By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Trying to crack the Arizona Cardinals receiving corps where Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are as talented as any wideout duo and backups Steve Breaston and Sean Morey boast proven special teams value, undrafted rookie Lance Long appears the longest of long shots.
Still, the gritty, 5-11, 186-pound Long keeps catching eyes during training camp with acrobatic, one-handed grabs, his quick burst and intuitive feel for getting open.
Long's is a survival story being played out across 31 other rosters as the NFL's final two weeks of preseason games loom.
It helps that the undrafted receiver out of Mississippi State's tenacity and skill set have an air of familiarity. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt and offensive coordinator Todd Haley are well-versed on undrafted overachiever receivers. They spent 2000 as assistants on then New York Jets head coach Al Groh's staff after Wayne Chrebet rose up from 10th on the depth chart to second on the franchise's all-time catches list with 580 receptions in an 11-year career.
Could Long be Chrebet, 2.0?
"Lance has a lot of similar characteristics to Wayne Chrebet just the way he runs his routes and makes plays," Whisenhunt says. "He has a long way to go to match what Wayne has done. … But it's exciting to see a young player who can do some of those things."
Because of his lack of polish, Long may make the practice squad rather than stick as a fifth or sixth receiver.
He has received repetitions at slot receiver and on kick coverage, and doesn't have a catch in two preseason games.
Teams are looking for that quick slot receiver, a la Chrebet, New England's Wes Welkerand Denver's Brandon Stokley.
"Todd Haley called me Wayne Chrebet 2," Long says. "Watching film, he said, 'That looks like Wayne Chrebet running a route.' It's an honor."
Haley's father, ****, then serving a 10-year tenure as Jets director of player personnel, signed Chrebet in 1995. The former undrafted Hofstra University standout rang up 7,365 receiving yards with 41 touchdowns before a series of concussions ended his career in 2005.
"Some of the guys call me Wes Welker," Long says. "I feel I've got a long ways to go. I just go out there and try to treat every day like it's my last day, my last opportunity to try and make it."
Long was discovered by Cardinals tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens, Mississippi State's tight ends coach in 2005.
"Even though I didn't have great numbers (14 catches in '07), Freddie knew how hard I worked. He called me prior to the draft and said, 'All you can ask for is a chance, Lance,' " Long says.
The last two preseason games will be make-or-break for Arizona's Long shot.
Long has done the math. With Breaston the seeming frontrunner for the third spot created when Bryant Johnson signed with San Francisco, Long is behind third-round draft choice Early Doucet and Morey. He'll have to beat out Jerheme Urban or Jamaica Rector, familiar receivers from Haley's days as Dallas Cowboys receivers coach.
Quarterback Matt Leinart put in a good word for Long after speaking to his defensive backs.
"They hate covering him because he's so quick and he has great hands," Leinart told reporters.
Long has soaked up knowledge from Leinart, Kurt Warner, who sat down and watched film with Long, Fitzgerald, Boldin, Breaston and Morey.
The Sterling Heights, Mich., native has impressed in every way except one. Asked to sing for the team as part of rookie initiation, he was booed off the stage. "He was awful singing," Whisenhunt says. "He better hope he makes it as a receiver."
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nf...8-19-long_N.htm
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Trying to crack the Arizona Cardinals receiving corps where Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are as talented as any wideout duo and backups Steve Breaston and Sean Morey boast proven special teams value, undrafted rookie Lance Long appears the longest of long shots.
Still, the gritty, 5-11, 186-pound Long keeps catching eyes during training camp with acrobatic, one-handed grabs, his quick burst and intuitive feel for getting open.
Long's is a survival story being played out across 31 other rosters as the NFL's final two weeks of preseason games loom.
It helps that the undrafted receiver out of Mississippi State's tenacity and skill set have an air of familiarity. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt and offensive coordinator Todd Haley are well-versed on undrafted overachiever receivers. They spent 2000 as assistants on then New York Jets head coach Al Groh's staff after Wayne Chrebet rose up from 10th on the depth chart to second on the franchise's all-time catches list with 580 receptions in an 11-year career.
Could Long be Chrebet, 2.0?
"Lance has a lot of similar characteristics to Wayne Chrebet just the way he runs his routes and makes plays," Whisenhunt says. "He has a long way to go to match what Wayne has done. … But it's exciting to see a young player who can do some of those things."
Because of his lack of polish, Long may make the practice squad rather than stick as a fifth or sixth receiver.
He has received repetitions at slot receiver and on kick coverage, and doesn't have a catch in two preseason games.
Teams are looking for that quick slot receiver, a la Chrebet, New England's Wes Welkerand Denver's Brandon Stokley.
"Todd Haley called me Wayne Chrebet 2," Long says. "Watching film, he said, 'That looks like Wayne Chrebet running a route.' It's an honor."
Haley's father, ****, then serving a 10-year tenure as Jets director of player personnel, signed Chrebet in 1995. The former undrafted Hofstra University standout rang up 7,365 receiving yards with 41 touchdowns before a series of concussions ended his career in 2005.
"Some of the guys call me Wes Welker," Long says. "I feel I've got a long ways to go. I just go out there and try to treat every day like it's my last day, my last opportunity to try and make it."
Long was discovered by Cardinals tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens, Mississippi State's tight ends coach in 2005.
"Even though I didn't have great numbers (14 catches in '07), Freddie knew how hard I worked. He called me prior to the draft and said, 'All you can ask for is a chance, Lance,' " Long says.
The last two preseason games will be make-or-break for Arizona's Long shot.
Long has done the math. With Breaston the seeming frontrunner for the third spot created when Bryant Johnson signed with San Francisco, Long is behind third-round draft choice Early Doucet and Morey. He'll have to beat out Jerheme Urban or Jamaica Rector, familiar receivers from Haley's days as Dallas Cowboys receivers coach.
Quarterback Matt Leinart put in a good word for Long after speaking to his defensive backs.
"They hate covering him because he's so quick and he has great hands," Leinart told reporters.
Long has soaked up knowledge from Leinart, Kurt Warner, who sat down and watched film with Long, Fitzgerald, Boldin, Breaston and Morey.
The Sterling Heights, Mich., native has impressed in every way except one. Asked to sing for the team as part of rookie initiation, he was booed off the stage. "He was awful singing," Whisenhunt says. "He better hope he makes it as a receiver."
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nf...8-19-long_N.htm
