Bracie Smathers
Footballguy
This fantasy blurb came out yesterday and then two stories came out today to confirm what was said in the fantasy article on both of these players. Good tips on both Peek and Wright.
http://www.ffmastermind.com/os_view_article.php?id=173
now that LB Willie McGhinnest is out with back surgery and LB Antowain Peek will take his slot on the outside and the pass rusher opposite of Whimbley, don’t be shocked if Peek also begins to post fine IDP totals. He had a solid game against the Chiefs (2 solos, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble) in limited play. Suspended Browns OT Ryan Tucker had this to say of Peek.
"I've played against a lot of guys, and he's got it all, baby,"
"In the 3-4, you're standing up and you can see everything coming," Peek said. "When you're playing down, you've kind of got to play it as it comes. This is lot more comfortable. I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do."
One other name to keep on file is CB Eric Wright who had an eye opening debut and will probably be a rare rookie starting cornerback. Rookie corners typically get lots of opportunities as opposing offensive coordinators and quarterbacks pick on them. Wright is up to the challenge.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=...21848&rfi=6
... Saturday night, Peek made two impact plays. He sacked and stripped the ball from Croyle in the first quarter (Croyle recovered the ball), and then on the next Chiefs series, he dumped running back Kolby Smith for a two-yard loss when Smith tried running around the right side.
Not bad for a guy who was just supposed to be the third-down pass rusher when McGinest came off the field. Even defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, after coaching him in Houston in 2003 and 2004, talked more about Peek as a pass rusher than as a run stopper during a news conference at the beginning of training camp.
"Some people looked at Antwan as a 4-3 end (coming out of the University of Cincinnati) and didn't think he was quite big enough," Coach Romeo Crennel said after practice. "Other people looked at him as an outside linebacker and didn't know if he could make the conversion.
"He had experience in the 3-4 when he was in Houston. He also played some defensive end down there. He is pretty well versed in this defense, and we knew that he was a decent player when we got him."
Peek started all 16 games for the Texans only once in his four seasons in Houston. It was in 2005, his best year, when he made 57 tackles and had six sacks for 35 yards.
Dom Capers was fired as Texans head coach after 2005 and replaced by Gary Kubiak. Kubiak switched to a 4-3 defense, and that left Peek in a backup role. When his contract expired, he hit the free-agency trail. He signed with the Browns to be near his home in Cincinnati and because he wanted to play in Grantham's defense again.
"If I come out and do what I have to do, then I'll make a name for myself," Peek said. "It was big having Todd Grantham here. I know he'll get the best out of me. I plan on bringing (the way he played Saturday) for the team every week."
Peek finished the preseason opener with two tackles. By the second quarter he and the other starters were on the sideline.
http://www.chroniclet.com/2007/08/14/brown...eing-picked-on/
Browns’ Eric Wright being picked on
BEREA — The Kansas City Chiefs needed only three plays to go after Eric Wright.
... Wright, a rookie cornerback from UNLV, ran step for step with Kansas City’s Samie Parker on a fly down the sideline. At the last moment, as the ball was about to fall into Parker’s arms, Wright looked back and knocked the pass away.
“I knew they were going to test me like that,” Wright said. “It was nice to get my feet wet. I’m glad the first one went well.”
Wright started in place of veteran Kenny Wright, who’s nursing a sore groin. If Eric Wright keeps up his strong start, the second-round pick will be in the starting lineup opposite Leigh Bodden for the season opener Sept. 9 vs. Pittsburgh.
Wright played the whole first half Saturday. He was beaten off the line by Chris Hannon on a quick slant, but Hannon dropped the ball. Wright made a nice tackle on a short pass later to force a punt.
... He’s been picked on more than Screech in “Saved by the Bell.”
In an afternoon practice of two-a-days, Charlie Frye threw Wright’s way on the first three plays of 11-on-11s. Frye made a good throw to tight end Kellen Winslow on the sideline, threw deep for speedster Tim Carter and hit Braylon Edwards on a hook.
The bad news: three plays, three completions. The good news: Wright was in position on all three.
... Crennel said there’s no grand plan to put Wright in a crucible.
“That’s what happens in the NFL,” Crennel said. “You put a rookie out there, people go after the rookie. That’s all that’s happening. It’s common sense.
“And that’s going to happen in a game. People are going to test a rookie, whatever position he’s playing.”
... Whenever I’m out there, I’m Eric Wright the rookie, and they’re going to pick on me.”
Wright speaks without anger or frustration. Nothing seems to rattle him.
That’s a necessary attribute for a cornerback. Especially one so young who’s being counted on to solidify a position that was a weak link in 2006 after being decimated by injuries.
“As a corner you’ve got to have that swagger, the way you move around on the field,” said receiver Travis Wilson, who played against Wright in college. “He definitely has that, so now it’s just a matter of him understanding the pace of the game, getting comfortable and believing in himself 100 percent and he’ll be a great player.”
http://www.ffmastermind.com/os_view_article.php?id=173
now that LB Willie McGhinnest is out with back surgery and LB Antowain Peek will take his slot on the outside and the pass rusher opposite of Whimbley, don’t be shocked if Peek also begins to post fine IDP totals. He had a solid game against the Chiefs (2 solos, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble) in limited play. Suspended Browns OT Ryan Tucker had this to say of Peek.
"I've played against a lot of guys, and he's got it all, baby,"
"In the 3-4, you're standing up and you can see everything coming," Peek said. "When you're playing down, you've kind of got to play it as it comes. This is lot more comfortable. I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do."
One other name to keep on file is CB Eric Wright who had an eye opening debut and will probably be a rare rookie starting cornerback. Rookie corners typically get lots of opportunities as opposing offensive coordinators and quarterbacks pick on them. Wright is up to the challenge.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=...21848&rfi=6
... Saturday night, Peek made two impact plays. He sacked and stripped the ball from Croyle in the first quarter (Croyle recovered the ball), and then on the next Chiefs series, he dumped running back Kolby Smith for a two-yard loss when Smith tried running around the right side.
Not bad for a guy who was just supposed to be the third-down pass rusher when McGinest came off the field. Even defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, after coaching him in Houston in 2003 and 2004, talked more about Peek as a pass rusher than as a run stopper during a news conference at the beginning of training camp.
"Some people looked at Antwan as a 4-3 end (coming out of the University of Cincinnati) and didn't think he was quite big enough," Coach Romeo Crennel said after practice. "Other people looked at him as an outside linebacker and didn't know if he could make the conversion.
"He had experience in the 3-4 when he was in Houston. He also played some defensive end down there. He is pretty well versed in this defense, and we knew that he was a decent player when we got him."
Peek started all 16 games for the Texans only once in his four seasons in Houston. It was in 2005, his best year, when he made 57 tackles and had six sacks for 35 yards.
Dom Capers was fired as Texans head coach after 2005 and replaced by Gary Kubiak. Kubiak switched to a 4-3 defense, and that left Peek in a backup role. When his contract expired, he hit the free-agency trail. He signed with the Browns to be near his home in Cincinnati and because he wanted to play in Grantham's defense again.
"If I come out and do what I have to do, then I'll make a name for myself," Peek said. "It was big having Todd Grantham here. I know he'll get the best out of me. I plan on bringing (the way he played Saturday) for the team every week."
Peek finished the preseason opener with two tackles. By the second quarter he and the other starters were on the sideline.
http://www.chroniclet.com/2007/08/14/brown...eing-picked-on/
Browns’ Eric Wright being picked on
BEREA — The Kansas City Chiefs needed only three plays to go after Eric Wright.
... Wright, a rookie cornerback from UNLV, ran step for step with Kansas City’s Samie Parker on a fly down the sideline. At the last moment, as the ball was about to fall into Parker’s arms, Wright looked back and knocked the pass away.
“I knew they were going to test me like that,” Wright said. “It was nice to get my feet wet. I’m glad the first one went well.”
Wright started in place of veteran Kenny Wright, who’s nursing a sore groin. If Eric Wright keeps up his strong start, the second-round pick will be in the starting lineup opposite Leigh Bodden for the season opener Sept. 9 vs. Pittsburgh.
Wright played the whole first half Saturday. He was beaten off the line by Chris Hannon on a quick slant, but Hannon dropped the ball. Wright made a nice tackle on a short pass later to force a punt.
... He’s been picked on more than Screech in “Saved by the Bell.”
In an afternoon practice of two-a-days, Charlie Frye threw Wright’s way on the first three plays of 11-on-11s. Frye made a good throw to tight end Kellen Winslow on the sideline, threw deep for speedster Tim Carter and hit Braylon Edwards on a hook.
The bad news: three plays, three completions. The good news: Wright was in position on all three.
... Crennel said there’s no grand plan to put Wright in a crucible.
“That’s what happens in the NFL,” Crennel said. “You put a rookie out there, people go after the rookie. That’s all that’s happening. It’s common sense.
“And that’s going to happen in a game. People are going to test a rookie, whatever position he’s playing.”
... Whenever I’m out there, I’m Eric Wright the rookie, and they’re going to pick on me.”
Wright speaks without anger or frustration. Nothing seems to rattle him.
That’s a necessary attribute for a cornerback. Especially one so young who’s being counted on to solidify a position that was a weak link in 2006 after being decimated by injuries.
“As a corner you’ve got to have that swagger, the way you move around on the field,” said receiver Travis Wilson, who played against Wright in college. “He definitely has that, so now it’s just a matter of him understanding the pace of the game, getting comfortable and believing in himself 100 percent and he’ll be a great player.”
