevan Ridley, RB, New England Patriots: The minute Joseph Addai was released, it made Ridley a better option in fantasy football due to a decrease in backfield depth in New England. Couple that with reports that he's been one of the best players in training camp and it makes sense to remember his name in fantasy football drafts. While he will lose some work to Shane Vereen and Danny Woodhead, Ridley looks like the best early-down and goal-line option for coach Bill Belichick. If he can avoid his proneness to fumbles, which have been an issue, Ridley could turn into a nice draft bargain. His current average draft position (ADP) is Round 10.

Kevin Smith, RB, Detroit Lions: The Lions have some major question marks in their backfield. Jahvid Best, who missed a good chunk of last season due to a concussion, has still not been cleared to participate in camp. That's worrisome. Mikel Leshoure is also in the mix for carries, but he will be suspended for the first two regular-season games. Enter Smith, who has looked good in camp and appears to be the favorite to open Week 1 as the team's top running back. His reign atop the depth chart could be short lived once Best and Leshoure return, but at this point Smith needs to be drafted in the most leagues as a No. 4 fantasy runner.

Antonio Brown, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Wallace continues to hold out over contractual issues, and there's no word on when or if he'll get to camp. There might even be an outside chance that he sits out the first 10 games of the year (much like Vincent Jackson did in 2010). Regardless, Brown's stock is rising while his talented teammate is out of the mix. Keep in mind that Brown also had more targets, catches and receiving yards than Wallace starting in Week 7 last season. Clearly, Wallace's situation is one that fantasy footballers need to keep close tabs on in the weeks to come.

Chad Johnson, WR, Miami Dolphins: Reports out of Miami have been positive on Johnson, who's been called the "best wide receiver on the (Dolphins) right now" by the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero. While that's not saying much on a team without a ton of talent at the position, Johnson is back on the fantasy radar regardless. If he continues to impress, the veteran should earn a starting role for coach Joe Philbin. That would make Johnson worth a speculative late-round add in drafts.



Terrell Owens, WR, Seattle Seahawks: He's back! After a year away from the NFL, Owens has agreed to terms with the Seahawks and will be looking to make an impact. He was impressive in a recent workout with the team, reportedly running a sub-4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash. That's pretty strong for a 38-year-old wideout coming off an anterior cruciate ligament operation. While he's not going to re-emerge into a fantasy superstar, especially because of his age and what is a very crowded Seattle pass attack, T.O. is still worth a late-round look.

Steve Smith, WR, St. Louis Rams: Remember Steve Smith? No, not the one in Carolina. The Steve Smith who was for one year a fantasy star as a member of the New York Giants. Now in St. Louis, he's looked tremendous in training camp and is quickly earning himself a prominent role in the offense. With no clear-cut No. 1 wideout on the roster, Smith could turn into one of Sam Bradford's favorite options in the pass attack. In fact, NFL Network and NFL.com reporter Jeff Darlington suggested that Smith is now back to 100 percent health and could be in line for a "rebirth." Don't be afraid to take a chance on him late.

Kyle Rudolph, TE, Minnesota Vikings: There haven't been a whole lot of Notre Dame players drafted into the NFL that have made a significant fantasy impact since the likes of Jerome Bettis, but Rudolph still intrigues me. He's been playing out of his mind in training camp, catching everything in sight -- the Minneapolis Star-Tribune even reported he's had "10-foot fishing nets for hands." While I would not draft Rudolph as a No. 1 fantasy tight end, I wouldn't be timid about grabbing him in the late rounds as a reserve with upside. There's a chance he could turn into Christian Ponder's second-favorite target behind Percy Harvin.

 

[Faust]

Five questions from Redskins camp

By Pat Kirwan | NFL Insider

The Redskins swept the Super Bowl champion Giants last season but only won three other games. Mike Shanahan was quick to point out that turnovers were a big part of Washington's problems -- the Redskins were 3-10 when the offense turned the ball over two or more times, and for the season they gave it away 35 times. The defense didn't do its part, with only 21 takeaways, leaving the team with a minus-14 turnover ratio.

At practice, defensive coordinator Jim Haslet emphasized ripping the ball away from the ball carrier. And Washington will need its defense to get the ball back on a short field if it wants Robert Griffin III to succeed in his first season. So many people are hoping Griffin can duplicate what Cam Newton and Andy Dalton did as rookies in 2011, and it may happen, but Carolina was plus-1 and Cincinnati was even in total turnover ratio last season.

Like every team in the league there are questions that have to be answered this summer in camp.

1. Will RG3 be ready to start the season?

Just because Newton hit the ground running from Week 1 last season doesn't mean every top rookie QB is ready that early. Eli Manning sat on the bench until November and started the final seven games. Things worked out well for him. I wonder if a timetable like that might be good for Griffin. The Redskins appear to be prepared to start him Week 1, which might work out just fine but it was clear to me at practice that he is having normal rookie struggles. The good news is that starting center Will Montgomery told me RG3 is already capable of going to the line of scrimmage and running the "check with me" run game where he reads the defense and calls the right running play. The offense has installed a pistol package (a running back behind the quarterback in shotgun) and they will throw split-end screens, things he did at Baylor, to help him along. But ultimately Griffin has to throw the ball from the pocket or out on the edge off play action and he needs all the reps he can get in that phase of the game. Right now if he doesn't see his early read he wants to take off and run. Running will be a big part of what he does well but it can't dominate his progressions. As for getting Griffin on the edge with bootlegs, even the Redskins' containment players were smart enough to work outside and pull up the bootleg. Griffin works extremely hard at practice and will become a great player, but my early impression is patience for all concerned.



2. How will the Redskins sort out their running back situation?

There is a solid stable of backs in Washington, which is a nice problem to have. But who winds up No. 1, or does it matter? Last year Tim Hightower was the starter until he was injured and missed the rest of the season. I spent some time with Hightower and he feels ready to win his job back. It is clear he understands the zone scheme Shanahan uses and looked solid in practice but he faces steep completion from Roy Helu and Evan Royster. In the final six games of 2011, Helu and Royster led a running game that gained 774 yards and looked good in practice. Keep an eye on two other backs that flashed at practice: rookie sixth-round pick Alfred Morris and street free agent Tristan Davis. Hightower was the first to tell me about Davis and he was impressive with his receiving skills in practice. Knowing the Shanahan way, he will keep three backs and rotate them, playing the man with the hot hand, and that could mean a different lead back week in and week out.



3. Where does Niles Paul fit on this team?

A few days ago the Redskins moved Paul from wide receiver to tight end. He is physically capable of the transition and it may give the offense the hybrid tight end so many teams are looking for these days. At practice two things were clear: Paul is a mismatch for linebackers and he needs work on his blocking. With the bootleg and naked pass attack a staple in the Shanahan offense, Paul could be a valuable piece in crossing routes from the backside. He missed safety recognition in the run game but that will come in time. His development could affect the status of Chris Cooley going forward.

4. Will teams try to spread the defense out?

When you look at the outside linebackers, Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo, you see the strength of the defense. They had 16½ sacks seven forced fumbles and 124 tackles between them last year and look ready for a very big season. I sat down with both of them and from their physical development to the mental part of the game I felt like I was talking with two All-Pros. I wonder how many teams are going to try and spread them out in what we call 2x2 sets and get both of them or at least one of them isolated on a flex tight end or a running back in the slot. Kerrigan told me teams started doing more of that late in the season and he expects more of it this year. Any opponents that let both guys line up near the line of scrimmage just outside the offensive tackles are in for a long day. The opening game is at New Orleans and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Saints force these guys to line up far from their pass-rush set. Keep an eye on how both guys look in pass drops and coverage this summer because teams will be checking it out as well.



5. How will the Redskins figure out the safeties on the roster?

Washington brought in veteran safeties to replace LaRon Landry and O.J. Atogwe. Jim Haslett is excited about Brandon Meriweather, Tanard Jackson and Madieu Williams. He feels like he is going to get what was missing last year from the safeties, whether it is better run support or matchup coverage calls. All three have issues from the past, from health to off-field problems, but all three looked very good at practice. Keep an eye on these three in all the preseason games to see if they will be ready for Drew Brees on opening day.

Finally, the Redskins are headed in the right direction with Griffin at QB, but lowering 2012 expectations and giving the young man some time to develop might be good advice for the fans. There were 25,000 fans at Fan Fest on Saturday and a few thousand at the practice I attended and they were all there to see RG3. I think 8-8 would be a very good start to the Griffin era with an eye on 2013 to make some real noise.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Greg Bedard of the Boston Globe on the Pats' practice with the Saints:

Brandon Bolden

Brandon Bolden was by far the Patriots’ best and most successful RB against the Saints. Good power and vision.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I think Rotoworld is a bit early on the editorial, but agree that's where this is heading:

Alex Green

(Rotoworld) According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Packers RB James Starks "really needs to show up in the (preseason) games." Analysis: Per the Journal-Sentinel's Tom Silverstein, Starks' practices "aren't as good as they could be, and he seems to have regressed as a receiver." Silverstein's rough assessment comes four days after colleague Bob McGinn opined Starks "hasn't made strides as a pass blocker or ball carrier." Starks appears in for a full-fledged battle with Alex Green.

 

[Faust]

Don't worry about Richardson's knee -- yet

By Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com

Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson, the third overall pick and projected centerpiece of the offense, could miss the preseason opener with a sore left knee.

There's no reason to worry right now. This could be precautionary. This could be an injury that goes away after a couple days of rest. This really could be no big deal.

But there is reason to worry if this becomes a trend. The fact this is the same knee that underwent arthroscopic surgery on Feb. 3 has to cause some uneasiness for the Dawg Pound. And the fact Richardson declined to talk to reporters about the knee doesn't clear up anything about the severity of the injury.

“We’re evaluating it,” coach Pat Shurmur told reporters, via WKNR in Cleveland. “There’s a chance he won’t play on Friday. I’m always concerned about injuries, but at this point we’ll just find out what it is. He’s been practicing well. Just a little sore.”

There's really no reason to play Richardson Friday and put the knee at further risk. The Browns' focus has to be to get Richardson ready for the regular-season opener and not the preseason one. Richardson has had some issues getting on the practice field recently. He was removed from Saturday's practice with a headache before sitting out Tuesday with the sore knee.

At this point, it's wait-and-see mode for the Browns.

Trent Richardson's knee reportedly not a big deal

By Marc Sessler

Writer

Breathe easy, Cleveland.

Cleveland Browns running back Trent Richardson is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his sore right knee, but a source told Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland it's "not that big a deal."

The Browns are expected to provide an official update before Wednesday night's practice at Family Fun Night in Cleveland Browns Stadium. We don't expect them to say much more.

Richardson had the same knee scoped in February. He spent Tuesday on a stationary bike and Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer reported the No. 3 overall draft pick might be held out of Friday night's preseason opener against the Detroit Lions.

Richardson is a candidate to lead the NFL in rushing attempts. The Browns will center their offense around him, and if he's lost for any significant amount of time, the drop-off will be steep. Montario Hardesty hasn't proven he can stay healthy, while Chris Ogbonnaya and Brandon Jackson are specialists and nothing more.

There's no reason to push Richardson into preseason action. He'll get his carries soon enough.

 

[Faust]

Josh Gordon of Cleveland Browns battling 'camp legs'

By Marc Sessler

Writer

The Cleveland Browns are hoping their version of "The Triplets" -- quarterback Brandon Weeden, running back Trent Richardson and wideout Josh Gordon -- can awaken an offense that's slept soundly for years.

All three are rookies, so don't expect it to happen overnight. After impressive starts, Richardson is going to have his knee examined and Gordon has hit a wall, according to The Canton Repository.

Coach Pat Shurmur mentioned Gordon among a group of players suffering from "camp legs" after nearly two weeks of practices: "His mind and body are battling right now," Shurmur said. "This is unlike anything he's ever been through."

The Browns used a second-round pick in last month's supplemental draft on Gordon, who was brought in to start -- but not yet. Greg Little and Mohamed Massaquoi were atop the most recent depth chart released by the Browns.

At 21, Gordon is the youngest player in Browns camp. He's raw and hasn't played in a year, but Cleveland's wideouts have been a disaster of late (the days of Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr. both topping 1,000 yards feels like 25 years ago). The Browns will test him early.

We're still a month away from the opener, and "camp legs" aren't the end of civilization. Gordon is no guarantee, but he remains one of the more intriguing players on a Cleveland Browns team filled with young, unproven names.

 

[Faust]

Jordy Nelson 'dominating' Packers camp, report says

By Marc Sessler

Writer

Aaron Rodgers was chosen by his peers as the finest player in the land in NFL Network's "Top 100: Players of 2012." A recent report out of Green Bay suggests the quarterback might have some in-house competition.

Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweeted Wednesday that Packers wideout Jordy Nelson has been the "best" in camp. Offensive coordinator Tom Clements told McGinn "He's a great player."

Nelson blew up last season to the tune of 68 catches for 1,263 yards and 15 touchdowns. Nobody had better chemistry with Rodgers in 2011 than Nelson, whose 18.6 yards per reception were a team-best.

Nelson's production last season is impressive for two reasons: One, his career-best going into 2011 was 582 yards receiving in 2010. Two, the Packers arguably have the most talented crowd of wideouts in the NFL.

They're stealing catches from each other, battling for snaps. Nelson found a way to put up outstanding numbers when defenses knew he was getting the ball. The presence of Gregg Jennings helped, but Nelson bloomed last season.

On a team with an All-Pro quarterback and the likes of Clay Matthews, this is high praise for Nelson, but it's also a report based on a collection of training camp practices. Nelson will have to go out and prove it all over again in 2012.

 

[Faust]

Training Camp Buzz: Cam Newton quietly improves

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League editor

Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck are the new kids on the block. Peyton Manning is a fascinating all-time great in a new place. The New York Jets quarterbacks sell.

Meanwhile, the most exciting young player to hit the NFL in the last decade quietly goes about improving in Carolina.

It's been a quiet training camp for Panthers quarterback Cam Newton. Perhaps it's the team he plays for or his lack of nationally televised games. Maybe it's because he's started to button up his press conferences like a veteran. Killing them softly is good.

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com spent some time at Panthers training camp and came away thinking Newton's touch and accuracy have improved markedly. Brandon LaFell is developing into a legitimate No. 2 receiver. Newton's energy and love for the game of football shine through.

There is a train of thought from some fans that Newton hasn't proven anything yet. That he might slide back. I expect him to take a step forward close to the top-five quarterbacks in the game. There is no quarterback, no team I'd rather watch for the next 16 weeks.

The other guys can get the headlines in August. We'll be watching and writing about Newton all year.

A Good Day For ...

1. Football fans can take a deep breath. HBO's "Hard Knocks" is back. It's annually my favorite show, and this year's debut episode rivals any we've seen. You should read Dan Hanzus' awesome recap on it. My biggest takeaway: Miami Dolphins fans should be fired up to have Joe Philbin.

2. Beanie Wells is off the camp PUP list. It's unlikely he'll play in this week's preseason game, but he has enough time to get ready for the season. We are still waiting to see second-year pro Ryan Williams in game action.

Depth Chart Machinations

In some cases, we don't put too much stock into initial depth charts. LeGarrette Blount is ahead of Doug Martin on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the practice reps tell a different story. On the other hand, coaches put thought into what goes out there. Joe Philbin was concerned enough about reaction to the depth chart that he told his quarterbacks about it before the news was official. (A great scene you'd only see on "Hard Knocks".)

I wrote up nine things to know from the depth charts around the NFL on Monday, and a few more teams have released them since. Here's what stuck out:

1. Domenik Hixon is listed as the starting receiver opposite Victor Cruz on the New York Giants. Rookie Reuben Randle is back on the third team. Randle should rise, but Hixon has a legitimate chance for significant snaps even when Hakeem Nicks returns.

2. The Jets listed wide receiver Stephen Hill as a starter despite a slow start to camp. They are going to sink or swim with Hill. Sorry, Antonio Cromartie.

3. Kendall Hunter is listed as the backup running back on the San Francisco 49ers ahead of Brandon Jacobs and rookie LaMichael James. Hunter continues to get big kudos from his coaches. He's one of my favorite breakout candidates.

Not a Good Day for ...

1. Brian Urlacher is missing from Chicago Bears training camp for "personal reasons." We suspect those personal reasons reside in his knee. It's fair to be concerned.

2. Evan Royster is ahead of Roy Helu on the Washington Redskins' depth chart and multiple reports suggest the coaches think Royster has a higher ceiling as an every-down back.

3. We're not sure quite yet if it means much that Tarvaris Jackson won't play in the Seattle Seahawks' preseason opener. His practice snaps will decrease leading up the game. But it probably doesn't bode well for him. You don't limit reps for a guy you think is going to start, not matter how you stage a competition.

4. Terrell Owens' signing might say more about Sidney Rice than Golden Tate. The Seahawks need Rice healthy and NFL Network's Michael Lombardi is among those that believe there is concern surrounding Rice.

5. Trent Richardson looks likely to miss the Cleveland Browns' preseason opener. Maybe this means he'll go more cheaply in fantasy drafts.

On the Agenda

I'll be posting our Around the League Defensive Power Rankings later Wednesday morning. We're also doing a mailbag Thursday. Send your questions in. Happy Wednesday and thanks for reading.

 

[Faust]

Oakland Raiders training camp: Darren McFadden ready to run

By Bucky Brooks NFL.com

Analyst, NFL.com and NFL Network

WHERE IS NFL.COM?

The Raiders host training camp in Napa, Calif., in a picturesque setting right out of a vacation magazine. On the day of my visit, the Raiders welcomed 3,000 fans to watch them practice under clear blue skies and in perfect conditions.

OBSERVATION DECK

1. Winning is in the details. The Raiders set NFL records for penalties and penalty yards in 2011. New coach Dennis Allen is attempting to change the culture in Oakland by getting his players to focus on the small details on and off the field. They're held accountable for their punctuality in meetings and attendance at lunch and dinner in the dining hall. Such issues might appear trivial on the surface, but a lack of professionalism has certainly contributed to the Raiders' underachieving ways. More structure and a renewed emphasis on organization and discipline might help Allen finally rid the Raiders of the bad habits that have kept them from recording a winning season since 2002.

2. Darren McFadden is the key to the offense. After showing flashes of brilliance as a primary playmaker for the Raiders during his first four seasons, the running back is firmly entrenched as the No. 1 option in the offensive game plan. He is expected to receive 25 or more touches per week on a variety of runs and receptions from multiple formations and alignments. I was impressed by McFadden's speed, explosiveness and athleticism in practice. He is a natural playmaker with the ball in his hands, and there is nothing that he can't do on the field. To take advantage of his versatility, the Raiders are deploying McFadden at various spots in multiple formations, including outside as a quasi-wide receiver. This will let the Raiders capitalize on his speed and route-running skills in space against overmatched linebackers, creating the opportunity for big passing gains. In the running game, the Raiders are employing a zone-based scheme that will take advantage of McFadden's talents as a one-cut runner. He is already considered one of the NFL's most explosive backs, having recorded 29 runs of 20-plus yards on only 336 attempts over the past two seasons. If he can stay healthy, McFadden could produce fireworks with the Raiders' offense.

3. Carson Palmer is still trying to find his groove in Greg Knapp's offense. The Raiders are hoping their veteran quarterback can regain his Pro Bowl form under new offensive coordinator Knapp. Part of that optimism is fueled by the implementation of a West Coast system that involves more quick, rhythm throws from the pocket. Palmer played in a variation of this scheme during his time at USC, but he is still struggling to master various parts of the offense in Oakland. He has been inefficient with some of the movement-based passing concepts in the playbook. Some difficulty was to be expected, given his limited athleticism, but Palmer's struggles with bootlegs could be a significant problem, given their importance to the running game. If he is not able to complete a high percentage of passes on the move, opponents will not respect the bootleg component of the Raiders' offense, making it tougher to run against loaded fronts. Palmer has also had problems with his anticipation on timing routes. He repeatedly delivered the ball late to receivers coming out of their breaks, leading to a couple of blow-ups by defensive backs. If the Raiders are finally going to end their playoff drought in 2012, Palmer must quickly master the critical elements of Knapp's offense over the final four weeks of the preseason.



4. The defense is talented, but lacks an elite pass-rusher and shutdown corner. The Raiders have several intriguing pieces on the defensive side of the ball (defensive ends Richard Seymour and Tommie Kelly; linebacker Rolando McClain), but they have zero blue-chip pass-rushers or cornerbacks. Clever scheming can allow a team to excel without quality personnel at those positions. But if they want to compete with the AFC's best, the Raiders need quality performances from defensive end Matt Shaughnessy and defensive backs Shawntae Spencer and Ron Bartell. Shaughnessy, in particular, must emerge as a credible pass-rusher who can provide 10-plus sacks off the edge. He's shown glimpses of being a legitimate sack artist (notching 12.0 sacks in three seasons), but Shaughnessy needs to be more consistent on a weekly basis.

Spencer and Bartell are also under the gun to play like blue-chippers on the perimeter. Both were expected to start when they signed with the team during the offseason, but neither has stepped up as a potential shutdown corner. Spencer has struggled to stay close in coverage, while Bartell has been sidelined by a hamstring injury for most of camp. If the Raiders' veteran tandem doesn't turn things around soon, the defense will have a tough time handling the offensive juggernauts that loom in the AFC West.

THE NEW GUYS

Matt Leinart. One of the biggest surprises coming out of Raiders' camp has been Leinart's impressive play. His accuracy and ball placement have been superb, and he's demonstrated mastery of the offense, finding the second and third options in the route progression. Leinart's physical limitations likely keep him from being a long-term answer at quarterback, but his stellar play in camp suggests he could handle a two- or three-game stint as a fill-in for Palmer.

Juron Criner. The sixth-round draft pick has continued to build on the momentum created by his sensational play during offseason workouts. The rookie, who has routinely come down with acrobatic catches in practice, looks like he could be a No. 1 receiver in the near future. The Raiders currently lack a go-to guy on the outside, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Criner crack the starting lineup at some point this season.

OVERHEARD

"This is a team of the decades, like it says on our facility walls, and winning is the only thing that is acceptable. All of the mottos you have heard over the years from Al Davis, and (which) we are (now) hearing from Coach Allen, we understand that we are expected to win and it's not about anything else. It's about winning."

-- Palmer.

EXTRA POINTS

1. DeMarcus Van Dyke has created quite the buzz in camp. Raiders officials have been impressed by the young defensive back's potential as a cover man, and they believe he could make a strong push for starter's minutes. Van Dyke was already one of the fastest players in the NFL, but his ability to quickly grasp the defense and subtleties of coverage have helped him make more plays on the ball. Given his progress over the course of the offseason and through the first week of training camp, Van Dyke might be in line for a significant role in his second year.

2. McClain looks primed for a big year. He is fit, trim and playing with more urgency at camp. Last season, McClain struggled in all aspects of the game, and poor conditioning affected his ability to hold up in coverage. This year, however, he has displayed better movement skills in drills, improving enough that he could remain on the field in nickel situations.

3. Terrelle Pryor still has quite a ways to go before he can contribute in the NFL as a quarterback, but he has impressed Raiders officials with his commitment and work ethic. He has put in long hours attempting to hone his skills as a passer. Pryor's accuracy and ball placement are still inconsistent, but he occasionally displays potential. His combination of size and athleticism will encourage the Raiders to be patient with his development.

OUTLOOK

The Raiders will be a more disciplined outfit under Allen, but the adherence to structure might not translate into more wins in 2012. The AFC West is one of the most competitive divisions in football, and I don't believe the Raiders have enough pieces on defense to compete with the upper-echelon teams in the AFC. I could see the Raiders finishing around .500, but I don't think a playoff appearance is in the cards for the Silver and Black.

 

[Faust]

Defensive Power Rankings: Texans, Niners elite

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League editor

We thought about updating our revolutionary tiered Around the League Power Rankings this week, and then we realized it would look exactly like it did two weeks ago.

So let's try something a little different. We present our Preseason Defensive Power Rankings. The list was created by answering a simple question: What depth chart, defensive coach and scheme would we want as a general manager? Talent and 2012 potential matters more here than the final 2011 rankings.

Top shelf: Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers

The Bulls on Parade in Houston have the best combination of young talent and scheme in the NFL, even without Mario Williams. San Francisco's front seven rivals Houston. Baltimore isn't nearly as old as you think, while Pittsburgh still has a surplus of linebacker talent and great continuity under **** Lebeau.

Anything less than a top-10 ranking in points allowed would be a huge disappointment for these teams. Their defenses can win games on their own.

Next level: Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and Kansas City Chiefs

We strongly considered putting the Seahawks and Giants in their own tier or the tier above. Seattle is greater than the sum of its parts and the parts are fantastic in the secondary. New York's defensive line can make up for its back seven. Philadelphia's talent remains elite. Their continuity should serve them well in year two under defensive coordinator Juan Castillo.

The Cardinals are a sneaky defense that's tough to prepare for. We love Bengals coordinator Mike Zimmer and his deep rotation of pass rushers. My Chiefs man crush extends to their young, primed defense under Romeo Crennel.

The talent and potential is there for any of these defenses to be among the best in the league.

Knocking on the door: Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Dallas Cowboys

Safety Louis Delmas' surgery is a reminder Detroit is woefully thin in the secondary. It's just not a good back seven on defense. Sorry. Chicago ranks this high because of Lovie Smith and a few standouts, but the talent and track record are mostly overrated. Green Bay has the players and coach to bounce right back to their 2010 level. It's a strong depth chart. Rob Ryan should have enough in the secondary to improve things in Dallas.

These defenses could go either way. A top-five rank or mediocrity wouldn't be huge surprises.

Middle of the pack: Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Redskins

Buffalo has been so bad on defense for so long and they continue to adjust their scheme. I need to see it to believe it. Atlanta and Jacksonville lack the pass rushers to be elite. The Jaguars defense overachieved last year. There is some sleeper potential in Oakland if Dennis Allen is legit. It's been a while since Washington's Jim Haslett ran a difference-making unit.

Not sold: Miami Dolphins, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans

Miami's talent should rank them higher, but the scheme change is a worry. Cleveland wasn't as good as their ranking last year indicated. San Diego doesn't have enough difference-makers. At least the Patriots look young and interesting this year. They are on the upswing.

Denver has too many roster holes at defensive tackle, linebacker, and safety. Carolina is similarly uneven. Tennessee's talent is mediocre. Jeff Fisher has enough to work with to improve things in St. Louis.

These defenses ideally won't get their teams beat. But they don't look like standouts.

Sub-mediocre: New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings and Indianapolis Colts

New Orleans' pass rush should be among the league's worst. Greg Schiano should improve Tampa's discipline, but the talent level has a ways to go. Colts coach Chuck Pagano is fighting an uphill battle considering his secondary. The Vikings have Jared Allen and little else.

Football Outsiders has often pointed out that year-to-year performance on defense is far more volatile than offense. That gives these teams hope, but we're not seeing it.

We'll check back on these rankings after a few regular season weeks to see how dumb we look.

 

[Faust]

Camp Confidential: San Diego Chargers

By Bill Williamson | ESPN.com

SAN DIEGO -- With the outside perception of the San Diego Chargers taking a major tumble, the team, which for so long was built from the inside, changed philosophy in 2012 in a last attempt to keep that proverbial Super Bowl window from slamming shut and causing major upheaval in the organization.

After two playoff-less seasons and a reprieve from ownership, San Diego general manager A.J. Smith made an uncharacteristically heavy play in free agency. Taking advantage of one of the deepest classes in history, the Chargers nabbed more than a dozen free agents to infuse new life into a roster that was still talented but no longer arguably the stoutest in the NFL.

“I love what they have done around here,” said safety Eric Weddle, one of the Chargers' homegrown mainstays. “We hit the lowest of the lows the past two years by not making the playoffs. Getting new blood in here has helped.”

Among the veterans San Diego brought in were running backs Le'Ron McClain and Ronnie Brown, receivers Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal, linebacker Jarret Johnson and defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin.

“The thing about the new guys is they all love football,” San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers said. “They love it. We need guys like that here. … It gives us a new start. Those guys won’t worry about the past. They weren’t here for the slow starts or the six-game losing streak last year. It’s all a new start.”

If this cleansing of the roster doesn’t work, the next restructuring will likely occur up top with the firing of coach Norv Turner and possibly Smith. Yet, in a season of new beginnings, spirits are high.

“I think we can be special,” Weddle said. “There’s still a lot of talent here, with a bunch of new talent. … People may not be expecting much from us this year because we haven’t done anything, so that’s fair. But it’s kind of nice to be under the radar for once.”

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Ryan Mathews' workload: Outside of Rivers, there is likely not a more important player in this camp than Mathews. The Chargers all know if Mathews flourishes in his third NFL season, the team will have a strong chance to be successful. Mathews, the No. 12 overall pick in 2010, had a solid second season as he ran for 1,091 yards and averaged a terrific 4.9 yards per carry. This year, the Chargers want to see Mathews become consistent and stay healthy. He will likely be given the chance to to carry the ball 25 times a game, catch several balls out of the backfield and be a factor on third down and in short yardage. This camp is designed to get him prepared for a heavy workload. From what I saw and heard, it seems like Mathews might be up to the task.

“He’s working hard,” Rivers said. “Ryan knows what is expected of him.”

2. Sparking the defense: While the offense in San Diego needs some tweaks, the bigger fixes are necessary on defense, where former linebackers coach John Pagano is in charge of fixing a unit that fell apart last season. He replaces Greg Manusky, who was fired after one season on the job. The biggest issue -- it is a major point of emphasis in camp -- is getting off the field on third down. San Diego was last in the NFL in third-down defense in 2011. It gave up a first down on 49.2 percent of all third downs -- according to ESPN Stats & Information, the worst percentage in the NFL since the 1995 Cleveland Browns. The Chargers have added several pieces to the defense and it has a chance to be much more active -- particularly on passing downs, when No. 1 pick Melvin Ingram will be given a chance to make an instant impact as a pass-rusher.

3. Protect the quarterback: The San Diego offensive line was in shambles for much of last season, and it was a big reason why Rivers struggled for the first 10 games. Mainly due to poor health, San Diego used 13 offensive linemen last season -- literally taking players off the street at one point in November. With Jared Gaither, claimed off waivers from Kansas City, solidifying the left tackle spot, the unit improved dramatically late in the season. Gaither was re-signed and is being counted on to protect Rivers’ blind side. The steady Tyronne Green takes over for the departed Kris Dielman. Green has fared well when he's had to play. If this unit remains in good health, it should protect Rivers well. If not, trouble could persist. So far, the unit looks good in camp.

REASON FOR OPTIMISM

The passing game looks to be top-notch. After a sloppy start to last season, Rivers finished 2011 strong. He has looked good in camp, and has an interesting group of receivers. Yes, standout Vincent Jackson is gone, but the Chargers have an ensemble group that includes Malcom Floyd, free-agent signees Meachem (New Orleans) and Royal (Denver) and second-year player Vincent Brown. Together, this group should offer Rivers plenty of help.

“We like what we have there,” Turner said. “We like all the pieces. We think we can get some things done in the passing game.”

If the Rivers-led passing attack is back at an elite level, the Chargers will be a threat to win every game. When Rivers is on, San Diego has a chance to score every time the offense hits the field.

REASON FOR PESSIMISM

The Chargers must prove they are totally past their doldrums. The team feels good about itself, but it does every summer. We will not know if San Diego is out of its funk until it’s out.

Yes, the depth looks good, but will it be enough if injuries pile up for a fourth consecutive year? Yes, cutting down on turnovers is a point of emphasis in camp, but once the season starts, will the hard work pay off or will the killer interceptions and fumbles continue?

It has gotten to the point where we can’t trust this team until it shows it is has indeed rebounded.

OBSERVATION DECK

[*]Tight end Antonio Gates is turning heads on a daily basis. After dealing with foot-related injuries for four years, Gates is finally completely healthy. He’s slimmed down and he is making a lot of plays. If his health remains, the 32-year-old should make a huge impact.

[*]Denver might have lost interest in Royal, but there is a place for him San Diego. Expect Royal to get a lot of work. He has impressed the coaching staff this summer and I expect him to be as favorite a target for Rivers during the season as he has been this summer.

[*]The Chargers love what they see in Johnson. He is tough, smart and excellent against the run. They think he can bump the defense up a notch.

[*]Linebacker Donald Butler looks good after a strong 2011 season, which was essentially his rookie season because he was injured in 2010. He is just another fascinating young defensive piece on this team.

[*]Undrafted rookie quarterback Jarrett Lee looks like a keeper. He got extra work because of a knee injury to Charlie Whitehurst. I could see Lee making this roster. The Chargers were burned last year when they tried to sneak undrafted rookie quarterback Scott Tolzien onto the practice squad; he was claimed by San Francisco. If Lee continues to impress, I think the Chargers will find room for him on the 53-man roster. They need to develop a young quarterback at some point and Lee might be it.

[*]The Nate Kaeding-Nick Novak battle at kicker will go down to the wire. If Kaeding stays healthy and kicks well in the preseason, he should win the job.

[*]The Chargers love the skill level of Meachem. Perhaps he was lost in the shuffle of the dynamic offensive weaponry in New Orleans. He’ll get his shot in San Diego.

[*]The Chargers are pumped about McClain, a free-agent pickup from Kansas City. He will play a lot and should be in the mix for some carries. They like the veteran stability he brings to the offense.

[*]Center David Molk, a seventh-round pick, is getting some second-team reps. He may have a future.

[*]The Chargers are very happy with pre-camp signings Franklin and running back/special-teamer Jackie Battle. Though they both signed late, I see them both being contributors.

[*]Keep an eye on ex-Chief Demorrio Williams. The linebacker has been a camp stud, boasting terrific speed. The Chargers like him in coverage.

[*]The Chargers will keep their eyes open for help at certain positions, including cornerback and offensive line, as the summer progresses.

[*]Third-round pick Brandon Taylor, a safety, might not make an instant impact, but Taylor has impressed and will get some valuable time behind veteran pickup Atari Bigby, who himself has been outstanding this summer.

[*]Brown has been getting looks as the third-down back and will be an occasional Wildcat threat.

[*]Running back Curtis Brinkley flashed talent at times last season, but because of the logjam at running back, he is a long shot to make the team.

[*]Rookie tight end Ladarius Green has nice receiving skills. I can see him making an impact behind Gates and Dante Rosario (a very nice backup). Green, a fourth-round pick, needs to learn to block at an NFL level, but he has terrific hands and natural size.

[*]Undrafted rookie tackle Mike Harris has taken advantage of an early camp injury to Gaither, getting some reps with the first team. The UCLA product has a chance to make the team. Rivers has joked that Harris has gotten more first-team reps than any undrafted rookie tackle in the history of the NFL.

 

[Faust]

Notes from Patriots-Saints practice

By James Walker | ESPN.com

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots completed their second joint practice against the New Orleans Saints on Wednesday. The AFC East blog was there to check out the action.

Here are a few observations:

[*]Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was sharper in his second practice against the Saints. Brady missed several throws he usually makes on Tuesday but made up for it Wednesday. Brady began 7 on 7 drills by throwing back-to-back touchdown passes to tight end Rob Gronkowski and Wes Welker in the red zone. Brady didn't throw as much on Wednesday but looked better in limited reps.

[*]The more I see Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, the more I like him. Graham made a couple of really nice catches against the Patriots’ first-team defense in team drills. One was a spectacular catch down the seam from Saints quarterback Drew Brees where Graham jumped over New England rookie linebacker Dont’a Hightower. Graham has gotten the best of Hightower in the joint practices this week. It's been a good learning experience for the rookie linebacker to face one of the top tight ends in the NFL.

[*]Speaking of rookies, both Hightower and defensive end Chandler Jones continue to get reps with the first team this week. That probably will continue in Thursday’s preseason opener. Both rookies are flashing their athleticism and have a chance to carve out a solid role in New England’s defense early.

[*]The impressive play of the day came from Patriots backup quarterback Brian Hoyer. In team drills Hoyer connected on a beautiful deep pass to a leaping backup receiver Jesse Holley in team drills. The play got one of the loudest cheers from the fans.

[*]Overall, it was a much lighter practice Wednesday. Both teams got in some good team work before tomorrow’s preseason game. The Saints and Patriots had a joint agreement not to go too hard before their exhibition.

 

[FavreCo]

From NFL Network:

Tim Tebow took 2 snaps today at QB. The first one was incomplete, the 2nd a wobbling 60 yard TD pass.

 

[Faust]

From NFL Network: Tim Tebow took 2 snaps today at QB. The first one was incomplete, the 2nd a wobbling 60 yard TD pass.

Classic Tebow! The results from the 2 snaps is a perfect outcome. The incomplete pass will fuel the Tebow detractors and the TD pass will pump up the Tebow supporters!

 

[Faust]

Richardson's surgery considered a success

By Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com

The Browns announced that running back Trent Richardson had successful arthroscopic surgery Thursday and are "hopeful" that he'll be ready for the regular-season opener.

This shouldn't come as a surprise. The "routine procedure," as the Browns described it, was performed by the renowned Dr. James Andrews. Plus, in my 12 years of covering the NFL, I've never had a team announce an unsuccessful surgery.

The key part of the Browns' statement is the expectation that Richardson will play in the Sept. 9 season opener against Philadelphia, which is 31 days away.

"We anticipate that Trent will make a speedy recovery," coach Pat Shurmur said in a statement.

There are questions whether Richardson's knee problem will linger throughout his rookie season. Montario Hardesty, a 2010 second-round pick, will start for Richardson in Friday's preseason opener for the Browns.

 

[Faust]

Roethlisberger: Wallace is training hard

By Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com

You thought you were going to get through a day on the AFC North blog without a Mike Wallace update. Well, you thought wrong.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger told 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh that the holdout wide receiver is staying in shape.

"I gave him a call to wish him happy birthday and see how he was doing," Roethlisberger said, via sportsradiointerviews.com. "And Mike’s training hard. He’s training with his helmet on just like he’d be here. So he’s doing a lot of things. And I have confidence he’ll be here and ready to go for the season.”

So, there you go. Wallace is not only training. He's training with his helmet on. I bet all of you Wallace haters feel silly now to question his dedication.

Roethlisberger also addressed fans who think Wallace isn't a big deal to the Steelers offense.

“They’re crazy. No offense, but they’re crazy," Roethlisberger said. "I can’t say enough how good of a teammate he is. And that’s the most important thing when you have as many young guys as we have on our team. Everyone talks about how great Antonio Brown is -- and he is -- but the reason Antonio is going to get open -- not the only reason -- but one of the reasons Antonio is going to get open is because Mike is stretching the field."

Even though Roethlisberger remains a big supporter of Wallace, he wouldn't mind if the Steelers brought back Plaxico Burress. Roethlisberger and Burress were teammates for one season (2004).

"Plax was another guy who I always thought got a bad rap for being a bad teammate," Roethlisberger said. "But that absolutely wasn’t true from anything I saw. He was a great teammate. And if they bring him back, that’s one more weapon than I have in my arsenal already.”

 

[Faust]

Ex-49er sees 'Baby Patrick Willis' in Seattle

By Mike Sando | ESPN.com

RENTON, Wash. -- Those of us interviewing the Seattle Seahawks' Michael Robinson perked up Thursday when the veteran fullback compared one of his rookie teammates to all-world linebacker Patrick Willis.

Robinson sees similarities between Willis, his former teammate with the San Francisco 49ers, and Seahawks second-round draft choice Bobby Wagner.

"I call him a baby Patrick Willis because I hadn't seen a linebacker move like that since Pat," Robinson said.

Wagner has much to learn, of course. Robinson wasn't saying Wagner was already playing at a Pro Bowl level. But he does see great potential.

The back-and-forth went like this once I asked Robinson about Wagner (we were speaking previously of K.J. Wright, another Seahawks linebacker):

Robinson: "Very explosive. He is a guy that can run sideline to sideline. He's learning. He's still a young guy learning how to get off blocks in the National Football League. But he is going to be another special player one day. I call him a baby Patrick Willis because I hadn't seen a linebacker move like that since Pat."

Reporter: "Really?"

Robinson: "I mean, it's the truth. I've been against both of them. He's fast, he's explosive and again, just the way he slips blocks and it seems like he is always going toward the ball. He's not worried about getting blocked. He's learning. Obviously, he is still young. But he definitely has the ability."

 

[Faust]

CampTour'12: Lions Day 2

By Kevin Seifert | ESPN.com

ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Some thoughts and observations from our second day of training camp with the Detroit Lions:

[*]It's only fair to note that after a relatively sloppy practice Wednesday, the Lions came back with a sharp and fast-paced workout held indoors because of rain. The team opened with work on its no-huddle offense, and it set the pace for a crisp day. I like how the Lions' coaching staff sets the pace for high tempo by personally sprinting from one drill to the next. It's tough for players not to follow.

[*]We noted earlier that rookie cornerback Bill Bentley has been elevated to the first team, at least for the time being. The Lions also had veteran safety John Wendling working with the starters, alongside Erik Coleman, while one-time starter Amari Spievey was working with the second and third teams. Coach Jim Schwartz said Wendling has "had a very good camp." He added: "He's knocked down a lot of passes. He's been in the right spot all the time." Look for Bentley and Wendling to start Friday night against the Cleveland Browns.

[*]The practice had some tense moments during one of the final team drills when hot-headed center Dominic Raiola fell, got up and whacked rookie linebacker Tahir Whitehead on the helmet. The two jawed for several more plays but Whitehead did not retaliate, which Schwartz considered a good sign for a team that lost its composure often last season. "The players showed some restraint," Schwartz said. "That's a good step, particularly for a rookie."

[*]Because the practice was held indoors, reporters saw running back Mikel Leshoure running for one of the few times since he strained his hamstring early in camp. (Most of his rehabilitation has been conducted indoors while the team practiced outside.) Leshoure ran hard, with his helmet on, during a sideline session with the team's medical staff. It wouldn't be surprising if he returned to practice sometime next week.

[*]Backup quarterback Shaun Hill had a little fun during second-team work, twice taking option-like runs deep down the left sideline and encouraging defensive players to chase him. I timed his 40-yard dash in approximately 5.01 seconds.

 

[Faust]

Four things to watch: Patriots and Bills

By James Walker | ESPN.com

The reigning AFC champion New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills will host their preseason openers Thursday night against the New Orleans Saints and Washington Redskins, respectively.

Here are four things to watch for in these exhibition games:

No. 1: Patriots' defense

Analysis: New England’s defense, ranked 31st last season, will take the field for the first time in 2012. The last time we saw this group, New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning was carving up the Patriots in the Super Bowl. New England invested a lot of draft picks and free-agent dollars into this defense. Expect to see several new faces, such as first-round picks Dont'a Hightower and Chandler Jones, and free-agent signings Steve Gregory and Bobby Carpenter. The Patriots’ starting defense will get a good test against Saints Pro Bowl quarterback Drew Brees, who performed well against New England during joint practices this week.

No. 2: Who will emerge at running back?

Analysis: Expect the Patriots to give a lot of carries to their young running backs Thursday night. Second-year players Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen are competing for the starting job vacated by former Patriot BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Ridley and Vereen bring different skills to the table. So far, Ridley has looked the best in training camp. But this battle will be won in the preseason games. Therefore, one of these young tailbacks must perform well to separate himself.

No. 3: Debut of Buffalo's revamped defensive line

Analysis: Buffalo’s starters may only play a few series. But it will be a good chance to see how the Bills’ new-look and dynamic defensive line is coming along. Stud defensive tackles Kyle Williams and Marcell Dareus were joined by big free-agent signings Mario Williams and Mark Anderson. This group has the potential to be one of the top defensive lines in the NFL. Washington will provide a good test in the debut of rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III. He is one of the most athletic quarterbacks in the league. So if Buffalo’s defense can pressure Griffin and keep him at bay, it can corral just about any quarterback.

No. 4: Who will step up as Buffalo's No. 2 receiver?

Analysis: If Buffalo has a legit No. 2 receiver, it’s time for that player to come forward. The Bills need someone to be a threat opposite Steve Johnson, who will face plenty of double teams this year. There have been mixed results in training camp. Different players have flashed but no receiver has shown enough consistency. Receivers such as Marcus Easley, Donald Jones and rookie T.J. Graham need to step up. Performing in the preseason is the quickest way to impress Buffalo’s coaching staff.

 

[Faust]

Larry Fitzgerald working hard to help Michael Floyd

By Brian McIntyre

Around the League writer

Before the 2012 NFL Draft, perennial Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald openly advocated for his Arizona Cardinals to use their first-round draft pick on Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound playmaker who could force opposing defenses to not focus solely on stopping Fitzgerald.

Like Fitzgerald, Floyd is from the Twin Cities and participated in Fitzgerald's famously grueling workouts this summer. Fitzgerald immediately began mentoring Floyd, calling the rookie out for skipping a few workouts before camp.

During an appearance on "NFL AM", Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt was asked about the relationship between Fitzgerald and Floyd.

"Outstanding," Whisenhunt said. "I think there's a good chemistry within that group and it's really put out there by Larry.

"Larry wants to be good and he's committed to doing what he has to do to be good. But one of the things you really like about Larry, and where he's grown tremendously over the years, is his leadership ability with the younger players. He recognizes that Michael Floyd is a young talent, he can help our team and (Larry's) working hard to make that Michael understands what he needs to be a good player and make a contribution for us in his first year."

The Cardinals, and Fitzgerald, need Floyd to contribute right away, but as Kevin Kolb can attest, no player is just handed a starting job by Whisenhunt. Floyd opened the preseason with the "3s" and will have to work his way up the depth chart. Though he caught just one pass for 15 yards in his preseason debut, Floyd showed the explosiveness and physicality that will make it very difficult for Whisenhunt to keep the rookie on the sidelines this season.

 

[Faust]

Peyton Manning, Robert Griffin III kick off NFL preseason

By Daniel Jeremiah

Analyst, NFL.com and NFL Network

After a long summer of sound bites and scuttlebutt, the NFL preseason is finally here. Thursday's slate of games is packed with enticing storylines, including the debuts of a star-in-the-making (Washington Redskins rookie Robert Griffin III) and a legendary veteran (Peyton Manning with his new team, the Denver Broncos). Below, I've provided a quick primer for tonight's six-pack of games.



(Be sure to check back on Friday, when Bucky Brooks previews the rest of this week's action.)

New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots

What to watch for: Drew Brees and Tom Brady. That should be reason enough to watch this game. Although neither future Hall of Famer is likely to get extended playing time, it will be fun to see how sharp they both are. This is also a great opportunity to see the league's top two tight ends in action. New England's Rob Gronkowski and New Orleans' Jimmy Graham are both coming off dominant seasons, and the two young stars should be even better in 2012. Keep an eye on the Patriots' two first-round draft picks on defense -- I've heard nothing but high praise for the early performances of defensive end Chandler Jones and linebacker Dont'a Hightower.



Washington Redskins at Buffalo Bills

What to watch for: RG3 makes his much-anticipated NFL debut against an improved Buffalo team. How long will coach Mike Shanahan let his rookie phenom play? Will we see some new wrinkles in the Redskins' offense? Can the team's patchwork offensive line provide enough protection? The Bills, meanwhile, will trot out their prized free-agent addition, defensive star Mario Williams. They desperately needed to upgrade their pass rush after last season and did just that, adding both Williams and former Patriots defensive end Mark Anderson.

Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons

What to watch for: Joe Flacco and Matt Ryan have both enjoyed personal and team success since being selected in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. The Ravens failed to land Ryan in that draft despite making a strong attempt to move up and pick him. Flacco, however, has turned out to be an excellent fallback plan. Both quarterbacks will be in action and figure to be tested by two very aggressive defensive fronts. New cornerback Asante Samuel has been the talk -- literally and figuratively -- of Falcons camp. He will be tested by one of the NFL's top young wide receivers, Torrey Smith.



Green Bay Packers at San Diego Chargers

What to watch for: This will be the first chance for the Packers to take out some frustration from their disappointing playoff exit in January. They need to do a much better job on both sides of the line of scrimmage this season; the Chargers will provide a good initial test. The Chargers and Packers both invested first-round picks in outside linebackers; San Diego's Melvin Ingram and Green Bay's Nick Perry should see plenty of action in this one.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles

What to watch for: The Eagles will be without several of their starters along the defensive line, but they will still provide a tough test for the Steelers' offensive line. I'm anxious to see the Eagles' first-round pick, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, match up against Pittsburgh rookies David DeCastro and Mike Adams. This game will be a good challenge for the Eagles' secondary; Samuel has been shipped to Atlanta, but Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha should be much more comfortable in Year 2 under Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo.

Denver Broncos at Chicago Bears

What to watch for: This will be the most anticipated game of the night for one reason: Peyton Manning. I saw Peyton throw last month during his family's passing academy, and I'm looking forward to seeing how much progress he's made since then. It will also be interesting to see how long he plays and how many hits he takes in the process. Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall are also playing their first game together as Bears against the team with which they once shined. This would normally be the major storyline to follow, but Thursday night is all about No. 18.