OFFICIAL 2013 Training Camp & Preseason: News & Tidbits Thread (1 Viewer)

[Faust]

Jets Observations: Sanchez's grip as starting QB far from firm

Jason La Canfora

CORTLAND, N.Y. -- Rex Ryan doesn't yet have a starting quarterback picked out for this week's second preseason game, which, in and of itself, doesn't say much for incumbent Mark Sanchez. Even with rookie Geno Smith's ankle still ailing and him hobbled a bit at Tuesday's practice at SUNY Cortland, Ryan said he wants to see more practice this week before declaring a starter for the exhibition clash with the also-rebuilding Jaguars.

Smith did complete a few nice deep balls in this practice, though he didn't look entirely comfortable, either.

"It was still noticeable, but I don't think it was as bad as it was before," Ryan said. Smith picked up the nagging injury during what was a nice performance in the preseason opener, and Ryan spoke highly of his development thus far. "He's had his moments where he's looked great," Ryan said.

Sanchez, meantime, had another horrible gaffe in the opener, a pick six, and Ryan didn't sugarcoat where things stand for him, either. The kid gloves are off regarding the former first-round pick. Ryan said Sanchez had to read the play better, his eyes were not in the right spot and "it can't happen again, there's no doubt."

In the end I suspect Sanchez may do just enough to start Week 1 -- this is a rebuilding team, it's being developed for the long haul and there is no reason to thrust more expectations or create more hype for Smith right away. But the team is going to struggle offensively regardless of the quarterback, and I bet by sometime in October, Smith is running things.

More observations• Jets GM John Idzik is still feeling his way through the local media and keeping a low profile, which I applaud. I believe he's already changing the culture here, and while there are no quick fixes to the mess he inherited, he is smart, pragmatic and has experience in the football and business side of things. There will be a long-term plan. While this team and roster has a long, long way to go, I think he's well positioned to take the Jets into the future.

• The run/pass ratio with this bunch will be worth monitoring on a weekly basis. Privately, former Eagles coach Andy Reid, who loves to throw the ball as much as anyone ever has, thought the offense got a little too-pass happy with Marty Mornhinweg calling the plays. Ryan is Mr. Ground and Pound, and given the overall lack of skill guys here, they'd better damn well run it a bunch.

Their balance was already being called into question after the preseason opener, and the best way to develop their rookie passer will be relying on the offensive line to create holes and keep it simple.

• Ryan mentioned during his remarks to the media how running back Bilal Powell and some other non-quarterbacks on this roster can throw the ball, and given Smith's athleticism, I have a feeling they don't abandon Wildcat/Pistol concepts this season even after the Tebow/Tony Sparano debacle last year.

• Chris Ivory missed time with an injury but has impressed in his first two practices back. He fits Ryan's mentality and looked good in some goal line and heavy formations today. He could be an effective feature back for them. Conversely I swear it looked like Ryan might want to throw up when asked for an explanation of running back Joe McKnight's various injuries. The Jets are saying he has a head injury for now, but I could see them just finding a way to part with him. The carnival atmosphere of his various attempts to practice and play feels a little too much like the bad old days around here. As soon as some return specialists are available on waivers, I'd think that could spell the end for McKnight here.

• Ideally, the Jets would carry three quarterbacks, and Greg McElroy is well liked in these parts. But if there is a roster crunch and a few youngsters emerge at the skill positions where New York is desperate for quality and depth, it could result in just two going into the year.

• Receiver Stephen Hill still looks very much like a project to me entering his second season after being a high pick. He is clearly agitated about being labeled a guy whose hands let him down and he was quite defensive after dropping a pass in today's practice. "I don't really want to talk about drops," he said. " ... Everybody drops balls." I could see this team going hard at the waiver wire for pass catchers when cuts begin.

• Veterans Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow were given the day off and the team is trying to find a way to coax a full year out of them. Not sure how well they will manage to nurse their way through the season at this stage of their careers. I tend to be a little skeptical about their ability to sustain and be effective over 16 games. Maybe they get a few decent games out of Winslow, who has flashed well; not sure Edwards makes the team.

• Rookie nose tackle Sheldon Richardson will make an impact immediately. He could end up being the best defensive rookie in the NFL this season, especially with Ryan now so focused on the defense and scheme. Dee Milliner missed some time early on, but the rookie corner is coming on some now, too.

• I can't help but wonder if Quinton Coples will ever be more than a situations pass rusher, but he is having a decent camp. No one seems ready to anoint him, yet, though. "Right now the light bulb is starting to come on for Q, and he's starting to play the way we expect him to play," defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman said. Coples was a 2012 first-round pick.

• Overall, this secondary will probably struggle some early on. Losing Darrelle Revis is massive and safety LaRon Landry was a presence as an enforcer and played well in 2012, too. Milliner will help over time but Kyle Wilson looks like he could be another bust, and the safety position is unsettled at this point in camp.

"You're talking about replacing three starters and some guys are former Pro Bowlers," Thurman said. "It's going to take time."

• Hard not to notice how trim Ryan is looking these days, probably in the best shape he's ever been. He looks fortified for the challenge ahead, and it will be a challenge given the limitations of this roster at this stage in the overhaul.

 

[Faust]

Camp buzz: RGIII drama is much ado about nothing

By Dan Hanzus

Around the League Writer

In the absence of a sexier storyline, the media (yes, us, too) have paid heavy notice to Robert Griffin III's thoughts about his recovery plan.

Griffin -- as he's wont to do -- spoke honestly during a Monday morning news conference, expressing his frustration with the process laid out by the Washington Redskins. When coach Mike Shanahan told reporters in his own news conference there was "no possibility" RGIII would play a preseason game, "conflict" was born.

Except there really isn't any. Griffin tweeted Monday that everything was cool with Shanahan. Not satisfied with social media, Griffin invaded a Tuesday press conference to reiterate the same message.

"I just needed to address something was said, or something that's been going along in the media since I had my press conference yesterday," Griffin told a room of surprised reporters. "I just want everybody to know if there's any questions about if there's a rift between me and coach or if there's a conflict, there is no conflict. Coach is Coach. I'm the player. Coach has a plan, and I'm abiding by that plan."

Was it necessary? Not really. Then again, it's easy to understand why Griffin felt he had to speak up. That's who he is.

Ultimately, none of this really matters. Griffin will be on the field on the second Monday night in September, taking every snap for the Redskins in a game that counts. That's what his recovery plan always has been about, and from that standpoint, it's on track for resounding success.

Everything else is just noise.

More training camp buzz ...
» Trent Richardson will make his 2013 preseason debut Thursday against the Detroit Lions. The right move by the Cleveland Browns. They need to take the training wheels off the running back who is supposed to be their workhorse this season.

» Speaking of Marc Sessler's favorite team, what is up with Rob Chudzinski saying the quarterback competition is "still close?" Brandon Weeden is a target of disrespect around Berea, Ohio.

» The biggest injury news of the day comes out of Washington, where the Redskins lost rookie safety Phillip Thomas for the year to a Lisfranc injury. Thomas had a chance to be a starter this season.

» Dion Jordan still could be a real contributor for the Miami Dolphins as a rookie pass rusher, but it probably won't be as a starter. We're a bit surprised by this, considering the effort the team made to land the former Oregon star.

» Good stuff from Gregg Rosenthal, who breaks down a list of veterans who could be on the roster bubble. Say it ain't so, A.J. Jenkins.

» The process to bring human growth hormone testing to the game has been, well, laborious to say the least. At long last, the finish line is in sight. Much overdue.

Trainer's room
» Sidney Rice is running at full speed. Great news for the Harvin-less Seattle Seahawks.

» Darrelle Revis' surgically repaired knee is in such good condition that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers now are thinking about playing him in their third preseason game.

» Malcom Floyd admitted he thought his career might be over when he went down with a knee injury during practice Monday. Instead, the San Diego Chargers veteran receiver says he "dodged a bullet."

» Jamaal Charles is "day to day" with that foot strain. Let's see how many days this stretches on for the Kansas City Chiefs.

» Indianapolis Colts tight end Coby Fleener is being treated for a concussion, which might be his third in three years. Not good.

The Around The League Podcast is now available on iTunes! Click here to listen and subscribe.

 

[Faust]

Cowboys practice report: Day 16By Calvin Watkins | ESPN.com

OXNARD, Calif. -- A feisty practice from start to finish.

• DeMarco Murray and Sean Lee love barking at each other. During a run play, the two got tangled up and Lee and Murray yelled at each other. Jason Hatcher came over to play peacemaker. Later, Lee was upset at Terrance Williams for a low block. Lee yelled a few bad words at the rookie. Murray and Will Allen needed to be separated after a run up the middle.

• Allen knocked down a high pass to Jason Witten down the field. Allen put a nice shot on Witten, who lost the ball as he crashed to the ground. He was fine despite being slow to get up.

• Orlando Scandrick should have picked off a Tony Romo pass, but it bounced out of his hands for a pass breakup. Scandrick is good at reading quarterbacks but just doesn't always finish the play in terms of creating a turnover.

• Jermey Parnell participated in team drills and worked with the second team at right tackle for the first time in nearly two weeks. Parnell was very aggressive, something the coaches like because after he gets out of his stance he attacks the defender. He also displayed some athletic ability on sweeps. Parnell did a nice job of getting to the second level for a block on a nice run by Joseph Randle.

• Rookie linebacker DeVonte Holloman had a interception in team drills and two more in the one-on-one drills.

• B.W. Webb got some work in the nickel package and is getting better in pass coverage. He's also fielding punts well. After a muff in Oakland last week, Webb caught several punts without any issues on the scout team.

• Defensive line coach Rod Marinelli was upset at the third-team defensive line. Several times he came onto the field and had some choice words.

• As Romo avoided pressure, he connected with Dez Bryant, who made a nifty one-handed catch. During the two-minute drill, Miles Austin made a nice open-field grab on a Romo pass.

• Former Cowboy and 2013 NFL Hall of Fame enshrinee Larry Allen and former Cowboys offensive line coach Hudson Houck attended practice. Allen said Houck should be in the Hall of Fame.

• Actress Kate Bosworth and actor Chace Crawford attended practice.

 

[Faust]

Bradshaw, Ballard aim to be lethal tandem

By Mike Wells | ESPN.com

ANDERSON, Ind. -- The first step has technically started -- running back Ahmad Bradshaw being put on the active roster. The next step -- having Bradshaw and Vick Ballard share reps in the backfield -- is likely still days away.

But the vision is there.

Two running backs with contrasting styles complimenting quarterback Andrew Luck’s ability to sling the ball down the field.

One has home run capabilities. The other is a bruiser up the middle.

“It’ll be great to get him out there,” Colts coach Chuck Pagano said about Bradshaw. “He’s an every-down back. I know he can be a third-down back. I know he can be a pass protector. He hasn’t played in a while. It’ll take him a minute obviously to knock the rust off, but it’s going to be great to have him in the fold and join those other guys and starting competing with those guys.”

The Colts had to take Bradshaw off the physically unable to perform list and put him on the active roster because they had him go through a walk-through practice on Aug. 4, which is a league violation. Bradshaw opened training camp on PUP because he’s been working his way back from right foot surgery in January.

So when will Bradshaw actually put pads on and participate in practice with his teammates?

That’s anybody’s guess.

The Colts plan to bring Bradshaw along slowly for the time being. He won’t play in this weekend’s preseason game against the New York Giants. He hopes to play in the third preseason game against the Cleveland Browns at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Bradshaw walked on the field at Anderson University halfway through Tuesday’s afternoon practice in shorts and a T-shirt.

He said he feels 100 percent.

“I feel great right now,” Bradshaw said. “I feel I’m ready to go. It’s just a process I have to go through to be ready for the pounding and practices every day.”

The issue Bradshaw faces is familiarizing himself with his new teammates after he spent the first six seasons of his career taking handoffs from Peyton’s younger brother with the Giants.

Bradshaw acknowledged he hasn’t picked up much outside of cadence calls while watching on the sidelines during the first two weeks of training camp.

“A lot of different things, they do a lot of things here and it’s just terms,” he said. “I just got to get that right.”

The goal is to help take some of the load off of Luck’s shoulders. The second-year quarterback set rookie records for most passing yards, attempts and 300-yard passing yards last season.

New offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton wants to mix in more of the run this season. Ballard led the Colts in rushing with 814 yards last season as a rookie. Bradshaw rushed for 1,015 yards last season with the Giants. He’s sixth in Giants history with 4,232 rushing yards.

Curtis Dickey (1,122 yards) and Randy McMillan (802 yards) have the Colts’ team record for combined rushing yards with 1,924 yards in 1983.

It’s not an issue at the moment because Bradshaw has yet to practice, but Pagano will have to make the decision on who starts at some point.

Both players have shared the load in the backfield at different points in their career. Bradshaw did it with Brandon Jacobs while with the Giants and Ballard said he’s done it throughout his career.

“I’ve always been that lead back,” Ballard said. “It really doesn’t matter to me. We have one team goal, that’s winning the Super Bowl. Whatever we have to do to win the Super Bowl I’m down for it.”

Bradshaw will likely become the starter at some point because he’s a “downhill, straight-ahead, no fear of dodging type of guy.”

It’s just a matter of when that will happen.

Nobody knows yet.

Other practice news:

• Bradshaw wasn’t the only Colt to make his way off the PUP list. Linebacker Pat Angerer, who had 146 tackles during the 2011 season, was moved to the active roster Tuesday. He had been sidelined with a foot and knee problem. He had foot surgery in January. “We’ll stick him in some walk-through situations,” Pagano said. “He’ll continue to do most of his rehab and his position work with (director of rehabilitation) Erin Barill and our trainers on the side. As soon as he’s 100 percent and ready to go, we’ll stick him into action, but he’s day-to-day.”

• The Colts signed cornerback Johnny Adams and linebacker Monte Simmons and waived linebackers Justin Hickman and Quinton Spears. Hickman and Spears were both injured in Sunday’s preseason loss against Buffalo.

• Receiver Griff Whalen, who is battling to be the team’s fourth receiver, missed practice with a groin injury. He’s day-to-day.

 

[datonn]

FWIW, I was on the field for the afternoon practice at Vikings camp this afternoon, and Cordarrelle Patterson made an absolutely SICK catch from Cassel in traffic. In double-coverage, Patterson was coming to the middle of the field from the right side (going left). Cassel threw it high and right of Patterson, and Patterson, in one move, went up, rotated his body to make the catch with the ball above/behind him (facing Cassel), and continued the 360 to land facing downfield. Made it look so effortless that I wasn't sure I believed what I saw until I went home and watched the video 5-6 times.

Patterson has great hands, and incredible balance/body control. If he can stay healthy, and doesn't come down with "Wide Receiver's Syndrome" (turning into a diva, a malcontent, a distraction), he could be very, VERY good!

 

[Crippler]

For weeks in the comment section, I’ve been saying that I need to see the team on the field before I can offer up any predictions or substantive commentary on particular players. I won’t make any predictions until after the third preseason game, but I can go over my observations from the first preseason game.

■ Matthew Stafford’s footwork and technique don’t look dramatically improved from last season. This has been a hot topic and it has mutated a little off topic from where the criticism has started. Stafford’s arm mechanics are generally fine, he does have a tendency to throw side arm when he doesn’t have to, but that is not the big problem.

The mechanics most analysts are talking about are his footwork and balance in the pocket. A quarterback should step into his throw shifting the weight to the front of his body and be squared up to his intended target. Stafford frequently (and unnecessarily) throws of his back foot and/or across his body even when he has a clean pocket and no pressure.

This was abundantly clear on the first third down of the game. The Lions faced third and six and Reggie Bush was running an out route vs a linebacker. Bush had a step on the defender and Stafford had minimal pressure. He threw off his back foot and never shifted his feet to square up to Bush and the result was a throw well ahead of Bush that fell incomplete. There was no reason to throw with such poor footwork on that play and it cost the team a first down.

Later in the game, Stafford threw a couple of beautiful passes dead on target and with a lot of zip and he had excellent footwork. Those throws need to far outnumber the back foot, side arm and off balance throws or he will continue to see a drop in his completion percentage and production.

■ I must clearly state that this was a bad offensive line the Lions were facing with the exception of left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson and center Nick Mangold. However, the Lions defensive line was absolutely dominant against them. Forget the pick-six by Ziggy Ansah for a second. The Jets backfield was consistently under siege and the pressure rarely came from just one spot. Frequently the Lions were breaking two or three defenders into the backfield and dragging runners down for losses or impacting the pass attempt. This was as good a performance as anybody could have hoped for in the first preseason game.

■ Ziggy Ansah should send a fruit basket to CJ Mosley, because without his veteran move, Ansah may not have had anything to intercept. CJ Mosley read the screen from his defensive tackle position and located the fullback who was getting ready to leak out into the flat. Mosley took him to the ground and removed the intended receiver from the equation. Mark Sanchez either didn’t see the receiver go down or panic threw the ball thinking he was throwing it away, but Ansah had a great reaction and snagged the ball. The play by Mosley was a perfect example of the little details and focus on playing smart that can result in huge plays for the defense.

■ Still on the topic of Ansah, it’s obviously very early still, but he appears to have elite instincts. He made the great play on the interception, but later in the game he was rushing out wide on a handoff up the middle, he located the ball immediately and shook off his blocker. He took off after the ball carrier and helped drag him down for a medium gain. Very few players react that quickly and have the ability to cover that kind of ground so fast.

On the downside, there were a few occasions where Ziggy didn’t get the jump on his blocker and they got into his chest. Once they initially blocked him, he had a hard time getting off the block. That is where a lot of young defensive lineman struggle is defeating an initial block and shaking free on a second move. As good as he has looked at times; there were others that remind you how far he has to go.

■ The first unit defense looked much faster and more athletic than they have in the past. As I rewound and watched plays multiple times it really just started jumping out at me. Again, it’s a small sample size, but the early indications are very positive.

■ Willie Young made quite a few plays that caught my eye and the best was one that won’t show up in the box score. On third and 17, the Jets ran a pass play to Young’s side of the formation. They had the fullback chip block Young and then release out into a route. Sanchez felt pressure and started rolling toward Young’s side. Young knew he wasn’t going to get to Sanchez and felt the back release, so he dropped back a few steps into coverage to take away the dump off. Young watched Sanchez’s eyes and saw him look downfield. He immediately resumed his rush and got his hands up in Sanchez’s face, forcing Sanchez to alter his throw. The pass was behind the open receiver, who had to slow down and turn to make the catch.

The Lions rallied in and tackled him well short of the first, but had the pass not been behind him, he may have had a chance to pick up more yardage. If Young didn’t barrel in on Sanchez and hurry the throw, who knows if the coverage downfield would have held up. Great heads up play by Willie Young and almost perfect execution.

■ For those that say GM Martin Mayhew doesn’t have an eye for talent or doesn’t find any late-round gems need to take a look at Joique Bell. Mayhew didn’t draft him, or get the opportunity to sign him as an undrafted free agent. Bell was cut by three other teams (Colts, Eagles and Saints) who were not able to maximize his talents. Mayhew signed him, and he responded with 953 total yards and three touchdowns last season.

A lot of people don’t factor in free-agent signings like Bell or Patrick Edwards or Rodney Austin when evaluating Mayhew. At least two of those players will make the team, and Bell is currently the second back on the depth chart.

■ Matt Willis had a fantastic game and made a pair of highlight-reel catches but, other than that, his performance was an underwhelming display on the receiving front for the Lions. This is a unit with a lot of questions and the first game provided almost no answers. The tight end group had two catches and Pettigrew received no targets. Nate Burleson and Ryan Broyles didn’t get a chance to show whether they recovered from injury. Kris Durham didn’t get much action against the first or second team defenses and Patrick Edwards wasn’t able to log a reception. Willis made a case for a roster spot, but it’s doubtful he’s going to be the solution for the productive alternate to Calvin Johnson the Lions desperately need.

■ I think Kellen Moore is a long shot to make this team and he is no longer eligible for the practice squad. There are too many other players worth keeping on various other units to use a spot on Moore. Just for full disclosure, I said the same thing last year.

One week of the preseason schedule is behind the team, with three games remaining. The first game is the equivalent of a test drive for the team. Get a feel for game action, test individual matchups and gauge where things stand.

Gearing up for the second game is a little different, but still similar to the first game. The starters will play a little longer and the coaches will put some promising players in the game with the first or second string before turning the game over to the backups. The second game won’t be too much more revealing than the first but it sets the stage for the regular season dress rehearsal in week 3. So we’ll learn a few more things on Thursday night before getting as good a glimpse as we will get the following week. Until then, let’s digest what we can and hope that everybody stays healthy.

 

[Crippler]

FOXBOROUGH — Tuesday’s joint practice between the Patriots and Buccaneers was certainly very physical, and the starting units on both teams got a ton of work; 95 percent of the work in team drills was starting offense vs. starting defense.

What the practice wasn’t, though, was crisp or well-executed. Perhaps the constant rain had something to do with it, but players were slipping all over the field, receivers were dropping footballs, and Tom Brady’s throws seemed to be more off the mark than usual.

The only big news of the day was that ILB Brandon Spikes was not present, because of an undisclosed reason. And the Patriots also signed a new tight end to give them a fifth healthy body at the position.

Let’s get on with the report:

ATTENDANCE, PLEASE

Physically unable to perform: Rob Gronkowski (back); WR Mark Harrison (foot); DE Armond Armstead (non-football illness).

Red non-contact jersey: S Devin McCourty.

Missing: CB Alfonzo Dennard (limited), OL Marcus Cannon (limited), WR Michael Jenkins (limited), CB Ras-I Dowling (limited), OL Dan Connolly (limited), ILB Brandon Spikes, DB Nate Ebner, OL Tyronne Green, OL Kevin Haslam, and DE Jermaine Cunningham.

Roster moves: TE Evan Landi signed; DL Jason Vega waived.

DRESS CODE

Full pads, full contact.

TOP PLAYS

■ WR Kenbrell Thompkins made a ridiculous one-handed catch on an underthrown ball, using Tampa Bay CB Rashaan Melvin’s body to help corral the pass.

■ WR Danny Amendola absolutely destroyed S Dashon Goldson on a double move. Goldson bit hard on Amendola’s cut to the sideline, and Amendola was open by 10 yards when he cut back to the middle of the field for an easy catch from Brady.

■ WR Johnathan Haggerty had a great leaping catch over S Keith Tandy on a fade pass from Ryan Mallett.

■ QB Tim Tebow had a really nice back-shoulder throw on a wheel route to RB Shane Vereen in seven-on-seven drills.

■ Amendola also had a really nice fingertip catch on a deep post pass from Brady in seven-on-seven drills, catching the ball just past the outstretched arms of the linebacker.

■ Brady and WR Aaron Dobson hooked up for a really nice 30-yard fade catch over rookie CB Johnthan Banks.

THREE UP

TE Zach Sudfeld: Trying not to write about him every day, but Sudfeld took a majority of the first-team work at tight end during team drills while Daniel Fells and Jake Ballard sat on the sideline.

DT Marcus Forston: The Patriots are a little thin on the interior defensive line, and Forston took several reps with the starting defense.

S Tavon Wilson: Fighting for a roster spot, he had a really nice interception of QB Josh Freeman on the goal line, batting a slant pass up in the air, then corraling the ball and heading upfield.

THREE DOWN

TE Daniel Fells: It appeared that the veteran was the clear No. 1 tight end at the start of camp, but he seems to have fallen behind Sudfeld and could be battling with Ballard for a roster spot.

WR Kamar Aiken: Opened training camp with the starting offense, but clearly has fallen behind all of the kids (Thompkins, Dobson, Josh Boyce) and may be on the outside of the roster bubble.

ILB Brandon Spikes: Not a good sign to be missing practice — even if it’s just a minor injury — when you need to be impressing the coaching staff and proving that you can be an every-down player.

TEBOW TIME

Tim Tebow spent a lot of his time standing on the sideline and watching before he and Mallett got a few snaps at the end of practice. Tebow worked with running backs and tight ends in some one-on-one drills early, and actually looked really comfortable throwing from the pocket, with several nice passes that had perfect accuracy. In 11-on-11 drills, he bounced a couple of quick throws to FB Ben Bartholomew and TE Evan Landi, had a nice play-action comeback throw to Haggerty, made a decent medium out-pass to Haggerty on the next throw, and ended the drill with a coverage sack. Tebow spent about 30 minutes on the field after practice working on his throws, then spoke to the media afterward.

ODDS AND ENDS

■ Fascinating to watch how much time the Bucs spend on fundamentals early in practice — tackling high and low, ball protection, etc. The coaches set up a circuit of five drills, the players are split into groups, and they spend a few minutes rotating between each drill.

■ Dowling, Dennard, Cannon, Jenkins, and Connolly were all in uniform and went through warmups with the team, then left practice to do conditioning drills with trainers. It is unclear whether any of them will be ready to play Friday.

■ Contact definitely seemed encouraged, although there were no fights. WR Julian Edelman caught a pass over the middle and after the play gave a nice thump to Bucs S Ahmad Black with his shoulder.

■ Each team spent a decent amount of time working on kickoff, punt, and field goal drills, especially hurry-up field goals. Steven Gostkowski was perfect in this drill, with each kick coming from 40-50 yards, while Bucs K Derek Dimke doinked a 42-yarder off the right upright.

■ Can anyone stop Bucs WR Vincent Jackson? The answer Tuesday was a resounding “No.” Jackson, listed at 6 feet 5 inches and 230 pounds, had little trouble getting open against Kyle Arrington, Aqib Talib, Logan Ryan, and even Devin McCourty, who played a lot of cornerback. Jackson was mostly lined up in the slot and was feasting on slants and posts over the middle.

■ Patriots owner Robert Kraft was at practice, and spent time speaking with both Bucs coach Greg Schiano and CB Darrelle Revis, who participated in individual drills but didn’t do any team work.

■ Freeman had some beautiful throws, particularly in the Red Zone to Jackson and WR Mike Williams, but struggled a bit with consistency, throwing interceptions to Talib and Wilson. Still, there’s little doubt that Freeman will be the Opening Day starter, with rookie Mike Glennon the backup.

■ In addition to missing on more than a few throws, Brady also fumbled a snap in a hurry-up situation in the two-minute drill.

■ The price of success: DL Tommy Kelly was shaken up for a moment after blocking a field goal.

 

[Crippler]

SETTING THE SCENE: Tuesday's outdoor practice started at 2:30 p.m. and finished at 4:35 p.m. It was sunny with temperatures in the mid 80s. Players wore shells for a second straight practice.

WAY TO GO, DALLAS: Tight end Dallas Clark practiced with the Ravens for the first time and immediately made a favorable impression. With Thursday's preseason game looming, it was a light practice in terms of competitiveness, but Clark had three touchdowns inside the 20, including one on the first pass quarterback Joe Flacco threw in a red-zone drill. On the second touchdown, Clark ran a sharp jerk route then faded toward the uprights to catch a touch pass from Flacco. On the third, he made an aaaaaaah-inspiring one-handed catch. It was just one practice, but Clark looked like he still has something to give, especially down near the goal line.

MORE SWEET FEET: New slot receiver Brandon Stokley appeared to be more comfortable than he did Monday during his first practice. And like Clark, he displayed some nifty route-running and made some plays in the red zone. Stokley is not the fastest guy around — nowhere near it, in fact — but he doesn't waste steps and gets open. It is easy to see why quarterback Peyton Manning had so much trust in him in Indianapolis and Denver.


WAITING FOR ELAM: We are now three weeks into camp and veteran James Ihedigbo has yet to relinquish his starting strong safety spot to first-round pick Matt Elam. Elam has not really stood out in a good way or in a bad way during camp, though he did impress in the preseason opener, particularly with his aggressive tackling. The Ravens aren't going to just hand the job to a rookie, regardless of when he was drafted, especially with a steady presence in Ihedigbo on the roster. Either way, though, Elam will have a significant role, perhaps as a jack of all trades in the secondary.

RAINEY'S ROLE: Running back Bobby Rainey became a camp sensation last summer with his pass-catching ability and return skills, but with Ray Rice in the backfield and Jacoby Jones returning kicks, there was no real role for Rainey. He has been quieter this summer, but the diminutive back can sometimes be mistaken for Rice when he darts from out behind the line. If his bubble bursts after the preseason, it wouldn't be surprising to see another team pick him up to be its third-down back.

RECALCULATING ROUTES: One way that coordinator Jim Caldwell has tweaked the offense is the addition of more horizontal routes that run across the field. He has also used more pre-snap motions, bunches and stacks to help his receivers get separation off the line. Throughout camp we have seen quick receivers like Torrey Smith and Tandon Doss snatch easy passes as a result.

BLOCKING FOR A JOB: It's going be interesting to see which young offensive linemen crack the roster, which ones make the practice squad and which are sent packing. The Ravens have some intriguing prospects in Rick Wagner, Jack Cornell, J.J. Unga and Jordan Devey, but there might only be a spot for one or two of them if the Ravens enter the season with nine linemen again.

MAKING NOISE: Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs is no doubt the most talkative defender on the field every day, but second-year inside linebacker Nigel Carr might be a close second. He can often be heard screaming at himself, a teammate or no one in particular. So far, Carr has shown more bark than bite on defense, but he could make the team if he plays well on special teams.

INJURY REPORT: Ed Dickson (torn right hamstring) did not practice, but he was spotted on the field in shorts and a T-shirt before jogging slowly back inside the building. Offensive lineman Ramon Harewood (knee) and cornerback Chykie Brown (undisclosed) returned to practice after being held out Monday. Outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw was also back on the field after missing two practices for the birth of his child. Wide receivers Deonte Thompson (left foot) and Marlon Brown (knee), cornerback Chris Johnson (undisclosed), defensive end Marcus Spears (hamstring), and inside linebacker Jameel McClain (bruised spine) remain sidelined.

OVERHEARD: “As long as I don't look down, I’m still 44.” — Clark, who is wearing No. 87, when asked after practice if he tried to pry his old No. 44 away from fullback Vonta Leach.

 

[SWC]

i have a question for you update machines who must know some football history and others who do not is there ever been a qb who could throw with both hands i think that is the next frontier in qb play imagine if you had a guy who could roll out either way and throw with that hand it would make them super effective and if one arm got hurt they would be like a starfish and could just use the other hand until the old one grew back so riddle me that one brohans and take it to the bank on the way there

 

[koreansteve]

brohans i am pretty sure that faust is a robot from the planet updatatron and i bet that guy picks up guys about four years before we even know they have news about them and those guys then turn in to payers like rt2rc take that to the knowlege is power bank brohans

Agreed.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

i have a question for you update machines who must know some football history and others who do not is there ever been a qb who could throw with both hands i think that is the next frontier in qb play imagine if you had a guy who could roll out either way and throw with that hand it would make them super effective and if one arm got hurt they would be like a starfish and could just use the other hand until the old one grew back so riddle me that one brohans and take it to the bank on the way there

Heh.

I was at WVU in 1986 when Miami beat WVU 58-14. Even though the team sucked that year it was a big game because Miami was #1 at the time. So we got to the student section three hours before the game to get seats on the 50 and saw both teams come out for pre-game warmups.

Testaverde threw a ball 70 yards right-handed. And threw a pretty spiral 50 yards with his left. Never seen anything like it.

 

[Faust]

Camp Confidential: Houston Texans

By Tania Ganguli | ESPN.com

HOUSTON -- At 12-4 last season, the Houston Texans had the best record in the young franchise's history, won their second consecutive AFC South championship, became the first professional football team in Houston to win a home playoff game in consecutive years and finished the regular season as one of only two teams to be ranked in the top 10 in both offense and defense.Doesn't sound like a failed season, does it? But as the franchise has grown and checked off accomplishments, failure has begun to mean anything other than a Super Bowl win.

“We weren’t the last team standing last year, so ultimately we all failed,” quarterback Matt Schaub said. “We all didn’t accomplish our goals.”

This year's Texans are more businesslike. Most of this year's team was around for the slide at the end of last season, which coincided with a linebacking corps that took one hit after another even after taking its biggest hit in early October, when it lost Brian Cushing. They shook their heads at three losses in the last four games of the season. The offense mustered only 12 points per game in those three losses -- less than half its season average.

“Everybody was so excited and couldn’t wait for the next season to come around,” receiver Andre Johnson said. “As you can see, we came out of the gate smoking, but at the end we just didn’t finish it the right way. At times, maybe we could have been feeling ourselves or something. I think, I’ve told people this before, I think the game in New England, our last playoff game, it just showed you what kind of team you have to be in order to accomplish that ultimate goal. That was definitely a humbling experience, and we’ll be looking forward to the challenge again.”

Now they return with Cushing back and an additional offensive weapon in first-round draft pick DeAndre Hopkins -- the receiver with the massive, red-gloved hands. They should have more stability on the offensive line and more depth at safety with the additions of a future Hall of Famer (Ed Reed) and a college enforcer (D.J. Swearinger). They have healthy cornerbacks and the reigning defensive player of the year in J.J. Watt, who is sure he can play better than his unreal 2012 season.

They return with an edge they didn't have last year.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Hopkins' impact:

It is impossible not to be impressed by Hopkins' skill and athleticism, owed in part to his unusually large hands. Particularly adept at scoring in the red zone while he was at Clemson, Hopkins is expected to help the Texans, who didn't struggle scoring in the red zone last season but did struggle at scoring touchdowns in the red zone relative to the best offenses in the NFL. Hopkins provides a dimension the Texans didn't have in 2012 -- a second receiver defenses should fear, taking some attention from Johnson. The rookie is at his best on contested catches and spends his practices learning from cornerback Johnathan Joseph. Hopkins struggled early in organized team activities, but as training camp has progressed, he has grown more comfortable with just about everything. If he plays in regular-season games like he has in camp, the Texans' offense will improve significantly.

2. Cushing's return:

When Cushing was lost to a torn ACL in Week 5 against the New York Jets, a line of Texans greeted the fallen inside linebacker at the door to the locker room, shaking his hand and offering condolences. Losing Cushing hurt the Texans' safeties and outside linebackers as much as it changed their inside linebacker rotation. The pass rush suffered too.

“When Cush rushes, which we try to rush him a lot from the inside, if they have to pick up a back on him they are in trouble,” defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said. “We got a big advantage, so they try and pick him up with a lineman. Well, if they do that then the outside guys get a chance to get a back or a better matchup.”

Cushing's return brings back a maniacal, focused intensity that intimidates opponents.

“Brian Cushing is back,” outside linebacker Brooks Reed said. “He's going to bring the attitude back.”

3. When will Reed be healthy?

Reed signed with the Texans amid great fanfare. The owner sent his team plane to Atlanta to collect the future Hall of Famer, and the team's official Twitter provided updates along the way. Reed met with coaches, underwent a lengthy physical and then left Houston for a family engagement before returning to sign a three-year deal worth $5 million a year. About a month later, Reed had arthroscopic hip surgery to repair a torn labrum that he thinks he suffered during the Ravens' AFC Championship Game win.

This week, Reed was out of town rehabilitating with a specialist after having spent training camp in Houston working with Texans trainers.

“No, absolutely not,” coach Gary Kubiak said when asked if that meant Reed had a setback. “It’s just something that we’ve made our progress here for a couple of weeks. [Head athletic trainer Geoff Kaplan] has been in contact with this guy. He’s worked with us before, so we wanted him to go see him for a couple of days and basically make sure we’re doing the right things. We’re going to do that for a couple of days each week.”

So far there hasn't been any clarity on when Reed will be available to the Texans or whether he will be able to play in the season opener.

REASON FOR OPTIMISM

The Texans have the best defensive player in the NFL in Watt, who in 2012 had, according to his well-traveled defensive coordinator, the best season any defensive lineman has ever had. This was a good team last year that needed some cracks filled. Injuries had a lot to do with the Texans' defensive holes at the end of the season, and those injuries aren't an issue for Houston anymore. Watt also will be healthier this year. Offensively, the Texans have Johnson coming off a career year in receiving yards, running back Arian Foster and a quarterback who will benefit from a more stable offensive line and an extra receiving weapon.

There has been a lot of hand-wringing about Schaub, but I expect him to be a lot better this season with the changing personnel around him.

REASON FOR PESSIMISM

The abundance of linebacker injuries last season hurt the defense and special teams. The Texans still are vulnerable there. A rash of linebacker injuries in training camp has caused players to miss some time. Though none of these injuries were significant, a collection of linebacker injuries that keep players out for even two or three games at a time could be damaging.

Reed's health also could be troubling. Swearinger isn't ready yet, and safety Shiloh Keo has started in Reed's place during camp. Keo has improved since last season and has had a good camp, but he would be a downgrade from departed safety Glover Quin.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Earl Mitchell had about the loudest debut as the Texans' starting nose tackle as one could have. Sure, it was a preseason game, but in 10 snaps Friday against Minnesota, Mitchell had four tackles, three of them for loss, including one sack. He also had one quarterback hit. Mitchell is quick on his feet, powerful and has a new confidence this season. The Houston native says that comes from knowing he entered this season as the starter -- a position well earned.

• Foster remains on the physically unable to perform list. He initially landed on the list with a calf injury, but that has healed. Now, the Texans are being cautious because of a back injury. I wrote it before and will again: There's no sense in pushing Foster too much right now, especially given the load he takes on during the season.

• With one full NFL season accrued, receiver Keshawn Martin has made a dramatic improvement on both offense and special teams. It has caught the eye of teammates. Last season, Lestar Jean joined Martin on the active roster. Jean is an incredibly hard worker, but he finds himself back on the bubble two years removed from being an undrafted rookie.

• The Texans' third-string running back battle took an interesting turn Friday in Minnesota when Cierre Wood, who progressed more slowly at first, seemed to have a better night than fellow undrafted rookie Dennis Johnson. It's far too early to determine a winner in that battle, but those two are ahead, with veteran pickup Deji Karim threatening from a special-teams standpoint.

• There were times last season when starting cornerback Joseph didn't feel like himself. He had two sports hernias that he didn't even properly identify until after playing in the Pro Bowl. Joseph had surgeries to repair both, and feels healthier than he did all last season. That is great news for the Texans, who pair him opposite the constantly improving Kareem Jackson.

• It's unclear exactly how long left guard Wade Smith will be out after having his knee scoped Tuesday morning. What's certain, however, is that Smith's absence will give the Texans a chance to test the versatility of sixth-round draft pick David Quessenberry, who started out the offseason playing mostly tackle. Quessenberry made news during the summer because his truck was stolen, then recovered in East Texas with police saying it was being used for human trafficking. More relevant to our purpose is that Quessenberry has been really impressive in camp and willing to learn. Kubiak said he expects both Ben Jones and Quessenberry to see time there with Smith out.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Packers reporter Bob McGinn expects second-round RB Eddie Lacy to get "most of the carries" this season.
The Packers' coaches have been trying to prop up DuJuan Harris as a legitimate threat to Lacy's starting status. No one should be buying that. Although Lacy is nursing a mild hamstring injury right now, he's clearly been the team's best running back through camp and has the most natural talent. As the goal-line back in one of the game's best offenses, double-digit touchdowns are a realistic projection.

Related: DuJuan Harris

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Fourth-round RB Johnathan Franklin reportedly hasn't shown any "wow" factor yet.
Per the Journal-Sentinel, Franklin has "struggled making headway between the tackles" and "has been adequate, not special, as a pass blocker." It's possible that he'll end up losing some third-down duties to DuJuan Harris, who showed well as a pass protector late last season. Franklin has the look of a mere change-of-pace, outside runner right now.

Related: DuJuan Harris

Source: Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Demaryius Thomas says he's having one of his best training camps.
Coming off a third-year breakout that saw him finish eighth in receptions (94), fourth in yards (1434) and seventh in touchdowns (10), Thomas has had a smooth offseason. He's completely healthy and going about his business quietly. Although the addition of Wes Welker hurts slightly, Thomas remains a good bet to lead the Broncos in targets once again. He's Peyton Manning's most explosive all-around receiver.


Source: Denver Post

Coach Mike Shanahan said Alfred Morris has improved as a receiver.
Morris caught just 11 passes last season despite playing 789 snaps. "He's elevated his game and he will be able to catch the ball and be a lot more instrumental in our passing game," Shanahan said. Morris will still cede third-down duties to Roy Helu, but it's safe to project a handful more receptions this time around. We know Alf is going to push for 300+ carries and get all the goal-line work in the Redskins' zone-blocking scheme. Despite a quiet camp, he's a clear-cut first-round fantasy pick.


Source: Redskins.com

Keshawn Martin has reportedly made a "dramatic improvement" since last season.
Martin is locked into a roster spot, where he'll be the Texans' primary return man and slot receiver. He figures to improve at least slightly on last year's 10/85/1 line. Lestar Jean is squarely on the roster bubble.

Related: Lestar Jean

Source: ESPN.com

OC Dirk Koetter suggested that he doesn't see Jacquizz Rodgers getting many carries this season.
Even when Michael Turner was running with a refrigerator strapped to his back last year, the Falcons didn't give Rodgers much of a chance. He averaged just 5.8 rushes per game, a number that could even drop now that Steven Jackson is in town. Rodgers' chances figure to come as a receiver. "We still have to get Quizz his touches whether if it's on kickoff returns, throwing it to him out of the backfield or the screen game," Koetter said. There's little more than weak handcuff appeal here.


Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Braylon Edwards believes he can still play at an "elite level."
"I'm starting to get into camp shape, that groove, that vibe," Edwards said Tuesday. "Now is the chance to really go after it and really show these guys I still have it and that I can play at an elite level to help this team win games." While Edwards' bull-by-the-horns attitude is admirable, he was an elite player for exactly one season of his career, and it was six years ago. He needs to make the team before anything else.


Source: ESPN New York

 

[Faust]

Steelers list Le'Veon Bell, Isaac Redman co-starters

By Marc Sessler

Around the League Writer

The Pittsburgh Steelers aren't known for throwing rookies into the fire, but Le'Veon Bell is a different story.

Bell and Isaac Redman were listed as co-starters at running back on the team's unofficial depth chart Wednesday, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

The designation says much more about Bell. He missed Saturday's preseason loss to the Giants with stiffness in his knee, but is expected to start Monday's tilt against the Washington Redskins. Bell has earned genuine praise in his first training camp, and it's his job to lose, no matter what the depth chart says.

Offensive coordinator Todd Haley was married to a stop-and-start committee approach last season -- and Redman (and Jonathan Dwyer) will see snaps -- but we expect Bell to slide into featured-back duties. The Steelers chose him over Eddie Lacy in the draft and coach Mike Tomlin said of Bell last week, "I think how he is running the ball speaks for itself."

August depth charts don't mean much; Pittsburgh's roll call proves as much. The Steelers believe they've found a difference-maker in their backfield. Barring a collapse, Bell will carry the load in his first NFL season.

The Around The League Podcast is now available on iTunes! Click here to listen and subscribe.

 

[Faust]

Dolphins camp notes: John Jerry returns

By James Walker | ESPN.com

DAVIE, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins returned to practice Wednesday after a day off. The team is preparng for Saturday's preseason game against the Houston Texans.

Here are some notes and observations for the Dolphins:

Wednesday marked the return of potential starting guard John Jerry. He injured his knee in the first week of camp and just made it back. The Dolphins tried many different combinations at right guard and never found a solid replacement. Jerry lined up with the starters during warm-ups but only did individual drills. He never participated for the team portion of practice and went inside the building early for rehab. “He’s been on vacation,” Dolphins guard Richie Incognito said jokingly of Jerry. “He’s been hanging out in the air conditioning, sucking down Gatorade and relaxing while the rest of us have been working. But it’s good to have him back out here. It's good to see him healthy and moving around.”

It was another good day for Dolphins starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill. He made several nice throws down the seam to tight ends Dustin Keller and Charles Clay, a deep ball connection to receiver Mike Wallace and a back-shoulder throw to Clay on a two-point conversion. Tannehill has proved that he can make all the throws. He’s been in a good rhythm this week, which is important when playing against the tough defense of the Texans.

No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan continued to rehab his shoulder inside for the Dolphins. All week, Jordan warmed up inside the bubble but hasn’t joined the team outside. He hasn’t done much in practice all week, and chances are looking slim that he will play in the third preseason game. When asked about Jordan, Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin wouldn't elaborate on his progress. “All players deal with all different types of things at various times. So we are well aware of the situation,” Philbin said. “Things happen to players all the time. I’m not concerned about it.”

Two other absences of note were backup quarterback Pat Devlin and backup offensive Nate Garner. The Dolphins re-signed quarterback Aaron Corp Wednesday to provide an extra arm. Corp may get some playing time in the Texans game. According to an NFL.com report, Garner has a shoulder injury. He was getting a look this week at right guard before suffering the injury on Monday.

It was rookie Caleb Sturgis' day to kick for the Dolphins. He was 3-of-4 with his only miss coming from 57 yards. Sturgis has taken the lead over veteran incumbent Dan Carpenter in Miami’s kicking competition. It’s pretty much the rookie’s job to lose at this stage.

Finally, the Dolphins were ranked 16th by Forbes in terms of overall value of the franchise in the NFL. The Dolphins are worth $1.07 billion, which also is third in the AFC East. The New England Patriots were second in net worth at $1.8 billion. The Jets were sixth at $1.38 billion, and the Buffalo Bills were 30th at $870 million.

The Dolphins will take the practice field Thursday for their final day of training camp.

 

[Faust]

Sharing is caring for Broncos offense

By Jeff Legwold | ESPN.com

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- There are times when the quarterback is like a parent with a car full of kids.

Somebody wants to sit by the window. Somebody wants what somebody else has.

Such is life on a cross-country drive or in your typical high-end NFL passing attack when everybody always believes he’s open.

Everybody might be right, too. Demaryius Thomas had 1,434 yards receiving last season, and Eric Decker had 1,064.

Offseason acquisition Wes Welker has lived over the 100-catch, 1,000-yard mark in five of the past six seasons.

But at last report there is still just one ball, which will be thrown by Peyton Manning. So when trying to add up how many passes the Broncos receivers could, or should, catch, consider, too, Manning and offensive coordinator Adam Gase have each said they'd like to add a sturdier run component to the offense, one that stresses defenses sideline to sideline and can create more impact plays.

While many in the league want to see if Manning/Gase will really run the ball more than last season, Welker's addition as well as the prospect of some additional run plays mean everybody involved in the Broncos' passing attack is going to need some perspective along the way.

Or as Brandon Stokley, a longtime teammate of Manning's in both Denver and Indianapolis as well as a friend, has put it:

"The best way to think about it is, if you do what you're supposed to do, every time, be where you're supposed to be, every time, he'll get you the ball. You'll get your opportunities when he makes the read that you're the best option against the defense he sees. But if you're not in the right spot and he can't trust you to be there, he won't throw you the ball. It's that simple. If everybody does what they're supposed to and he feels comfortable he knows how you're going to run certain routes in certain situations, he'll get the ball to everybody. You always have to remember if you do what you're supposed to every time, your time will always come.''

"I think we don't think about catches, as a group,'' Thomas said. "We know what this offense can do. I think we have a bunch of guys who just want to win no matter how many catches they have or whatever.''

And that's what it will take for all of it to work, in belief and action.

Manning has had one season in his storied career -- 2004 -- when the Colts finished a season with three 1,000-yard receivers (Stokley, 1,077 yards; Marvin Harrison, 1,113; and Reggie Wayne, 1,210). And Indianapolis still managed to hand the ball to Edgerrin James 334 times on the way to a 12-4 finish.

James was fourth in the league in rushing that year with 1,548 yards.

That's almost unheard of efficiency, especially since the Colts put up three 1,000-yard receivers with Manning closing out the year with 336 completions -- the fourth-lowest completion total of his career. What it also means is the marquee players were healthy and always had the ball -- there wasn't much room for anybody else.

The role players had very small roles. James was the team's fourth-leading receiver, with 51 catches, and as a result neither of the Colts' tight ends that season topped 30 catches -- Marcus Pollard had 29 and Dallas Clark had 25. And after the big three no other wide receiver on the Colts roster had more than four receptions that year. And behind James, Dominic Rhodes had 53 carries.

Now, certainly a season that was played a decade ago is not the end-all, be-all template to place over what the Broncos will do in 2013. But it does show how things looked in an offense with three top-shelf pass catchers and how one quarterback divvied up the work without sacrificing a rushing component.

The Colts topped 30 points 10 times that season. They opped 40 points five times, including a stretch of four consecutive games when they scored 49, 41, 41 and 51.

"Its always execution,'' Manning said. "No matter what you do, how you do it, whether you huddle, don't huddle, go fast or slow, I've always felt like it was the execution that made the difference, that you dealt with the defense in front of you with the best play you could run in that situation.''

For these Broncos, they still figure to divide the majority of the carries in the run game between Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball. The part to watch will be how defenses align themselves against the Broncos' three-receiver set, which will be their base formation.

In short, defenses simply play smaller far more often now than they did in 2004.

Teams have elected to go smaller and lighter with more cornerbacks and 205-pound coverage safeties working in the nickel and dime packages -- the Broncos often play a safety at weakside linebacker in some of their specialty packages -- so the immediate matchup win is the tight end. Especially a tight end with some size and speed to overpower a defensive back when the ball is in the air and to run by a linebacker.

Running Welker out of one slot position with a tight end to his outside shoulder is a grouping, for example, that should quickly clear the middle of the field and suddenly you have what many running backs coaches call "a friendly box'' to run against between the guards.

So the opportunity to run more will be there if the Broncos truly want to take it.

In the end, though, if the Broncos really don't care about the numbers, there should be plenty to go around.

 

[Faust]

NFL Stock Watch: Rookies on the rise in preseason

 

[Faust]

Carson Palmer, Bruce Arians have Arizona Cardinals on the rise

By Gil Brandt

Senior Analyst

I've spent the past few weeks visiting training camps around the league, and one team has stuck out as having the best chance to surprise some folks: the Arizona Cardinals.

While the Cardinals are known to have some talent and did make some noise this winter, they're also coming off of a season in which they lost 11 of their last 12 games. Many will ultimately dismiss them as also-rans in what promises to be a highly competitive NFC West.

I wouldn't be so quick to do so, however, as the Cardinals of 2013 bear a striking resemblance to another NFC West squad that showed promise before last season: the St. Louis Rams.

In August 2012, the Rams were coming off of a 2-14 campaign, and expectations were low. But I got the firm sense that they were primed for a turnaround. They had a new coach in Jeff Fisher and an injection of fresh talent, and I was high on them. They went on to finish with a record of 7-8-1 -- and an intra-divisional mark of 4-1-1, best in the NFC West.

The Cardinals are in a similar situation. I don't think they'll be able to stand above the San Francisco 49ers or Seattle Seahawks, but I definitely think they'll be a factor and help determine who does emerge on top. Here are seven reasons that they can't be ignored:

1) Bruce AriansNew head coach Bruce Arians is really the right guy at the right time for this team. He's a no-nonsense players' coach -- he's got a great relationship with his players, but if anyone tries to take advantage of that, he lowers the boom. He's been successful nearly everywhere he's gone, including Indianapolis, where he helped the Colts make the playoffs as the interim head coach while Chuck Pagano was fighting leukemia.

I don't know exactly what happened with the Cardinals last year, but one thing we do know is that they had terrible quarterback play, probably the worst in the league. Arians has a history of helping quarterbacks excel. He helped Andrew Luck to a great rookie campaign in Indy, and he did an awesome job with the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger when he was Big Ben's offensive coordinator. Arians is kind of a special guy.

2) Carson PalmerThis Cardinals offense is made for Carson Palmer; he likes to throw intermediate and long passes, and that's what this offense is. He looked much better in training camp this year than he did last year with the Oakland Raiders -- and he had a fairly good season in 2012, throwing for 4,018 yards and 22 touchdowns.

I thought Palmer looked good when throwing to Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald. Second-year receiver Michael Floyd, meanwhile, has lost weight, while Andre Roberts is coming off a season in which he caught 64 passes. In the Cardinals' preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers last weekend, Palmer completed four of six pass attempts for 77 yards and a touchdown -- a 38-yard shot to Roberts. In short, Arizona's passing attack should be much better than it was in 2012.

3) Improvements on the offensive lineThe Cardinals led the league in sacks allowed last season with 58, so obviously the offensive line was a major area of concern. But I'm really impressed with what the team has done here.

First of all, top draft pick Jonathan Cooper -- who was thought by many to be as good as any of the offensive linemen available in April's draft -- can play center or guard; that versatility will be key. Second, Levi Brown, who missed all of last season, will be back. And I thought free-agent addition Eric Winston was a good pick-up; he's still under 30, and he's been a starter for the past six seasons.

Then there's second-year tackle Bobby Massie. At times last season, he looked like a revolving door on the line, especially early, but he's really improved a lot since then. You could see it toward the end of the year; he's one of those big guys with long arms who has a chance to be pretty good.

Finally, their new offensive line coach, Larry Zierlein, is one of the better offensive line coaches around. He's really a technician, and I think he'll help that unit a lot.

4) Strong coaching staffZierlein isn't the only coach who promises to have a major impact. There's assistant Tom Moore, who was so good at Indianapolis with Peyton Manning, and receivers coach Darryl Drake; both are top notch. Offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin looks like a future NFL head coach; I was really impressed by him. New defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, meanwhile, is highly thought of, though of course he'll have his hands full incorporating what looks to be a significant number of new players.

5) Patrick PetersonThis guy is the real deal. Entering his third season, Peterson, who had seven picks in 2012, might be as good as any cornerback in the NFL. Against the Packers, Peterson picked up right where he left off last year, snaring an interception in the first quarter and returning it 27 yards.

And it looks like he's going to influence the secondary with more than just his play; rookie Tyrann Mathieu has impressed -- he had a terrific game against Green Bay -- and I think it's at least partially because Peterson has taken his fellow LSU product under his wing.

6) A goosed-up ground attackWith Rashard Mendenhall, Stepfan Taylor and Andre Ellington aboard, the Cardinals should have a much improved ground attack after ranking 32nd in 2012.

The rookies especially hold some promise. Taylor, who ended up being the team's leading rusher against the Packers, is one of those guys who is a "hit up in there" type of player; he's not going to make long runs, but he'll gash opposing defenses for 5 or 6 yards when you need a first down. Ellington is a specialist, a third-down back who isn't big enough to carry the ball a ton but who adds a lot of versatility.

7) 'Home field' will mean somethingCardinals fans have really taken to this team -- 15,000 folks came out when I was there. University of Phoenix Stadium will be a very tough venue to play in, which will definitely come in handy during a three-game homestand against some of the better squads in the NFL in the Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons and Houston Texans.

ConclusionOf course, you never know who's going to get hurt or how things are going to change as the season progresses, but I walked out of Cardinals camp with the same feeling I had after being in St. Louis last year: that the team I'd just seen is going to be pretty good. Just look at how they opened the preseason -- while their 17-0 victory doesn't count for too much, shutting out the Green Bay Packers is never a bad sign. Even though the Cardinals are playing in a very tough division, I think they can win about eight games and definitely have a hand in shaping the narrative of the NFC West.

Follow Gil Brandt on Twitter @Gil_Brandt.

 

[Faust]

Geno Smith has 'brutal' New York Jets practice

By Dan Hanzus

Around the League Writer

We might remember Wednesday as the day the New York Jets' quarterback competition came to an unceremonious conclusion.

A clearly hobbled Geno Smith suffered through his worst practice yet, throwing four interceptions in 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 drills. After practice, Jets coach Rex Ryan acknowledged it was a "possibility" Smith's ankle could force Smith to sit out the team's second preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

"It was brutal. It was Geno's worst day. I think, and obviously, the ankle's part of it, but ... way too many picks and things. Did not look comfortable today," Ryan said, via the New York Daily News. "Obviously he has to come back from it, he will come back from it. It was a bad day. Everybody, we've seen it, guys have bad days. But this was a really bad day for Geno."

Ryan's candor strongly hints that the coach is ready to move forward -- for the time being anyway -- with Mark Sanchez as his starter. Smith's health plays a major part in that.

"I don't think he's at 100 percent. I don't believe he's close to 100 percent right now, but again, that doesn't mean we have a few more days, that it can't get a lot better," Ryan said. "We've seen these type of injuries get better in a hurry, so we'll see how it goes."

This all smacks of bad decision-making by the Jets, who rushed Smith back on the practice field after he suffered a sprained ankle in the preseason opener. Their haste tells you how much they want Smith to be the starter, but some situations can't -- and shouldn't be -- forced.

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[Faust]

Seahawks storylines: Best secondary in NFL may reside in Northwest

Pat Kirwan

The Seattle Seahawks are a young team with realistic goals to go deep in the playoffs and, with a little luck, reach the Super Bowl. This is a tight-knit group that works hard and plans on being better than last season's 11-5 unit, but you never would know it by the quiet, humble way the players all go about their business.

When I arrived at the Seahawks' facility at 8 a.m., it was straight to coach Pete Carroll's office for a two-hour clinic on the cutting edge aspects of NFL offenses and defenses. The coaching staff provided me practice video to enhance my camp tour visit. In other words, the visit was awesome.

Top 10 storylines1. NFL's best secondary? There's a reason Carroll drafted Earl Thomas with his first pick as Seahawks coach in 2010. At the time, Carroll told me he was the closest player to Troy Polamalu that he had ever encountered. After spending time with Thomas, his mentality is the closest I've seen since working with Ronnie Lott. The two corners (Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner) can smother receivers, safety Kam Chancellor can play like a linebacker or cover a tight end. Antoine Winfield puts the final touches on the nickel package. Backups like Jeremy Lane and Walter Thurmond have proven they can step in and start.

2. Will the pass rush improve? There aren't many ways to improve the NFL's No. 6 pass defense, which had 36 sacks and gave up the fewest points in the league last season. But not many teams think like the Seahawks. With the additions of Michael Bennett to rush inside, and Cliff Avril and O'Brien Schofield outside, this team could close in on 50 sacks.

3. Are the Seahawks obsessed with the 49ers? There's no doubt this team knows the importance of preparing to play the 49ers but they really respect the Rams and Cardinals as well. Russell Wilson was quick to remind me that the Rams beat Seattle last season.

4. Rookie Report -- Offense: RB Christine Michael had a solid first preseason game but he is still clearly behind Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin. The Seahawks are committed to the run, and Michael will get work during the season. TE Luke Willson will be a significant factor in the passing game and wide receiver Chris Harper should make the team as a backup.

5. Rookie Report -- Defense: The two tackles drafted, Jesse Williams and Jordan Hill, are much different players but both should be in the D-line rotation. Williams will get more run-down situations and Hill will be in there for passing situations.

6. Position battles: Left guard is being handled by Paul McQuistan because James Carpenter (foot) is sidelined. Keep an eye on this spot. SAM linebacker Malcolm Smith is holding down the spot while Bruce Irvin serves his suspension. Schofield is in the mix and this could be a three-way battle during the season.

7. Player-coach in the making: Not many players I interview jump out at me as coaching candidates. But talking football with fullback Michael Robinson breaks that mold. The All-Pro fullback sees the game like a QB (the position he played at Penn State) and already has expressed hopes of becoming a coach when his playing days are over. Mark my words: This guy will fly up the coaching ladder when he's finished playing.

8. When are PUP players due back? Three key players are on the physically unable to perform list. Carroll says TE Zach Miller should be back for the opener and may be ready to practice in a week. DE Chris Clemons is on target for the start of the regular season but will not be rushed back too soon. Wide receiver Percy Harvin will be on PUP into the season and there's an outside chance he returns late in the regular season. With PUP being extended from six to eight weeks, Harvin could see the field around Week 12 if all goes well, but more realistically, the playoffs should the team make it.

9. Improving the road record: Last season, the Seahawks lost six road games, including the playoffs, and averaged only 18 points in those losses. Russell Wilson said noise on the road is not an excuse for any offense and intends to get this issue fixed. Carroll has practice every day during camp at 10 a.m., which coincides with a 1 p.m. start on the East Coast.

10. Prediction: The NFC West is very tough and grinding out 11 wins is no easy chore. Home field is a big advantage for the Seahawks -- Seattle was the NFL's only undefeated team at home last season. That won't go on forever, but 7-1 is a realistic number. With games at Atlanta, the New York Giants, San Francisco, Houston and Indianapolis, a 4-4 road record would make 11-5. That should win the division, but the head-to-head vs. San Francisco will separate the winner from the runner-up. Last season I took the 49ers, and I'll take the Seahawks this season.

Things I heard or saw1. 'Jokers' on defense: When Carroll was Patriots coach, he had Willie McGinnest and Tedy Bruschi to play the joker position. A joker is a guy who opposing QBs must identify. Are they pass rushers? Contain players, zone droppers or blitzers? These Seahawks have a few jokers who will keep QBs guessing: Schofield, Irvin (when he returns from suspension) and Malcolm Smith. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn recognizes the versatility of these players, as well as Cliff Avril. The Seattle defense could give opposing offenses fits with all the jokers on the field.

2. Rookie TE stealing the show: The Seahawks are anxiously awaiting the return of top tight end Zach Miller. But in the meantime rookie Luke Willson from Rice is the talk of camp. Wilson is 6-feet-4 and has 4.5-second 40 speed -- and he's getting valuable time with the starting unit. When Miller returns, so does the 12 personnel package.

3. The team motto: Everywhere you turn there's a sign spelling out COMPETE. Whether it's for a starting job, a roster spot, the best in the weight room or any other measurable the Seahawks players live by the word. One newcomer told me that at his previous NFL stop, the starting jobs were set before camp and everyone else fought for the crumbs. He expressed disbelief at how much opportunity is up for grabs in Seattle.

4. The 'whys' of football: I asked second-year QB Wilson if he felt comfortable getting on the receivers to run great routes and be where they are supposed to be every play. His answer was better than a simple, "Yes." Wilson said the Seahawks aren't only taught the what and the how of things to do, but more importantly the why. Consequently, Wilson said he rarely has to remind his receivers because they already know what their responsibilities are.

5. Clemons might make opener: Irvin iss out the first four games because of suspension, which hurts the pass rush, but Clemons may be back for the season opener. Carroll said Clemons wants to play in the third preseason game. Unlikely, from the coach's perspective, but Week 1 sounds realistic. On passing downs, the Seahawks could line up with Clemens, Bennett, Avril and Schofield.

6. Rookie is looking good: It's getting harder for rookies to break into this excellent starting lineup, but role players from the rookie class are critical. Keep an eye on DT Jordan Hill from Penn State. I watched his practice tapes, and the guy is quick out of his stance, uses his hands very well and has multiple pass-rush moves.

7. More than a blocking back: The Seahawks have an All-Pro fullback in Robinson, who is much more than just a blocking back. He's a former quarterback who sees the game through a QB's eyes. He has been a help to Wilson in the check-with-me run scheme. Robinson rarely gets fooled in finding his way through the line to block the right run assignment, and said, "If our line makes a squeeze call in pass protection I can handle the defensive end."

8. More than half a nickel: Last season, the defense was in its sub package (nickel or dime) about 50 percent of the time. Some other coaches used their sub packages 65 percent of the time in 2012. Carroll and his staff anticipate a growing percentage, and the addition of Winfield will play a key role. Middle linebacker Bobby Wagner said, "We are all so young, and Winfield teaches us stuff we need to last a long time." Quinn pointed out what a great tackler Winfield is, and Sherman captured the essence of Winfield's experience: "Antoine has been doing this since I was in grade school."

9. Strange friends: The funniest interview I did in Seattle is when I sat down with Thomas and Sherman. Thomas is all business and kind of quiet. Sherman is a funny guy who talks constantly. When Sherman started explaining how he reads the back-shoulder fade route that sometimes looks impossible to defend, Thomas starred at him and asked him not to give any secrets away. We all laughed, but I never did get the clues to stopping the throw.

10. Pulling for Bradford: Everyone I spoke to had high regards for what former running back Allen Bradford is doing, switching to middle linebacker. Wagner said it took real guts to make the position change. Robinson said, "Bradford brings it and can really thump a lead blocker." Another player said, "If we didn't have Wagner, Bradford would be our starting middle linebacker." Bradford had eight tackles in the preseason opener.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

ESPN AFC West blogger Bill Williamson calls Raiders QB Tyler Wilson the "most disappointing rookie" in the division.
Per Williamson, it appears Wilson is "falling further behind the Raiders' quarterback pack every day." Wilson fell behind UDFA Matt McGloin earlier this month, and has struggled mightily with the mental side of the game. Wilson was 3-of-6 for 28 yards in last week's preseason opener. At least so far, the Raiders have perhaps the weakest draft class in the league. That's a major problem, as they easily have the least impressive collection of veterans.


Source: Bill Williamson on Twitter

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport believes the Bills would "love for E.J. Manuel to grab the (starting) job with two hands and never let it go."
You could have said this coming into camp, but it's especially true on the heels of Kevin Kolb's uneven performance. "Absolutely, it helps if he becomes the starter and becomes successful, there's no doubt about it," GM Doug Whaley admitted. Barring a face-plant over the next two preseason games, Manuel has likely already sewn the job up.

Related: Kevin Kolb

Source: NFL.com

Coach Bill Belichick said there's a "lot of competition out there" when asked about Tim Tebow's roster spot.
Tebow got plenty of reps behind Tom Brady and Ryan Mallett in last week's preseason opener. He finished 4-of-12 for 55 yards, rushed four times for 31 yards and took three sacks that resulted in negative-23 yards. In other words, he's shown little progress as a passer. The Patriots have to decide if it's worth keeping Tebow as a developmental third quarterback -- they aren't using him at any other positions.


Source: USA Today

Brandon Gibson reportedly has a "stranglehold" on the No. 3 wideout spot.
Gibson won the job by default when Armon Binns blew out his knee. He'll play the slot role vacated by Davone Bess, but won't see as many targets. Gibson is behind Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline and Dustin Keller on the pass-catching totem pole.


Source: Miami Herald

Ryan Broyles (knee) is now sitting out every third day for maintenance purposes.
Broyles initially made a stunningly quick and smooth recovery from his December ACL tear. But he began to feel some soreness last week, so the Lions have backed off. It's a typical course of progress and Broyles remains on track to be ready for Week 1, but he's no longer in the superhuman category. We still like him as a PPR sleeper thanks to his role as a possession receiver in a pass-happy offense.


Source: detroitlions.com

 

[Faust]

Rams sweet on vanilla preseason approach

By Nick Wagoner | ESPN.com

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- Although it’s common practice for fans and even media to push the panic button after a disappointing preseason performance, it’s just as common for teams to remain measured and even keeled.

That’s why the Rams don’t plan to change much of anything heading toward Saturday night’s second preseason game against Green Bay.

If regular-season games are like Baskin Robbins, offering 31 different flavors, then most teams in the preseason are homemade, hand-churned vanilla. And that’s how the Rams intend to stay against Green Bay and throughout the rest of the preseason slate.

This week, the Rams may add a few sprinkles but don’t expect them to start mixing in other flavors.

“Yeah, I’d imagine we’re going to keep it pretty simple, though,” quarterback Sam Bradford said. “Last week we were extremely vanilla. I’d imagine that we might throw in a few more plays, but I doubt we’re going to show a whole lot of new wrinkles.”

As is custom around the league, teams are reluctant to tip their hand on things they plan to unveil when the regular season begins. The logic is simple: if you don’t put something on tape, opponents can’t study it and prepare for it before playing in the games that really count.

“We’ll do a few more things, I think, and add a few things,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “But, still again, our focus is on the opener and the early-season opponents. So, the less we show in preseason, sometimes the more productive you are.”

The Rams kept it about as simple as possible against Cleveland in the preseason opener. They sent an extra rusher only a handful of times and most of those were simple linebacker blitzes.

Offensively, the up-tempo approach many are projecting for them this year was nowhere to be found. That didn’t keep them from having some success as the first-team offense put together two solid drives (one of which was halted by back Isaiah Pead’s fumble).

The focus against Green Bay won’t change much schematically, though. Instead, the Rams will focus more on fundamentals and improving in areas such as simple communication and being more assignment-sound.

Those areas proved detrimental in the loss to the Browns as a few of the team’s younger players, notably linebacker Alec Ogletree and safety T.J. McDonald, found themselves out of position for some of the Browns’ bigger plays.

Offensively, it means handling basic tasks such as blitz pickups, hot routes, protection calls and sight adjustments more efficiently. As Bradford continues to build rapport with some new faces at receiver (namely Tavon Austin and Jared Cook) and on the offensive line (tackle Jake Long), it’s expected that some hiccups will occur.

“I think the biggest thing for us is just going out there and executing whatever our game plan is,” Bradford said. “Whatever we put in, whatever we talk about on Friday night before the game, we need to go out and execute and be clean. They’re small details but they make a difference in winning or losing a game in the regular season. Those are the things that we need to make sure that we take care of out there on Saturday.”

When asked if expectations about his team had or should change based on the loss to Cleveland, Fisher suggested that a big dose of patience would be best for anyone attempting to make sweeping generalizations.

Fisher’s point is valid given the relative lack of correlation between preseason and regular-season performance. The Rams were 4-0 in the 2011 preseason and went on to a miserable 2-14 regular season.

A year ago, the Rams went 2-2 in the preseason, including an opening week 38-3 thumping at the hands of Indianapolis, and went on to improve their record to 7-8-1.

The exhibition slate really allows for two common goals: to keep your starters healthy and to work on ways to get better.

“It’s improvement,” Fisher said. “We really can’t go any other direction other than that. But, going back to the game, again we made a lot of corrections. I feel like young guys have a better understanding of what we’re doing right now. So, we want to see improvement. Now, you may not be able to see it at first glance, but we expect it to happen and we’re confident it will.”

 

[Faust]

Santonio Holmes' health huge for New York Jets; QB race update

By Ian Rapoport

Reporter, NFL.com and NFL Network

CORTLAND, N.Y. -- It's not easy to reach SUNY Cortland, temporary home of the New York Jets. For me, it took two flights and a 45-minute drive, with my eventual arrival cued by white street signs that said things like, "N.Y. Jets, right lane."

This small town has made the Jets its own in training camp for the past several years, and it's the perfect low-key spot, away from the big city hoopla that often surrounds Gang Green. This year, though, the spotlight hasn't shone quite as bright.

Even with a quarterback battle in full swing and a head coach who still entertains microphones, the Jets have taken a muted approach: less circus, more silence. Probably what this team needs.

Here are five things I learned from my day with the Jets:

1) Santonio Holmes' importance can't be overstated: Holmes, the Jets' No. 1 receiver and most electric playmaker, admitted the following on Monday night: "Right now, I can't run." Sounds ominous. In reality, Holmes was out there on Sunday, planting and coming back to balls launched by a JUGS machine. As he said, "Progress has started." He later termed said progress as "week-to-week." Because Holmes is dealing with the ambiguous Lisfranc injury -- which is different for every player who has it -- his return is a mystery. A source told me on Monday that Holmes could still possibly avoid the PUP list and play at the beginning of the season (in, say, Week 1 or Week 2). When it comes to the Jets organization, all they see is Holmes doing everything he possibly can to get ready. They see him grinding, as do those who check in on his rehab regularly. Asked if the organization has doubts about the level of effort Holmes is putting into making it back, coach Rex Ryan said, "Just the opposite." While the date of Holmes' return remains murky, what is clear is how important he is. Just look at what happened last season. The team was 2-2 during Holmes' first four games, when he had 20 catches for 272 yards. In his absence, the team went 4-8. Those associated with the Jets know that when Holmes went down, the offense went with it. And depth is still an issue. Braylon Edwards told me, "We made plays versus the Lions that showed we have potential to have a good enough offense to make plays and win games." Still, there is no other proven entity at receiver in the Jets' offense. Simply put, they need Holmes back -- and badly.

2) Geno Smith gets points for effort: On Monday -- just as on Sunday -- Smith was a shell of himself. His drops were slower and more deliberate, and there was a touch of a limp. Thanks to the ankle injury he suffered in the preseason opener against the Detroit Lions, Smith clearly is not at 100 percent. But that's not what matters. In this quarterback battle with incumbent Mark Sanchez, every point counts -- and Smith is earning them for toughness. Just like Sanchez is earning them for being on-point and accurate; the veteran delivered the deep ball nicely on Monday. When I talked with Ryan in his camouflaged four-wheeler, he explained to me why Smith's presence -- just being there on the field -- was important. "I think it has value in the fact that, in this league, durability is a big deal," Ryan told me. "And availability and durability is probably as important as athletic ability. This is the men's league, and you're going to get bumps and bruises and that kind of stuff. There's a difference between pain and injury, but yeah, the fact that he's out here, coming back, the fact that he's not 100 percent, hey, a lot of times, you won't be." So props to Smith for showing up. Everything adds up in this complex QB battle. I asked Ryan how he'll know which passer wins the competition. "When we're ready to make it," he said, "we'll just move forward."

3) This defense could stand out: For the most part, the microscope has been turned on the Jets' offense, with many of the headlines being devoted to the Sanchez-Smith battle and Holmes' rehab. Meanwhile, the defense has quietly morphed into a unit that could be pretty nasty this season. Don't believe me? Ask the new defensive coordinator. "It can be very good," Dennis Thurman told me. "We have to nail down the most minute of details within the structure of the team (and) within our play calls, but the talent is there. I think we're more athletic this year, we're faster." The Jets could have seven new starters on defense, including first-round draft picks Dee Milliner and Sheldon Richardson -- young and fast and salty. When Ryan says, "We're trying to play to a certain temperament," he means it. It's worth mentioning that a few stalwarts have also opened some eyes. Calvin Pace seems young again. And middle linebacker David Harris "is probably playing better now than at any point since we've been here," Thurman told me. "He just looks like he's in better condition." Safe to say, the expectations for the unit are high. Whoever the quarterback is and however much the offense struggles, can the defense simply keep the Jets competitive? One must hope.

4) What Rex has been paying attention to: It's become somewhat of a comedic point of reference. Ryan made the joke again on Monday, calling the offense "my offense." All because he admitted to not watching the pick-six that Sanchez threw against the Lions because he was dealing with the defense (a common occurrence, by the way, for many coaches). And yet, the discussion obscures the main point: In what is as important a season as one can imagine, Ryan is diving into his defense. At Monday's practice, he spent most of his time working on the facet of the game that made him famous. As much respect as Ryan has for Thurman, he wants to make sure his fingerprints are all over this Jets defense. When I asked Ryan why, he smiled. "I've always enjoyed that," he told me, "there's no question about it. But it's more installing the defense. I think I'm a decent teacher." What better way for Ryan to make sure his message is heard loud and clear than to teach it himself? It also brings him personal satisfaction. In his way, this is Ryan going for it. "Even for me, I feel better," Ryan continued. "I need to do that. It's worked for me my whole life. We've always played good on defense, and obviously, I need that trend to continue."

5) Where is the circus? There was no tent set up in Cortland. No clowns, either. No Tim Tebow running shirtless in the rain -- shoot, even the rain was missing when I was there. Even with the uncertainty under center and the prolonged absence of one of the team's most talented players, this Jets camp has been notably quieter than past editions. No "Hard Knocks" or holdouts, no media throngs around backups giving two press conferences per week. And everyone in the organization seems a little happier. Even a near-controversy on Monday -- Joe McKnight tweeting wacky things at a fan he thought was a reporter -- evaporated by mid-afternoon, drawing a collective "meh" and a shrug. Credit general manager John Idzik, whose buttoned-up and business-like approach has short-circuited the kind of chatter that can overwhelm a franchise. Some credit also goes to Ryan, who still practices the art of wisecracking, but in more moderate and less bombastic tones than he had in the past. Maybe everyone in the Jets' ecosystem -- from team personnel to reporters and certainly players -- has tired of hysteria. Maybe folks in the organization have realized things didn't have to be that way. Regardless, the tone has become much more professional. And when adversity comes -- as it always does -- the team should be better equipped to handle it.

Follow Ian Rapoport on Twitter @RapSheet.

 

[Faust]

Buffalo Bills need production from defensive line, QB EJ Manuel

By Ian Rapoport

Reporter, NFL.com and NFL Network

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills' new beginning doesn't mean the franchise has forgotten the past. Just the opposite.

"We're not running from our history," first-year general manager Doug Whaley told me after a training camp practice at St. John Fisher College in the Rochester suburb of Pittsford. "We've not been very good."

There has been widespread change for the NFL's most playoff-starved franchise (no postseason play since the 1999 campaign). In addition to officially promoting Whaley to GM, the Bills also raised Russ Brandon to the position of president and CEO. And the reshuffling went way beyond just the front office: There's a new coaching staff (spearheaded by head coach Doug Marrone), new quarterback (whomever they choose) and a ton of new optimism.

The hope is that these aren't your same old Bills. The fact that the new faces in the organization understand the recent history they are fighting against makes one think there is reason for the positive vibes. Finally.

Here are five things I learned in my day with the Bills:

1) The onus is on a well-compensated defensive line: The Bills' previous regime invested heavily in its defensive line, more so than any other position group. "Super" Mario Williams, partner in crime Kyle Williams and 2011 first-rounder Marcell Dareus will cost the team about $150 million if each earns his entire contract. At face value, this sure seems like a talented trio, but their lack of production last season led to a 26th-ranked scoring defense, and in turn, the mass firing of the coaching staff. The skills are still present, which is something new defensive coordinator Mike Pettine noted early. "That's the first thing I realized," Pettine told me. "We have to maximize this defensive line while we get these other groups together." The defense will be young behind the D-line. Second-rounder Kiko Alonso is viewed as an every-down linebacker who plays older than his years. "His football IQ is extremely high and you can tell that by the types of questions he asks," Pettine said. "It was like graduate-level stuff." As for his approach on the field, Pettine said Alonso played like he had pads on in the spring. In the back end, the Bills feature rising star cornerback Stephon Gilmore, whose preparation has impressed the staff. But still, there are a lot of question marks on this D, so the hope is that the front four masks some woes. "It starts up front," Pettine said. "For us to be good defensively, our (D-line) group has to be the best group on the field. I think if you have issues in the other areas, you can make up for those up front."

2) Is the foundation already on the field for the Bills? The youth movement is for real in Buffalo, and it leads to fast and energetic practices. The enthusiasm doesn't just spawn from charismatic offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, who is never shy about showing how much he loves the game of football. No, it also comes from the 2013 draft class -- a group that could truly shape the future of the franchise. First-rounder EJ Manuel might end up being the long-time starter at quarterback (more on that position battle below), and if that happens, the draft class is a big hit. But on top of that, throw in plug-and-play receiver Robert Woods, Alonso, speedster Marquise Goodwin and defensive back Duke Williams. And then there's electric undrafted receiver Da'Rick Rogers, still a wildcard behavior-wise, and undrafted former Washington State quarterback Jeff Tuel, a guy whom the team thinks it might have hit on. That's a lot of pieces. As Whaley said, they could form the nucleus for the coming years, especially because they all showed up the same year as Marrone. "There's the ground floor of what we're trying to instill as far as the identity," Whaley said. "And what we're all about. We get these young guys and they grow, so two or three years from now, we can step back and they'll start instilling it on the guys that are coming in and holding those guys accountable." Oh, and don't discount C.J. Spiller and other young-ish veterans, too. It should make for a raw team that can improve as the year goes on. Is Marrone open to making the future now, playing all these guys? "A lot of us say, 'Hey, the best players are playing,' " Marrone said. "That's really true."

3) The truth about the QB battle: The competition is still ongoing. Despite Manuel's mastery of the two-minute drill in the preseason opener -- the rook even called his own play when the headset went out -- and Kevin Kolb's knee injury, the first-rounder hasn't been named the starter yet. Competition is king. But in talking with key members of the Bills organization, the sense you get is they'd all love for Manuel to grab the job with two hands and never let it go. That would allow the rebuilding to start off right. "Absolutely, it helps if he becomes the starter and becomes successful, there's no doubt about it," Whaley told me. "When you draft a guy in the first round to be a quarterback, he's going to be the face of your organization, the face of your franchise. And as he goes, we go. And that's part of what we're trying to instill. Let's be aggressive, let's go with it -- if he wins the job." That will be the biggest decision yet in Marrone's young tenure, making the call between Manuel and Kolb. As Whaley says, though, the best-case scenario is that Kolb continues to throw as well as he did in practice on Tuesday, and however the race plays out, you feel there isn't a huge drop-off when the backup comes in. But truthfully, the ideal situation is that Manuel's stellar play continues and it's a no-brainer. If not, Marrone told me there comes a time when he simply must make a decision. "That's what we do, as coaches, general managers, scouts," Marrone said. "The time's going to come, if we have to do it, 10-12 days prior to the first game."

4) The raves about EJ Manuel have to do with his makeup as much as his ability: No, not like the makeup I wear for TV -- mental makeup. The Bills love what Manuel is made of. I heard that when team reps visited Florida State for pre-draft scouting on Manuel, they were stopped by various people (an usher at a baseball game, a hotel employee) who recognized their Bills gear and waxed poetic about what a good guy the quarterback is. In a conversation after the draft, a big-time college coach told me that if Geno Smith had Manuel's makeup, the West Virginia product would've gone No. 1 overall. "He's the guy that we thought we were getting," Marrone said of Manuel. "The main thing (in the pre-draft process), you don't really know how he handles adversity, you're trying to get that from the college coaches. You're going to face a lot of that, especially early on. These are the things we're looking at -- intangibles -- but we were really digging and looking hard. We were at a point like ... we couldn't find anything that we thought was wrong." But, Marrone stressed, that was the pre-draft process. That is over. What the coach likes now is Manuel's honesty. He likes that Manuel asked coaches about the proper way to prepare for a pro game, as opposed to how he prepared for a college contest. What's going to be fascinating is how he meshes with Hackett, a 33-year-old breath of fresh air in the NFL. Hackett has installed an offense influenced by his prior coaching experiences -- at Stanford, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in his first tenure with the Bills and at Syracuse -- and he relishes doing things his own way. From what I've heard, Hackett's infectious ways have led to an energy in the quarterback room that was missing in prior years. But can everyone blend quickly enough to make a dent in 2013? Time will tell.

5) Where is Jairus Byrd? The short answer is, not in Pittsford. And the Pro Bowl safety almost certainly won't show up before the Bills move back home to Buffalo when camp ends. The franchise player who hasn't yet signed his franchise tag -- and thus, isn't officially holding out or subject to fines -- wanted a long-term deal. It never materialized before the deadline for 2013. Now, he can't sign one until next year ... so he's biding his time away from the team, making everything uncomfortable and uncertain. Will he arrive in time for the season? Probably, but nothing is set in stone. As for the Bills, they remain in the dark, too, waiting for their playmaker. Team officials have publicly expressed that they'd like to lock up Byrd after this year. On defense, as Pettine explained, they are treating it like an injury. "It's the coaching cliché -- worry about the guys that are here," Pettine told me. "(Byrd) is in close communication with the guys on the team and he has the material. He's been able to prepare himself mentally. But there's no substitute for being here and playing. That's a situation where we all understand there's a business side to it. There's no grudge at all. Play your butt off, have a great year, see what happens next year."

Follow Ian Rapoport on Twitter @RapSheet.

 

[Faust]

Steelers Observations: Big Ben, Haley relationship takes hold

Jason La Canfora

LATROBE, Pa. -- A few weeks back, a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers organization was walking through the dorms here at St. Vincent College when he noticed a sight that was unfathomable a year ago. Ben Roethlisberger, the franchise quarterback, had strolled over to the room of offensive coordinator Todd Haley, plopped down next to the coach and was drinking a cold one with him, shooting the bull and watching "Shark Week."

A year ago, it wasn't uncommon for Roethlisberger to be remote or distant to Haley, then in his first year on the job and facing a difficult challenge with Big Ben's long-time coordinator, Bruce Arians, let go much to the quarterback's dismay. Even witnessing sustained eye contact between the coach and the passer would have been a noteworthy development in 2012, with many in the organization quietly worried these two might never click.

Alas, so much has changed.

Roethlisberger has regularly sought Haley for chalk talks or explanation. Their body language has changed dramatically. Haley, who deferred to Roethlisberger when necessary last year, seems to have slowly built up his trust, and the improved dynamic between the team's offensive leaders has people in the organization breathing a collective sigh of relief.

"It's night and day, which I would expect," Haley said. "It's like any relationship, it takes time. You're not going to instantly jive, and especially in his case. He had been in one situation for a very long time and it's hard to have somebody new in the mix, and that's not always comfortable. But I thought he handled it well last year, made progress and this year we're having some fun. And that's where you start to really get good."

Despite the tension last season, Roethlisberger thrived in Haley's offense. He would occasionally make remarks that didn't exactly exude joy in what he was asked to do, and there was a passive-aggressive dance going on in meeting rooms, but before Roethlisberger's injury he was enjoying his best season and was a legit MVP candidate. He wasn't freelancing as much, and thus taking less abuse in the pocket; his decision-making was improved and his accuracy was stellar.

The Steelers were 6-3 before Roethlisberger suffered his shoulder and rib injuries. He was sixth in the NFL, completing 66 percent of his passes; was fifth in the league with a 100 passer rating (Tom Brady was at 100.1 by contrast) and Roethlisberger's 17-4 TD-INT ratio was Brady-esque (18-3). And this was without a semblance of stability at running back, with Mike Wallace regularly dropping deep balls and before the Haley-Roethlisberger relationship had blossomed.

Roethlisberger has been more vocal with teammates as well, and his leadership style has evolved some too. In the past, despite his stature in the game, Roethlisberger's deep respect for veterans Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich resulted in him sometimes deferring to them. Now that he is the elder statesman and is even more integrated in the group, players have noticed.

Haley also has a better feel for Roethlisberger's preferences and they are working in tandem to improve the offense.

"We focus on what he does best," Haley said, "and let's scrap the stuff he doesn't like or that doesn't play to his strengths. So I think we've made a lot of progress on offense. ... It's just a totally different feel."

More observations•This very well could be Troy Polamalu's last season here. Would not surprise me a bit. The speed, quick first step and ability to cover ground just aren't there anymore, and free safety Ryan Clark is getting up there, too. Polamalu's contract puts him among the top safeties in the game, but injuries have prevented him from playing to that level for a while now. The Steelers have had to make these tough calls in the past, and have succeeded consistently by not letting sentiment cloud their football judgment.

This situation isn't all that different from James Harrison and Casey Hampton a year ago, and many other great Steelers before that.

•Ziggy Hood remains the starter opposite Brett Keisel at defensive end but I can't help but wonder if Cameron Heyward displaces him at some point. Hood, a first-round pick in 2009, doesn't always seem like a natural fit in a 3-4, and Heyward, a first-round pick in 2011, probably could play either side.

•With Cortez Allen banged up right now, the Steelers could be vulnerable at corner. GM Kevin Colbert feels good that top cover guy Ike Taylor, though 33, "has the physique, athleticism and speed of a 26-year-old." Teams will surely try to spread them out again to create better matchups in this secondary. We'll see how they hold up in the slot.

•I could see the Steelers looking at tight ends should any of note be cut elsewhere. Heath Miller, who shined in Haley's offense last year, is on the PUP list, as is David Johnson. "We're kind of walking a tightrope there," Haley said, though David Paulson, a seventh-round pick in 2012, is opening some eyes.

•Defensive end Al Woods, whose wife is expecting a baby, could be in a battle to make the team. "This is Al's fourth year, and it's one of those things where your back is kind of against the wall in this business," Keisel said. "And you've got to make plays to keep your job. Al is at that crossroad and he needs to just keep doing what he's doing. That's what I told him."

•The Steelers conducted an evening practice on Family Night at camp, with many players having their wives and families on hand. With camp dragging on, that kept spirits high and adds life to the mundane practices, with crowds able to flock more to the evening sessions as well. "You don't want to get pancaked with your wife over there watching," Keisel said.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland expects Daniel Thomas to have a "breakout season."
That's true love. Coach Joe Philbin has been pleased with Thomas' camp, but the stench of his first two seasons remains pungent. A breakout year from Thomas would qualify as the "out of nowhere" variety. It's not going to happen for Lamar Miller's backup.


Source: Barry Jackson on Twitter

Nate Washington is still listed as a starter on the Titans' most recent depth chart.
As is Kenny Britt. 2012 first-rounder Kendall Wright has been putting on a show in camp, but the Titans aren't ready to anoint him a starter just yet. It's something we'd expect to happen before Week 1, but the Titans move in mysterious ways. Rookie Justin Hunter is listed with the third team.

Related: Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter

Source: Jim Wyatt on Twitter

The Washington Post believes Redskins WR Aldrick Robinson has a roster spot "locked up."
Robinson had a forgettable preseason debut, but has been practicing well going back to the spring. A true seam stretcher, Robinson will serve as a situational deep threat if he indeed keeps his roster spot.


Source: Washington Post

 

[netnalp]

The Day at Giants Camp: August 13, 2013

http://insidefootball.com/2013/08/13/the-day-at-camp-august-13-2013/

If “variety is the spice of life,” then Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell is sure going heavy-handed on the spice rack.

Fewell has been experimenting with many combinations and looks that his Giants defenses haven’t shown to date. He’s also been moving around his safeties and corners to where he hopes to get more favorable matchups in games and not locking himself in to matching say Corey Webster against the opponent’s number one receiver, etc.

Lately, he’s been messing around with his defensive ends, flipping them from side to side and having them stand up as pass rushers. He’s even trying to move the linebackers around more.

“We’ll be very multiple,” Fewell said of the various looks the defense has been showing. “Personnel wise, we have guys that fit a 4-3. We have guys that fit many different defensive combinations and so I’m going to build a defense based on our personnel.”

And that’s all fine with head coach Tom Coughlin, who is looking for the defense to bounce back from a sub par showing last season.

“It helps to prepare for everything,” he said of all the different personnel combinations shown on defense. “The league is very sophisticated . Generally speaking, defenses are a little ahead, so you get all these different things to work on and focus on and it helps from a mental standpoint so the more you can do it, the better off you are.”

Maybe so, but there is a thing such as doing too much too soon.

I always remember how last year there was some confusion among the defense trying to run a more simpler scheme were guys knew where they were going to lineup. While this would be the time to experiment and get guys used to new looks, at what point is it too much to where you’re taking away from what a guy does well?

Consider this statement from Justin Tuck, who will be part of a defensive unit that will switch sides this season to get better matchups.

“It’s something new, something we’re trying to see if it can benefit this defense. It allows you to showcase a little versatility and it keeps things fresh,” he said.

“I think a lot of people don’t understand the difference in playing both sides. It’s completely different techniques, completely different way of going about things when you’re on a quarterback’s backside or front side and just the strength of the offense going left or right. For me it’s exciting and I’m looking forward to it and doing more of it and getting more of a feel for how it will be implemented into our defense this year.”

With all these new looks Fewell has been trotting out, just how much danger is there of there being guys who get confused or blowing assignments, especially if there was trouble last year mastering the simpler stuff? That remains to be seen, of course, but I suppose given the defense’s performance last year, desperate times call for desperate measures.

INJURY REPORT
As I wrote about earlier today, safety Antrel Rolle has a sprained ankle, which, he said, is not a high ankle sprain. However, he did say it was a significant sprain and it’s just a guess here on my part, but I have a feeling that we might not see Rolle not just the rest of the preseason, but possible for the first week or two of the season.

Not working today were offensive lineman James Brewer (concussion), safety Cooper Taylor (hamstring), offensive lineman Chris DeGeare (ankle), defensive end Damontre Moore (shoulder contusion), cornerback Corey Webster (groin), receiver Brandon Collins (hamstring), running back Da’Rel Scott (shoulder) and receiver Jerrel Jernigan (soreness).

TRANSACTIONS
Fullback Ryan D’Imperio, whom the Giants signed when training camp opened on July 26, has decided to retire; he was placed on the reserve/retired list.

The Giants signed fullback Ben Guidugli, 6-1, 242 lbs. out of Cincinnati, to take D’Imperio’s spot. Guidugli spent most of the 2011 season on the practice squad of the St. Louis Rams, who signed him as a rookie free agent on July 28 of that year. He was added to the active roster for the season’s final game, but was inactive. Guidugli, who played at the University of Cincinnati, was waived by the Rams last Aug. 31, and did not play in 2012.

LINEUPS
Lots of mixing and matching going on today on the defense, as I mentioned, so here’s the run down:

* The Giants opened their 11-on-11 series with a 3-4 look that had Cullen Jenkins, Shaun Rogers, and Linval Joseph up front; Mathias Kiwanuka and Keith Rivers as the outside linebackers, and Mark Herzlich and Spencer Paysinger as the inside linebackers.

* Marvin Austin, whom defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said played well in the preseason opener, was rewarded with a few snaps with the first team defense.

* Johnathan Hankins got a few snaps at defensive end with the second-team.

* In keeping with their quest to find defensive ends who can function as “stand up” rushers, both Justin Trattou and Adrian Tracy were given some snaps in seven-on-seven as linebackers.

* At safety, Ryan Mundy took the majority of his snaps up near the box while Stevie Brown took the majority as the cover safety.

On the offensive side, Justin Pugh was given some snaps with the starters at right tackle in their two-minute drill. So when I asked Coughlin if Pugh picked up where he left off prior to suffering his concussion, he said, “ He’s got ways to go, but he’s in there fighting, battling.”

Looking ahead to the preseason game against the Colts, Coughlin said that he anticipates having defensive end Justin Tuck and receiver Hakeem Nicks in the lineup for the first time this summer. Both guys sat out last week’s preseason opener against the Steelers. As for cornerback Terrell Thomas (knee) and right guard Chris Snee (hip), I got the impression that those two would be at least another week away from seeing live action.

PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS
* Jayron Hosley had himself the best practice of the summer so far. He broke up a pass play intended for tight end Larry Donnell, who at 6-6 has much more size than the 5-9 Hosley. The cornerback also baited quarterback Curtis Painter into through an ill-advised pass over the middle which Hosley easily picked off.

Want more? There was Hosley’s pass breakup of a pass intended for Victor Cruz, and then a couple plays later, Hosley, who was identified as the “Mike” came in on a blitz which Brandon Mosley managed to pick up.

* It’s great to see cornerback Terrell Thomas moving around and looking no worse for the wear, but sadly, he was no match going against receiver Victor Cruz on a deep ball. Fortunately for Thomas, the ball went off Cruz’s finger tips, but Cruz, who is hard to cover, managed to separate from Thomas by a mile.

* Cornerback Prince Amukamara also had another impressive showing. He broke up a pass intended for Rueben Randle to end the practice (the offense was running the hurry-up and refused to let any receiver get too far away from him.

* Nice job by David Wilson to pick up linebacker Spencer Paysinger on a blitz. Wilson set his base, squared up his man, and stopped Paysinger’s forward momentum. It probably helped that Wilson saw Paysinger start to cheat toward the lien, but still, give him credit for getting the job done.

* Linebacker Aaron Curry blew by tight end Chase Clement, who was actually lined up at fullback to record a sack against Curtis Painter. Clement was way late on recognizing and reacting to Curry’s blitz.

* Nice alert move by running back Ryan Torain to cut back against the grain when thing in front of him got bottled up. I didn’t see who the defensive end was, but he got stuck in the wash and Torain had no trouble getting around the outside for a gain.

* Justin Tuck, who’s been doing a lot of that “joker” position where he stands up (and no, not like in comedy), beat David Diehl to get pressure on Eli Manning, forcing a quick throw intended for Hakeem Nicks but which Prince Amukamara picked off.

* Brandon Myers looked like he had some struggles trying to get Mathias Kiwanuka blocked. Meanwhile Adrien Robinson easily handled Keith Rivers while in-line.

* Louis Murphy is like a faster version of Domenik Hixon. By that I mean Murphy has shown to be an outstanding downfield blocker thus far this summer. On an André Brown outside run, it was Murphy who shoved the defender inside, thus clearing a huge lane for Brown to exploit for a large gain.

* Ryan Nassib’s lone pretty pass of the day was a deep ball caught by tight end Chase Clement.

*Ryan Mundy came in on a blitz in a defensive alignment that had Terrell Thomas as the safety, and Aaron Ross at corner, where he was tasked with covering Rueben Randle. Mundy ended up beating David Diehl for the sack.

* I’ve been very impressed with running back Michael Cox this summer. Off the field he’s quiet and doesn’t really say much, but on the field he’s a little scrappy fighter who refuses to let bigger defenders bully him around. I saw him really scratch and claw his way out of a pile, keeping his legs moving until the whistle blew. For a moment, I had flash backs to the days of Ahmad Bradshaw, as he used to always keep his legs moving until that whistle blew.

* I mentioned above that Justin Pugh was given some snaps with the starters in the 2:00 offense, (so too was Brandon Mosley, who worked at right guard in the 2:00 offense). Lining up at right tackle, Pugh actually didn’t look too shabby, as he held up well against Justin Tuck on one rush but yielded a little pressure on a second one which resulted in Eli Manning having to throw the ball away.

Pugh also held off Adrian Tracy on a rush as well. His technique wasn’t always perfect, but he got the job done, so it will be interesting to see if his reps at that spot start to increase even more as training camp winds down.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW
I’ve been covering this team for a long time, and in all those years, I don’t think I’ve seen so much mixing and match, so much uncertainty on one side of the ball.

I’m talking about the defense. I mentioned this thorough this report, but with defensive coordinator Perry Fewell trying to find the right combinations of players for the right packages, I find it a little unsettling because I wonder if all this experimenting is going to take guys away from doing what they do best.

What I found really interesting today is what middle linebacker Dan Connor had to say when he was talking about the run defense, which was as follows:

“That’s a focus going in there, being able to stop the run and make the team one-dimensional. We focused on that for a few days, like any other year. But it’s probably a bit more a point of emphasis since I’ve gotten here. We’ve got to be a physical defense. We’ve got to be able to stop the run and not let teams give you that slow death. That’s something we have to improve on and hopefully we can do that.”

What jumped out of me there was his statement, “We’ve got to be a physical defense,” something that the Giants defense wasn’t all the time last year. And I’m just not so sure that scrambling the personnel sets and getting so ultra-creative is going to translate into a more physical defense where guys are able to fight off blocks, guys are going to be able to bring down ball carriers, and guys who are going to be able to hit their opponents.

That comes from within. And no amount of mixing and matching can bring that out of a player.

SAY WHAT?
“I hope he comes back next week. Why would I talk about Week 1” – Head coach Tom Coughlin when asked if he thought safety Antrel Rolle would be back on the field by week 1.

UP NEXT
The Giants will practice on Wednesday and Friday of this week, leading up to their second preseason game, and preseason home opener on Sunday night when they host the Colts. All training camp practices this week are scheduled to be open to the public, weather permitting, of course, and will begin at 1:30 p.m.

 

[netnalp]

The Day at Giants Camp: August 14, 2013

http://insidefootball.com/2013/08/14/the-day-at-camp-august-14-2013/#more-6927

So just like that, Training Camp 2013 is soon coming to a close, with the Giants having just three more practices left before they close things down to the public and finish out their preseason.

So I got to thinking about the injured players today, those guys still on PUP and those who started to work but who have been missing huge chunks of practice time like rookie Cooper Taylor, who’s nursing a balky hamstring, offensive lineman James Brewer, who was just back today after sitting out several days due to a concussion, and others.

And so my being curious, I asked head coach Tom Coughlin about the injured guys in general, how long he thought it might take for them to get caught up despite not being able to practice.

“If they’re smart, what they do is by position, they’re listening to the corrections and trying to visualize themselves in that position being corrected,” Coughlin said. “If they’re very attentive and alert and understand the circumstances that they’re in, then they really don’t lose any of the mental time; it’s the field time that they lose, and hopefully as soon as they come back, they catch up. It might be a day, or might be two days; it depends.”

But the problem is those days where these guys can get caught up are dwindling down, and guys who the team might have looked toward to make a contribution early on will probably not be able to get caught up as quickly as the head coach would like, which would be a shame considering the talent they bring to the table, especially the younger guys.

But that’s why teams stock up their depth.

“Injuries are going to happen in this league,” said safety Antrel Rolle, who is one of the injured players. “We have guys that are willing to step in and fill their roles. That’s what it’s about and that’s what our team is about. We all compete, but at the same time we’re all each other’s backbone. If one guy goes down, the next has to fill in and we’re not expected to be missing a beat.”

But if only it were that simple. There’s a reason guys are starters and others are backups. So it will be interesting to see which of the Giants starters isn’t ready when it all starts to count and if the backups can deliver the same quality.

INJURY REPORT

Sitting out today’s practice were safety Antrel Rolle (ankle); safety Cooper Taylor (hamstring); offensive lineman Chris DeGeare (ankle); defensive end Damontre Moore (shoulder contusion); receiver Brandon Collins (hamstring); running back Da’Rel Scott (shoulder); and receiver Jerrel Jernigan (soreness). They join the three PUP guys, defensive tackle Markus Kuhn (knee), fullback Henry Hynoski (knee), and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (back).

Offensive lineman James Brewer (concussion) and cornerback Corey Webster (groin) were back at practice

LINEUPS

I guess offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride wasn’t kidding when he said the other day that there is a tight battle for the number two quarterback job between David Carr and Curtis Painter. Maybe I just happened to notice it more today than before, but it seemed like the reps with the second team offense between the two men were very nearly split, and this could very well be a battle that goes down to the wire.

Just how close of a call is it right now for Carr, who’s been the backup to Eli Manning in four of the last five seasons?

“First of all, I think he had an excellent spring,” said Coughlin. “I think the thing everyone has to understand is that you have to take advantage of your snaps because we’re using four quarterbacks every day. Certainly he’s trying to grasp everything and be in the right place at the right time with the ball, so he’s trying to get better as is everyone out there.”

Meanwhile, cornerback Terrell Thomas was given a little more work today in team drills at both nickel and corner, and Coughlin said that the veteran, who is trying to work his way back from a third ACL injury, seems to be doing well. “He’s gaining more confidence and is feeling better about himself. I think he’s doing better.”

Chris Snee continues to work with the starters at right guard, but they also continue to sprinkle in a bit of Brandon Mosley in at that spot. On defense, Mark Herzlich and Dan Connor continue to share reps with the first team at middle linebacker.

PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS

* How much more confident is Prince Amukamara these days? When he doesn’t come up with a play, he becomes quite animated. Take for instance a play in 11-on-11s when Hakeem Nicks beat him. Even though Amukamara had good coverage on the receiver and would have limited the yards after a catch, Amukamara was still annoyed with himself for not knocking the ball away. Against the run, Amukamara did a nice job in shedding his man to make the stop against Ryan Torain.

* Kevin Boothe looked very fluid in pulling and knocking Mark Herzlich out of a hole to help spring André Brown for a nice gain around the edge. Herzlich continued to alternate with Dan Connor with the first team defense.

* Ramses Barden tried to block linebacker Jacquian Williams, but Barden didn’t bother to bend his knees and get low. As a result, Williams went underneath him and probably would have made the play if the ball had come in his direction.

* Trumaine McBride was all over Louis Murphy in what would have been blatant pass interference – McBride never bothered to look back for the ball. Murphy, however, somehow found a way to get away from McBride, who was left sucking wind at the end of the play.

* Tight end Chase Clement very nearly made the catch of the day on a one-handed attempt of a ball thrown in front of him; however, he just couldn’t quite real it in.

* Cornerback Terrell Thomas is certainly putting his recovering knee to the test. Working from the slot, he barely missed stopping receiver Victor Cruz on a quick slant for a touchdown. And I mean barely. Thomas was so upset with himself for missing the play that he let out a loud yell of frustration. Later in the practice, Eli Manning completed a pass to Rueben Randle right in front of Thomas

* Not to be outdone by the razzle-dazzle the defense did yesterday with missing up personnel, the Giants offense tried a little trickery of their own today as David Wilson ran the halfback option and threw a underthrown ball down the field to Victor Cruz. The pass likely won’t be appearing on any coaches’ teaching tapes any time soon, but it yielded the desired results, so that’s a good thing.

* Linebacker Kyle Bosworth, who could be one of those fringe players, is certainly making a strong case for a roster spot with his special teams play. Bosworth has been on everything and he’s been playing like a man possessed, making things happen. The Giants usually put aside a few roster spots for guys who are special teams aces, and if Bosworth continues in this regard, he could very well land up with a roster spot.

* Bear Pascoe, working from the fullback spot didn’t get the best of angles against linebacker Spencer Paysinger, who slowed up after it was clear the play was going in the other direction.

* Jacquian Williams did a nice job of shedding aside an offensive blocker to knock away a pass intended from Hakeem Nicks.

* Defensive back Laron Scott picked off a pass intended for Louis Murphy deep down the sidelines thrown by Carr. And speaking of Carr, he has looked a little erratic of late with his reads and some of his decisions.

* In the red zone work, Aaron Ross did a nice job of breaking up an Eli Manning pass intended for Victor Cruz. Ross read the play extremely well.

* David Carr did well to get rid of the ball when he spotted safety David Caldwell coming in on a safety blitz, but it looked like Carr had an open receiver in the flat that he didn’t even spot.

* Eric Herman missed his man on a Michael Cox run inside of the 20, the play not getting very far.

* Justin Pugh, working with both the ones at right tackle and twos at left tackle, had some trouble handling Adewale Ojomo’s rush.

* Adrien Robinson did a nice job of handling Keith Rivers but might have released just a split second too late as the pass intended for him (thrown by Carr) was overthrown.

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

There’s a reason in sports teams practice. The idea is to work on technique, run through the game plan and work out any kinks in the operation so that when it comes time to put on the show and the results count, the mistakes have been eliminated to give the team the best chance possible at success.

So I don’t quite understand why some players who are working their way back from injury can sit there and say with a straight face that they are not too concerned about not practicing in camp or the preseason because of their prior knowledge of the playbook.

I understand that there is a difference between a veteran who’s been in the system a few years and a guy who’s struggling to make the roster. And I understand that one can take mental reps and make the most of them.

So the issue I have is with leadership. To be clear, if a guy isn’t physically able to practice, that’s one thing. But to downplay the importance of practice by suggesting that your knowledge of the offense or defense is enough to help you do your job falls short in one very critical area. Leadership.

Let’s look at safety Antrel Rolle, currently sidelined by an ankle injury, who since becoming a Giant has never missed a game.

Rolle is a guy who clearly knows what he’s doing. But just because he knows what he’s doing doesn’t mean that he welcomes the chance to rest his body for a few days while he’s sidelined by an ankle injury.

“I don’t like missing practices,” Rolle said today. “I do everything I can to get back in shape and get back to form, and get back out there with my guys.”

That’s a leader talking. Rolle is a guy who could probably sit the entire summer and still not miss a beat. But that’s not who he is. He recognizes the importance of practicing, of setting an example out of the field and to that end, he was out there today, minus his walking boot, his ailing ankle heavily taped, coaching up his teammates.

Rolle has nothing to worry about – his job will be there for him when he’s healthy.

If I’m a coach and I see what Rolle said about wanting to practice, I can’t help smile in knowing that I have a guy on my team who’s not only leading in the classroom and in the locker room, but on the field even if he can’t be on the field working.

SAY WHAT?

“Boots are for wimps.” – Giants safety Antrel Rolle, who after sporting a walking boot on his right ankle was without it today as he declared he felt “a million times better” after suffering a significant ankle sprain during Monday’s practice.

UP NEXT

The Giants are off tomorrow, but will hold a practice on Friday at 1:30 which I believe will be a “cards’ (scripted) practice. On Sunday night, they’ll host the Colts in a nationally televised game airing on FOX. Kickoff is at 7:00 PM.

 

[Faust]

NFL rookies ready to surprise this season

 

[Faust]

Training Camp Roundup: Fans blame Clayborn for Tom Brady injury

 

[Faust]

Rookie studs like Jones, Bell giving Steelers hope for rebound

Jason La Canfora

LATROBE, Pa. -- The demise of the Pittsburgh Steelers has been greatly exaggerated. Reinforcements are on the way via what could be a monumental 2013 draft class, and there is every reason to believe last year's .500 season will prove an anomaly, with this team returning to its norm of contending for a Super Bowl title.

People are a little spoiled in these parts. Despite making the playoffs in four of the past five years and reaching the title game as recently as 2010, this offseason has been filled with debates about whether the Steelers are too old to contend and whether they just might be stuck as the third-best team in the tough AFC North for a while. What seems to be all too easily forgotten, however is just what a tremendous job general manager Kevin Colbert and this front office do year in and year out, how expertly they have drafted and evaluated talent over time and how this franchise has not had consecutive seasons of eight wins or less since 1998-99.

"There's high expectations when you're a Pittsburgh Steeler," said defensive end Brett Keisel, entering his 12th season here. "That comes with the territory. We're used to being a tough team and last year was obviously very frustrating. But we're hoping to get back on top of things."

It says here they'll be back very soon.

Despite its age, the Steelers' defense still ranked first in the NFL last year in terms of yards (sixth in scoring defense). The team was 6-3 and riding a four-game winning streak before Ben Roethlisberger, on his way to what may have been his best season, suffered shoulder and rib injuries that more or less prevented him from playing/being effective for the duration of the season. And, yes, they bid farewell to former starters like James Harrison, Casey Hampton, Mike Wallace and Rashard Mendenhall, but are well positioned to be both better -- and in many cases younger -- despite it.

It takes a lot for a player to generate a stir in this franchise, one with six Lombardi trophies and a roster of players who routinely show up on All-Decade Teams and all-time top-100 lists. It takes even more when said players have yet to participate in anything more than a single preseason game, but this rookie class is already creating a pulse through this camp that this season won't be as disappointing as 2012.

"We had to get younger, because that's how we try to build this thing -- through the draft," Colbert said. "So we had to make the most of the opportunity. When you're picking 17th or 18th, as we did through the draft, you have the chance to get some good players. It's just trying to do our job and finding the right guys."

Specifically, linebacker Jarvis Jones (first round), running back Le'Veon Bell (second round) and receiver Markus Wheaton (third round) look like they will contribute immediately. They bring power and energy and speed to the team. Jones could be a disruptive edge presence, replacing Harrison opposite linebacker LaMarr Woodley. Bell should be a productive feature back. Wheaton's slot prowess allows Emmanuel Sanders to move back outside -- where he is more of a natural fit -- compensating for the loss of Wallace.

"They've been impressive," Keisel said. "Wheaton's been impressive. JJ has been impressive and Le'Veon has been tough, too. And we said that in OTAs we've got to have some young guys step in and play football the way we play ball, and those guys have looked good."

Jones is a top-10 talent, someone with the perfect attributes to fit **** LeBeau's menacing 3-4 look. Many teams were scared off by a neck injury he suffered in college, but Steelers doctors were comfortable with him. At the combine, Colbert didn't even schedule a meeting, figuring there was no way the kid would be available when he picked. Then, when Jones ran a sluggish 4.9 40-yard dash at Georgia's pro day, Colbert immediately sought out Jones' agent, Joel Segal, knowing Jones had the ability to help create more sacks and turnovers, something lacking a year ago.

"I said, Joel, we've got to get him in for a visit, I think we're going to have a chance," Colbert said. "The rest of his workout was exceptional, he just didn't run fast. So the medical part we were comfortable with, but when we brought him we did more work just to make sure, and came away with the same feeling that [his neck] was never an issue for us. We're just very fortunate he fell to us where he did."

Bell was held out of the preseason opener while still recovering from a minor knee issue. He was elevated to the first team on the depth chart Wednesday, to the surprise of no one here who has watched him perform in OTAs or this camp. Pittsburgh couldn't keep a consistent running back in place a year ago, but coach Mike Tomlin has emphasized more zone techniques into the scheme. The Steelers averaged about five yards per carry against the Giants on Saturday despite not really even trying to throw the ball, and Bell has the combination of size and explosion to be dangerous.

"Do you play fantasy football?" one member of the staff here asked me. "Because if you do, you'd better take this kid by the late rounds."

At Tomlin's request, Bell dropped down to about 230 pounds, 20 pounds lighter than at times at Michigan State. Since Bell was a junior in 2012, the Steelers hadn't had a scout focus on him, so Colbert dispatched a set of eyes to track him in the Spartans' bowl game. They met with Bell at the combine and his pro day, spent time with Bell's mother and were as comfortable with the young man's makeup as they were his running ability.

"If he had a 1-yard hole, he could get 5 yards," Colbert said, "which is going to be the case a lot of times in the NFL."

Bell said: "I feel like in whatever role I'm given, I'll be able to succeed."

Bell figures to play this week against Washington and as long as he stays healthy, the Steelers should have no problem reigniting their ground game.

"Until these guys do it in a game -- running backs especially -- you feel a quiet enthusiasm," said offensive coordinator Todd Haley, now more comfortable in his second year at the helm. "But he's showing all good signs -- everything you want to see except for getting hurt, which is part of it too."

Wheaton missed all of the offseason, save for minicamp, due to a ridiculous NCAA rule preventing him from joining the Steelers until after college graduation (his school, Oregon State, is on the quarter system), but is pushing Jerricho Cotchery as the Steelers' No. 3 receiver in the slot. He has track speed and good hands and has been humble and eager -- anything but a diva (I wouldn't be surprised if the Steelers shopped Cotchery should Wheaton keep this up).

Asked where he preferred playing, slot or outside, Wheaton said, quietly and sincerely: "Just on the field."

To that end, he has also already fit in on some special teams units and is slated for a shot as a return man in Monday night's game at Washington.

"For a guy who missed the entire offseason except for the minicamp to never once feel like he was behind was amazing," Haley said, "especially playing inside. He's a smart guy, the kind of guy you like to have around. He has a great mentor in Jerricho, and he's doing a great job for us, and he showed up in the game, which was another great sign. So we're excited."

The Steelers also feel as if 2012 draft picks David DeCastro (guard) and Mike Adams (tackle), who barely played as rookies, are ready to solidify their perpetually shifting offensive line. Same goes for Marcus Gilbert, a third-year tackle who missed much of last season to injury as well. Adams is working now on the left side with Gilbert on the right, and All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey already anchors the unit.

Defensively, they are old at safety, where you can usually survive it, and inside linebacker, where experience can be key in relaying information. Otherwise the transition is already afoot on that side of the ball, too. And on offense, only two starters are beyond their mid-20s.

"On offense, save for Ben and Health Miller, both at the 31 mark, everyone is under 27," Colbert said. "So if that line can come together, I think we'll be OK. The good news is they're young; the bad news is they're young, and they have to come together. So we'll see where that goes."

There's at least a decent chance it goes right back to the top of the AFC North.

 

[Faust]

Broncos notes: Summer school in session

By Jeff Legwold | ESPN.com

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Quarterback Peyton Manning has often spoken about how the Broncos' defense, with its speed all over the formation, can make the team's offense better during training camp.

That the first-team against first-team work -- the kind that rarely, if ever, is done during the regular season as a team gets ready for an opponent each week -- can be revealing for a playoff hopeful.

"Because you've got a lot of talent over there [on defense] and they compete hard on every play, they don't give you anything,'' Manning said. "That's what you want.''

Safety Rahim Moore believes turnabout helps just as much. That a Broncos defense good enough to finish second in the league in points allowed last season, is getting as much, or more, from dealing with Manning every day.

"Wes Welker is a great receiver, I believe he will be a future Hall of Famer one day, [Demaryius Thomas] is a rising star, Eric Decker is a rising star and Peyton Manning is the greatest quarterback to ever touch a football to me,'' Moore said. " ... You feel like you go against those guys every day, makes you ready for anything.''

It doesn't always go without the rough spots at times, however. Wednesday Moore and running back Ronnie Hillman got into a brief post-play scuffle in a particularly heated set of team drills.

"I look at it like if you're not really out there fighting, having some kind of controversy, you're not really playing,'' Moore said.

"It's like two brothers fighting ... you slap 'em on the side of the head and move on,'' coach John Fox said.

In other Broncos news:

• Broncos rookie running back C.J. Anderson, who led the team in rushing in the preseason opener in San Francisco last week, believes he got an advance look at what an NFL no-huddle offense looks like in his last season at California.Anderson, who was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted rookie immediately following the draft, rushed for 790 yards in his senior season with the Bears. And in the summer before the 2012 season began, former Cal coach Jeff Tedford spent a week with the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick.
  
  Tedford, at the time, said he was looking for some inspiration to use tight ends and running backs more ways out of a spread look.
  
  "I think it gave me a glimpse of what that kind of offense would like in the NFL,'' Anderson said. "It gave a feel for what it looks like on Sunday. ... I think it's helped me some here.''
  
  Anderson got a few additional plays in Wednesday's practice because Knowshon Moreno was out with a bruised right knee. It meant Anderson got to run a few plays with the second-team offense. The Broncos have liked Anderson's work with the ball in his hands, but want to see him far more consistent in his assignments and avoid the concentration lapses he's shown at times.

• At times Manning takes practice to the next level when it comes to trying to cover every scenario in training camp. the Broncos will, despite the expected presence of a few thousand fans at the last open-to-the-public practice of camp Thursday morning, likely break out the jumbo speakers for the workout.The Broncos use the speakers to pump in crowd noise during the regular season -- when the offense has the ball in the days leading up to road games and when the first-team defense is working in the days leading up to home games. The Broncos want to give the offense a little taste of a road atmosphere before the team heads to Seattle Friday afternoon for Saturday night's preseason game.

• In the bad is good department, Broncos running back Ronnie Hillman made a big play out of a botched one during team drills. Hillman fumbled the ball forward as he tried to turn the corner around the right end and the ball bounced twice before he scooped it up on a dead run. Hillman then outraced all of the defenders, including safety David Bruton, for what would have been a scoring run.

• Rookie wide receiver Lamaar Thomas, who left Tuesday's practice after a blow to his helmet in a red zone drill, is being treated for a concussion. He was held out of Wednesday's practice. ... In addition to Moreno, safety Quinton Carter (knee), running back Jeremiah Johnson (toe), wide receiver Quincy McDuffie (hamstring) and wide receiver Greg Orton (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. ... Former Broncos coach Red Miller, who guided the team to its first Super Bowl appearance to close out the 1977 season, was at Tuesday's practice. ... NASCAR veteran Kurt Busch is expected to visit Thursday's practice.

 

[Faust]

Wednesday's Colts camp observations

By Mike Wells | ESPN.com

ANDERSON, Ind. -- Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Josh Chapman waited almost two years for last Sunday.

The second-year defensive tackle hadn't played in a game since he helped the University of Alabama win the national title in January 2012.

Chapman was finally on the field during the Colts' preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

"It felt pretty good," Chapman said. "I got a little nervous about it but at the same time, when I got the first pop it was back to normal. ... Every day it feels better and better, more punch on it and just cutting on it, it feels great."

Chapman was the Colts' fifth-round draft choice in 2012, but missed all of last season with a torn ACL, which he played with most of his senior season at Alabama.

Chapman's numbers weren't eye-popping against the Bills -- four tackles -- but all that matters is the "900-pound safe in the middle of the line of scrimmage" is back playing again. Chapman has the size -- 340 pounds -- to clog the middle of the line and draw multiple blockers to him, which will open things up for his teammates. Chapman is behind Aubrayo Franklin on the depth chart.

"I think Josh is a bigger-bodied guy," Colts defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said. "He's got a great amount of weight behind him. ... He's a little sore, which is expected, but he did a fabulous job for us."

Other camp highlights Wednesday:

• A day after dropping at least four balls, receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey made up for it Wednesday when had he one of his best practices at camp, catching two touchdown passes from quarterback Andrew Luck. The Colts need Heyward-Bey to produce like that on a regular basis.

• Manusky said he'd like for the starters on defense to play about 15 plays in Sunday's game against the New York Giants. "It depends on how old they are, too," he said. "You get the 30-plus guys like Cory [Redding] and Aubrayo and Robert [Mathis], it's a little bit different. You kind of want to take care of them a little bit."

• In a move that had the defensive players pumped up during a pass-rush drill, Mathis had tackle Anthony Castonzo convinced he was making a high outside move, but then he suddenly spun in the opposite direction to get to the quarterback dummy. Fellow defensive lineman Cory Redding ran over to Mathis and started dumping water on him to cool him off.

 

[Faust]

Packers practice report: Neal stands out

By Rob Demovsky | ESPN.com

GREEN BAY, Wis. – For the first time this training camp, the full Mike Neal was on display.

Though Neal actually returned to practice last week on a limited basis after missing the first week and a half because of an abdominal injury, Wednesday was the first time the Green Bay Packers lifted all the restrictions on him.

And it was the first extended look at how Neal might be able to perform in his new role as a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker. Neal, who lined up exclusively at defensive end the last three seasons, played mostly as a stand-up rush end on Wednesday and had what coach Mike McCarthy called “his best practice” of training camp.

“I think really today was probably the first time we saw what we were hoping he’s about, his ability to be a difference maker as far as the ability to put him in one-on-one situations and for him to win, and to win consistently,” McCarthy said.

Neal worked with the outside linebackers during the individual position periods and was particularly effective in the one-on-one drills against running backs charged with picking up blitzes. In the one-on-one drills against the offensive linemen, Neal went 2-2. Interestingly, both of his wins came as an inside rusher and both of his losses came at outside linebacker.

As we wrote last week, Neal dropped about 15 pounds and is down to 275 pounds. He had no trouble dropping into coverage on Wednesday and defending a pass to receiver Alex Gillett. He also made a tackle for loss on a running play during a half-line drill.

“I think it just best suits me,” Neal said of his new role. “I don’t think I’m a bad run player as a defensive end, but I think using my athleticism is probably the biggest thing, so it just puts me in a better role to be able to use my athleticism.”

Neal is expected to make his preseason debut on Saturday against the St. Louis Rams.

In other developments from Wednesday’s practice:

• With right guard T.J. Lang back at practice after sitting out the previous two days because of a sore back, we finally got a look at where the competition stands at right tackle. Don Barclay, who filled in for Lang at right guard on Monday and Tuesday, got most of the first reps at right tackle ahead of Marshall Newhouse, but the rep count was split almost evenly. In the one-on-one drills, Barclay went 2-2 and Newhouse 2-1.

• Cornerback Davon House, coming off what he called “hands down” the worst game of his life on Friday against Arizona, got burned again in coverage. Aaron Rodgers completed four passes – all to James Jones – against House during the no-huddle period, including a 22-yard touchdown on which Jones smoked House down the right sideline.

• Linebacker Sam Barrington was the only rookie on the No. 1 kickoff-return team, while cornerback Micah Hyde was the only rookie on the top punt-return team.

• Hyde had the play of the day on defense when he intercepted a B.J. Coleman pass in the end zone while falling down. Hyde reached behind him, tipped the ball to himself and caught it while he was on his back.

• Running backs DuJuan Harris and Eddie Lacy both took part in team periods, but on a limited basis, after being restricted to individual drills earlier this week.

Medical report: A day after saying he wasn’t being smart when he tried to play through a sore biceps, receiver Randall Cobb was held out of practice.“He had swelling after yesterday’s practice, so he won’t go tomorrow,” McCarthy said. “I know they wanted to give him at least two days to let it calm down.”

McCarthy said it would be a stretch for Cobb to play Saturday at St. Louis.

Oft-injured running back James Starks missed Wednesday’s practice but only because of a chest illness.

In addition to Lang, defensive tackle Ryan Pickett (personal reasons) and tight end Ryan Taylor (knee) returned to practice.

Others who missed practice were WR Charles Johnson (knee), S Sean Richardson (neck), CB Casey Hayward (hamstring), CB Tramon Williams (knee), OL JC Tretter (ankle), T Bryan Bulaga (knee), T Andrew Datko (concussion), T Derek Sherrod (leg), TE Andrew Quarless (quad), WR Jordy Nelson (knee), DE Datone Jones (ankle) and DE Jerel Worthy (knee).

 

[Faust]

Josh Morgan sees explosiveness returning

By John Keim | ESPN.com

RICHMOND, Va. -- As the pass arrived, two defenders, neither more than several yards away, closed in on Josh Morgan. The same scenario last year produced a quick collision and little, if any, yards after the catch. This time, Morgan caught the ball, planted quickly and dashed upfield for seven more yards.

A subtle, yet potentially meaningful play. There’s no way, Morgan said, that he would have made that cut last year when playing with seven screws in his ankle.

“Not at all,” Morgan said.

But the screws are removed and his surgery to repair a broken bone in his lower right leg happened nearly two years ago. The Redskins are hoping that translates into more explosion and more yards after the catch. He won’t be transformed into a world class sprinter, but the Redskins hope he can do more of what he did with San Francisco before his injury in October 2011.

“Last year he could hardly cut,” Washington coach Mike Shanahan said. “You could see that. He wanted to compete, but he really had a hard time getting in and out of breaks. We kept waiting for him to improve and it didn’t. But he played through it and played hurt and played tough. Now you can see much improvement in his ability to cut.”

Last season, the first with his hometown Redskins, Morgan averaged 4.9 yards after the catch, according to Elias Sports Bureau. Some of that stemmed from the style of routes, featuring inside routes over the middle with little room to maneuver. But some of that was a result of someone who couldn’t create more separation. In his last 59 catches with San Francisco, Morgan averaged 6.4 yards after the catch.

“It was very frustrating,” Morgan said of his 2012 season. “You play a lot of mental games with yourself but you look at the bigger picture. Every day you’re out there getting a chance to work at your dream job and you do it in front of your city and family and friends.”

The coaches gave him pep talks on occasion because Morgan was not producing the way he wanted. They reminded him that if he were able to produce a team-best 48 receptions and 510 yards (but no games with more than 62 yards) with all those screws in his ankle -- not to mention tearing ligaments in both hands. Morgan's blocking also earned praise, a key component of the outside zone running game used by the Redskins.

Teammates knew he was dealing with pain all season as well.

"Josh is a strong-handed guy and physical receiver," Redskins receiver Santana Moss said. "He showed he could run when it was time to run and he showed he could snatch the ball out of the air. He could catch a BB in the dark. I could tell he was dealing with [the leg] but when it came time to play he didn't show he was favoring it. ... I can tell he's freer now and not favoring it."

Morgan still has the residue of his ankle injury in the form of scar tissue, but said most of the stiffness in his ankle is gone. Now Morgan wants to prove he has more explosiveness after his 2011 injury which left doctors pessimistic.

“[Doctors] basically told me I might be done because of where it is and the severity of the injury,” Morgan said. “They said it will never be the same.

“But I feel good. I’m almost back.”

 

[Faust]

Texans Observations: Time for more in postseason from this group

Pete Prisco

HOUSTON -- For much of their existence, the talk around the Houston Texans was about the playoffs, or whether they would ever get there.

Now it's about a lot more.

Two consecutive division titles, two consecutive playoff appearances, including two playoff losses to end their season, means the Texans are taking over as the IAAJ team in 2013.

IAAJ: It's All About January.

"An organization has to taste January," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "This organization didn't know it existed. We went and found that a couple of years ago and now we have a group of players who have played in four playoff games, two good ones, two bad ones. But the most important thing I can do is keep our asses focused on the first game. They know what January is like. You have to play as good as you can play. They understand that. I have to keep them focused on what it takes to get there."

Another AFC South title would be nice, but if they do that and have another playoff flameout, the season will be a failure. There is no other way to look at it now.

"To get out of the cocoon and turn into the Super Bowl butterfly, you have to change you mind-set," Texans defensive end Antonio Smith said. "Just like we changed our mind frame of becoming a winning organization. Just the way you changed your mind frame then. You are a winning organization. You are a winning team. Now it's just time to raise the goals and raise the bars. Start reaching higher. Start demanding more, and then you start to expect it."

The Texans are the favorite in their division, but anything less than a deep-playoff run will get the questions coming again.

Observations• If you're looking for a rookie receiver in fantasy, take a hard look at DeAndre Hopkins. The first-round pick out of Clemson appears to be the perfect complement to Andre Johnson. He isn't a burner, but he knows how to play faster than his speed and he has great hands and body control. The Texans are thrilled with what they've seen so far. That's big since it appeared at times in the second half of last season that quarterback Matt Schaub passed on chances to other weapons too much to try and force the ball to Johnson. The Texans need weapons to emerge. Keshawn Martin, a second-year player, also looks improved. "I think we have a chance to be more balanced than we have," Kubiak said.

• Speaking of Schaub, he tailed off in the second half of last season, which led to questions about whether he was the guy for the long term. That isn't the case with Kubiak, but he understands the heat after two seasons that ended with playoff losses. "The message that is sent in this business is the bigger the game, the bigger the quarterback has to play," Kubiak said. "That's fair. That's part of it. When people start talking about you can't win the big one, it means you are arguably close. That's a good thing. "

• The Texans are thrilled to have linebacker Brian Cushing back working in practice. He tore his ACL last year on a cut-block against the Jets and has had to work hard to get back on the field. He didn't play in the preseason opener, but to see him work here he's close to being all the way back. He might play this week against Miami. Cushing was missed in the middle of that defense. When he went out, they lacked the big thumper at linebacker and a big part of their pass defense.

• Safety Ed Reed, who is on the PUP list, wasn't here working because he was in Atlanta continuing his rehab from hip surgery. The Texans are hopeful he will be ready for the regular-season opener. That might be pushing it. If he can't go, rookie D.J. Swearinger isn't expected to start. He missed a tackle last week that enabled the Vikings' Zach Line to run for a long touchdown. Shiloh Keo, who lacks great range, is running with the first team now. The Texans took a risk letting Glover Quin leave via free agency, and it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Reed's skills are clearly diminished.

• Another player who hasn't practiced yet is running back Arian Foster. He was working on the side the past two days and had missed 25 practices as of Wednesday. He was first hindered by a calf injury and then had problems with his back. Foster's per-carry average fell last season, so he needs to get back and show that he's still the elite back many think he can be.

• The Texans are high on right guard Brandon Brooks. They think he has a chance to develop into a Pro Bowl guard. If he can, the right side will be markedly improved. Right tackle Derek Newton played through a knee injury last season and struggled. He is healthy now. Another young lineman to watch is rookie fifth-round pick David Quessenberry. He has done some good things inside at guard after being a college tackle.

• Corner Kareem Jackson had an impressive season in 2012. Now he might be posed for even more. Jackson has trimmed down and Kubiak was raving about him. With Johnathan Joseph healthy on the other side, the Texans have a heck of an outside duo.

There, I said it• J.J. Watt will take down the sack record.

• Hopkins will be in the battle for Offensive Rookie of the Year

• Reed will be a major disappointment. He isn't that good anymore.

• Tate will take away carries from Foster.

• The Texans will win the AFC South.

• Owner Bob McNair will start to get antsy when they don't get past the first round.

 

[Faust]

Steelers remain old school in training camp

By Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com

LATROBE, Pa. -- Watching the Pittsburgh Steelers practice at St. Vincent College takes you back to the time when NFL teams held training camps at picturesque small colleges in the countryside. The Steelers, though, are going even more old school this year with how they're practicing.

During Pittsburgh's two-hour session Wednesday, I saw more hits than I witnessed in all of my previous visits in the division combined. And it's not simply putting a hit on a teammate. Three tacklers ganged up to bring running back Jonathan Dwyer to the ground. Cornerback Josh Victorian gave a shot to the head of rookie wide receiver Markus Wheaton. Cornerback Curtis Brown delivered a shot on running back LaRod Stephens-Howling so hard in the open field that it put him on his back.

The Steelers are taking this aggressive approach -- coach Mike Tomlin calls it "training camp mode" -- for a reason.

"We got a lot of young people, ones that we're trying to sort out and we're trying to get as many ways as we can to distinguish themselves," Tomlin said after the team's evening practice. "To be quite honest with you, when you introduce physicality to a practice session, it's an opportunity for people to distinguish themselves. We have a lot of young linebackers and safeties and it's the nature of those position. The abiltiy to get people on the ground is a big part of the evaluation process. So, we're practicing in that manner."

Tomlin added, "Obviously, we have some young running backs trying to distinguish themselves. What better way to evaluate them? It just made sense for us. There is some risk involved in it; such is life. We got some things that we have to find out in Latrobe and we have a short amount of time to do it."

Here are some quick notes from Wednesday:

• The Steelers welcomed back one of their injured cornerbacks when Brown had a full practice. He injured his ankle nine days ago and hadn't practiced since. Brown moved around well while working with the second team.

• It was a tough day for the backup quarterbacks in the two-minute drills. Bruce Gradkowski hung a pass to the sideline, where it was intercepted by Victorian. Landry Jones suffered the same fate when safety Shamarko Thomas picked him off across the middle.

• Pittsburgh spent about 20 minutes of practice on special teams. That was a major area of weakness in the preseason opener.

• As I wrote earlier, the most noticeable change to the Steelers' depth chart was rookie Le'Veon Bell being listed as a co-starter with Isaac Redman at running back. "I wanted it to represent how we intend to work in the game," Tomlin said. "It speaks for itself."

 

[Faust]

Mark Sanchez, Geno Smith have similar stats for JetsBy Dan Hanzus

Around the League Writer

So who's winning the New York Jets' quarterback competition between Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith? According to the numbers, it's a dead heat.

With the team breaking camp in Cortland on Wednesday, Seth Walder of the New York Daily News took it upon himself tally up the statistics of the two contenders.

The numbers are similar. Eerily similar.

@SethWalderNYDN

My (real) full Cortland QB stats: Sanchez 71-125 (56.8%), 10 TDs, 4 INTs, 10 sacks. Geno 70-124 (56.5%), 10 TDs, 5 INTs, 14 sacks. #nyj

What jumps out to us is that Smith's numbers are as good as Sanchez's even after the rookie's "brutal" four-interception practice Wednesday. Smith's play has dipped over the last week and a half, but he proved in Cortland that he can hang with the competition.

It also can be viewed as an indictment of Sanchez, who should be able to outshine a rookie at this stage.

The Around The League Podcast is now available on iTunes! Click here to listen and subscribe.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Vince Young has "really started to get comfortable" in the Packers' offense and "gotten rid" of a lot of rust.
Young has six practices under his belt. "He is clearly different today than he was this time last week," coach Mike McCarthy said. "He's progressing. We've been able to spend some extra time with him. It's been beneficial." It would be a surprise if Young isn't named the backup to Aaron Rodgers.


Source: FOX Sports Wisconsin

Fred Davis "continues to look good" at practice.
Davis' recovery from an October Achilles' rupture has been as smooth as it gets. He's expected to play roughly a half in Monday's second preseason game. Davis was on pace for a 54/742/0 line when he went down in Week 7 last year. He's a TE2 with a dash of upside this time around.


Source: Washington Post

Jermaine Kearse and Stephen Williams have reportedly been the "class" of the Seahawks' backup receivers group throughout training camp.
Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, and Doug Baldwin are locked in as the top three after Percy Harvin's hip surgery, but the rest of the depth chart is wide open. Kearse was tabbed as a "player to watch" in the spring, and he's carried his fine play over into the summer. Fourth-rounder Chris Harper is also in the mix.

Related: Stephen Williams

Source: KJR 950

 

[Faust]

New targets not slowing Brady

It's early, but New England's revamped receiving corps looks promising

By John Clayton | ESPN.com

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- So much for feeling sorry for Tom Brady.

The offseason completely altered Brady's bunch of pass-catchers as camp opened minus his seven top targets from 2012. Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, Deion Branch, Brandon Lloyd and Danny Woodhead were gone. Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman were injured.

The Patriots spent two days going against the Philadelphia Eagles' defense, and Brady dominated with a completely new cast of receiving characters.

That bodes well for the future. If Brady can succeed with a younger group of receivers and then get Gronkowski back, watch out.

Here are the five things I noticed at Patriots training camp.

1. Position battles: So far so good for a new group of pass-catchers. Danny Amendola has already established a Wes Welker-type of relationship with Brady. Rookies Aaron Dobson, Josh Boyce and Kenbrell Thompkins have done well. At tight end, undrafted rookie Zach Sudfeld is challenging veterans Daniel Fells, Jake Ballard and Michael Hoomanawanui for playing time. Their successes may minimize the fullback competition between James Develin and Ben Bartholomew. Who needs a fullback when you have enough weapons at tight end and wide receiver? On defense, Tommy Kelly seems to have fit in at the defensive tackle spot next to Vince Wilfork. Bill Belichick has good size at defensive tackle. A nice battle is brewing at strong safety. Adrian Wilson is the type of leader and run-stopper who appeals to Belichick. Steve Gregory is a good fit against passing teams. Week to week, Belichick will probably come up with different game plans that will use Wilson more one week and Gregory more the next, depending on the opponent.

2. The young receivers: The debate during the dual practices of the Patriots and Eagles was whether the success of the Patriots' passing offense was more due to the solid play of the young receivers or the poor play of the Eagles' defense. Regardless, Brady has to be excited about what he witnessed. Drafting wide receivers has been a long-term problem for the Patriots. The last drafted receiver who succeeded as a long-term starter was Deion Branch, who was taken in 2002. From 2003 through 2012, the Pats used four No. 2 or No. 3 draft choices on wide receivers and went 0-for-4. To succeed with Brady, a receiver not only has to run precise routes, but he has to think the way Brady thinks. That isn't easy. Brady has developed a deep playbook of successful plays since 2001. Though offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels doesn't have an overly complicated scheme, it's up to the receivers to win Brady's confidence. If they don't, they don't get the ball and they become former Patriots. Dobson, a second-round pick, is off to a great start. He's a big receiver with good hands and decent speed. He was unstoppable against the Eagles Wednesday. Boyce, a fourth-round choice, excelled on some of the shorter routes. The big surprise was Thompkins, who's clearly going to make the team. He was a promising receiver at the University of Tennessee who left after the departure of Lane Kiffin. He had some off-the-field issues after the move that lowered his stock. His body is similar to Dobson's, and he looks almost as fast. Still, don't jump to too many early conclusions. Looking good in the preseason is one thing. Carrying it over to the regular season when Brady is very demanding is another.

3. Filling the void at tight end: No one knows for sure whether Gronkowski will be ready for the start of the regular season. He's had back surgery and four operations on his forearm. Hernandez is in jail. But the Patriots may have come up with a sleeper in Sudfeld. The undrafted rookie has been running with the first string and catching the ball very well. Ballard has done some good things in camp, but you wonder if his surgically rebuilt knee can hold up. Fells and Hoomanawanui are the veteran options for Brady. The key, though, is getting back Gronkowski.

4. Good-looking secondary: Physically, the Pats have the makings of a good pass defense. Aqib Talib has had off-the-field issues and injuries, but he's a talented cornerback just a small touch below Pro Bowl level. Alfonzo Dennard, who also has had off-the-field problems, can cover. That allows Devin McCourty to be at safety working with either Wilson or Gregory. The corners have the talent to challenge receivers in press coverage at the line of scrimmage. For that to work, though, the Pats need to develop a second pass-rusher. Chandler Jones had only six sacks last year, but I wouldn't be surprised if he gets at least eight this year. The pass rush has been a problem for Belichick the past couple of years. If the Pats can develop a second pass-rusher, Jones' sack and pressure numbers will increase.

5. Tim Tebow's quiet summer: Tebow-mania is virtually nonexistent at Patriots training camp. One of the most popular players in football, Tebow is an afterthought with the Pats. He's basically being used as a third quarterback, which doesn't mean a lot for a team that usually keeps two on the 53-man roster. He's getting some work as a punt protector, but rarely is he seen at positions other than quarterback, even late in practice. Based on that, you wonder if he's going to make the team. Playing time during the preseason is his only hope. In his corner is McDaniels, the Patriots' offensive coordinator who drafted Tebow when McDaniels was the head coach of the Denver Broncos. Belichick is keeping an open mind when it comes to Tebow, but it's up to Tebow to develop some type of role that would convince the Pats to keep him.

 

[Clifford]

Sounds like the rookie rb "competition" in GB is over, if it ever existed.

The Journal-Sentinel says Johnathan Franklin's best chance to be active on gamedays is as a third-down back or returner.

This comes on the heels of a report that Franklin hasn't shown any "wow" factor at camp. He's going to make the final 53-man roster, but being on the 45-man gameday roster could be another story. DuJuan Harris, Eddie Lacy and John Kuhn are all better in pass protection. Franklin has reportedly appeared raw as a kickoff returner.

 

[Faust]

Notebook: Miller leaks irk union; where have the good WRs gone?

Jason La Canfora

Excerpt:

Good hands? Hard to findAs I make my way across the country, and often have four or five hours to contemplate the state of the NFL in a rental car, something has struck me: Where the hell have all of the pass catchers gone?

Looking at rosters and watching practices and talking to decision-makers from city to city, I found myself leaving a camp time and time again generally underwhelmed by the collection of receivers and tight ends on display. And, time and time again, I had a general manager or scout tell me they can't wait for the first cutdown date so they can bring in some receivers or tight ends from someone else's camp and see if they look any better in their team's uniform.

I guess all things are cyclical, but man, I'm in San Francisco a few weeks back and they're auditioning a half-dozen guys in the return game and taking a chance on Austin Collie. I'm in Baltimore last weekend and the other participant in the Super Bowl is signing Brandon Stokley and Dallas Clark. Kansas City is desperate for more pass catchers. The Patriots don't have a receiver on the roster outside of Danny Amendola and Julian Edelman anyone has ever heard of (and I get it, with Tom Brady, you don't need it). The Jets are praying guys like Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow might possibly stay relatively healthy.

The Raiders and Browns badly need skill players; the Eagles have lost a bunch of pass catchers to ACLs already. The Chargers can't keep any receivers healthy it seems. Even the Seahawks, who seemed overloaded at one point, now are without Percy Harvin -- and Sidney Rice is always an injury risk as well. Ditto for Green Bay, which seemed in great shape at receiver before injuries started mounting. There is going to be real demand for guys at this position, as well as offensive line, once teams start releasing players.

And the rare team that might have a surplus of serviceable receivers, I believe, will be able to get decent value in trade. I could see the Steelers shopping Jerricho Cotchery, for instance, and finding a better market than they may have anticipated. The free-agent market has been picked apart, and there isn't much there. The Bengals, once some of their receivers get over nagging injuries, could be in a position of strength at receiver and tight end as well.

Out route for Jenkins in San Fran?Given what I just wrote, this may sound counterintuitive, as the 49ers have indeed been on the hunt for wideouts, but I could see 2012 first-round pick A.J. Jenkins getting cut. He has been beyond frustrating from everything I have heard, and this could be a case where the team just takes its losses and moves on.

The 49ers have made plenty of astute personnel decisions in recent years and have drafted very well, but no one is perfect. Cutting Jenkins would send a signal that no one there is entitled, no matter where you were drafted, and Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh have never struck me as the overly-sentimental type, anyway.

Orakpo creating buzz at Skins campThe Redskins aren't in any rush to do a new deal with pass rusher Brian Orakpo, from everything I have heard, and given his injury issues in the past they want to see how this season plays out. And there's always the franchise tag as well.

But the organization has been buzzing about the camp he is having and the kind of season he could be primed to have. In the past, Orakpo rarely had his way with top left tackle Trent Williams in one-on-one drills. Orakpo putting up 12 sacks or more wouldn't shock me, in which case his price will only go up. But I understand the Redskins thinking here, and while he is a core guy, you want it at the right price and you want to see him stay consistent and healthy.

In the past the Redskins tended to overpay in free agency and in valuing their own emerging your talent, and being pragmatic in this case is a good thing. If Orakpo balls out, Dan Snyder will pay him, gladly. That's never been an issue there.

Wallace not worth the dough?I remain skeptical about the Mike Wallace signing in Miami. With each passing week that $12-million a season seems inflated to me.

Wallace isn't a strong practice performer, he struggled in his contract year and he's just been set with generational wealth. I heard that Dolphins corner Nolan Carroll, not exactly a household name, pretty much had his way with Wallace through OTAs, he's already been nicked up in preseason and he's a guy who shows up in flashes more than on every drive, the way you would expect the fourth-highest paid receiver in the game to do so.

Will be a true difference maker? And can the Dolphins even get him deep on seven-strep drops without a left tackle?

Those are big questions, but I know this much -- Wallace hasn't exactly lit the world on fire since reporting to work as a Miami Dolphin. We'll see how it goes once they start counting in the standings.

Ex-Steelers Colon, Mendenhall latching onWhen veterans sign a one-year “prove it” contract with a new team it doesn't tend to work out in their favor. But in the case of two ex-Steelers, I think it very well could.

Willie Colon is thriving with the Jets and could be set up to get a significant deal as a starting tackle in free agency come 2014, should he stay healthy. Of course, if not for the sequence of freak injuries he'd have probably never left Pittsburgh, so admittedly that's a big if.

Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall is now more fully recovered from his knee surgery, and he has some weapons around him there in Arizona and he will be highly motivated. He knows Cards coach Bruce Arians from their time together in Pittsburgh, and expect he'll be set up well in free agency come March.

 

[Faust]

Rank's 11 Sleepers: Alex Smith is big risk-reward option

 

[Faust]

Dolphins camp notes: Sturgis emerges

By James Walker | ESPN.com

DAVIE, Fla. -- The Miami Dolphins held their final practice of their 2013 training camp on Thursday. The team will get ready to travel to Houston to face the Texans in their third preseason game.

Here are some notes and observations from Thursday's session, which took place inside the bubble due to rain:

• For the first time in five years, the Dolphins had a new kicker take over the position. Rookie Caleb Sturgis was the only kicker in practice after beating out veteran Dan Carpenter, who was cut Wednesday evening. Sturgis didn't do much in practice Thursday, but he’s officially Miami’s kicker for the 2013 season. The rookie was matter-of-fact after winning the kicking competition. “It’s not much of a different feel,” Sturgis said after practice. “It’s the same mindset when I got out there every day.”

• Miami didn’t have to release Carpenter for another two or three weeks. But according to Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin, the timing was right to make a decision. Sturgis will get more reps/kicks to end the preseason and Carpenter has more time to find a job. “We just felt this was the right opportunity to do it for both parties, really,” Philbin said. “Caleb Sturgis is going to need time and practice to prepare for game-like situations. The more game-like situations he can get in, the better. That was certainly a part of it.”

• To fill Miami’s open roster spot left by Carpenter, the team signed defensive end Antwan Applewhite. He’s a six-year veteran who played with the San Diego Chargers and Carolina Panthers. Defensive end is one of the deepest areas of the Dolphins. But Applewhite is happy for the opportunity. “I’m just trying to bring a little bit of experience and any knowledge that I have about the game to the team,” Applewhite said.

• Dolphins starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill had another solid practice to wrap up a good week. However, Miami’s backup quarterbacks struggled. Matt Moore (one interception) and Aaron Corp (two interceptions) both turned over the ball Thursday. Rookie cornerback Will Davis intercepted a tipped pass from Moore, and Corp struggled mightily with picks to linebacker Philip Wheeler and safety Reshad Jones.

• On the injury front, defensive linemen Dion Jordan (shoulder) and Randy Starks (knee) both sat out of practice. Jordan dressed for warm-ups and continued his rehab assignment while the Dolphins practiced team drills. Neither player practiced all week and they appear to be long shots to play in Saturday's game against Houston.

• Josh Samuda continues to play with the starters at right guard, which has been a closely watched position during camp. Nate Garner missed practice this week with a reported shoulder injury and John Jerry (knee) only participated in individual drills. This game against Houston is a good chance for Samuda to prove himself after struggling last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

• This will be a very important game for Miami's bubble players. The Dolphins are starting to fill roles and this third preseason game is a good gauge for where a lot of players stand. Special teams will be particularly important. This will be the best way for fringe players to make the roster.

The Dolphins will be traveling Friday and will take the field against Houston Saturday night at 8 p.m. ET.

 

[Faust]

Camp Confidential: Kansas City Chiefs

By Bill Williamson | ESPN.com

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs and Andy Reid needed each other.

A year ago, as the Chiefs were toiling through their summer preparations, this pairing seemed more than unlikely. It appeared implausible.

The Chiefs were embarking on the Romeo Crennel era. The franchise was focused on salvaging the Scott Pioli leadership by having one of his former New England colleagues take over the coach's headset on a full-time basis after he had guided the team following Todd Haley's dismissal in December 2011. There were no thoughts of Crennel being a temporary caretaker for one of the biggest coaching names in the game. Reid was entering his 14th season in Philadelphia.

But 2012 ended up being an awful year for the Chiefs and for Reid. Change was necessary for both.

When Reid was let go by the Eagles, Kansas City owner Clark Hunt acted swiftly, turning from Pioli and Crennel to Reid. It was a bold move from the Heartland, where the Chiefs usually stay out of the national spotlight.Hiring Reid was bold. And while technically neither Reid nor his new team has accomplished anything just yet, the fit seems right. Reid is resplendent in red. The Chiefs’ players are energized by the top-notch coaching and energy Reid has brought.

“I don’t look to the past and we can’t look to the future yet; all we got is right now,” Reid said. “And the 'right now' is pretty good. … I really like where we are and what these guys are doing.”

While it is just August, the Chiefs look nothing like the 2-14 team they were in 2012. Most teams that earn the No. 1 overall draft pick look like it the following training camp. Instead, the Chiefs look like a complete team with few holes, one that is ready to make a big move.

“We don’t even talk about 2-14 anymore,” said safety Eric Berry, one of six Pro Bowl players from what was, despite the record, a talented 2012 outfit. “We are all focused on getting better and getting coached by Coach Reid and his staff. … We can’t wait to get out here every day to see how we can get better. Everybody feels that way. We’re all so happy right now.”

THREE HOT TOPICS

1. The quarterback:

Thus far, the transition to Alex Smith has been a success in Kansas City. Of course, we won’t find out anything tangible until we see if he can make a difference in the regular season. But so far, Smith has taken to Reid’s coaching and shown he is the leader of this team. He has been good in training camp, and he was excellent in the first preseason game. If Smith can be the smart, mistake-free player he was in his best San Francisco days, the Chiefs can be a real contender. This team has been screaming for solid quarterback play, and it may be about to get it.

“He’s a smart guy,” Reid said of his quarterback. “He gets it. He makes it easy. He doesn’t run out of gigabytes.”

2. Finding a No. 2 receiver:

There aren’t a lot of issues with this roster, but finding a solid No. 2 receiver behind star Dwayne Bowe is a focal point of this camp. Free-agent pickup Donnie Avery will likely be the guy, and he has shown he can be a capable NFL player. He can get open. The team would like to see 2011 first-round pick Jon Baldwin finally develop. He has big ability but has failed to show the consistency to be a top-of-the rotation player. The Chiefs have a varied offense, so this will not be a huge problem, but it would be beneficial if Bowe had some legitimate help opposite of him.

3. Dontari Poe:

If training camp is any indication, Poe has a chance to be among the breakout players in the NFL this season. The No. 11 overall pick of the 2012 draft has been terrific. He has taken to the new coaching. The light has come on. The super-athletic Poe is getting the playbook and has been dominant at times. Nose tackle sets the tone for the defense, and it seems Poe is up to the task. To his credit, Poe made strides late in his rookie season and seems to have carried it over to his second training camp.

REASON FOR OPTIMISM

The Chiefs' roster is loaded. There are not a lot of holes. Sure, the Chiefs could use a deeper group of receivers, a deeper defensive line and a few odds and ends here and there. But in today’s NFL, that is not a deep list of concerns. Add a top coach like Reid, a capable quarterback like Smith and several fine free-agent additions to a roster that featured six Pro Bowl players, and there is a lot to like about this team. This is not your average club trying to rebound from 2-14.

REASON FOR PESSIMISM

There isn’t much not to like here. The worst thing Kansas City has going for it is simply rebuilding from a 2-14 season. Just how many wins can a 2-14 team expect in the first year of a new regime? The Chiefs will be much better. But what does that mean? A 7-9 season in Kansas City would signify great progress. But if the Chiefs want to make a run at the playoffs, they likely will have to go 9-7 or better. A seven-win improvement is never an easy task in the NFL.

OBSERVATION DECK

• The Chiefs like their offensive line. They think they have a lot of depth. Jeff Allen, Geoff Schwartz and Donald Stephenson give the team a lot of options.

• The Chiefs have no remorse over using the No. 1 overall pick in this year's draft on right tackle Eric Fisher. He is a natural talent who works hard and fits in with his teammates. He is a hard-hat player who just happened to be the top pick in the draft.

• The coaching staff is pleased with the way star running back Jamaal Charles has adapted to the offense. He has embraced the chance to catch more balls out of the backfield. For anyone who thought Charles’ role would be diminished because of Reid’s arrival, just look at the New Orleans game last week. Charles touched the ball on eight of the 14 plays the Chiefs’ first-team offense was on the field.

• Players love the scheme of new defensive coordinator Bob Sutton. It is aggressive and player-friendly.

• One of the strengths of this team going into camp was the defensive backfield. It continues to be. This is a deep, talented unit.

• One young player to keep an eye is undrafted rookie receiver Rico Richardson. He is catching everything that comes his way. He's a long shot, but there could be room for him.

• Reid is pleased with the addition of spread game analyst Brad Childress and consultant Chris Ault. They are focusing on the pistol offense and working with both the offense and defense in installing it.

• The Chiefs’ special teams look good. The return game was fantastic against New Orleans.

• Berry came on strong at the end of last season after missing virtually all of the 2011 season with a torn ACL, and he looks to be in top form this camp. Expect a brilliant season from this young star.

• The team likes the work of fullback Anthony Sherman, who was acquired in a deal with Arizona for cornerback Javier Arenas. Sherman will be a part of the offense.

• Fourth-round pick Nico Johnson continues to push Akeem Jordan at inside linebacker. The instinctive, bright Johnson has been a camp standout.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

The Philadelphia Inquirer doesn't project Felix Jones to make the Eagles' 53-man roster.
The Inquirer goes as far to say Jones' "career might be over." The former first-rounder just turned 26 years old, but his explosion has been sapped. He's no higher than No. 4 on the depth chart, and the Eagles may keep just three backs. Jones rushed for 31 yards on eight carries in the preseason opener.


Source: Philadelphia Inquirer & Daily News

Donnie Avery is expected to be the Chiefs' No. 2 wideout.
Avery entered camp behind Jon Baldwin at "Z" receiver. But Baldwin, a 2011 first-round pick, is "still learning" and has had a "tough" month. That leaves Avery, who best fits as a situational deep threat, as an every-down receiver. It's more trouble for Andy Reid and the Chiefs as they try to install a pass-heavy offense under Alex Smith. Dwayne Bowe is going to be a target monster.

Related: Jon Baldwin, Dwayne Bowe

Source: ESPN.com

The Philadelphia Daily News expects Riley Cooper to be on the field in "most" two wide receiver sets.
The turmoil surrounding Cooper's racial slur is already water under the bridge. The playing time will be there, but the upside won't be as he'll focus on blocking in Chip Kelly's run-heavy scheme. Jason Avant will come in as the slot man in three-wide formations and Damaris Johnson will mix in when Kelly wants some speed on the field. None of these three are worth much of a look in standard fantasy formats.

Related: Jason Avant, Damaris Johnson

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer & Daily News

The Texans are hoping Arian Foster (back, calf) will practice Monday.
Foster remains day to day, just as he has been since late May. He has not participated in a single practice all camp, remaining on active/PUP. However, there's no reason to suspect his Week 1 status is in jeopardy. Foster's calf is reportedly 100 percent -- he's just dealing with some back soreness.


Source: John McClain on Twitter

 

[Faust]

Six players (and one unit) that need a big weekend

 

[Faust]

AFC East Preview: Not buying the Miami Dolphins' hype

 

[Faust]

Training Camp Roundup: Rodgers continues to defend his leadership

 

[Faust]

Flacco believes defense will be 'dominant'

By Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com

Quarterback Joe Flacco has been impressed with the Baltimore Ravens' new-look defense, which features the additions of defensive lineman Chris Canty, outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil and inside linebacker Daryl Smith.

"I tell you what, our defense looks really good," Flacco said on "Mike & Mike in the Morning." "The front seven, those guys look like they're going to be dominant. Our secondary, you can argue that it's better than it's ever been. ... I think we have a pretty special group and I think it's going to be exciting to watch those guys go after it this year.

Click right here to listen to the entire interview. Flacco also shares his thoughts on dealing with expectations, the absence of Ray Lewis and more.

BTW, thanks to everyone who is adding Training Camp & Preseason news, observations & tidbits into this thread, as it is very much appreciated!