*** Official 2013 NFL OTAs & Minicamp Thread *** (1 Viewer)

[Faust]

Ryan Broyles: I'll be ready for Detroit Lions by Week 1

By Chris Wesseling

Around the League Writer

Detroit Lions wide receiver Ryan Broyles is giving Adrian Peterson a run for his money in advancing the anterior cruciate ligament recovery timetable.

Just more than a year removed from tearing his left ACL at Oklahoma, Broyles underwent right ACL surgery in December. Not long after the latter injury, Lions general manager Martin Mayhew predicted Broyles would be limited in training camp and unreliable until the middle of the 2013 season.

Broyles already has shattered Mayhew's expectations, returning to full participation in last week's mandatory minicamp.

The Lions might play it cautiously and send Broyles to the physically unable to perform list when training camp opens, but the wide receiver doesn't expect that to happen. In fact, Broyles believes he will be back to full speed for the start of the regular season.

"I'm out there doing full practices right now so in a couple months I feel like I'll be pretty good," Broyles told Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News on Sunday.

Broyles' recovery has been impressive enough that the Lions' official website recently predicted a breakout season for him as the slot receiver.

Outside of Calvin Johnson's record-setting performance, the Lions didn't have a single wide receiver with 400 yards last season. The silver lining is that Broyles hauled in 21 passes for 307 yards in a six-game stretch before the knee injury. Barring a setback, Broyles will play in three-wide sets with Johnson and Nate Burleson, bringing Burleson's Patrick Edwards hype train to a screeching halt.

Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.

 

[Faust]

Miles Austin gets Dallas Cowboys offseason protection

By Dan Hanzus

Around the League Writer

Miles Austin and his hamstrings need to get on better terms.

Austin's legs haven't been right for two seasons, leading the Dallas Cowboys to take measures to keep the veteran wide receiver healthy in 2013.

Austin was given a day off during last week's mandatory minicamp. He also sat out some earlier organized team activities. He's spent the offseason working on new ways to strengthen his legs.

"It's one of those things where, you can't not do it and then do it and tell the difference," he said last week at Valley Ranch, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "But I feel good now."

Austin established himself as a star during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, averaging 75 catches for 1,181 yards and nine touchdowns. His production has slumped in the years since. He played in 16 games in 2012, but he was slowed by leg and hip issues. A nasty hamstring pull cost him six games in 2011.

Dez Bryant's emergence as a star gives the Cowboys a potentially scary 1-2 combo at wide receiver if Austin can regain past form. With Austin not yet over the hill, it's certainly possible.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.

Miles Austin should have a chat with Isaac Bruce to find out where he picked up those special shoes that helped him out with his hamstring issues.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld updates:

The Charlotte Observer believes Armanti Edwards is "beginning to look like an NFL receiver," and expects him to keep his roster spot.
Better late than never? Edwards has done absolutely nothing through his first three NFL seasons, but is apparently "running fluid routes and catching the ball in traffic." That's all good and well, but pad-less practices have always been when Edwards shines. We're highly skeptical he'll suddenly be a productive player in 2013, and don't consider his roster spot cinched up.


Source: Charlotte Observer

Kevin Walter (back) will be sidelined until training camp.
Walter has barely practiced since signing in April, and is starting to hurt his roster chances. At this point, Walter might need Tennessee to renege on its promise of keeping Nate Washington to have a real shot at making the 53-man roster.


Source: Jim Wyatt on Twitter

OC Dowell Loggains believes the Titans have their best tight end corps since "Alge (Crumpler) and Bo Scaife."
"I feel really good about having three guys that can do a lot of different things," Loggains said of Delanie Walker, Craig Stevens and Taylor Thompon. "Also all three of them can be in-line blockers, point-of-attack blockers, and all of them have good speed." Notice he didn't mention catch passes. None of Walker, Stevens or Thompson have ever cleared 30 catches in a season. The Titans seem to have forgotten the fact that they wanted to keep Jared Cook before realizing they may have to pay him as a receiver under the franchise tag. The Titans' tight end group isn't bad, but it's not as good as it would have been had Cook been re-signed and properly utilized.


Source: Nashville Tennessean

ESPN's Adam Schefter suggested on NFL Live that Christian Ponder will be in danger of losing his job this season if the Vikings begin to struggle.
"There are enough people around the league that believe Matt Cassel is good enough to challenge Ponder," stated Schefter, adding that Cassel "could unseat Ponder at some point this season." Although Schefter confirmed Ponder won't lose his job before Week 1, he called it a "situation that bears watching." Ponder endured a brutal nine-game stretch last season (Weeks 7-16) where he completed 140-of-245 passes (57.1 percent) for just 1,267 yards (5.17 YPA), and a 7:8 TD-to-INT ratio with two lost fumbles. Ponder was serviceable to solid (67.2 percent, 7.01 YPA, 11:4) in his other seven starts.

Second-round WR Justin Hunter (hamstring) isn't participating in Titans minicamp.

It means barring an unexpected return on Wednesday or Thursday, the No. 34 overall pick will go into training camp having missed all of OTAs. His toughness has already been questioned by WRs coach Shawn Jefferson, so it's safe to assume coach Mike Munchak isn't thrilled, either. Perhaps it's why Munchak has insisted Nate Washington remains in the Titans' plans after it was previously believed he was good as gone.


Source: Jim Wyatt on Twitter

The Chargers are implementing a shorter passing offense designed to get the ball out of Philip Rivers' hands more quickly.
It's a smart idea due to pass-protection woes, and both Mike McCoy (Peyton Manning offense) and OC Ken Whisenhunt (Kurt Warner offense) have experience in systems that emphasize shorter drops and getting the ball out quick. Rivers, on the other hand, has never played in an offense like this and it'll be interesting to see the transition. Norv Turner and Cam Cameron's schemes were of the "Air Coryell" variety, constantly pushing the ball downfield.


Source: Union-Tribune San Diego

Maurice Jones-Drew (Lisfranc surgery) said his foot is now healed and he's concentrating on strengthening his ankle.
The Lisfranc surgery is so brutal because players can't even run for months after it. Jones-Drew is finally able to exercise fully now. "The weight's going to come off as I work out," he said. "All I could do (after surgery) was eat. With this injury, you don't want to break the screws and have to get the surgery over again. I couldn't move." MJD remains questionable for the start of training camp.


Source: jaguars.com

 

[Faust]

A few more from Rotoworld:

When Robert Griffin III (ACL, LCL surgery) walks without a brace, he does not limp.
RG3 was spotted limping slightly after some minicamp practices, but it appears that was due to a bulky brace. He raced rookie tight end Jordan Reed last week and won, confirming his long speed has returned. Reed ran a respectable 4.72 forty at the Combine. By all accounts, Griffin is ahead of schedule in his rehab.


Source: Washington Post

Tight ends coach Mike Pope said there will be chances for Brandon Myers to get vertical in the passing game.
Myers was mostly a safety valve during his breakout campaign in Oakland last year, averaging just 10.2 YPC. "Our passing game does allow the tight end to get more vertically down the field -– flag routes, double seam routes, post routes," Pope said. "And he appears to have the skills to get those balls. He has a little bit of a jet that can accelerate and go get a ball that is a little deeper." We'll believe the plodding Myers can make plays down the field when we see it. For now, he's just a TE2.


Source: ESPN New York

The Carroll County Times calls Tandon Doss one of the standouts of the Ravens' offseason.
Doss has been a bust through his two NFL seasons, struggling in limited playing time and catching just seven balls. But with a massive hole opposite Torrey Smith staring the Ravens in the face, no one can be counted out. Doss will battle burner Jacoby Jones, 2012 sixth-rounder Tommy Streeter and others for reps in training camp. No matter who wins out, we expect tight end Dennis Pitta to be Joe Flacco's No. 2 target.


Source: Carroll County Times

Ed Dickson was targeted heavily during OTAs and minicamp.
With Anquan Boldin gone and no real No. 2 wideout on the roster, the Ravens are expected to expand the roles of their tight ends in the passing game. Dickson will be the in-line tight end, running shorter routes near the line of scrimmage. Dennis Pitta will be play the F spot, using his superior athleticism and ball skills to get up the field. Although the Carroll County Times says Dickson was one of the most impressive Ravens during the offseason, we still prefer Pitta by a wide margin for fantasy purposes.

Related: Dennis Pitta

Source: Carroll County Times

The Union-Tribune says Vincent Brown was "just plain spectacular" during OTAs and minicamp.
We can now safely say that the broken ankle that ruined Brown's 2012 season is water under the bridge. And since the Chargers are installing a more precise offense that de-emphasizes the deep ball, Brown has a realistic shot to beat out Malcom Floyd for the starting Z receiver spot. He's a far superior route-runner. Brown has plenty of sleeper appeal in upcoming fantasy drafts.

Related: Malcom Floyd

Source: Union-Tribune San Diego

Malcom Floyd is being asked to run completely different routes this season.
The Chargers are ditching their vertically-oriented passing scheme in favor a plan that emphasizes getting the ball out quickly. It's a no-brainer move as the declining Philip Rivers operates behind one of the league's worst offensive lines. The problem for Floyd is that he's previously only been asked to go deep and use his 6-foot-5 frame to make acrobatic catches. The short routes are not his forte, and he's going to be pushed by Vincent Brown in training camp. Floyd will be overdrafted in most fantasy circles.


Source: Union-Tribune San Diego

LeGarrette Blount did not impress during offseason workouts.
Power backs like Blount are always going to look better once the pads go on, but this isn't a good start for a player that is firmly on the roster bubble. ESPN Boston suggests that the lumbering ex-Buc might not be able to handle the Patriots' up-tempo offense. If Brandon Bolden (foot) can sustain health in camp, Blount could find himself on the street.


Source: ESPN Boston

Greg Olsen reportedly demonstrated great timing with Cam Newton during offseason workouts.
Although tight end friendly coach Rob Chudzinski is gone, Olsen will remain Newton's second-favorite target. Brandon LaFell has shown few signs of progress and newcomers Domenik Hixon/Ted Ginn aren't the answer. Olsen will play virtually every snap and push for over 100 targets once again, leaving him on the back-end TE1 radar.


Source: Charlotte Observer

The Panthers are de-emphasizing the zone read play under new OC Mike Shula.
During OTAs and minicamps, the Panthers did not practice very many option plays. The franchise wants Cam Newton to make plays from the pocket first and use his legs to create opportunities in the scrambling game. Essentially, Shula is planning on running more of a conventional offense that features base runs to the backs. It's a good thing for Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, but it could lead to deflated rushing stats for Newton. In his first two NFL seasons, he's rushed 253 times for a jaw-dropping 1,447 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Related: DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart

Source: Charlotte Observer

Cowboys WR Danny Coale (ACL) is targeting training camp for a full return to practice.
Coale blew out his knee last November. During OTAs and minicamp, he mostly went through his rehab routine on the side. He needs to be on the field come August to earn a roster spot as insurance in the slot.


Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram

 

[Faust]

Bruce Arians to use Larry Fitzgerald in multiple ways

 

[Faust]

Vernon Davis to play receiver for San Francisco 49ers?

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League Editor

We spent a lot of time this offseason discussing what players could fill in for Michael Crabtree at wide receiver in San Francisco. Perhaps Vernon Davis wasn't given enough consideration.

Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat writes that Davis practiced exclusively with the wide receivers, not the tight ends, during the team's most recent minicamp. With Anquan Boldin in the slot, Davis could wind up lining up on the outside quite often.

We don't think Davis' snaps at minicamp means he's suddenly going to give up blocking, but the 49ers aren't having him practice his wide receiver skills just for a laugh. They want him as prepared as possible to handle whatever role is thrown his way during the season.

On many downs, Davis could be a better option on the outside than in-house guys like A.J. Jenkins or Ricardo Lockette. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman is always looking for matchup problems; Davis creates mismatches no matter where he's lined up.

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Redskins third-round TE Jordan Reed (thigh) ended up missing all of OTAs and minicamp.
Reed's injury was more severe than a standard muscle pull. "I had a [thigh] contusion in college and that caused my quad to shutdown and stop working, which caused my kneecap to start moving around and banging into my bone, and that caused a bone bruise," he said. "As long as I get that quad back firing right, my kneecap will stay in place and I'll be normal again." The Redskins are expecting Reed to be behind in training camp.


Source: Real Redskins

Julio Jones has cut out beef and pork in an effort to improve his nutrition.
Jones has been influenced by the diet and work ethic of new teammate Steven Jackson. "I feel l much better," he said. "Especially playing football, I feel that stuff sits on you." Still just 24 years old, Jones has already established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. If he didn't have to share targets with Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez and Jackson, he'd push Calvin Johnson for the title of top fantasy wideout. Last year, Julio ranked 20th in targets but was 11th in yards (1198) and tied for seventh in touchdowns (10).


Source: FOX Sports

Jake Locker has not missed a single offseason practice.
Shoulder problems have plagued Locker during his two-year NFL career, but that won't be an excuse anymore. He's 100 percent healthy, is locked in as the starter, is out of former OC Chris Palmer's ineffective scheme and will play behind a vastly improved offensive line. He will also have a healthy Kenny Britt along with Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter as weapons. Locker's accuracy is a major concern, but his running ability does give him some upside as a QB2.


Source: Nashville Tennessean

Vikings TE John Carlson admitted that his 2012 season was a "debacle."
Carlson signed a five-year, $25 million last offseason. He sustained a knee injury in camp and never got going, catching just eight balls in 14 games. Now he's accepted a pay cut and is healthy. Carlson will enter camp as the clear No. 2 tight end behind Kyle Rudolph.


Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press

Anquan Boldin lined up in the slot during the majority of team drills at 49ers' minicamp.
Entering his age-33 season, Boldin doesn't get open by separating from corners out wide. He wins by dominating them physically and shedding tackles after the catch with his power. That skill set works best in the slot, and that's where he'll do his work for the 49ers. It's not a very high upside position in a run-heavy scheme, and owners drafting off Boldin's eruption during last year's Super Bowl run will be disappointed.


Source: Santa Rosa Press Democrat

Vick Ballard is expected to open the season as the Colts' No. 2 back.
The Ahmad Bradshaw signing was a clear indication of GM Ryan Grigson's feelings about his running back corps; he recognized it wasn't good enough with Ballard in the lead role. Ballard will be no more than a low-end flex pick in fantasy drafts. In his AFC Team-by-Team Notes column accessible at the link below, Rotoworld's Evan Silva breaks down the Colts' projected 2013 backfield.


Source: AFC Team-by-Team Notes

 

[Faust]

Christian Ponder reportedly spotty in Vikings practice

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League Editor

The usual caveats apply: It's only the offseason. But the reviews in Minnesota this offseason have been pretty uniform: The quarterback play has been "spotty" in practice for the Vikings.

"Watching Christian Ponder out there, the footwork didn't look great," Judd Zulgad of ESPN 1500.com said Wednesday. "The passes didn't look all that sharp.

It's only June and Ponder is playing with new set of receivers. Things aren't going to be perfect. But the Vikings are counting on Ponder's stability in Bill Musgrave's offensive system to lead to major growth. They need major growth. That reportedly hasn't shown up yet in the offseason.

"You know what's not there? Crispness," Zulgad said. "There's not a sharpness. At times you would expect things to look second nature to Ponder. ... That's not what we're seeing so far, but like I said, it's minicamp."

Zulgad's comments caught my eye because they came on the same day ESPN's Adam Schefter wrote that "some believe" Matt Cassel is good enough to challenge for the starting job in Minnesota this year. It's Ponder's job, but Cassel is probably a better NFL player at this point. This is not a surprise. (Or a good thing for Minnesota's playoff chances.)

Ponder's second season provided no indication that he's ready to be a quality starting quarterback. Maybe he makes that jump this year, but that's based more on hope than anything tangible he's shown at Florida State or in Minnesota.

Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

The Houston Chronicle suggests that poor offensive line play was the main reason for Arian Foster's disappointing 4.1 YPC last season.
Analyst Lance Zierlein concedes that Foster "didn't look as consistently spry." But he goes on to make a sound argument that the line -- especially RT Derek Newton -- failed to secure the edge. When defenders start flowing into the backfield, there's no way Foster can execute the outside zone run successfully. Note that Newton is penciled in as the starting right tackle once again this season, with only Ryan Harris and rookie Brennan Williams to push him.

Related: Derek Newton

Source: Houston Chronicle

Rookie Ace Sanders worked as the first-team slot receiver during the Jags' final minicamp practice.
We wouldn't expect Sanders to run with the job once training camp comes around. A Dexter McCluster type without long speed, the 5'7/173 fourth-rounder is more of a return man. Jordan Shipley is a better bet for the slot job. Neither one will be on the fantasy radar in Jacksonville's weak passing "attack."

Related: Jordan Shipley

Source: jaguars.com

The Lions' official site believes Joique Bell could push Mikel Leshoure for carries.
Bell was one of the NFL's most underrated players last season, averaging 5.0 YPC on 82 totes and catching 52 balls for 485 yards. His primary role as a receiver out of the backfield has been lost to Reggie Bush, but the Lions will want to get Bell on the field. If Leshoure can't show more juice (his longest run last year was 16 yards), he could be turned into a mere short-yardage specialist.

Related: Mikel Leshoure

Source: detroitlions.com

There was "no doubt" that Joe Flacco's favorite target during offseason practices was Dennis Pitta.
Per the Ravens' official site, "pitching the ball to Pitta almost seems to be Flacco's default mode now." It's exactly what we expected following the Anquan Boldin trade. Pitta is a gifted route-runner, more than capable of playing the move tight end spot and working in the same areas Boldin did. Over the final 12 games of last year (including playoffs), Pitta posted 43 catches for 513 yards and eight touchdowns on just 5.0 targets per game. That target count is going to spike this season, making him a sneaky strong TE1 option. It doesn't hurt that Pitta and Flacco are best friends off the field.


Source: baltimoreravens.com

Coach Leslie Frazier insisted that the Vikings want to run a balanced offense this season.
The 2012 Vikings ranked eighth in rush attempts and 28th in pass attempts as they tried to hide Christian Ponder. With a revamped receiving corps and expectations Ponder will take a step forward in his third NFL season, Frazier sees a more even attack. "It's not imperative that [Adrian Peterson] rushed for 2,000 yards, or 2,500 yards, for us to win. Our offense is always going to run through Adrian, but we want to be able to pass the ball better than we did a year ago," said the coach.

Related: Adrian Peterson

Source: Associated Press

ESPN's Kevin Seifert says a half-dozen people have told him recently how impressive rookie Cordarrelle Patterson has been this offseason.
Patterson was a lock to excel in non-padded drills in which defenders aren't allowed to touch him. He's a physical freak that can run by anyone. The key to beating out Jerome Simpson for the starting split end job will be getting off jams at the line of scrimmage and running crisp routes in traffic. Patterson won't have a chance to show he's polished enough to do that until camp.


Source: ESPN.com

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld continued:

Coach Mike Munchak said Nate Washington "has had the best camp since he's been [a Titan]."
Munchak talked up the entire receiving corps following Wednesday's final minicamp practice. "It was fun seeing Kenny [britt] healthy and not having questions every day about his health, and seeing [Kendall Wright] lose 15 pounds and running out here like a guy who’s going to break a lot of runs next year," Munchak said. "Washington has had the best camp he’s had since he’s been here. He’s been a leader. He’s been everything you could ask for." The Titans have a ton of talent -- including second-round rookie Justin Hunter -- at the position, but it's going to be up to Jake Locker to make the most of it all.


Source: Nashville Tennessean

Panthers undrafted rookie WR R.J. Webb tore his right ACL and chipped a bone in his knee last Tuesday, June 11, at minicamp.
We specify the date simply for bookkeeping purposes, but there's a very real chance we never hear Webb's name again. Webb, 26 in August, tore both ACLs at Furman. He caught 31 passes for 322 yards and four touchdowns as a senior back in 2009. Webb was waived-injured on Wednesday.


Source: Joe Person on Twitter

Panthers signed WR Dale Moss.
An undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State last season, Moss has athleticism to spare as a former basketball player, but hasn't come close to sticking on anyone's roster. He could be a practice squad player in Carolina.


Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter

Jets C Nick Mangold believes Mark Sanchez should remain the starting quarterback this season, and says the rest of the locker room feels the same way.
"Whoever gives us the best chance to (win), we want out there — and at this point, Mark gives us that best chance," Mangold insisted. The Jets' players must not have watched much of Sanchez's 2012 film. Whoever gives a rebuilding team the technical "best chance to win" isn't the point — it's that Sanchez has emphatically proven he's not an NFL-caliber starter, and the Jets need to find out if Geno Smith is one after investing the No. 39 overall pick in him. At least for now, the Jets are stuck in neutral at their most important position.

Related: Nick Mangold

Source: New York Post

 

[Faust]

NFC Team-by-Team Notes

Evan Silva

This is Part II in a two-part column providing takeaways from minicamp and OTA workouts with a fantasy football spin. Click here for AFC Team-by-Team Notes from early this week.

Editor's Note: For all the latest NFL information, lock onto Rotoworld's Player News Page. And follow @EvanSilva and @Rotoworld_FB on Twitter.

Arizona Cardinals

I recently began delving seriously into Average Draft Positions, based on the latest mock draft data. It's early and ADPs will change before August, but I noticed no more shocking average draft slot than Rashard Mendenhall going late in round five. New coach Bruce Arians has already anointed Mendenhall a starter, but Arizona will inarguably struggle to run the ball behind a putrid line in the run-tough NFC West. And then Ryan Williams will get his chance, and Stepfan Taylor. And it won't help that Arians is a decidedly pass-first coach. Loyal Rotoworlders: Please don't draft Mendenhall in the fifth round. Or sixth, for that matter. ... Another Arizona depth chart situation fast crystallizing is 2012 first-round pick Michael Floyd's ascension to the starting Z receiver job, ahead of Andre Roberts. In early June, the Cardinals' website wrote, "it seems like Floyd has been targeted more than anyone during workouts – including Larry Fitzgerald." With significantly upgraded quarterback play on a pass-heavy team, Floyd is squarely on the fantasy breakout radar. Roberts will also continue to play plenty in Arians' base three-receiver offense.

Atlanta Falcons

New Falcons back Steven Jackson emerged from spring practices anticipating a major leap in receptions, which makes sense because OC Dirk Koetter likes to throw the ball. A lot. "You're throwing routes to him, and he's the size of Julio Jones and he's a running back," Matt Ryan told CBS Sports. "He has such soft hands, too." S-Jax will diversify the complexion of Atlanta's offense. Whereas old feature back Michael Turner couldn't function on passing downs, the pass game is a strength of Jackson's. Opponents always had a feel for what was coming when Turner was in the game. They’ll have to be less proactive and more reactive now. ... Julio Jones finished as the No. 8 receiver in fantasy points per game as a rookie. In 2012, Jones ranked tenth and tied for sixth in touchdowns (10). He's aiming for new heights. Julio cut beef and pork out of his diet, and has gone organic. “I feel l much better,” he told FOX Sports Atlanta. "Especially playing football, I feel that stuff sits on you.” Jones will be 24 1/2 when Week 1 commences and hasn't reached his ceiling. Over the final eight games last season -- including playoffs -- Jones racked up 49 catches for 703 yards and seven touchdowns.

Carolina Panthers

Jonathan Stewart's health has been a concern since he entered the NFL requiring turf toe surgery to fix a college injury. But his medical outlook has never been quite this alarming. Stewart needed offseason surgery on both ankles, and GM Dave Gettleman was noncommittal this week on J-Stew's training camp availability. "We'll see," said Gettleman. "Time will tell." Reports from both ESPN and the Charlotte Observer have insinuated Stewart is unlikely to be healed by early August. He's basically donning a big, fat question mark. ... Carolina's de-emphasis of the zone-read play under new coordinator Mike Shula is an impact fantasy story. The Panthers scaled back their read-option usage in the second half of last year after making it the foundation of their offense early on. From Weeks 9-16, Cam Newton completed 145-of-240 passes (60.4 percent) for 1,920 yards (8.0 YPA) and a 14:3 TD-to-INT ratio. He added five rushing touchdowns and 49.6 rushing yards per game. Newton averaged 27.7 fantasy points per game during that stretch; in 2013, Drew Brees led all quarterbacks in fantasy scoring with a 27.3 points-per-game clip. The Panthers went 6-3 to close out the season, including wins over the Redskins, Falcons, and Saints at the Superdome.

Chicago Bears

The Bears spent the spring speeding up Jay Cutler's "clock" -- dropback, delivery, progression reading, everything -- in order to make him a better fit for first-year coach Marc Trestman's quick-hitting offense. Cutler has taken 148 sacks over the last four seasons, at a 2.64 per-game clip. During Rich Gannon's two healthy years with Trestman, he took just 1.97 sacks per game. Bad lines deserve plenty of blame for Cutler's sack totals, but the best NFL quarterbacks camouflage O-Line deficiencies. Cutler has not always been an oft-sacked passer; he absorbed a miniscule 1.38 sacks per game in Denver. Cutler is a sleeper for top-ten QB stats if the Bears get him to perform like Trestman desires. The volume will be there in Trestman's pass-first offense. ... Early ADP information pinpoints Martellus Bennett as the premier fantasy value pick of Bears skill players. You can get him, on average, in the middle of the 13th round. "The thing about him is he wants to be great," Cutler observed of Marty B. "He doesn't want to be good." Still only 26 years old, Bennett will push Matt Forte to rank second on Chicago in catches, behind Brandon Marshall.

Dallas Cowboys

Dez Bryant and Miles Austin are locked in as the Cowboys' X and Z wideouts, respectively. A competition is brewing for third-receiver duties between reliable, underrated, versatile Dwayne Harris and third-round rookie Terrance Williams. During OTAs, position coach Derek Dooley acknowledged Williams "has a long way to go." Look for Harris to break camp as the No. 3 and emerge as a fantasy sleeper if Bryant or Austin gets injured during the season. Harris can play Z and in the slot, and had just one drop last year. ... DeMarco Murray is experiencing his first career healthy offseason after missing most of his rookie-year training camp with a bum hamstring and rehabbing a fractured ankle all last spring. Much like Darren McFadden, however, Murray is a stiff, straight-linish, high-cut back who will likely always struggle with injury. This was one longtime NFL scout's assessment of Murray coming out of Oklahoma in 2011: "If you don't have the ability to make guys miss, you're going to take a lot of punishment. A downhill, one-cut runner might only have a two- or three-year window. This is not an elusive guy who has a lot of shift to his game."

Detroit Lions

One of the more under-reported storylines of Lions minicamp was Joique Bell's ascension to No. 2 on the depth chart, behind Reggie Bush but ahead of Mikel Leshoure. Per the Detroit Free Press, Bell was the second back in the three-man rotation "throughout" the three workouts. The small -- and, admittedly, perhaps temporary -- depth chart change really isn't surprising. Bell outperformed Leshoure in 2012 YPC average (5.05, 3.71) and is a far superior pass-game back, coming in handy for the NFL's pass-happiest team. More surprising is Bell and Leshoure's ADP differential; the latter is still going in the single-digit rounds as the RB43, while Bell more often than not isn't drafted. That should change soon. If you're looking to handcuff Bush, Bell is the better bet. ... Ryan Broyles participated fully in minicamp, with the Lions' website deeming his latest quick ACL recovery "by far" the spring's biggest surprise. With a Welkerian skill set, Broyles is a quick-twitch slot receiver and smooth accelerator after the catch. Continue to keep tabs on Broyles' health, but he's a future 100-reception guy as the Welker to Calvin Johnson's Moss.

Green Bay Packers

Many observers poured fantasy hype on Ronnie Hillman for receiving 75 percent of the first-team reps at Broncos OTAs. Alex Green handled Packers No. 1 duties from the start of spring to finish. Why is no one talking him up? Seems like convenient thinking. Green obviously won't be leading the Pack in 2013 carries, and I think it's just as obvious Hillman won't lead Denver's backfield, either. In Green Bay, expect Green to be passed by Eddie Lacy, DuJuan Harris, and Johnathan Franklin at training camp. In Denver, Montee Ball is the best fantasy bet. ... James Jones' league-high 14 touchdown catches is an obvious 2012 regression stat, but he still offers quality draft value based on ADP. He's currently the WR28 off the board, regularly available late in round six. "He’s going to be even better than what he was last year,” receivers coach Edgar Bennett promised in a Green Bay Press-Gazette story. "Last year was just a starting point for James.” Quietly, Jones' role has grown with Greg Jennings and Donald Driver out of the picture. From Week 7 on last year, Jones played 96.0 percent of Green Bay's offensive snaps.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikes' one fantasy-relevant camp battle will take place at X receiver, where Jerome Simpson is attempting to hold off first-round pick Cordarrelle Patterson. According to ESPN's Kevin Seifert, the Vikings asked Greg Jennings "to serve as Patterson's mentor on and off the field." So far, so good. Widely considered one of Patterson's weaknesses coming out of Tennessee, Jennings has been genuinely impressed with Patterson's route running and ability to make a "definitive step" at the top of pass patterns to create separation from defensive backs. Simpson has shown time and time again that despite impressive athleticism, he is a slouch of an NFL receiver. Don't be surprised if mega-talent Patterson overtakes him by mid-August. ... Adam Schefter's June 18 report that Christian Ponder could be on an in-season leash likely means one of two things. The Vikings are either trying to send Ponder a message, or they're categorically worried about the 12th overall pick in the 2011 draft. Believe what you want about backup Matt Cassel; he has a history of success when surrounded by a strong defense and run game. And the Vikings have those supporting elements. In all likelihood, the first half of the 2013 season will make or break Ponder.

New Orleans Saints

The offseason signing of OLB Victor Butler was intriguing because he was a highly efficient per-play rusher in Dallas despite spotty usage behind every-down defenders DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer. Butler's year-ending ACL tear, suffered at minicamp, will once again leave New Orleans devoid of an explosive edge presence beyond (perhaps) Junior Galette. Defenses that can't generate pressure without blitz manufacture generally get torched by the pass. And while they can't possibly be worse than the '12 version, I think the '13 Saints will fall into that category. They'll be a defense to target for fantasy matchup purposes. ... Jimmy Graham's current ADP is the late second round, and that is absolute robbery for a tier-one fantasy commodity whose value is supplemented by Rob Gronkowski's five surgeries and Aaron Hernandez's legal woes. Let's average Graham's 2011 and 2012 stat lines and say he scores at that per-game fantasy points clip (11.3) in 2013. And let's say Gronk and Hernandez are out of the picture for now. In order, the next best 2012 per-game tight end clips were Tony Gonzalez (8.8), Heath Miller (8.6), and Jason Witten (7.6). If you have Graham and you're going against a team with Greg Olsen (7.1), you're essentially starting off with a four-point fantasy lead. Graham gives you a massive weekly edge.

New York Giants

I don't have any great metrics to prove it, and I don't have inside information. But I really don't trust Hakeem Nicks to stay healthy. Call it a gut feeling. Nicks is already a popular fantasy bounce-back pick -- his ADP is the early fifth round -- but I'd much rather take my chances on Rueben Randle toward the end of drafts. "Not only did he grow, he kind of became the bellcow of the receiving corps," OC Kevin Gilbride said of Randle following spring practices. "He's gonna play. He's gonna play a lot. He'll play first, second down, he'll be an outside receiver for us -- whether he's at X or the Z, he's gonna play." I'm avoiding Nicks and targeting Randle as a cheap breakout candidate. ... An early-June piece on the Giants' website referred to David Wilson as the "starting running back" and confirmed Wilson will "take over for Ahmad Bradshaw." Andre Brown's usage will be tied directly to Wilson's ability or lack thereof to pick up the blitz and stay ball secure. A high-velocity inside runner with lateral explosion, Wilson offers mammoth 2013 fantasy upside.

Philadelphia Eagles

There remain more unknowns than knowns following Chip Kelly's first OTA schedule as an NFL coach. A seemingly growing pocket of Philly beat writers believes Nick Foles has a real shot to beat out Michael Vick. Foles and Vick essentially rotated evenly with the ones all spring, and Kelly promises to design his offense around the strengths of the prevailing competitor. My money is on Vick, but daily Eagles observers are more plugged-in than me. We may not know the starter until the first week of September. ... Rotoworld completed its annual Draft Guide magazine this week. One of the more compelling Eagles stats I found was 685:373. That was Kelly's astonishingly lopsided run-to-pass ratio with the 2012 Oregon Ducks. While his NFL offense is unlikely to be identical, it's more confirmation Kelly is a believer in the run game as his foundation. The number bodes well for LeSean McCoy and projected No. 2 back Bryce Brown. Last season, Kelly gave Ducks starting runner Kenjon Barner 23 touches a game, and "backup" De'Anthony Thomas 10.5.

San Francisco 49ers

Perhaps the most fascinating fantasy nugget to emerge the past few days was Vernon Davis practicing exclusively with the 49ers' wideout group at minicamp. Davis already knows how to play in-line and "move" tight end. He's now learning slot, X, and Z. Coming out of Maryland in 2006, Davis ran a 4.38 forty with a 42-inch vertical and 10-foot-8 broad jump. At the '11 Combine, Julio Jones ran 4.38 with a 38 1/2-inch vert and 11-foot-3 leap. Beat reporters had already made it clear they anticipate Davis picking up most of the slack following Michael Crabtree's Achilles' tear. Davis' expanded usage all but confirms that's indeed coach Jim Harbaugh's plan. ... 2012 first-rounder A.J. Jenkins, coming off a bust of a rookie year, apparently did little to distinguish himself in the spring. He wrapped minicamp running as the 49ers' second-team X receiver behind special teamer Kyle Williams. Expect San Francisco to continue to lean on two-tight end, two-back sets as their base offense. Their wideouts aren't good enough to morph into a three-receiver team.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks do things differently than most teams in the spring and summer. Rather than defer to veterans, they open every position on the roster to competition. Despite second-year back Robert Turbin's solid rookie season, second-round pick Christine Michael handled "a lot" of first-team OTA reps during Marshawn Lynch's excused absences. An often viciously physical runner with burst and shake, Michael is a more talented pure ball carrier than Turbin, though the latter is more well-rounded. The camp battle will continue into August and is worth monitoring closely because Lynch's 2012 DUI case has lingered. Lynch will next be in court on July 5. If found guilty, a four-game suspension is likely. ... The Seahawks traded a 2013 first-round pick, 2013 seventh-rounder, and 2014 third-rounder for Percy Harvin, and inked him to a six-year, $67 million contract in mid-March. Despite the lofty compensation, coach Pete Carroll insists the Seahawks won't necessarily make Harvin a featured, go-to type player. "It's not going to change our football team in terms of what we want to do," Carroll stated. "We're just going to add him in and cut him loose, let him go." In a run-first attack, there is reason to be concerned about Harvin's 2013 targets.

St. Louis Rams

I believe it was Greg Cosell who first suggested the Rams are designing their offense to recreate Oklahoma's old speed-spread attack. Jared Cook is Sam Bradford's new Jermaine Gresham. Brian Quick, or Austin Pettis, is Malcolm Kelly. Tavon Austin is Juaquin Iglesias/DeMarco Murray. Chris Givens is Manuel Johnson. The Rams likely hope Bradford's comfort level will improve in the new wide-open system. Bradford to this point in his career has been thoroughly mediocre, but he did set personal bests in touchdown passes (21), yards (3,702), and YPA (6.7) last season. Surrounded by the best supporting cast of his NFL service time, Bradford will be an intriguing QB2. ... While St. Louis' backfield pecking order will not crystallize until practices are live and preseason games kick off, I thought it would be worthwhile to include the Average Draft Positions of Rams running backs in this column. Daryl Richardson is most often the first back chosen, with a mid-seventh-round ADP as the RB33. Zac Stacy (ninth round, RB41) is next. Isaiah Pead (tenth round, RB44) comes in third. Pead has the most talent of the bunch and is easily the best value.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Roles are all pretty much locked in across Tampa Bay's offense. Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams are the X and Z receivers, respectively. Despite coach Greg Schiano's allusions to the contrary, Josh Freeman isn't in danger of losing his job to rookie Mike Glennon. Doug Martin is the every-down back. The third-receiver, tight end, and No. 2 tailback jobs are worth tracking in camp, but none is particularly likely to be of fantasy consequence barring injury. ... On more than one occasion I've read that Martin faded down the stretch last season. Let's go ahead and debunk that notion. While it's true that Martin never repeated his 251-yard, four-touchdown November destruction of Oakland, over the final seven weeks he averaged 109.7 total yards per game and reached pay dirt four times. Martin did lay a nine-carry, 16-yard egg in Week 15 -- a critical fantasy week -- but that was because the Saints jumped out to a 24-0 first-half lead. A key note to remember: Stud guards Carl Nicks (toe) and Davin Joseph (knee) combined for just seven games played last year. With both coming off healthy, restriction-free springs, I'd be willing to draft Martin as the No. 2 running back off the board, behind only Adrian Peterson and ahead of Arian Foster.

Washington Redskins

In a June 12 media Q&A, Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan deemed Alfred Morris "as good a back as I've been around." That's nice praise from a coach who was Arian Foster's coordinator in Houston, in addition to a Bucs quality control coach during Cadillac Williams' NFL Rookie of the Year campaign. There's no need for fantasy owners to fret about "Shanahanigans" in the Redskins' 2013 backfield. Son Kyle -- not Father Mike -- calls the plays in Washington now, and the Shanahans have only shuttled back and forth between running backs when they didn't have a good one (Bells, Torain, etc.) The Shannies ride great ones (Davis, Portis), and they believe Morris falls into the latter category. ... Robert Griffin III's knee rehab continues to progress ahead of schedule to the point that he may well practice on the first day of training camp. RG3 performed bootlegs on the side at OTAs and should start creeping up fantasy cheatsheets. Drafters have been conservative to this point. Griffin's ADP is the early- to mid-seventh round.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Cowboys RB Phillip Tanner looked "quicker and more explosive" in OTAs.
DallasCowboys.com reported earlier this offseason that Tanner "remade" his body. "I lost a little weight and leaned up a little bit," he said. "I’m able to see things and hit the hole without hesitating." Tanner is in a dogfight with Lance Dunbar for No. 3 duties after being phased out down the stretch last season. Owner Jerry Jones has already anointed rookie Joseph Randle as his No. 2 back.

Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram

CSN Bay Area believes A.J. Jenkins will enter training camp with a "slight lead" over Quinton Patton to start opposite Anquan Boldin.
By most accounts, Jenkins has had a strong offseason on the heels of his lost rookie campaign. Patton is drawing a ton of hype in fantasy circles, but he'll have to be unequivocally better than 2012 first-rounder Jenkins to win the starting job. We give the edge to Jenkins.

Related: Quinton Patton

Source: CSN Bay Area

Adrian Peterson is "feeling 100 percent" following his February sports-hernia operation.
"Feeling good, feeling strong," Peterson said. "Ready to roll when training camp comes around." Peterson was rested for a majority of the Vikings' offseason program, but they're just trying to keep their star player fresh going into his age-28 campaign. AD is far and away the No. 1 overall player in fantasy football.

Source: ESPN 1500 Twin Cities

Christian Ponder says he "learned" from his up-and-down sophomore season.
"I think you learn most from those bad days," Ponder said. Ponder was reportedly wildly uneven in OTAs, but OC Bill Musgrave isn't concerned. "I think he's more comfortable. ... He knows more of what to expect and let himself go a little bit and not be so guarded." Ponder completely torpedoed the Vikings offense at times in 2012, but came up huge in a must-win Week 17 tilt with the Packers. The nightmare days will have to be fewer and farther between this season for Ponder to keep his job long-term.

Source: ESPN 1500 Twin Cities

Kenny Britt experienced "no knee issues" during the Titans' offseason program.
Britt was never 100 percent as he made his way back from a torn ACL last season, posting just a 45/589/4 line as he struggled with separation and drops. Britt was a beastly talent pre-injury, so we'd expect a rather robust bounce-back campaign if he's truly back to full health. That being said, he'll only go as far as Jake Locker takes him.

Source: Nashville Tennessean

According to the Nashville Tennessean, "most everyone" is chalking Titans WR Justin Hunter's (hamstring) extensive missed practice time up to "bad luck."
Receivers coach Shawn Jefferson put the rookie on the spot after he publicly questioned his toughness earlier this month, but it was likely a motivational tactic more than anything else. Standing in at 6-foot-4, 196 pounds with 4.44 wheels, Hunter has the talent to make an impact as a rookie after catching 73 passes in the SEC last season, but it's hard to predict how the Titans' remade offense will play out under embattled QB Jake Locker.

Source: Nashville Tennessean

According to the Nashville Tennessean, Kendall Wright caught "everything thrown his way" in the Titans' offseason program.
Per beat writer Jim Wyatt, Wright looked "faster and quicker" after shedding 15 pounds from his rookie playing weight of 201. The Titans hope to make their 2012 first-rounder a focal point of the offense after he caught 64 passes for 626 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie. It might not translate to a dramatic increase in fantasy value with the erratic Jake Locker under center, and Kenny Britt and second-rounder Justin Hunter also fighting for scraps.

Source: Nashville Tennessean

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Bills WR/QB/KR Brad Smith lined up exclusively at receiver in spring practices.
It would actually be better news for Smith if the new regime viewed him as a wildcat quarterback, as he's due an untenable $2.75 million. That, coupled with the Bills' talent infusion at receiver makes Smith highly unlikely to survive cuts. Going on 30, Smith has caught just 37 passes in two seasons in Buffalo.

Source: Buffalo News

Victor Cruz has been training with the New York Islanders' "director of sports performance" Sean Donellan this offseason.
"Believe me, every fashion shoot you see him doing, he’s put in the time in the gym before or after," Donellan said of Cruz, who skipped the Giants' entire offseason program as he sought a long-term deal. Cruz has worked on "power and movement," and trying to prevent muscle pulls when he finally returns to official practice. Anecdotal evidence has long suggested that players returning from long holdouts are more susceptible to soft-tissue injuries, but it's unclear if there's any real connection.

Source: New York Daily News

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Cardinals rookie RB Stepfan Taylor worked with position coach Stump Mitchell this week after missing OTAs and the mandatory minicamp because of the NFL's graduation rule.
"Being the running back with us the primary thing (Taylor) has to know is his protections," Mitchell said. "He has to do that. His running skills and his ability to catch all of those things are natural as (a) running back." Taylor, who graduated last week, will vie to make the club as a reserve. With starter Rashard Mendenhall and third-year pro Ryan Williams each having injury issues in recent seasons, the rookie from Stanford might be worth monitoring during training camp.

Related: Rashard Mendenhall, Andre Ellington, Ryan Williams

Source: AzCardinals.com

The Washington Post reports Robert Griffin III (ACL, LCL surgery) went through three straight days of making cuts and changing direction this week with no setbacks.
Some of the drills RGIII did included sprinting left or right and cutting to the opposite direction. He'll continue to do similar drills for the immediate future. Griffin will have a couple of check-ups with Dr. James Andrews before training camp starts, one in early July and another just before camp. This is all wonderful news, obviously, and RGIII has already stated that he's "pretty confident" that he'll be ready to go for the first day of training camp -- July 25.

Source: Mike Jones on Twitter

ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss stated on SportsCenter that it would be a "surprise" if the Patriots converted Tim Tebow to tight end.
Per Reiss, the Pats have "made it pretty clear" Tebow is in Foxboro to compete for third-string quarterback duties. There are no imminent plans for a position change, as New England has already stockpiled its offseason roster with tight ends behind Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. The other TEs are Jake Ballard, Daniel Fells, Michael Hoomanawanui, Zach Sudfeld, and Brandon Ford.

Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur says Matt Barkley is getting the hang of the Eagles' verbiage.
Said Shurmur: "A lot of the way we communicate is very different than what he did in college, but he's been able to do very nicely here in the first few weeks." Shurmur also noted that Barkley "did all the things playing quarterback that you need to see at [the NFL] level" when at USC. Barkley might be something of a long shot to start for Philadelphia in Year One, but he appears to be picking up some of the finer points of the scheme.

Related: Nick Foles, Michael Vick

Source: PhiladelphiaEagles.com

Reggie Bush says he's picked up the Lions' offense in short order.
"This playbook, from a terminology standpoint, is a little easier to learn, and probably just because I've been in the league going on eight years now," Bush said. "I know pretty much everything. It's just different terminology. It's pretty easy for me to pick up now." It's hard to believe Bush is entering his eighth NFL season, but he still has spring in his step, and he's the lead back in an intriguing Lions offense. His fantasy outlook is better than it's been in years.

Source: MLive.com

 

[Faust]

Ryan Swope's medical-related absence surprised Cards

By Chris Wesseling

Around the League Writer

Around The League's Dan Hanzus wondered last week if the Arizona Cardinals were fully aware of wide receiver Ryan Swope's concussion woes when they selected him in the sixth round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

As it turns out, the Cardinals had no idea Swope's medical concerns would keep him out of offseason practices as he awaits doctor's clearance.

"We were very, very, very surprised about it," coach Bruce Arians told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport on Friday. "I'm not sure what he can do, I'm not sure what the doctors are going to do at this point. I hope ... because the kid is a great talent, and it would be a shame. But having Austin Collie last year, go through this same thing, it's scary."

Asked which rookies have been impressive, Arians said, "I like them all. ... Only guy I'm worried about is Swope with his head."

The Cardinals can't count on Swope returning to the field for training camp if he's yet to gain medical clearance six months after his last game for Texas A&M. In the meantime, he joins Jahvid Best of the Detroit Lions in concussion purgatory.

Follow Chris Wesseling on Twitter @ChrisWesseling.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

CSN Washington considers RB Evan Royster on the roster bubble.
Royster had just 23 carries as a backup to Alfred Morris last season and will compete for a roster spot with Roy Helu (Achilles', toe) and fifth-round RB Chris Thompson. Seventh-round pick Jawan Jamison is a candidate for practice squad.

Source: Rick Tandler on Twitter

Kevin Walter (back) is expected to be ready for training camp.
Walter missed all of minicamp with lower back soreness, but it was never a major concern. With Nate Washington considered a lock for the 53-man roster, he's competing Damian Williams for the Titans' No. 5 receiver job.

Source: Nashville Tennessean

Sam Bradford says there's a "sense of speed" in the Rams' revised offense.
"With the speed we've brought in, it really allows us to open things up and put other teams in a bind," said Bradford. "I've been waiting for this ... There's just a sense of speed now." The Rams have certainly added speed in the last 14 months with Chris Givens (4.35 forty), Tavon Austin (4.34), and Jared Cook (4.49). Bradford, entering what some are classifying as a make-or-break year, will look to build on his strong finish to the 2012 season.

Source: USA Today

CSN Washington doesn't envision Redskins WR Dezmon Briscoe making the final 53-man roster.
Briscoe, a 2010 sixth-round pick of the Bengals, was claimed off waivers by the Redskins from the Bucs last July. He ended up making the team and appearing in seven games last season, but he caught just two passes for 22 yards. Briscoe is no higher than seventh on the depth chart, right now.

Source: CSN Washington

 

[Faust]

Five surprises from Panthers minicamp

Five surprises from Panthers minicampIt was three days in shorts and helmets.

So Panthers first-year general manager Dave Gettleman, while pleased with what he saw during the mandatory minicamp last week, cautioned not to put too much stock in it.

The real test will come in Spartanburg in six weeks when the pads come on and the intensity rises along with the heat and humidity.

But there were a number of pleasant surprises during the Panthers' minicamp. Here are five:

1) Armanti Edwards – Some have been trying to bury the former Appalachian State QB for two years.

When the Panthers drafted Joe Adams in 2012, Edwards would be gone. When they signed Ted Ginn Jr. this past offseason, surely that would be the last of Edwards in Charlotte. Or so the thinking went.

Entering Year 4 of the Armanti Experiment, Edwards is beginning to look like an NFL receiver. He's running fluid routes and catching the ball in traffic.

It likely won't be enough to make him the No. 3 wideout. But it should keep him on the roster for another year.

2) Josh Norman – Panthers coach Ron Rivera says both cornerback spots are wide open, but Josh Thomas and Norman spent a lot of time with the first team last week. Norman was benched at the end of his rookie season because of his inconsistent play and freelancing in coverage.

Secondary coach Steve Wilks said Norman came back for his second season more disciplined and focused. He has the talent and confidence to be successful if he improves his technique, particularly in zone coverage.

3) Star Lotulelei – The All-American nose tackle from Utah showed up in good shape and was everything the Panthers thought they were getting when they drafted him 14th overall. Maybe a little more.

On draft night, the Panthers said Lotulelei needed to improve as a pass rusher. And with second-round pick Kawann Short more accomplished in that area, it was thought Lotulelei might come out in certain passing situations.

But he was on the field a lot during minicamp.

Rivera says Lotulelei already has “come a long way” as far as using his hands to shed blockers.

4) Robert Lester – A school-record nine players from Alabama were drafted in April. Lester wasn't one of them.

But the former Crimson Tide safety, who had 14 interceptions and was part of two national title teams in Tuscaloosa, had a solid spring and is in the mix for the strong safety spot opposite Charles Godfrey.

Lester has good size (6-1, 215 pounds) and instincts, and that championship pedigree.

5) Ben Hartsock – The veteran tight end showed he could catch the ball. Who knew?

Hartsock spent most of his first nine seasons as a glorified third tackle, clearing space for running backs and protecting quarterbacks and rarely getting any balls thrown his way.

But Cam Newton targeted Hartsock on a number of underneath routes at minicamp, and Hartsock caught everything.

--Joseph Person

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Mario Manningham (ACL, PCL surgery) is not expected to return until late August.
Manningham is six months removed from multiple knee surgeries and is a candidate to open the season on the reserve/PUP list. The 49ers expect him to be ready "at some point" in 2013. With Manningham sidelined, A.J. Jenkins will enter training camp with as the favorite to start opposite Anquan Boldin.

Source: CSN Bay Area

49ers WR Kyle Williams (ACL surgery) is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.
Williams missed all of OTAs, but remains on track to return in late July. If he can prove he's healthy, he'll compete for playing time with A.J. Jenkins and Quinton Patton this preseason.

Source: CSN Bay Area

 

[Faust]

RGIII 'looked awesome' in workouts, Kirk Cousins saysBy Kevin Patra NFL.com

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins is realistic about his situation as backup to Robert Griffin III. Cousins dropped by NFL Network's "NFL AM" Monday morning to discuss a book he authored and reiterated all the wonderful things we've heard about RGIII's recovery.

"Robert looked awesome," Cousins said. "I'm not just saying that. Obviously, he is a bit of a freak in terms of his athleticism, but he's healed very quickly. He couldn't practice with us, he was on a spate field doing drills all spring ... he looked really good, and I think he'll be ready to go in Week 1. But obviously my mindset is to be ready no matter what. And I'm getting ready all summer, so I can be ready if called upon."

Cousins said working with the first-team offense while RGIII rehabs will be beneficial because last season, when Cousins was thrown into the fire, it was the first time he had worked with any of the No. 1s.

"I think I have to be prepared to be a starter in this league, if I get called upon," Cousins said, when asked about how he is approaching this offseason. "Coach [Mike] Shanahan's expectations from Robert to myself don't really change. I'm still expected to go in there, to play well and lead the Redskins to victory. So I have to be able to play like I am a starter in this league. Otherwise, I won't be in this league much longer."

One thing is certain, if Cousins does have to start this season he'll have zero trouble with the media requirements.

Follow Kevin Patra on Twitter @kpatra.

 

[Faust]

Geno Smith: I've already made huge leap with N.Y. JetsBy Dan Hanzus

Around the League Writer

Geno Smith's chances of starting for the New York Jets this season is directly connected to how quickly he can pick up a pro offense.

Smith believes he's off to a fine start as he transitions from a spread offense at West Virginia to Marty Mornhinweg's West Coast offense in New York.

"I've already made a giant leap," Smith told NFL Network's Andrew Siciliano from the NFL Rookie Symposium in Aurora, Ohio. "Coming from a spread system where the biggest transition for me is going to be the footwork. It's not as if I can't do it, it's the fact that I haven't done it enough. The good amount of reps that I got in rookie camp, minicamp, OTAs has helped me make that leap and transition, and make giant strides."

"I have an opportunity to fight for a starting job in a great place right now, so I look forward to it."

Siciliano asked Smith if his time off before the start of training camp would include a trip to California, a reference to Mark Sanchez's Jets West camp.

"We'll see," he replied.

Smith said during minicamp that Sanchez hadn't "officially extended the hand to me, but I'm pretty sure there's no problem there." Smith's open-ended response to Siciliano makes us wonder if he's still waiting for that invite.

Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

The Union-Tribune considers Robert Meachem a "practical lock" to make the Chargers' final roster.

Meachem will make the team because of his contract, not his play on the field. His $5 million base salary is fully guaranteed and cutting him would result in a $6.75 million cap hit. At training camp, Meachem was not part of a first-team receiving unit that included Danario Alexander, Malcom Floyd, Vincent Brown and Eddie Royal. He's insurance along with third-round rookie Keenan Allen.

Source: Union-Tribune San Diego

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Good news on the MJD foot front:

But Jones-Drew said he’ll have no problems coming back. He returned to Miami after the golf outing to continue his offseason workout and said he plans to be ready for training camp in late July.“The foot feels great,’’ he said.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Broncos undrafted rookie WR Lamaar Thomas reportedly "caught the coaches' attention" during spring practices.
Thomas flashed during non-contact workouts because of his world-class speed. It remains to be seen if he can get off the line and make plays in traffic. At best, Thomas has a shot at the practice squad.


Source: Denver Post

Drew Davis is expected to enter camp as the Falcons' No. 4 receiver.
An undrafted free agent out of Oregon last year, Davis has done well to carve out a role on the Falcons' talented roster. His ability to contribute on special teams as well as back up Julio Jones, Roddy White and Harry Douglas makes him a strong bet to stick on the final 53 again.


Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

More good MJD news:

Maurice Jones-Drew will not be charged in connection with an alleged bar fight over Memorial Day weekend when the Jacksonville Jaguars running back was accused of punching a bouncer.The Florida state attorney's office filed an announcement Tuesday stating that evidence does not support charging Jones-Drew with simple battery.

"Based on the facts and the law, the state cannot establish the charge beyond and to the exclusion of all reasonable doubt," the state's attorney's office said in the statement, which was obtained by News4Jax.com in Jacksonville.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Vernon Davis says he'll play receiver if asked this season.
Davis practiced exclusively at wideout in minicamp. "If coaches want to line me up there, well see," Davis said. "I'll do whatever the coaches ask me to do." Davis isn't going to be making a full-on position switch, but should be moved all over the formation as a pass catcher, and will likely be called on to block less. Last season, 497 of Davis' 942 snaps came as a blocker. Despite his uneven history of production, Davis is locked in as a high-end TE1.


Source: NFL.com

Appearing on NFL32 Tuesday, ESPN's Chris Mortensen said it was his "understanding" that Michael Vick made more mistakes "decision-making wise" than Nick Foles in Eagles OTAs.
Mort also hinted he does not expect new coach Chip Kelly to simply hand Vick the starting job despite his pedigree and salary. Mort believes the winner of the Eagles' quarterback competition will be the player to "buy in and execute what (Kelly) wants done." Foles should have little issue buying in, but his lack of mobility hurts his chances to properly execute Kelly's offense.

Related: Nick Foles

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

ESPN's John Clayton believes Russell Wilson's pass attempts will be capped at 26-28 per game this season.
It's an extremely low number in today's NFL. Last season, 21 quarterbacks averaged at least 30 attempts per game while Wilson was at 24.5. Still, he finished as fantasy's No. 10 quarterback thanks to 489 rushing yards, four rushing scores and a 26:10 TD-to-INT ratio. Wilson is a poor bet to throw for 4,000 yards in Seattle's run-heavy scheme, but he's firmly inside the QB1 tier.


Source: ESPN.com

Adrian Peterson said he "kind of sat out" the first five games of last season.
Peterson ended up with 2,097 yards and 12 touchdowns, but it's easy to forget that he was eased into the season somewhat slowly. Over the first five weeks, he averaged 19.2 carries for 84.0 yards per game and scored two touchdowns. After that, the shackles came off as he averaged 22.9 carries for 152.4 yards and found the end zone 10 times. If Peterson sustains that pace for a full season, he'd set an NFL record with 2,439 rushing yards.


Source: CBS Sports

The Cowboys strongly prefer to use Miles Austin in the slot when in three-wide formations.
It's nothing new. Austin ran 395 routes out of the slot last season, third-most in the league behind Wes Welker and Reggie Wayne. But per Pro Football Focus, only 35 of his 66 catches came from the slot as Tony Romo's primary reads were Dez Bryant and Jason Witten. Expect more of the same this season.


Source: ESPN Dallas

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Doug Baldwin was reportedly the "real standout" among the receivers during Seahawks' spring practices.
On a roster that includes Percy Harvin, Sidney Rice and Golden Tate, an undersized former undrafted free agent out of Stanford continues to open eyes. A slot receiver-needy team would be wise to offer a late-round pick to Seattle and see if they'll bite. Baldwin can play.


Source: Tacoma News Tribune

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

According to CSN Bay Area, TE Vance McDonald was the "most impressive rookie" in the 49ers' offseason program.
The Sacramento Bee made the same proclamation earlier this month. McDonald usually lined up in the slot at Rice, but was rarely called on to block. If McDonald continues to impress in camp and the preseason, it could embolden the 49ers to give a healthy amount of snaps to Vernon Davis as a receiver.


Source: CSN Bay Area

 

[lbouchard]

Rotoworld:

According to CSN Bay Area, TE Vance McDonald was the "most impressive rookie" in the 49ers' offseason program.
The Sacramento Bee made the same proclamation earlier this month. McDonald usually lined up in the slot at Rice, but was rarely called on to block. If McDonald continues to impress in camp and the preseason, it could embolden the 49ers to give a healthy amount of snaps to Vernon Davis as a receiver.


Source: CSN Bay Area

I don't really get this. "In college, McDonald was used as a slot receiver and hardly blocked, so in the pros, he'll block and let Davis be used as a receiver."

 

[Cookiemonster]

17 things we learned from first day of NFL minicamps

This quote from Aaron Hernandez regarding Tebow cracked me up: "There's a reason why he's here. I actually don't know the reason yet, but we'll see."

hmmm

 

[jdswan922]

17 things we learned from first day of NFL minicamps

This quote from Aaron Hernandez regarding Tebow cracked me up: "There's a reason why he's here. I actually don't know the reason yet, but we'll see."

hmmm

To play tight end?

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

ESPN AFC East blogger James Walker considers Rishard Matthews and Armon Binns the early favorites for the Dolphins' Nos. 4 and 5 receiver spots.
We've seen conflicting reports on Matthews this spring. The Miami Herald, the most trusted source for Dolphins news, left Matthews off its way-too-early 53-man roster projections following minicamp, after initially reporting the second-year wideout was standing out at OTAs. The Dolphins have a handful of other receivers in the mix, and we'll learn much more in training camp and preseason.

Related: Armon Binns

Source: ESPN.com

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

The Miami Herald reports "nobody on offense helped his stock more" this spring than Dolphins WR Armon Binns.
"I don't want to jinx him – I'm usually the kiss of death – but [binns] is playing faster," said coach Joe Philbin. Claimed off waivers from the Bengals in December, Binns caught six passes for 67 yards in three games with the Dolphins. He's heading into training camp as the No. 4 receiver.

Source: Miami Herald

Coach Jeff Fisher said the Rams plan to use TE Jared Cook "all over the place."
"[Cook]’s going to play all over the place," Fisher said. "We’ve even got him in the backfield, so we’ve got some good things for him. ... We’re excited about creating mismatches." Both Fisher and ex-Titans teammate, and current Rams teammate, CB Cortland Finnegan believe Cook has found "it" recently. "Night and day difference," said Finnegan. "He’s been tearing it up [in OTAs] like I've never seen." Cook and Sam Bradford are working out together this summer, and both are primed for breakout seasons.

Source: Nashville Tennessean

The 49ers have "some new wrinkles" planned for Vernon Davis, but he isn't moving to wide receiver full-time.
Davis practiced exclusively with the receivers during minicamp, but he isn't suddenly going to make a full-on position switch. The former No. 6 overall pick has unique field-stretching skills unlike many other tight ends, so featuring him as a wideout in the absence of Michael Crabtree (Achilles') makes sense. Expect Davis to be moved all around the formation. He's locked in as a TE1.

Source: National Football Post

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Fourth-round pick Matt Barkley was reportedly "fairly impressive" at OTAs and "could loom as a key piece" of the Eagles' long-term plans.
Despite his draft-day slide, "some evaluators" reportedly still believe Barkley could develop into the top quarterback from the '13 class. The National Football Post's Len Pasquarelli concedes Barkley is unlikely to figure into the Michael Vick-Nick Foles training camp battle, but it's reasonable to think Barkley could see late-year playing time if the Eagles' season goes south.

Source: National Football Post

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

The Sun-Sentinel says Armon Binns could push Brandon Gibson for the slot receiver job.
The Dolphins' staff has been excited by Binns ever since they scooped him up off waivers last December. In the final two games of the season, he totaled six catches for 67 yards. Binns then outplayed Gibson during OTAs and minicamp. Still, Binns would have to really run circles around Gibson at training camp to win the job. He is owed no guaranteed money while ex-Ram Gibson pickpocketed GM Jeff Ireland for $3.75 million guaranteed in free agency.

Related: Brandon Gibson

Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Browns coach Rob Chudzinski was impressed by Montario Hardesty at OTAs.
With Trent Richardson sidelined, Hardesty handled the vast majority of first-team tailback reps. "He has the natural instincts and he is a slasher who has good vision," said Chud. "The thing I’ve really seen and been most impressed with is him catching the ball. I don't think he dropped a pass out here." Hardesty will be worth a handcuff pick for T-Rich owners in deeper leagues.


Source: clevelandbrowns.com

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Ravens fourth-round FB Kyle Juszczyk lined up at lead blocker, tight end, and slot receiver during OTAs.
Seeking more versatility at fullback, the Ravens parted with one-dimensional lead blocker Vonta Leach and are turning to Harvard alum Juszczyk to become a bit of a movable chess piece. We could see Juszczyk catching 25-30 passes this season and contributing as a power lead blocker in the run game.


Source: Akron Beacon-Journal