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Email Update 6/26/02 Volume 3 Issue # 12
Hi folks.
Real slow news day around the league so we are going to forego the
news for a day and give you some insight from Footballguy and TFL
Report owner Bob Harris.
Joe
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Looking for some new blood at wideout? Some fresh new faces capable
of emerging as top ten receivers this year? How about starting with
some familiar faces? Some older fellas who might bounce back from
less-than-expected efforts a year ago?
Okay. Here are three guys that come immediately to mind:
1) Keyshawn Johnson
It comes as no surprise that one of new head coach Jon Gruden's top
priorities since joining the Buccaneers has been coming up with ways
to get Johnson the ball in the end zone.
"Obviously he can be a force. He's proven in his career he can
dominate a game,'' Gruden recently said of the former first-round
draft pick. "But we've got to get him in the end zone.
"He caught [106 passes last year] and only one time in the end zone.
That is intolerable. We're going big-game fishing with him, get him
in the end zone and score points.''
While Johnson ranked first in the NFC and fourth overall with his 106
receptions, the other receivers who broke the 100-catch mark scored
at least five touchdowns. In fact, all of the top 20 wide receivers
in the NFC had more touchdowns than the 6-4, 212-pound Johnson.
Nonetheless, Gruden continues to talk up his talent and potential to
be more damaging to defenses.
"He is a big guy and a great competitor," Gruden said. "When the ball
is in flight, he has a history of attacking it and making the big
play. This is a physically talented guy we've got to get more out of
in terms of touchdowns. ..."
By the way. ... Gruden switched Johnson back to split end, the
position he played with the New York Jets. According to those who
follow the team closely, Johnson believes the move will make it
easier for him to make big plays because the defense normally rotates
away from the split end toward the strong side.
2) Terry Glenn
Sure. ... Glenn is a moody -- often surly -- high-maintenance guy
with a long history of acting out in an irresponsible and immature
manner in his past dealings with authority figures. Throw in the fact
he's already run afoul of the league's substance abuse policy on
more than one occasion, and it's not hard to see why my decision
to rank him as the ninth best Fantasy prospect among the NFL's
wideouts might raise an eyebrow or two.
So, we've established the fact that Glenn comes with a mountain
of baggage. Not a difficult task given all the attention paid to the
less-than-social behavior that has left him wallowing in a seemingly
endless stream of trouble.
But after taking a couple of minutes to consider the positives
surrounding Glenn, I found plenty to like.
For example. ...
I like the fact he admits it's time to turn the page and put the
past behind him. But not as much as I like the fact he'll open the
2002 season as Brett Favre's top receiver. You don't have to
ace the Wonderlic to realize what playing alongside one of the best
quarterbacks the game has ever seen might mean to Glenn.
And the fact that he seems to be genuinely excited and eager to work
with a player of Favre's caliber tells me that Glenn is sharp
enough to understand that opportunity is knocking. ...
I like the fact Glenn has been a model citizen since his arrival in
Green Bay. I also like the recent reports indicating he's been
working as hard as anybody on the roster.
I like the fact that coaches and teammates are talking about his
route-running and the ease with which he's able to get behind
defenders rather than discussing his past.
But above all else, I like the fact that Glenn is already talking
about the good vibes he's getting from his new teammates. He
seemed to be especially pleased after Favre took him out for a recent
round of golf. The outing was characterized as a get-to-know-you type
of day and the two men seem to be hitting it off quite nicely.
In the end, I'm hoping Glenn is truly ready to put the past
behind him -- except for one thing: I wouldn't mind watching him
relive the record-setting, 90-catch effort he came up with as a
rookie back in 1999...
3) Eric Moulds
Moulds wasn't a fan of previous coordinator Mike Sheppard or his West
Coast scheme -- and for good reason. The star receiver correctly
believes that system was primarily responsible for last year's 67-
catch, 904-yard effort, 17 catches and 422 yards below his Pro Bowl
totals in 2000. ...
The good news?
Despite his firm belief that nothing is more critical to the team's
overall chances for success than a strong rushing attack, head coach
Gregg Williams realizes that Moulds is the team's most dangerous
offensive weapon, and as such he'll ask new coordinator Kevin
Gilbride to come up with as many ways to get the ball into his hands
as possible. ...
Heck, the coach came right out and said as much back in February,
when he told reporters: "Eric is the most explosive offensive player
we have. With a great power running game complementing him, it will
allow him an opportunity to make bigger plays."
I'll be very surprised if Gilbride isn't successful in that
endeavor.
As Moulds, who is clearly looking forward to the change in
coordinators, recently said: "From what I know of Gilbride, he's a
coach who puts guys in position to make plays. ... We didn't do
enough of that last season."
Stay tuned. ... I'll review some younger receiving prospects next
Wednesday.
--
Bob Harris
Editor/Webmaster -- TFL Report
Senior Editor -- FSP, Inc.
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