Looking Forward at a Post McNabb Era: Is Kevin Kolb the Answer?

In four to five years, the Eagles are going to need a well primed quarterback to be waiting in the wings. 2010 or 2011 may be the year to prepare by the draft.

Kevin Kolb has a good look about him under center and has also shown nice game-time execution. Along with his display of potential, Kolb has left an unsettling feeling with most observers by his cruelly highlighted performance against the Ravens.

He’s fighting the “spread offense conversion to pro-style” label. He’s fighting the University of Houston quarterback draft bust history label. He’s fighting time as McNabb’s career with the Eagles looks to be extended. 

Kolb has looked good in preseason, but really hasn’t looked like a franchise quarterback yet. That’s not to say that he can’t be—Kolb just needs more refinement through game-time experience.

The big problem is that Kolb may get a chance to compete for starting job with another franchise before the Eagles are ready for him. If the timing is right, Kolb may very well make the move.

The 2010 draft may be a good opportunity to sure up a competitive environment at reserve and future quarterback. There will be several good looking rookies who should be draft eligible.

Drafting a big name quarterback in 2010 is a bit squanderous and not likely, as the draftee would have to expect to sit for three to five seasons.

Nonetheless, the 2010 crop of quarterbacks run deep, and there will be a quality player available even in the second round.

Sam Bradford, Jevan Snead, and Tim Tebow will likely all be selected before the Eagles 2010 pick unless they trade up, which is unlikely.

Tebow could slip into the late first or second round and he would be a tempting pick if he had a more traditional NFL quarterback game. 

If Tebow were available, I think Reid might not take him—waiting for the second round to get a quarterback. Tebow has been a great college quarterback, but the doubt regarding his conversion to a pro style NFL quarterback makes him a risky pick in the first round.

I would rather see the Eagles select Colt McCoy (6’3″, 210 lbs) of Texas or Pat Devlin  (6’4″, 220 lbs) from Delaware (Transfer from Penn State). It is reasonable to assume that the Eagles will get an opportunity for either of these guys. They would be small projects that might not take poorly to the old pines for a few years.

There are many more unmentioned collegiate quarterbacks returning to school in 2009.  Expect plenty of surprises as these players move up and down the scout rankings.

The 2011 quarterback draft prospects are far too difficult to predict at this time, but the odds of having a quarterback that has the look of a Pat Devlin or Colt McCoy in the second round might be a stretch.

As far as free agency around 2013 or 2014 goes, who knows?

The Eagles are very lucky to have McNabb. He looks like he could play for another six or seven more years though he probably will not.

All things considered, it seems like the 2010 draft would be a good way to hedge the Eagles longer term bet at quarterback.

Will the Buffalo Bills’ Lack of an Elite Left Tackle Kill Their Offense?

Possibly the biggest remaining question with the 2009 edition of the Buffalo Bills surrounds the offensive line—specifically left tackle position. With Jason Peters traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, Langston Walker steps in as the starter.

Walker performed admirably in the first two games last season, playing the entire first game at left tackle and swapping back and forth during the second game.

The question still remains if he will be able to stand up to a full 16-game season at the left tackle position. If the offensive coaching staff  gameplans correctly, he should be able to man the position effectively. Just look at the Arizona Cardinals last season.

They made it to the Super Bowl with Mike Gandy starting at left tackle. Yes, that Mike Gandy who left Buffalo as a disgrace in the fans’ eyes. Yet there he was, protecting Kurt Warner en route to a Super Bowl berth.

Who would you rather have at left tackle? Mike Gandy or Langston Walker? Arizona, and countless other teams, have proven that it is possible to gameplan around an average left tackle to hold up on the offensive line.

The Bills have assembled the personnel on the field to help Walker should he need it. Playing in a division in which the other three teams run a 3-4 defense, he will probably need all the help he can get, which is not a slight against him. A 3-4 defense is simply a faster blitzing defense with the linebackers.

However, the running backs and tight ends who have experience are good blockers. Lining up a tight end on Walker’s outside shoulder and using a running back to chip the pass rusher could certainly help solidify the left side of the line. Protecting the quarterback is not simply about the offensive line, which is why the Bills could turn out just fine without a premier left tackle in the NFL.

It is not just the blockers that determine whether or not an offense is going to deal with a lot of pressure. It also is dependent on the offensive gameplan as a whole.

The Cardinals last year used a lot of quick slants and other passes designed to get the ball out of Warner’s hands early before pressure got to him. Now, I am not saying that Trent Edwards is Kurt Warner, or that Lee Evans and Terrell Owens are Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

However, the three players for the Bills do have the abilities necessary to run a quick West Coast-style offense designed to keep Edwards upright. If Turk Schonert utilizes his weapons correctly, the Bills can succeed without Jason Peters at left tackle.

Oh, and the other starting left tackle in the Super Bowl? Max Starks. Not exactly a Pro Bowl-caliber player, yet the Pittsburgh Steelers still made it to the Super Bowl and won. Just saying.

 

32 Teams In 32 Days- Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders finished 5-11 last year, a record they honestly shouldn’t have had.

They have good skilled players at every position and a pretty good coaching staff. What is it about Oakland then? No one really knows.

But with Russell in his third year, the year most players start to break out, and having Javon Walker and Darius Hayward-Bey as his receivers, this offense could do something this year.

It’s just a matter of getting Walker back on the field, and getting running back Darren McFadden to play to his potential.

Can the Raiders do that this year? The answer is yes.

 

Offseason Acquisitions

Khalif Barnes, OT

Ryan Boschetti, DT

Jeff Garcia, QB

Marcus Johnson, OT

Lorenzo Neal, FB

Erik Pears, OT

Gary Russell, RB

Samson Satele, C (Trade from Dolphins)

 

Players Lost

Rashad Baker, DB

Ronald Curry, WR

Justin Griffith, FB

Jake Grove, C

Kwame Harris, OT

Ashley Lelie, WR

 

The Raiders definitely got more then they lost.

I love the addition of Lorenzo Neal, because he will open lanes for Darren McFadden and Justin Fargaas in that running game. Jeff Garcia will provide a good backup for oft-injured Jamarcus Russell. They also added tackle Khalif Barnes and center Samson Satele who will help this offensive line greatly.

Players Drafted

1(7). Darius Hayward-Bey, WR, Draft Grade: C+

2(15). Mike Mitchell, S, Draft Grade: D

3(7). Matt Shaughnessy, DE, Draft Grade: C

4(24). Louis Murphy, WR, Draft Grade: B

4(26). Slade Norris, DE, Draft Grade: C

6(26). Stryker Sulak, DE, Draft Grade: C

6(29). Brandon Myers, TE, Draft Grade: B

 

The Raiders chose speed over production in this draft.

Michael Crabtree was still on the board, but they chose speedy receiver Darius Howard-Bey instead. Howard-Bey isn’t a bad pick, but they could have gotten him at a later time and they could have gotten a better receiver in Crabtree. S

afety Mike Mitchell is another speedy guy that was chosen too early. He will provide depth behind Michael Huff.

Receiver Louis Murphy was a very good pick in the fourth. I always felt like he was very underrated, and will provide another deep weapon for Jamarcus Russell.

Defensive Ends Schaughnessy, Norris, and Sulak will provide depth on the defensive line. Brandon Myers is more of a blocking tight end, something the Raiders don’t have.

Draft Grade: C-

Breakout Player:Jamarcus Russell, QB.

I believe the Raiders could be the surprise team this year. Players tend to break out in their third season, and Jamarcus Russell could do that. He didn’t play almost at all in his rookie season, so he got his first season behind him last year. Now he knows how everything works, and with the weapons he has, this could be a big year for Russell.

The Raiders got better after they hired Tom Cable as their head coach mid-season. Now that he is their full time head coach, we could see a big improvement. Don’t be surprised if the Raiders turn out to be a playoff team this year.

Projected Record: 9-7.

Michael Vick Playing for the Seahawks in 2010 Should Be a No-Brainier

Is the next stop in Michael Vick’s NFL career the Seattle Seahawks?

The reality is: current Seahawks’ starting quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is going to turn 34 years old this season. 

Back and knee injuries caused the Pro Bowl quarterback to miss nine games last season providing the platform for the upcoming 2009 season to the answer the question: is Matt Hasselback over the hill or just standing on top of it?

One can even make the argument that Matt answered that question in 2008, when a healthy Matt Hasselbeck wasn’t even the best quarterback on the Seahawks roster. 

Comparing Matt Hasselbeck numbers to second string quarterback Seneca Wallace’s, I question why former Head Coach Mike Holmgren didn’t make his decision to go with Wallace earlier last season.

Yes Matt Hasselbeck is a former All-Pro Quarterback, and yes he led the Seahawks to their only Super Bowl appearance in 2005, but in the seven games he played last season he had a quarterback rating of 57.8 and a touchdown to interception ratio of 5 to 10, compared to Seneca Wallace’s passing rating of 87.0 and his touchdowns to interceptions ratio of 11 to 3. 

Meaning, for every touchdown pass Matt Hasselbeck threw, he also threw two interceptions. To say Matt Hasselback stunk up the joint last season is an understatement (my mom hates football and she is puking right now).

Quarterback play like that will lead a team to a 4-12 record year after year. Now some may attribute Matt Hasselbeck’s performance to injuries, but when’s the last time your back affected your decision making?

New Seattle Seahawks head coach Jim Mora knows Michael Vick better than most head coaches in the NFL, because of the three seasons he served as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons during the shamed quarterback’s tenure.

Combined with the age and last year’s lack luster numbers of current starter Matt Hasselbeck, there should be no denying that on some level there is interest in Michael Vick joining the Seahawks.

Looking at all the moves that current General Manager Tim Ruskell has made in the last two off seasons, also supports that claim and suggest he might have a desire to re-assemble the personnel that lead the 2004 Atlanta Falcons to the NFC Championship game, or at the very least mimic their formula for success.

From the naming of Jim Mora and Greg Knapp as Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator, respectively, to signing free agent running backs T.J. Duckett and Julius Jones, to moving up in the 2008 draft to draft tight end John Carlson, Ruskell has assembled the Hawks in the vision of the 2004 Falcons.

So why not complete the transformation by adding the man who ran the show on the field, Michael Vick?

Yes there will be protest from animal rights activist from Seattle to New York, and yes some fans will call in and threaten to not attend games, but baseball has taught us in the steroid era, “if you build it, they will come”  and in the Seahawks’ case, “if you win, they will come” period.

As a dog owner I’m not a Michael Vick apologist, but there is no denying the fact that he was a Pro Bowl quarterback during the time he spent with current Seahawks’ team president and general manager Tim Ruskell, head coach Jim Mora, and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, who all worked with him during Vick’s time with the Falcons.

Combine that with the fact that Jim Mora saw his best success with Vick as his starting quarterback; bringing Vick to the Seahawks is a no-brainer.

When Jim Mora was asked about the issue during the NFL Scouting Combine in February, he said he believes everyone deserves a second chance, but ultimately stated he’s happy with the quarterback situation in Seattle and doesn’t see Vick in the team’s long-term plans.

I question the timing and the overall validity of that statement. If Seahawk management was so happy with the quarterback situation in Seattle, why did they show so much interest in drafting former USC quarterback Mark Sanchez with the fourth overall pick.

Why do so many fans believe Ruskell acquired the Denver Broncos first round pick in next year’s draft, to try and draft one of the elite quarterbacks, coming out of what is projected to be a very good quarterback class?

Michael Vick will be 30 years old to start the 2010 NFL season, and at that point in time he will have been out of football for three years, meaning little wear and tear on a body that should be at its athletic peak.

The Seattle Seahawks would be able to offer Vick something no other team can, “system familiarity.” This means the two years Michael Vick lost in prison, stunting his development as a quarterback, wouldn’t be as drastic returning to a system he was already successful in.

And if for whatever reason Vick was unsuccessful, the Seahawks would have a reliable insurance policy in backup quarterback Seneca Wallace.

With both quarterbacks sharing the same style of play, there would be no risk in having to change philosophy mid season. At the price you would pay for Vick, there is no worry if he flops in taking a big salary cap hit.

While every NFL franchise for the next 12 months will deny interest in Michael Vick they can’t deny that two years ago he was the most electrifying athlete to ever play the quarterback position.

The NFL has shown year after year, with the likes of Ray Lewis and Pac-Man Jones, “if you can play, you will play.”

In regards to the fans of the NFL, when it comes to Vick they will respond like the raucous fans in the Roman Coliseum did in the movie the Gladiator.

At first they will boo him and wished death upon him, but if he is victorious like the Gladiator, they will cheer him.

Now the only question that needs to be answered about Michael Vick playing in the NFL, is where? I’m betting it will be in Seattle as a Seahawk in 2010.

Then a new question will be asked:

“Are you not entertained, is that not what you’re here for?”

Old Joey Galloway May Be Key to New England Offense

Much has been made about Tom Brady’s apparent return to life this past week.

The media storm hit fever pitch with Brady showing up during the NCAA Lacrosse championships at Gillette stadium to throw a football around, addressing the Boston media for the first time, and giving his first in-depth interview with Peter King of SI.

Given that nearly 100 media members were credentialed for his first press conference in nearly a year, it’s clear that all the focus is on him.

Where Brady goes this season, the Patriots (and media) will follow.

One of the claims he, Wes Welker, and Randy Moss have been making since returning to organized team activities is that this version of their offense has the chance to eclipse the output they had in their first year together, the record-setting 2007 season.

More than one writer has scoffed literally at the thought of them scoring another 550+ points, but if they are to have a chance, it will hinge on the abilities of more than just guys named Tom, Wes, and Randy.

Joey Galloway may be the forgotten man in this offense, with little talk about the veteran the Patriots signed this Spring.

The mere mentioning of his name around southern Massachusetts seems to produce, at best, an “Oh yeah, I forgot about him” response from most.

But with Jabar Gaffney following former offensive coordinator to Denver, Donte Stallworth and his Martian alter-ego Nicco (why has nobody ever profiled this guy?) now learning former defensive coordinator Eric Mangini’s new system, and only a host of also-rans on the roster right now, Galloway’s ability to produce as the third WR may be the key to this offense reaching the lofty heights of two years ago.

While Galloway is borderline-ancient by NFL standards at 37, a throwaway line in Peter King’s recent column has the man still running 4.4 second 40-yard-dashes, so his speed is apparently still there.

He didn’t have a great final year in Tampa Bay, injuring his foot and only playing in nine games (four starts), but he’s been durable and very productive in his career, with over 10,000 receiving yards in 14 years.

He’s always been a big play threat despite not really playing with many quality quarterbacks over the years, generally averaging between 16 and 19 yards per reception.

Clearly, Randy Moss is the big play threat in New England, but one of the main problems he’s had to face the last two years is a lack of a complementary option downfield to keep safeties honest.

With Galloway, they have that now. If he’s running 4.4 in the 40, as is reported, it will be all but impossible for any team to consistently double Moss downfield and, even if they do, they’ll have to contend with Galloway.

It’s certainly an interesting proposition and a typically cagey move by a New England front office that has been able to get production out of guys on the tail end of their careers.

If it works out, the Patriots will have a real shot of at least being as potent an offense as they were in 2007. It’ll have to for New England because beyond Welker, Moss, and Galloway, there’s little else in established talent on the roster.

Currently the depth chart is rounded out by Greg Lewis, Sam Aiken, and Matthew Slater.

Aiken is a solid special teams player but hasn’t seen much action with the offense on the field in his single year in New England, ditto for Slater who also returns kicks.

Lewis has had a half-decent career so far, spending his six years in Philadelphia but only catching more than 40 balls one year. At just 28, though, he’s physically still got a lot of years ahead of him.

At the very least, he’ll be entertaining to read about. His Patriots.com profile says he likes internet dominoes and spades and sang the national anthem off-key at a Cubs game.

Well, you learn something every day.

Taking Down Tarkenton

Buffalo Bills B/R Community Newsletter Vol. 3

Welcome to the Buffalo Bills Community here on BleacherReport.com!

In case you missed the first two newsletters (here and here), the point of these short write-ups is to bring the Bills community together and improve communications between all of the Bills fans here.

This newsletter will focus mostly on the community and some ideas to improve it. Included will be monthly/weekly awards during the regular season, ideas for writers, round-table discussion topics, and much more.

The newsletter will come out during both the off season and the regular season.

Right now there is no set date for these newsletters to appear, but by the start of the preseason they will become a weekly event.

Also, there will be a few tweaks each time, based on your suggestions of what you want to see.

Without further adieu, lets get the third newsletter underway!

 

Welcome New Writers!

I haven’t had a chance to welcome all of the new members to the community, so I will do it very informally right now.

Welcome! 

I know that most of the writers jumped aboard because of the CBS Sports competition, but only one person can win that, so I hope that most of the new writers stay because there has been some great work coming out of the Bills B/R section this month!

 

Bills Bleacher Report Community Now on Twitter!

In an attempt to get more great writers to jump on board with us here, along with getting out the great work already in place, I have set up a Bills Community twitter for the writers here.

You can visit the site by going here: twitter.com/billsbr.

As of yesterday when I started it, I will be updating the twitter page with the great work here everyday!

The format of the postings will be the writers last name (to get you guys recognition with the people seeing it), a small overview of the article, and the direct link to the article.

Hopefully this brings in new members to the community here while also getting out the great work done here to new readers.

 

Bills On-line Radio Show

No I haven’t forgotten about it.

I will be looking to start up the show around the start of the preseason, so if anyone is interested, sent me a message, PM, or write a comment in below.

I have narrowed it down to two sites, either blogtalkradio.com or ustream.tv.

I am still looking at which one would be better so we can get multiple people on the air at once.  Right now blogtalkradio is leading the way, but I will be testing both in the near future. 

 

Bills Community Ranks at B/R

With it being the end of the month, I thought I would update everyone on where we stand with the rest of the 32 teams. 

Here is a quick rundown of where we stand for this month:

• Articles: 259 (11th)
• Comments: 337 (24th)
• New Writers: 147 (6th)
• Active Writers: 22 (7th)

I will take no credit for any of these stats of course, seeing as you guys were the ones who kept pumping out great articles.  

With the explosion of new writers, we have now passed both the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, to settle into 2nd in the AFC East in terms of total members.

 

Two Minute Drill

Your ideas, suggestions, and comments about this newsletter are greatly appreciated. 

Any ideas on how to strengthen the community would be great too!

If you need me for anything, you can contact me through my B/R profile, by sending me a private message here on bleacher report or by sending an e-mail to buffbillsfan517@yahoo.com.

I am available at anytime for anything you need or any question to be answered.

Thanks for reading the third volume of the Bills Community Newsletter! Have a great day everyone, and…

LET’S GO BUFFALO!

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Positional Breakdown: The Linebackers

Before we start this breakdown of the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ linebackers, we would like to apologize to our readers for the delay in the release of this post. It has been a hectic few weeks with work and life and we had to take some time away from writing new stuff.

With that said, lets get the ball rolling.

With our breakdowns of the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive line & corner backsnow in the books, it is now time to move on to the greatest group in the NFL, the Steelers linebackers.

This group of men includes the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, James Farrior and Lawrence Timmons, who replaces the departed Larry Foote, in the starting line up.

A ton of press has been given to ‘Silverback’ recently, not for his play on the field or as the DPOTY but for his recent refusal to join his team at the White House to meet the President for his annual ass kissing to the voters among NFL fans.

The tradition has been around a long time where the incumbent President invites the winner of the Super Bowl in for a visit and a player of that team almost never turns down the invitation. James Harrison on the other hand has now turned down both Obama and George W. and has recently taken a ton of heat for his actions.

Here at Pittsburgh Blitz, we commend Harrison for being his own man though. We have nothing but respect for him and in no way see his actions as anything more than a man being true to his beliefs. With that said, let’s move on to the breakdown of the Steelers linebacker position.

 

The Starters

Steelers Position Breakdown of the Linebackers

James Harrison – What more can you ask of the reigning defensive player of the year? Harrison was an undrafted free agent who earned his spot on the team with hard work and dedication.

He has racked up 28.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 14 forced fumbles and was the hero of Super Bowl XLIII with his record setting 100 yard interception return for a touchdown. All this and ‘Silverback’ has only been a starter for two seasons.

Harrison recently turned 31 but he has relatively fresh legs for an NFL player his age, only being a starter for two seasons will help with that.  In his career though, Harrison has went from an undrafted practice dummy to a legit NFL star and possibly the best linebacker in the league.

His play earned him a new contract a few months ago but he should continue to play at the same level regardless since he is used to earning what he gets, he should not lose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel now that he is a rich man.

 

LaMarr Woodley – From Michigan to Pittsburgh, Woodley was Mike Tomlin’s second pick ever as the Steelers coach and in just two short years he went from Clark Haggans back up to a star in the league. He is strong and has a bull rush that beats most tackles in the league and his motor is always running at 120 mph.

Woodley broke onto the scene his rookie year with four sacks but two of them came in the playoffs verse the Jaguars.

Those sacks started a streak that only he has ever had as he is the only NFL play to collect a pair of sacks in four consecutive playoff games, including two in Super Bowl XLIII verse Kurt Warner and the Cardinals, the second which caused a fumble that helped the Steelers seal the win.

Just 28 games into his career Woodley has 15.5 sacks an interception and several forced and recovered fumbles on his resume and at only age 24 he has plenty of time to add to it as well. Former Steelers’ great, Kevin Greene, once said Woodley is the best linebacker he has ever scene.

Here at Pittsburgh Blitz we have to agree that at least he is one of the best we have come across, with the potential to be the best ever.

 

James Farrior – I am sure many fans will have an argument with what I am about to say but Farrior is the best free agent pick up the Steelers have ever signed. The NY Jets’ loss in 2003 was the Steelers’ find for the ages.

Since joining the team he has been the leader of the linebackers and the QB of the defense. He is smart and knows how to play the position with the best of them.

In our opinion, James Farrior is on the brink of being considered one of the best MLB’s to ever play for the Steelers, and that’s saying a lot with the history the team has had with the position. At age 34 though, Farrior has shown no signs of slowing down yet and is still the leader of the leagues best defense.

 

Lawrence Timmons –The former 15th pick of the 2007 NFL draft has had to bide his time as a back up to Larry Foote his first two seasons with the team. The recent release of Foote has changed everything for him though. Timmons is finally penciled in as a starter in the middle of the defense and his time to prove his worth is now.

Timmons has showed the potential to be great and if he can live up to the hype he will add a whole new dimension to the Steelers defense.

With his speed and pass rush abilities Timmons could create havoc on inside blitz’s. Thus forcing offense’s to pick their poison and block Harrison, Woodley or Timmons. Not many teams will have what it takes to block all three.

Timmons also can play OLB which will allow the team to move him around and sub him into several different packages. He is a star in the making and how high he sores is all in how well he performs.

 

Key Role Players

Keyaron Fox – A former third-round choice of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004 and spent four seasons there. He started four games in 2006 for the Chiefs, but his career has mostly been as a backup and special teams player.

The 27-year-old linebacker came to the Steelers in 2008 and helped out as one of the key players on special teams, appearing in 13 games and finishing second on the team with a career-high 21 tackles in kick coverage.

With the departure of Larry Foote to free agency, Fox is now the primary back up to Farrior and Timmons and must step up his game and show he deserves the role.

 

Bruce Davis – Outside linebacker Bruce Davis didn’t make a single play as a rookie—no tackles, sacks or interceptions—which is why he couldn’t wait to get into the weight room and bulk up so he never goes through a season like that again.

A third-round pick in 2008, Davis shouldn’t be labeled a bust because he wasn’t on the field long enough to show he could play. But he knows the pressure is on him to produce this year. Davis must step up this season and show he belongs and the team.

If Davis does, he should be used in situational packages and as a relief hitter for Harrison and Woodley.

 

The Rest of the Pack

Here at Pittsburgh Blitz we are not sold on any of the following players being more then special teamers and depth fillers so we won’t go into depth on each individually. Of them all, Donovan Woods has shown the most promise.

Woods is listed at OLB but has the size to move inside if needed. His play on special teams is what stands out most about him but injuries derailed most of his season in 2008 and we did not get to see enough of Woods to give a real opinion.

Other linebackers listed on the roster are Andre Fraizer, Arnold Harrison, Patrick Bailey and a pair undrafted free agents who are long shots to make the team in Tom Korte and Andy Shantz. Of the two Korte has the best shot at making the squad after impressing the coaching staff during OTA’s with a nice interception off Charlie Batch.

 

Well that’s the lowdown on the linebackers, thanks for reading and your comments are always welcome. Let us know what you think.

*Check back soon for the eighth edition of this nine-part series. Next up we will be the breakdown of the Defensive line.

Pittsburgh Blitz

Palmer Knows Ochocinco Would be Asset to 2009 Cincinatti Bengals

In case you don’t listen to the Petros and Money show on Fox Sports radio (and it’s very possible you don’t since their show just made its way to Cincinnati on April 29), Carson Palmer made a revelation to the Southern California-based duo on Thursday: The Bengals would love to have Ochocinco in camp.

For the first time all off-season, Palmer said something positive about his much maligned wide receiver. “He’s a damn good receiver,” Palmer said on the show Thursday. “That’s obvious, everybody knows that.”

However, Palmer did it admit, that he, like everybody else, is clueless as to when Ochocinco will start taking part in team activities, “When he shows up, he’ll show up and hopefully he’s in great shape and he’s ready to play.”

Palmer also elucidated on comments that he made earlier this off-season to Sirius Radio that maybe the Bengals don’t need Ochocinco. “I never once said anything about not wanting him and not needing him,” the former Pro Bowl MVP said.

“He’s a Pro Bowl reciever. He’s put up a ton of yards. He’s extremely dangerous to cover.”

Palmer finished by telling the large radio audience that, “We would love him when he comes here, but he’s not here right now.”

Whether or not you’re an Ochocinco fan, this is good news. Palmer coming out on a national radio show and fawning over Chad’s skills just may be what the star WR needed to hear to feel wanted.

However, as has been the case all off-season, Chad has remained silent. There is still no word on whether or not he will join the team for any remaining OTA’s or even if he’ll show up for the team’s mandatory mini-camp on June 18.

The next chance to look for Chad will be June 2-4 when the Bengals are back on the field for another round of OTA’s.

 

Peyton Manning: Flustered + Frustrated = Forthright

Peyton Manning had to earn my respect.  I did not follow his career at Tennessee.  I was never a Colts fan.

The first time that Peyton Manning really appeared on my radar was watching Lynn Swann interview him at the 2003 Pro Bowl.  That interview gave Peyton the pulpit from which to utter his infamous line where he referred to Vanderjagt as an “idiot kicker.”

In my opinion, nothing sabotages a talented team like division within the group.  I immediately lost respect for Manning for losing his composure in that moment and airing his personal grievances on a public platform.

The years that followed mellowed my feelings toward Peyton.  I have a friend who possesses a whopping measure of love and loyalty toward the Colts and his enthusiasm helped me to appreciate his team.

Manning later hosted Saturday Night Live. His comic timing and the hilarity of the sketches pushed me over the edge.  I actually began to like Peyton.  I even put the “Casino Royale” song from his basketball team sketch on my iPod.

I rejoiced with my friend when the Colts, losing until Peyton drove his team 80-yards down the field with less than two minutes in the game, beat the Pats.

I felt slighted for Peyton when Belichick walked right past him after Peyton waited patiently to offer the customary handshake of congratulation after the epic game.

For crying out loud, my younger sister and I even joined the DSRL or Double Stuff Racing League because of our love of the Mannings and the Williams’.

Watching Peyton vent to the media these past few days has been painful.

Dungy is gone and Peyton’s complaints have filled the vacuum in the void left by his former Coach.

Tony Dungy is a unique, talented, and classy man.  No new coach would ever be able to fill his shoes.  Unfortunately, Peyton is not making the job easy for new Colts Head Coach, Jim Caldwell.

Manning is a great example of a pocket passer who does his best work when he gets into a rhythm.

It is evident that the departure of Tony Dungy is a big adjustment for the Colts to make, but that had been anticipated.  Perhaps what was underestimated was the effect on Manning of the departure of Marvin Harrison.

Manning mentioned in a recent interview that seeing Harrison’s empty locker has him a bit shaken.  The loss is concrete and it is bigger than Peyton imagined.

The retirement, and reassignment as consultant of Manning’s only offensive coordinator, Tom Moore, and long-time Offensive Line Coach, Howard Mudd clearly has this routine oriented quarterback’s feathers ruffled.  

Fold in the fact that Manning’s quarterback coach that he has worked with forth last seven years is gone.  Six coaches that have been with the Colts for the last seven years, some more, have been replaced this year.

The coaching losses are not assistant coaches. Add to the aforementioned new head coach, offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, and quarterback coach, a new defensive coordinator and special teams coach.  

On the field, when Peyton is out of his comfort zone or off of his routine, he never shows the excellence he possesses when he has practiced and is protected sufficiently.

Jim Caldwell not only has big shoes to fill, he as a gargantuan job leading a brand-new coaching staff for a team whose fans expect an undefeated season, an appearance in the playoffs, and a Super Bowl appearance on an annual basis.

If I were Caldwell, my No. 1 priority would be to get Peyton back into the metaphorical pocket. He clearly feels insecure in the organization, and he needs to focus on practicing with his squad minus Harrison.

Hopefully, addressing Manning’s fears will stop stem the surge of criticism that he is displaying for his team in public. Failure to take charge of Manning and get him back on track alone could spell a fiasco for the Colts this fall.

Caldwell has all three aspects of the game under the leadership of new coaches. The public commentary by Manning needs to be addressed by his new coach before this great quarterback loses more of the respect that he has worked so hard to earn.

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