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Bonus Update 6/29/02 Volume 3 Issue # 15b
Each Friday the Sporting News releases notes about all of their
teams. There are always some good nuggets of info, so we will start
recapping these in the newsletter. Issue 14 covered teams
alphabetically through the Kansas City Chiefs. This bonus update
will clip the highlights of the remaining teams.
Miami Dolphins - With some of the wide receivers bothered by injuries
for most of the offseason, the chemistry between Jay Fiedler and them
could be slow to come around. They need to work on the timing of
routes, which is critical in this offense.
Miami Dolphins - Settle on a tight end. Jed Weaver goes into camp as
the starter, but he has never been a full-time player. Then again,
neither have the backups Alonzo Mayes, rookie Randy McMichael and
second-year man Shawn Draper. Weaver can make plays with the ball in
his hand and should be good for at least 30 catches this season, but
he needs to prove his consistency.
Miami Dolphins - All eyes will be on Williams when he makes his
Dolphins debut in pads. Although he looked decent in minicamps,
Williams' best attributes come out when he is in pads. He is a load
to tackle, and he has very good contact balance. Although the team
signed him for his running ability, it's what he can do as a receiver
that could wreak havoc on defenses. Putting Williams on a linebacker
in the flat is a mismatch Turner would love to create over and over
again.
Minnesota Vikings - Tice knows receiver Randy Moss has to be mentally
tuned in for the Vikings to be successful. Tice and new offensive
coordinator Scott Linehan have designed an attack that will get Moss
the ball at least 40 percent of all pass plays. Moss will line up at
both receiver spots, he'll be in motion and he'll even occasionally
line up in the backfield. Thus, this camp must be used to perfect
this plan. If it works, the Vikings will be dangerous and Moss will
be very happy.
Minnesota Vikings - The running back McKinnie will be blocking for,
Michael Bennett, also will play a major role. Bennett, the team's
first-round pick last year, struggled to replace Robert Smith.
Bennett started the season tentative and wasn't using his blazing
speed to help him through holes. However, he did show signs of
improving as the season progressed.
Minnesota Vikings - The team is ecstatic about the addition of
Alexander. They believe his deep-route ability will take pressure off
Moss, who'll be the focal point of the offense. If teams choose to
double- and triple-team Moss, the Vikings will expose the defensive
concentration by going deep to Alexander. Once the Vikings take
advantage of Alexander's speed a few times, they believe teams won't
be able to afford the extra attention on Moss. This was a luxury the
Vikings didn't have with Carter.
New England Patriots - In the offseason, the Pats continued to sweep
away remnants from the past (Drew Bledsoe, Terry Glenn) while
improving the roster with a combination of young talent (tight end
Daniel Graham) and experienced free agents (wide receiver Donald
Hayes, defensive tackle Steve Martin).
New England Patriots - The hope is to use Hayes' size (6-4), Branch's
speed and Graham's ability to get open down the middle of the field.
The Pats will work especially hard at getting the tight end back in
the offense. The position accounted for only 14 catches during the
2001 regular season. That should change dramatically with the
additions of Graham, Fauria and Cleeland.
New England Patriots - On defense, the Pats will open in a 4-3
alignment, and the plan is to stick with it all season. Last year,
the Pats started in a 3-4 and then switched between three- and four-
man fronts. The team suffered as a result. This year, the Pats hope
for cohesion from Day One.
New England Patriots - Running back Antowain Smith had an impressive
comeback year in 2001. Now, armed with a new contract extension, he
will be out to prove it was no fluke. Unlike last year, Smith put in
a full offseason with the Pats and will go into training camp as the
No. 1 back. That should result in a quicker start.
New Orleans Saints - The new personnel has altered the philosophy,
from a power running, play-action passing game to a more wide-open,
finesse attack. The new faces must maximize their time in camp and
preseason to jell into a cohesive attack. Roles must be identified,
especially at receiver where newcomers Donte' Stallworth, Jerome
Pathon and Jake Reed are being worked into the mix.
New Orleans Saints - Stallworth has all the skills to become a big-
time playmaker. His speed and strength are superior for a rookie. He
should be an impact player if he can avoid the injury bug that
plagued him in college.
New Orleans Saints - The Saints are using athletic tight ends Boo
Williams and Johnny Mitchell in H-back roles out of the backfield,
where they hope to get mismatched against linebackers in coverage.
New York Giants - One of the top priorities this summer will involve
a non-starter, but one who conceivably could emerge as one for 2003.
Second-year quarterback Jesse Palmer will move up from No. 3 to No. 2
behind Collins, and will be given extensive playing time through the
summer. The team not only wants to get Palmer ready in case he is
needed this season, but with Collins set to be a free agent in 2003,
it will be very important to get a sense of how good Palmer is. He
has a big arm but must prove himself under game conditions.
New York Giants - All eyes will be on team chemistry in camp after an
offseason of acrimony that centered on arguably the two best players
on the team: Strahan and Tiki Barber. Strahan said he will not be
looking to take any shots at Barber on the field, but the first
practice with full contact should be interesting.
New York Jets - The Jets are looking for another pass rusher to
complement defensive end John Abraham. That burden falls on No. 1
pick Bryan Thomas, a speed rusher who still has much to learn. If
Thomas doesn't become a pass-rushing threat in the nickel, the third-
down defense will continue to falter.
New York Jets - Wide receiver Santana Moss is the X-factor, the one
player who can provide a big-play dimension to the offense. Hackett
has to find ways to get him the ball.
New York Jets - Coach Herman Edwards says he wants to use running
back LaMont Jordan to spell Curtis Martin. Haven't we heard this
before?
Oakland Raiders - Gannon is enough of a consummate professional to
differentiate between on-field and off-field issues, but there still
is the risk of him holding out until he gets a contract that properly
rewards a quarterback who has been named to the Pro Bowl the past
three seasons. The Raiders need to do whatever it takes to resolve
this lingering issue.
Oakland Raiders - First-year coach Bill Callahan intends to install
more deep passing plays into his offense in an attempt to make the
Raiders less predictable and more dynamic. He also will make a
concerted effort to return the Raiders to a more run-oriented team
after a one-year detour from such thinking.
Philadelphia Eagles - Rookie Brian Westbrook and former XFL player
Rod Smart will get long early looks in camp to see if either, or
both, can handle the role of the No. 2 running back behind Duce
Staley. If they cannot, the team will be forced to sign a veteran,
such as Dorsey Levens, to fill the hole.
Philadelphia Eagles - With most of the lineup set, the one
interesting battle will occur at the split end position where second-
year man Freddie Mitchell, the team's No. 1 pick in the 2001 draft,
is expected to unseat Todd Pinkston, the team's No. 2 pick in the
2000 draft. Mitchell lacks Pinkston's height and speed, but has
better hands and is tougher going over the middle. He also carries
himself with a lot more confidence, especially for a guy with just 21
career receptions.
Philadelphia Eagles - Quarterback Donovan McNabb, who once again is
being counted on to carry the offense, looked to be in great shape as
camp neared. McNabb has spent some time in the weight room this
offseason and looked stronger than ever in the minicamps.
Pittsburgh Steelers - All of the offensive skill players are back --
Stewart, running back Jerome Bettis and wide receivers Hines Ward and
Plaxico Burress, the first tandem in club history to each record
1,000-yard receiving seasons.
Pittsburgh Steelers - The team is looking for a slot receiver to
replace Bobby Shaw on third down, and the Steelers passed over
several other proven receivers to take Randle El because of his
amazing athletic ability. What's more, the coaches are impressed with
Randle El's intelligence and the quickness with which he can pick up
their system.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey is already
salivating at the idea of having Stewart, Ward and Randle El -- three
former college quarterbacks -- on the field at the same time. But, in
the event Randle El needs some seasoning, the team made the smartest
move of the offseason by signing Mathis, a proven third-down
receiver.
San Diego Chargers - Flutie was a big reason the team got off to a 5-
2 start last year in his first season in San Diego. He was cool and
efficient in the pocket, balancing LaDainian Tomlinson's strong
running with seven touchdown passes and only three interceptions. But
Flutie struggled over the final nine games, all losses. He threw 15
interceptions and only eight touchdown passes. He also lost the
respect of some teammates for refusing to accept his role in the
team's meltdown.
San Diego Chargers - If both quarterbacks play well in the preseason,
as expected, Schottenheimer must decide whether it would be better to
go with a quarterback who will turn 40 in October or a youngster
whose best days are ahead of him. Look for him to go with Brees.
San Diego Chargers - The wide receivers are a major question mark, in
that Curtis Conway is the only member of the group who has started
more than eight games in a season.
San Diego Chargers - Tim Dwight was promoted to the No. 2 job after
signing a $15 million deal, and although he is a tremendous
playmaker -- 22 of his 25 receptions went for first downs last
season -- he must show he can produce as a starter. He also must
prove he can remain healthy. He missed four or more games in three of
his first four seasons, including six in 2001.
San Diego Chargers - Tomlinson had a team-record 1,603 yards from
scrimmage last season, and he could see the ball even more this year.
Coordinator Cam Cameron is toying with the idea of using Tomlinson
in "detached" formations, a la Marshall Faulk, though not quite to
that extent. The reason is that Tomlinson is so versatile and
dangerous. He can run (his 1,236 yards ranked second in franchise
history) and he can catch (his 59 receptions for 367 yards were
second on the team).
San Diego Chargers - Another area to watch is kicking. Wade Richey
was so bad last season that team signed Steve Christie late in the
season to handle field-goal duties. Christie was re-signed in the
offseason, and Richey's salary was cut in half, to $525,000. There's
a chance both will stick into the regular season, with Christie
handling short and intermediate field goals, and Richey handling
kickoffs and long field goals. It remains to be seen whether that's a
winning formula.
Seattle Seahawks - Two players who can help Dilfer are Darrell
Jackson and Koren Robinson. Jackson found a way to improve on his
impressive rookie season by displaying more consistency while leading
the club in receptions (70), receiving yards (1,081) and TD catches
(eight). He showed signs that his game remains on the rise during the
spring minicamps.
Seattle Seahawks - Robinson, a first-round draft choice last year,
must make similar strides. The passing game needs his run-after-the-
catch ability that can turn a short reception into a long gain. A
nagging hamstring problem allowed Robinson to provide only flashes of
his total game last season.
San Francisco 49ers - Look out for Andre Carter. The 49ers have been
trotting out rookies on defense for several years now, only to watch
them break out in their sophomore years. And none had a bigger impact
as a rookie than Carter. The only criticism of Carter in 2001 was
that he looked light, but the physical specimen has added good weight
this year. He also has a year of studying and playing experience
under his belt.
San Francisco 49ers - It's disappointing that the 49ers didn't add
some explosion across from Terrell Owens at wide receiver, standing
pat with the combo of J.J. Stokes and Tai Streets. But the team
showed some faith, particularly in Stokes, so they'll have a chance
to prove they deserve it. And the coaching staff needs to prove it
can exploit Owens' talent better.
St. Louis Rams - Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Ricky Proehl, Terrence
Wilkins, and third-round draft pick Eric Crouch will account for five
of the team's six final roster spots at receiver. That leaves Looker
competing with Yo Murphy, Eugene Baker, Chris Taylor, and Francis St.
Paul for the final roster spot at the position.
St. Louis Rams - Coach Mike Martz is very serious about his wide
receivers. Next to the quarterback, they are the lifeblood of his
offense. And whoever wins the training camp competition this year,
could move up on the depth chart in 2003 if Proehl retires.
St. Louis Rams - Running back Lamar Gordon, taken with the first of
the Rams' two third-round picks, could give Trung Canidate a run for
his money as the top backup to Marshall Faulk. Gordon looks bigger
and runs bigger than his listed size of 6-1, 214, but he runs with a
quick burst through the hole, and could provide a nice change of pace
to Faulk.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - The search for a wide receiver to complement
Keyshawn Johnson was highly successful. In addition to drafting
Marquise Walker out of Michigan, the team signed free-agent receivers
Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius and tight ends Ken Dilger and
Marco Battaglia. Bucs QBs will have plenty of viable options, and
that should result in the team scoring more points.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Deciding on a starting quarterback is probably
the most pressing need. Brad Johnson will go into camp as the
starter, and he quickly needs to put some distance between himself
and challengers Rob Johnson and Shaun King to keep the offense on
track.
Tennessee Titans - Tennessee must find a way to merge the Steve
McNair of 2001 with the Eddie George of 2000. If the Titans can keep
McNair, who had his breakout passing year in '01, at the hub of the
offense, George finally should find the running room he has craved
since he came into the league in 1996.
Tennessee Titans - George, who rushed for a career-low 939 yards last
season because of an ailing toe on his right foot and an ailing right
ankle, is healthy again. But he has a taken a pounding over his
career -- five 300-carry seasons and one 400-carry season -- and
continually has faced eight- and nine-man fronts built to stop him.
Tennessee Titans - Skip Hicks and Robert Holcombe will wage an
interesting battle to see who gets a handful of carries a game
playing behind George. Hicks is the more explosive runner, but
Holcombe is a better receiver out of the backfield and plays special
teams. If the decision is made on running with the ball, Hicks will
be the guy, his history of injuries not withstanding (he pulled his
hamstring twice last season).
Tennessee Titans - There is also the matter of the team's receiving
corps. Derrick Mason is the go-to guy out wide, but the Titans have
Kevin Dyson coming off his best season (54 catches and seven
touchdowns in '01) with second-year receiver Justin McCareins ready
to make an impact. McCareins is 6-2, 218 pounds and simply dominated
in minicamps. Tennessee also has Drew Bennett, a quality 6-5 target
who is always where he needs to be.
Washington Redskins - Above all else, the team must settle on a
starting quarterback as quickly as possible. Shane Matthews should
have the inside track to win the job, but that is not guaranteed.
Steve Spurrier will start the quarterback who performs the best in
the preseason games.
Washington Redskins - The surprise of the summer might be how well
Stephen Davis fits into Spurrier's system. Davis will get his
carries; Spurrier isn't so pass happy that he is going to ignore one
of the best running backs in the league. If Spurrier can get defenses
spread enough in an effort to defend the passing game, Davis can find
ample running room between the tackles. Davis also could become a
major factor in the passing game. He has decent hands and a good feel
for finding the open spots in the flat. It is not outlandish to think
Davis could have 2,000 yards in total offense this season, if he
avoids injuries.
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Well that is all for now folks. We will see you later with our
regularly scheduled update.
David Dodds
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