Jason Wood - Keys to Training Camp

Link: http://www.azcardinals.com/popups/tcamp_sched/
Location: Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, AZ)
Dates: August 1 - August 19
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Is McCown legitimate? - Dennis Green recently compared Josh McCown to Brett Favre, heady praise for the career 56% passer who most expected would take a seat on the bench this year as Denny Green brought in someone to run the team. Yet, entering training camp McCown is the unquestioned starter for a team that has weapons (Fitzgerald, Boldin, Jones) and one of the best offensive minded head coaches in the league. Watch McCown's progression in camp, we believe he has the chance to surprise this year.

Can Emmitt really start for this team? - After the last mini camp, Denny Green proclaimed Emmitt Smith the team's starting running back, relegating Marcel Shipp to the bench. Most fantasy pundits, ourselves included, believe when all is said and done Shipp will have the larger role, but this was clearly a challenge meant to push Shipp into a more consistent and committed effort on and off the field.

Will Larry Fitzgerald see as many targets as Anquan Boldin? - Anquan Boldin is coming of a 5th place fantasy finish and one of the best rookie years in NFL history, yet the team used its top pick on another WR, Larry Fitzgerald. Is Fitzgerald as special as many think? Special enough to put up top 30 numbers in his first season? Remember, just because Boldin did it last year, it's VERY rare for WRs to make that kind of impact as rookies, even those as talented as Fitzgerald. However, if Fitz is the team's major playmaker in camp, expectations and his draft position are sure to rise.

St. Louis Rams

Link: http://www.wiu.edu/Rams/
Location: Western Illinois University (Macomb, IL)
Dates: July 28 - August 20
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

How healthy is Marshall Faulk? - Marshall Faulk is on the wrong side of 30, had another surgery this offseason, which is why the rumors have been hot and heavy this offseason regarding Faulk's ability to suit up in 2004. Most recently Mike Martz denied claims that Faulk may be limited all season; but the proof will be in training camp. Faulk must practice and participate in contact drills in order to justify his current status as a late first, early 2nd round draft pick.

Who backs up Faulk? - Steven Jackson is our pick to be Faulk's backup and main beneficiary of any missed time on Faulk's part. Yet, because he's a rookie and may be looking at a hold out, the team has its PR machine going full steam and claims Jackson is 4th on the depth chart behind Lamar Gordon and Arlen Harris. Rest assured, as long as Jackson gets into camp with reasonable promptness, his talent will differentiate him. Jackson, in our view, should be one of the first backups drafted in redraft leagues.

Who backs up Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce? - The Rams love to use multiple receiver sets and the team's 3rd and 4th receivers will see more work than some 2nd receivers around the league. Who wins those jobs will be determined in camp; among those competing are Mike Furrey, Shaun McDonald, Kevin Curtis, and Dane Looker.

(IDP) Who is going to rush the passer? - Although DE Grant Wistrom probably wasn't worth the money paid by the Seattle Seahawks, that shouldn't mitigate the loss to the Rams. With Wistrom gone, and Leonard Little facing a possible suspension for another drunk driving incident, it's unclear where the team is going to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Footballguys IDP team expects Little to play all season, and produce 15 sacks, but beyond Little, Tyoka Jackson is projected 2nd with just 6 sacks; that won't be good enough to make this team a playoff contender.

San Francisco 49ers

Link: http://www.sf49ers.com/newsroom/training.asp
Location: 49ers Complex (Santa Clara, CA)
Dates: July 29 - August 17
Open to the public? - Limited (see website for details)

Rattay or Dorsey? - Tim Rattay has been named the team's starting quarterback but is also recovering from offseason groin surgery. Rattay, Jeff Garcia's backup for the last four seasons, knows the offense and should be an effective replacement for a team where expectations are muted. However, Ken Dorsey, a proven winner from his UofMiami days, has reportedly added nearly 20 pounds and shown better-than-expected arm strength. If Rattay returns for the start of camp as predicted, it's his job to lose, but if Ken Dorsey gets a shot at playing through much of camp, don't count out Dorsey from this battle.

Who is going to start at receiver? - Entering training camp, Brandon Lloyd and Cedrick Wilson are the projected starters. However, rookie Rashaun Woods and veteran Curtis Conway are also going to do their best to win jobs. We believe that Lloyd is poised for a breakout year and will be the 49ers WR1, but the WR2 slot is open for debate. Although Woods probably won't start the season in the lineup, we wouldn't be surprised to see him in the lineup by the mid point.

Are the youngsters ready to jell on the offensive line? - The 49ers are rebuilding and have committed to the younger players, releasing veteran lineman Ron Stone and Derrick Deese. Kwame Harris moves to left tackle, Eric Heitmann steps in at left guard, and Kyle Kosier and rookie Justin Smiley will battle for the right guard slot next to journeyman Scott Gragg at tackle.

(IDP) Will Julian Peterson hold out? - Julian Peterson, the team's franchise player and one of the best linebackers in the NFC, is holding out while demanding a long term contract that puts him among the highest paid LBs in the league. The 49ers haven't budged but one has to think they have little leverage; he's critical to the defensive unit's success. A prolonged holdout could stymie the efforts of the new defensive coordinator and set the young team back.

(IDP) Is CB Mike Rumph ready to earn his keep? - Mike Rumph was beaten like a rented mule when forced into the lineup last year due to an injury to Jason Webster. Yet, there is no depth beyond Rumph and the very solid Ahmed Plummer, and the team is hoping Rumph will take last year's lessons and show more consistency and discipline in 2004. If he fails to impress the coaches, watch for the team to look at the waiver wire for veteran help.

Seattle Seahawks

Link: http://www.ewu.edu/NewsEventsAlumni/NewsServ/seahawks-4-23-04.html
Location: Eastern Washington University (Cheney, WA)
Dates: August 2 - August 20
Open to the public? - YES (free of charge)

Will Walter Jones sign another one-year tender? - All World LT Walter Jones is again holding out in an attempt to secure a long term contract. For the 3rd straight year, the Seahawks franchised Jones, offering him a one-year tender averaging the salary of the top 5 players at his position. Jones is intimately familiar with the system, so a lengthy holdout won't hurt the team demonstrably, but could this be the year he lets his holdout creep into the regular season to try to force management's hand? Jones is as close to irreplaceable as any player in the league.

Is TE Jerramy Stevens finally a fantasy option? - Jerramy Stevens has been his own worst enemy, failing to live up to his draft position and making a limited impact behind Itula Mili. Mili remains on the team, and was a Top 5 fantasy TE last year but has threatened a holdout over a contract dispute. Mili's hold out could open the door for the athletic yet mercurial Stevens.

Can Darrell Jackson and Koren Robinson hold onto the ball? - Few receiving corps were as productive as the Seahawks last season, but they also led the league in dropped passes. Consistency in catching the ball is all that's keeping the 'hawks from being one of the very best passing teams in the NFL, and the receivers have promised to show marked improvement this year; stay tuned.

(IDP) Can Michael Boulware play strong safety? - Michael Boulware, an outside linebacker in college, is being converted to strong safety by the Seahawks. The team hopes he can be the hard hitting enforcer in the secondary that was absent when Reggie Tongue played the position. Boulware will battle veteran Damien Robinson in camp; but our IDP team is betting on Boulware to have the bigger impact.

(IDP) Establishing a middle linebacker - Orlando Huff is penciled in as the starting middle linebacker but it's an open competition between Huff, Soloman Bates and possibly Niko Koutouvides in training camp. Each brings a different set of strengths (and weaknesses) to the table and it's anyone's guess how this battle plays out. We currently expect Bates to be the most productive MLB in Seattle.