26 AUG 2008

QUOTE OF THE DAY…. “They forget about the losses, and exaggerate the wins.”  — Jackson Browne 

FROM VITO STELLINO OF THE FLORIDA TIMES UNION... Offensive lineman are usually only mentioned when they commit a penalty. That's why it wasn't good news for the linemen Monday when Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio kept steering the conversation to the blocking up front when asked if the Jaguars' offense needs a player to stretch the field in the passing game. "No. The offense needs someone to block," Del Rio said. "In order to take a look at any of the field that's being stretched, you need to have some blocking. Blocking would help the quarterback see if the field has been stretched or not. I think our front's got to block a little better to give David [Garrard] a little more time and give Freddy [Taylor] bigger holes." Asked about the play of left tackle Khalif Barnes in the Jaguars' victory over Tampa Bay on Saturday night, Del Rio said, "OK. He'll play better. I think the whole group is going to play better. They need to play better."

When people ask me if the Jags can make it to the Super Bowl, the one hesitation I have is their offensive line.  They are big and strong, but have struggled when they had to be athletic, which was evident in the playoff game against the Patriots.  The Jaguars are limited in the kind of pass protections they can use and when defensive coaches set up their game plans, the first area they breakdown is their opponent's pass protections.  Tony Pashos' limited athletic capability forces the Jags into predictable protection schemes.  The inability to leave either tackle on an island restricts what offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter can do regarding protection schemes.  This line has to be able to handle the speed and quickness of the Colts, Titans, and Texans, six games that will be a huge challenge for them.  The key to reaching the final four in the playoffs is having a combined total of ten linemen above a RED grade, five offensive and five defensive.      

FROM MARY KAY CABOT OF THE CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER... Looks like quarterback Brady Quinn might have a chance to redeem himself with another start Thursday night in the preseason finale against the Bears.  Derek Anderson stayed inside again during Monday's practice because of his mild concussion and will probably sit out his second straight exhibition game. Coach Romeo Crennel didn't rule him out just yet, but there's only one more practice today, and if Anderson doesn't participate he'll miss the game.  "He's in the building and he's walking around," Crennel said. "With concussions, you've got to go slow. They say rest is the best thing. Guys are light-sensitive from them, so you don't want them to be out in the sunlight. You don't want him to have a lot of activity until he can get his bearings back."

The Browns are wise in how they are handling Derek Anderson's concussion recovery.  If they put him back on the field too soon and he gets another concussion or has a headache, he may be forced to miss substantial time.  Concussions are dangerous and present a long-term concern if they reoccur again too soon.  The more rest, the better for Anderson.  So even though Brady Quinn has been ineffective this summer, it will be productive for him to get in extra reps and more time on the field in game situations.  His accuracy is never going to be very good.  His ball always seems to point down and is rarely in the correct location on the wide receiver.  He is even more inaccurate on the third level (the deep ball), which takes away his ability to get the ball down the field.  Quinn’s average per attempt has been low in large part because he does not make “a big play.”  His deep-ball accuracy is what concerned me the most.  In his work out, he struggled to put the ball on receivers down the field, and that was with no defenders around.  I know Charlie Weiss, the head coach of Notre Dame, was telling everyone that would listen that Quinn was like Tom Brady.  But Brady and Quinn are in no way similar.  Quinn may one day overcome his accuracy issues and become a starter in the league, but it’s not fair to compare him one of the game's legends.  Most college coaches who have had great players will say the next guy is always better.  According to all the coaches at Penn State, every linebacker since Jack Ham has been better than he was and we know that is not true. 

FROM CHUCK LUDWIG OF THE DAYTON DAILY NEWS... Tailback Rudi Johnson is due to make his 2008 debut in the preseason finale at Indianapolis on Thursday. What will it prove? With Chris Perry and Kenny Watson sharing a majority of snaps, it may be too late for Rudi, whose $3.2 million base salary in 2008 could make him a salary cap casualty.

I heard Chris Mortenson of ESPN say the Bengals want to trade Rudi for a starting wide receiver.  If they can get that done my hat is off to the Bengal front office.  Rudi is not going to make $3.2 million this year and that contract makes him untradeable.  I have been saying Rudi was done for the entire offseason and I guess that added weight has not helped his game.  Running backs in the NFL that have TOO many carries hit a wall and Rudi has clearly hit the wall.  I agree with Chuck here, playing Rudi in the last game only proves he is healthy enough to release, not trade.  

FROM JERRY MCDONALD OF THE OAKLAND TRIBUNE... With Oren O’Neal on injured reserve and waiver claim Luke Lawton yet to arrive, running back Michael Bush got in some reps at fullback. Bush said he saw it as an opportunity to get on the field and was willing to do what it took to help the team, but it’s fair to say he wasn’t exactly jumping for joy about the news.

“I’ve always been a team player, too, so it’s one of those things, you just suck it up, go about your business and try to have some fun with it,” Bush said. Bush has fullback size at 245- to 250 pounds, and has the requisite receiving skills to be a weapon out of the backfield. But his blocking remains a work in progress — he was a quarterback in high school and usually had the ball in his hands in college at Louisville — and fullbacks with the Raiders seldom carry the ball from scrimmage. “I’ve never played it before, but a player has to adjust and do what you’re coached,” Bush said. “I’m still waiting for my chance to carry the ball, as well. The more I can do the better, be a versatile player. So, that’s a good thing.”

I don’t like this move for Raider running back Michael Bush.  He is a runner, and the fullback in the Raider offense is a lead blocker and flat pass catcher. I doubt there are two runs for the fullback in the Raider playbook.  Plus, being a fullback, you have to create speed and explosion with limited steps.  Bush needs room and distance to build power and speed.  I know the Raiders want to get Bush on the field, but he is a runner, not a fullback. 

FROM FRANK HUGHES OF THE TACOMA NEWS TRIBUNE... It was only last week that the Seattle Seahawks started using Nate Burleson as the slot receiver in practice.  The first time they tried it against the San Diego Chargers on Monday night, it resulted in a 68-yard touchdown. With Burleson on the inside and flanker Courtney Taylor on the outside, quarterback Charlie Frye zipped a spiral 20 yards downfield to Burleson, who broke a tackle, picked up a block from Taylor and sprinted into the end zone – where he saluted Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt by pounding his chest as he crossed the goal line and then mimicked some of Bolt’s Spider-man arm motions.  “Just a little tribute to let the Jamaicans know we in America are watching and appreciate them,” Burleson said. Burleson had been playing the starting split end spot for most of training camp. He said he had not played the slot receiver in so long that he had to pick the brain of teammate Ben Obomanu during the week for tips. “We’re hoping that Deion (Branch) can get back, but you just never know the timing so they’re moving me around,” Burleson said. “We’ve opened up the offense and freed up the younger guys outside. It just gives us more of an option from game to game.”

The way the Seahawks throw the ball, they just know how to move the ball through the air and no matter who they play at wide receiver, they will be productive.  Burleson is very talented and he has moments of drops, but with his speed and initial quickness he makes a very good slot wide receiver.  He might catch over 100 balls for them this year if he stays healthy. 

FROM TERRY FOSTER OF THE DETRIOT NEWS... Most first-team offenses are playing less than one half so fans don't get a chance to see teams wear down.  Left tackle Jeff Backus said the Lions spent the last two seasons trying to trick teams. He said the goal is to be better at executing plays.  "The mentality is we are going to go in and run the football from the get-go," Backus said.  "We might get one or two yards the whole first quarter and then the second quarter four and five yards. Then we start wearing on guys and then we are getting five, 10 or 15 yards a run. So it might not be exciting or the greatest show on turf, but it is going to be efficient football and it is going to be fun and it will be team football. It's the way we can keep possession of the ball and keep our defense off the field and try to be the aggressor."  Marinelli agreed.  "If the run is popping, it usually means we are not doing a good enough job with pad level and hand placement and footwork," he said. "It's a subtle thing. It's details and fundamentals. It's not a lack of talent. It's fundamentals.  "When it works our pads are down, and when it doesn't we get high and we get jolted. It's that simple. When I block that number, I got a chance. If you stuff me, we don't have a chance. We have to win the battles up front."

I don’t agree with this run-first mentality of the Lions offense.  I believe the NFL is a passing league and you have to throw to win.  HOWEVER, having made that statement, let me also say that I am a huge supporter of having an identity for your team.  One can clearly read that the Lions players have bought into this style and seem to have embraced finally having an identity.  The key to being able to play this style is not falling behind in the game.  Once the team is down ten points, the running game is over and you have to throw the ball to get back into the game.  I think the Lions will encounter some bumps in the road.  Their ability to win each week will, in large part, rest on how they match up physically. 

FROM TOM FITZGERALD OF THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE... Coach Mike Nolan hasn't decided whether the 49ers will carry five or six wide receivers, but he said Monday that the starting split end is going to be the toughest call in the lineup. The spot probably will go to Bryant Johnson or rookie Josh Morgan, and neither was at practice Monday. Johnson remains out with a hamstring problem, and Morgan was ill. Morgan took advantage of the injuries to Johnson, Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle to establish himself as a downfield threat in training camp and the preseason games.

Based on the game tapes I have watched, Morgan has special talent and might be the most talented receiver on the 49ers.  He is big, fast, explosive, and seems to be fearless going inside.  The more he plays earlier in the season, the better he will become by the middle of October.  If his level of play equals Bryant Johnson's right now, with time Morgan will pass Johnson rather easily.  Morgan needs to play, and with the Mike Martz offense they will be in three receiver sets quite often. 

FROM MARK MASKE OF THE WASHINGTON POST... The debate prior to Upshaw's death was over when the process should begin. Some players were pushing to replace Upshaw in March, when the union holds its annual meetings, or at least to have his eventual successor identified by then. Upshaw had vowed to remain as executive director until the current set of labor negotiations with the owners was completed. He also did not want his successor identified until after he retired. Now the process probably will begin soon with a search firm being hired and a search committee being formed in hopes of electing an executive director in March. One player said it's possible the choice could be made sooner, perhaps around Jan. 1, and ratified at the March vote. Several players have said they expect former NFL players Troy Vincent, Trace Armstrong and Robert Smith to be top candidates.  "I would say it's Trace and Troy, and then we'll see if someone else emerges during the process," said one player who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the deliberations.

The selection of the new head of the Union will be critical decision and I hope the Union looks very long and hard some of the names mentioned above.  It will be important for the new head of the Union to have played the game.  The new leader has to be able to have identifiable understanding of the problems that players face on and off the field.  The vision of the Union may change, but the foundations that Gene has laid need to be maintained. The potential problem for the Union and the owners is bringing in a newbie, someone who does not have a full understanding of all the factors regarding the various deals.  Trust is critical in any negotiation and it will take time building that trust with a complete outsider.   

FROM STEVE REED OF THE CAROLINA GROWL... The first-team defense has yet to allow a touchdown in roughly six quarters of action and held the Redskins to 49 yards and three first downs in the first half Saturday night. “Anytime there is change there will be questions,” coach John Fox said of his team's front four. “But I remind everybody that change isn’t always bad.” Changes were commonplace on Carolina’s defense this off-season, most notably up front where Peppers moved from left end to right end, a position he’s more comfortable playing given that he's left-handed. Fox has been impressed, but he isn’t ready to say his defensive line has arrived, knowing that when all is said and done the preseason means nothing. “Time will tell,” Fox said. “We have some young guys and I mentioned to them that everybody starts off as a no-name. And some of these guys are building names for themselves now.” Among those players is Charles Johnson, a third-round draft pick a year ago who is beginning to emerge as a pass-rushing force. In nickel situations, Johnson comes in to play left end with Brayton moving inside next to Lewis. Stronger and smarter now, Johnson could be a player to watch on defense.

One of the most impressive units this summer has been the Panthers defensive line.  Damione Lewis was a great player last year and he looks like he has picked up where he left off in 2007.  Charles Johnson has also emerged as a player.  The key for the Panthers and Jon Fox's style of defense is the talent in the defensive line.  In 2008 they appear to be back to old form.  The first game against the Chargers will be a good indication of how far they have come and whether this pass rush can show up against good teams.  Pressuring the Skins line is not a measuring stick, but pressuring the Chargers line is a clear indication.    

FROM KEVIN ACEE OF THE SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE... A.J. Smith tried to tell me the signing of Jyles Tucker to a contract extension that could pay the kid $14 million and guarantees him a sizable portion of that is no different from the other contracts the Chargers have done with young players. But this is different. This is as progressive at it gets. Tucker's agent called it "unprecedented," and I'm agreeing. You tell me when a player with six games of NFL experience gets a five-year deal for this kind of money. And, by the way, this has nothing to do with Merriman's injury but a lot to do with the fact Merriman will not be a Charger after 2009.

Tucker is a good player and the Chargers are similar to the Eagles in securing their young players to long-term deals.  Tucker will have a good chance to prove his worth with the injury to Merriman, who appears to be indecisive on what he needs to do to get back on the field.  Even if or when Merriman comes back, having Tucker allows the Chargers to keep their rushers fresh and strong for the fourth quarter.  As for whether Merriman will be with the Chargers after 2009 is a great question.  I know this, the Chargers will keep their rights to Merriman and if they don’t want to give him a long-term deal, they will protect themselves and get something in return.  But he won’t be allowed to walk away free.