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Email Update 7/6/02 Volume 3 Issue # 22
IN THIS ISSUE
1. WCOFF Championship
2. Holiday Blitz Continues
3. Premium Signup
4. Bills Ink 3
5. Get 'em Signed Before Camp (Cincinnati)
6. Rock and a Hard Place (Dallas)
7. Detroit's Offensive Line
8. Backfield in Motion
9. RB Tops Best Moves of the Off-Season
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Hey folks, just a quick head's up that the
World Championship of Fantasy Football is not accepting applications
after August 28. There are only 225 spots available, so if you want
to compete for the World title, now is the time to sign up. This is
shaping up to be the fantasy football event of the year - with the
winner taking down over $200,000 and an awesome Crystal Trophy. And
the weekend in Vegas promises to be a BLAST for everyone attending.
Please go to wcoff.com for all the details.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
I will add that Lenny Pappano and Emil Kadlec are two of the most
stand-up guys in the business. They have agreed that the prize
payouts will not diminish should this not completely fill-up. But
expect this to completely fill. There is no better place to backup
that you are the best at FF than at this event. Plus it will be a
great chance to hang out with myself, Bob Harris, Greg Kellogg and
the rest of the FanEx team (who will be drafting live the night
before). See everybody there.
David
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Holiday Blitz Continues
Footballguys.com continues to pace the hobby with a bunch more
material released today including updated projections and two humor
articles from Mark St. Amant. I am also 90% done with the first VBD
version (only have team defense and PK to format). It will be
released Sunday morning. Oh and did I mention that I also have about
10 articles waiting in the queue?
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Premium Signup (Checks and Money Orders)
Don't want to nag people here, but if you plan on signing up via
check or money order, you should mail those next week so you will not
have a break in coverage. We promise to process those within 1-2
days of receipt from now until the season starts.
and now over to Greg Kellogg who is doing tonight's update:
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Bills Ink Three
Clipped from the article at BuffaloBills.com
The Bills today announced that the team has agreed to terms with
three of the team's 2002 draft picks - safety Coy Wire, fullback
Jarrett Ferguson, and linebacker Dominique Stevenson. In accordance
with club policy, terms were not disclosed.
Wire was selected in the third round out of Stanford and was taken
with the 39th overall selection. Ferguson played at Virginia Tech
and was the third of the team's four seventh round draft picks
(252nd overall) while Stevenson was the fourth of the four seventh
rounders and played at Tennessee.
The players become the second, third and fourth 2002 draft choices
to come to contractual agreements with the Bills. The other was
fifth round selection Justin Bannan.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
All this really accomplishes is help with the slotting in the third
round. Wire is relegated to the third string strong safety position
behind Pierson Prioleau and Billy Jenkins. Other than Special Teams
he will be lucky to smell the grass on the field.
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Get 'em Signed Before Camp
Clipped from the article at Bengals.com
With the first practice of training camp three weeks from Friday,
the Bengals are hunkering down for a series of contract
negotiations they hope can be concluded by the time the team
convenes at Georgetown College.
Not only are first-round draft pick Levi Jones and second-rounder
Lamont Thompson high on the radar, but veteran middle linebacker
Brian Simmons seeks his contract extension before camp opens.
Jerrold Colton, Simmons? agent, said Friday he doesn?t plan to
negotiate once camp starts in order to prevent his client from
becoming distracted. But he also said there is time to conclude
negotiations that began a few weeks ago in an effort to wrap up
Simmons before he becomes a free agent after this season.
"Time is running out, but if both sides want to get a deal, then a
deal can get done," Colton said. "I just think it?s best for both
parties not to let it slide into the season. We don?t have a lot of
time, but we have had some talks and I?m sure we?ll have some more."
The Bengals have taken the approach that they will keep trying to
get extensions for both Simmons and fellow linebacker Takeo Spikes
at any point before their contracts expire in March. They would
prefer to do both before camp, but have indicated they are prepared
to be flexible on a timetable if deals can?t be consummated by then.
"We?re not going to put any deadlines on anything," said Bengals
President Mike Brown Friday. "Maybe with this date out there, it
will make both sides get right down to it and maybe it won?t.
Certainly we also would like to get it done before camp, so we?ve
got that in common."
The New Jersey-based Colton was Boomer Esiason?s agent when he
chose the Monday Night Football TV booth after the 1997 season
instead of an extension with the Bengals. But Colton has remained
on good terms with the front office and calls the current talks
"cordial."
The first order of business Monday appears to be discussing the
status of veteran wide receiver Darnay Scott. Scott?s eight-year
Bengals? career, which put him fourth on the club?s all-time
receiving list, looks to be in its final hours with Michael
Westbrook expected to take his place in the starting lineup and on
the roster. But first Bengals officials and coaches want to talk
about it before making a final call.
The Bengals already have signed two of their six draft picks in
third-rounder Matt Schobel and sixth-rounder Marquand Manuel.
Jones, Thompson, fourth-rounder Travis Dorsch and seventh-rounder
Joey Evans are the unsigned rookies.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
Getting Spikes and Simmons locked up to long term deals could just
change the image the Bengals have carried for years. This is a
team on the rise that is facing the league's fourth easiest schedule
this season (see yesterday's update). It is essential that the key
personnel not leave this team. And it appears as if the Bengals
are fully aware of this fact. The other item in this article is
the paragraph dealing with Darnay Scott - it seems the team WOULD
like him to return, but only at a reduced salary. This is probably
not going to happen - at least not anytime soon. Look for Scott to
test the waters before returning to Cincinnati.
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Rock and a Hard Place
Clipped from the article at dallascowboys.com
Going into every NFL draft, all teams seemingly give the same lines
of wanting to draft the best player available. Usually that means
the best players available unless they're a safety, guard, center
or maybe even a tight end.
Those positions generally don't garner the top spots in the draft,
with the perception that players at those positions will not decide
the outcome of the game.
But there are exceptions to every rule and the Cowboys had to make
one this year with Roy Williams, the All-American safety from
Oklahoma who looks like a can't-miss prospect if there ever was one.
Williams, whom the Cowboys drafted with the No. 8 overall pick,
became the first safety ever drafted by the club in the first round
and the highest safety to go to any team since the Bears took Mark
Carrier with the No. 6 pick in 1991.
So what about this guy changed the Cowboys' draft philosophy?
"In 10 years of doing this, I've never heard the word "great" used
as much as the scouts would use it with this guy," Cowboys'
scouting director Larry Lacewell said. "Every time it was, "great
this" and "great that." I've never heard of a shut-down safety but
he might be one."
Williams, who won several Defensive Player of the Year awards last
season and finished seventh in the Heisman Trophy voting, should
immediately assume one of the starting safety positions, next to
five-time Pro Bowler Darren Woodson, who was a free agent for only
a matter of minutes, re-signing with the Cowboys for a five-year
deal, worth $20 million on March 1, the first day of free agency.
Williams played strong safety in college, and Woodson has been one
of the NFL's best on the strong side since he entered the league
back in 1992. But the Cowboys aren't worried about playing them
together. In fact, the club has talked about moving Woodson to free
safety for the past few years, a move that would lessen the wear
and tear on his 33-year-old body. Woodson still has the speed to
play free and has more knowledge of the defense to make most of the
secondary calls.
Expect the Cowboys to use both players at both positions, as
interchangeable safeties hoping to disguise their roles within each
play. The Cowboys would like to keep Woodson and Williams on their
own side, and move them back and forth before the snap, keeping
opposing quarterbacks off guard and unaware of their assignments.
Either way, the club knows they have two impact safeties with the
ability to make big plays. Williams replaces nine-year veteran
George Teague, who was released in February for salary cap reasons.
Teague, who has not signed with another team, started the past
three seasons alongside Woodson.
Had the Cowboys not drafted Williams, they likely would've began
training camp with Tony Dixon in the starting lineup. Dixon, a
second-round pick from Alabama last season, struggled at times
during his rookie year, which was shortened eight games because of
a pair of injuries, including a high ankle sprain that kept him out
seven consecutive games.
But like most players do between their first and second seasons,
Dixon looks much improved and should work his way into the nickel
defense, possibly even as a linebacker in the 42 or nickel. Dixon
is also expected to be one of the Cowboys' most productive special
teams players. He had seven tackles last year in just half the
season.
Last year's surprise of training camp - Lynn Scott, returns for his
second season and making the roster might be just as difficult this
time around. Scott, a rookie free agent from Northwestern Oklahoma,
got everyone's attention last year with several big hits in the
secondary that landed him a spot on special teams. But as the
season went on, Scott struggled a bit, and was even replaced at one
point as the gunner on punt coverage.
But the Cowboys usually keep four safeties and heading into camp,
Scott will start off as one of the top four. But he should know
better than anyone how things can change, being last on the depth
chart at this time a year ago.
Trying to edge Scott for the final safety position will be Travis
Ortega, who makes his second training camp stint with the Cowboys,
and rookie free agent Keith Davis. The Cowboys also signed Rashidi
Barnes, one of NFL Europe's top safeties this summer.
Don't be surprised if the Cowboys even look to an overcrowded
cornerback position to fill the final safety spot, which could mean
players such as Dwayne Goodrich, Pat Dennis or rookie Pete Hunter
might take some extra snaps at safety.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
Dallas was a very good defensive team last season and Williams will
make them even better. This also bodes well for the running game
of the 'boys. When a team can stay close or hold a lead, then the
backs benefit by receiving extra touches. With Emmitt Smith out
to pass Walter Payton, and Troy Hambrick waiting in the wings, this
Dallas team could surprise people - all will depend on one of two
things happening. Either Quincy Carter must show marked improvement
over his rookie season, or Chad Hutchison must contribute right
away.
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Detroit's Offensive Line
Clipped from the article at the Detroit Lions Official Website
It is almost a case of bad news, good news for the Detroit Lions
offensive line heading into the 2002 Training Camp.
The same unit the allowed a league-worst 66 quarterbacks sacks a
year ago all return for the 2002 campaign.
If that is the bad news, then the good news is that the same unit
was also among the NFC leaders in yards per rush (4.2) and they
will be back as a complete unit. This year, they can also boast of
some additional depth if they can remain healthy.
The prevailing knowledge in the NFL is that it takes time for an
offensive line unit to gel. If that is the case, then that
familiarity should provide considerable improvement for the unit in
2002. Throw in good health on the Lions line, and head coach Marty
Mornhinweg is confident the men in the trenches could be one of the
season's positives.
The fact of the matter is that playing together did help the Lions
offensive line toward the tail end of 2001. For the last 10 games
of the season, the same five starters were in place with Jeff
Backus at left tackle, Tony Semple at left guard, Eric Beverly at
center, Brenden Stai at right guard and Matt Joyce at right tackle.
This season, four of those spots are likely to held down by the
same individuals. The only insertion will be at right tackle, where
former first-round draft pick Stockar McDougle is set to step in
and start. McDougle's health could be the key to the line in 2002.
He has missed time in both of his first two training camps with
various ailments. Right now, McDougle has been healthy and active
during OTA practices. With he and Backus - both of whom are
first-rounders - holding down the bookends, the Lions are poised to
take a step forward.
As one of the team's most-dedicated participant's in the off-season
strength and conditioning program, Backus is ready to take the next
step after starting all 16 games a year ago. Backus has, as
Mornhinweg stated, "put on good weight".
Stai and Semple are also returning their spots on the guards. The
two veterans add leadership and experience. Semple did spend some
time at center during the OTA sessions, but Mornhinweg said that
was to stabilize the middle of the line that is occupied by
Beverly.
The good news at this point is that the Lions also have some depth
on the front lines. Dominic Raiola is poised to see more time this
season at center and could push Beverly for the starting nod. Joyce,
who is recovering from an off-season injury, should be ready to go
for most of camp and can play four different positions up front -
which he did in 2001.
Kerlin Blaise returns for his fifth-season at guard. The Lions also
have NFL Europe allocations - guard Josh Lovelady and tackle Dustin
Kroeker - returning to the mix. Lovelady was voted to the All-NFL
Europe first-team while Kroeker started all 10 games and helped the
Rhein Fire reach the World Bowl at the left tackle spot.
Mornhinweg and position coach Carl Mauck also have high aspirations
for seventh-round draft pick Victor Rogers at the tackle position.
Mauck thinks Rogers can make the squad in 2002.
The Lions also have a handful of other linemen waiting in the
wings. Three-year veteran Tyrone Hopson and rookie free agent
pickups Marcel Howard and James McCall are also making bids to
make this a deep and talented group.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
Never sell short the importance of an offensive line to fantasy
success. Okay - you got me. ALL coaches speak praises of their
offensive line before the seasons starts. But it is always good
to know how much turnover there is on any line. Detroit is pretty
much coming back intact. Some of those sacks can be attributed to
both Batch and McMahon having a less than thorough understanding
of the WCO (meaning they took too much time to get rid of the ball)
and McMahon's tendency as a rookie to try and hoof it. McMahon's
understanding of the offense, and his lessons learned about QBs
who run in the NFL should help cut down on the sack totals in 2002.
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Backfield in Motion
Clipped from the article at philadelphiaeagles.com
The backfield is in focus as the third part of my roster rating
begins. And the backfield has certainly been in the focus during
the offseason for the Eagles, who added Brian Westbrook in the
draft and then, a matter of days after, lost Correll Buckhalter
with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. How does the
backfield look now? Let's take a look.
The Halfbacks
* Duce Staley: So much of the offense has revolved around Staley
since he took over the job after Ricky Watters left town. Staley
has been up to the challenge when he's been healthy. Last year,
returning after missing most of 2000 with the Lis Franc injury,
Staley was a valuable and effective weapon in his multi-dimensional
role. This year, Staley may have to carry more of the load on the
ground with Buckhalter shelved. In the spring camps, Staley looked
to be in great shape with a fine burst and total confidence in his
foot. He's the man in the backfield. He's got a chance to deliver
some huge numbers.
* Rod Smart: The Eagles love his flat-out speed. The kid can
absolutely fly. But Smart is coming off a broken foot and he'll
have to prove in training camp that he's still got that speed. To
make this team, Smart will have to demonstrate that he can play at
this level as a running back and on special teams. Nobody knows,
yet, if he can do that.
* Correll Buckhalter: He's still on the active roster, so he's on
my list here. But Buckhalter is done for the season. A great kid
with a lot of talent, Buckhalter should be good to go for the 2003
training camp. He'll be missed.
* Brian Mitchell: It will be interesting to see if his role changes
given Buckhalter's injury. Can Mitchell be effective in an
off-the-sidelines, change-of-pace mode? He always has been in his
career, but has had limited opportunities to handle the ball
because he's so good and valuable as a kicker returner. The Eagles
have the promise of depth at the return positions with all the
talented kids on the roster. Maybe Mitchell gets a shot every now
and then to carry the ball from the line of scrimmage. Mitchell
defines how a pro should carry himself. He'll adjust to any
situation.
* Brian Westbrook: Well, the former Villanova star sure looked good
in the mini-camps. Now the pads go on and we find out for sure just
how Westbrook fits in. Size seems to be an issue with those who
want to dismiss his chances to be effective, but Westbrook is a 5
feet 8, 200-pounder. He's extremely thick below the waist and very
powerful. If he has confidence to get to the corner as a running
back, he could be very dangerous. It might be hard for defensive
players to find Westbrook behind the big offensive line the Eagles
have. Westbrook will get a lot of work at Lehigh. Keep your eyes on
No. 36.
The Fullbacks
* Jamie Reader: Came on strong in training camp last year and then
saw more and more action during the regular season. Could Reader
challenge Cecil Martin for a job? Sure. Reader has to stay healthy,
No. 1, and he has to demonstrate that he can catch the football.
Reader's strength right now is his blocking. He's also got a bit of
a burst for a fullback.
* Jason McKie: A rookie free agent from Temple, McKie is something
of an unknown right now. He'll have a big adjustment to make when
camp opens.
* Cecil Martin: I always wonder why Martin doesn't touch the ball
more. It seems like whenever he is involved in a play, something
good happens. I'd love to see him get just a few more touches here
and there. Martin is a solid pro, a good blocker but someone who
knows he can't take anything for granted. I want more from him --
from everybody -- in short-yardage situations.
* Corey McIntyre: He's in the same boat as McKie. McIntyre is a
rookie free agent from West Virginia. The speed of training camp
will be like nothing he's ever seen.
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
The best news coming out of Philly is how good Staley has looked in
camp. If he has his burst back, this is a player that could put up
1500 total yards for you - and though scoring has never been his
forte, six to eight TDs would make him a marginal No. 1 and a great
No. 2 back on any fantasy team.
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RB Tops Best Moves of the Off-Season
"Nothing against the running backs who have been here," said
quarterback Jay Fiedler, "but getting a player of Williams' caliber
makes us so much better. We need to progress further than just the
first or second round (of the playoffs) and he gives us the
capability of going all the way. He just fits so well into what we
do."
So well, in fact, that Williams is the choice of ESPN.com and of
general managers and personnel directors around the NFL as the most
significant offseason veteran acquisition.
It is somewhat ironic that, in this era of free agency and
wholesale player movement, the two top contenders for the title
joined their new teams in old-fashioned trades. And both of the two
players considered by the vast majority of team officials surveyed,
Williams and Buffalo Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe, figure to
dramatically affect the standings in the NFC East.
But while Bills' general manager Tom Donahoe is to be lauded for
his indefatigable pursuit of Bledsoe, the veteran quarterback only
moves Buffalo one step closer to the playoffs for the first time
since 1999. Williams should nudge the Dolphins, who posted 11-5
records in each of Wannstedt's first two seasons, deeper into the
playoffs and perhaps catapult the franchise to its first Super Bowl
appearance since 1984.
"They were a very good team before getting Williams," said New York
Jets coach Herm Edwards. "He definitely moves them up a notch. It
was a tremendous deal for them."
Indeed, the relentless persistence of Wannstedt and vice president
Rick Spielman in going after Williams should pay big dividends for
an offense that slumped to 21st overall in the league in 2001 and
ranked only No. 23 in rushing. Miami averaged just 76.4 rushing
yards in five defeats last season, 116.5 yards in five victories.
Even though the team's fortunes typically mirror the performance of
Fiedler, he is more of a complementary-type quarterback, one who
needs to be surrounded by a number of talented components. Williams,
25, should be one of those components for years to come.
And actually, given the shared offensive philosophy of Wannstedt
and coordinator Norv Turner, he should become the centerpiece of a
powerful running game. The New Orleans coaches groused,
particularly after his departure, that Williams was not a breakaway
run threat, and head coach Jim Haslett emphasized he never had a
touchdown run of longer than 26 yards in his tenure there.
As evidenced by his recent traffic ticket woes, Williams clearly
saves most of his speed for when he is behind the wheel and not on
the field. The Dolphins, though, don't care about 40- and 50-yard
dashes through the secondary as long as Williams is doing damage
with four- and five-yard bursts through the middle of the defense.
"From what I've seen so far," Williams said, "I'm going to get the
ball a lot. And I'm a back who gets better as the game does on,
with the more carries he gets, because I feel like I can wear
people down."
Erroneously pegged as a passing attack guru, Turner is a man who
loves to bludgeon opponents with the running game, and Williams
will be his new human wrecking ball. Turner's preferred method is
to get a lead and then use the run to protect it in the fourth
quarter.
Translation: Williams, who averaged 271.3 carries and 1,043 yards
during his three seasons in New Orleans, will top those numbers in
Miami if he simply stays healthy. "He's a great fit here," said
Turner of his newest weapon. "I think he'll like the way we play."
Dating back to 1991, when Turner first became an offensive
coordinator in Dallas, his attacks have featured a strong inside
rushing game. Over that period, the "feature" back in the
Turner-designed offense has averaged 292 rushes and 1,223 yards.
In eight of those 11 seasons, Turner had a 1,200-yard runner, the
only exceptions in 1994 when he had to rotate backs as head coach
in Washington, and in 1997 and 1998 when an aging Terry Allen
combined for only 1,424 yards in two years. Take away those three
fallow seasons, and the starting tailbacks who played under Turner
averaged 1,423 yards.
Williams should allow the Dolphins to better control the pace of
the game and to permit an already outstanding Miami defense to
spend a little more time on the sideline. Whether or not that all
translates into a division title in the well-balanced AFC East, or
perhaps a Super Bowl berth, remains to be seen.
Wannstedt is fond of telling a story about how, two days after the
press conference at which Williams was introduced to the Miami
media, the coach received a phone call in his office from a local
realtor. The agent apprised Wannstedt that Williams, who wan't due
back in Miami for the start of the offseason conditioning program
for a couple more weeks, had already put a deposit on a house.
The next day, when Wannstedt wandered into the weight room,
Williams was there.
"I think the difference here is that, we've already got a lot of
high-profile players on the team, and he doesn't have to be the
main guy all the time," Wannstedt said. "There might not be as much
pressure on him here. It's already an environment with players of
note and all he has to do is find his niche in that group."
Miami coaches are counting on him, starting later this month when
camp opens, to find a way to squeeze through holes round and square
and all shapes and sizes. There has been an effort toward creating
a more physical and aggressive offensive one, one capable of
knocking defenders off the ball, of carving out as least a crease
for its new star.
Seems to Wannstedt, at least, that Williams has already carved out
his place.
"We're excited, and I think Ricky is as excited as we are,"
Wannstedt said. "He can be a special player and we're going to give
him the opportunity to be just that."
[[[[[[[[[[[[[ OUR VIEW ]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]
Many in fantasy circles feel that Williams is over-rated coming
into the 2002 season. Seems they feel he is too injury-prone or
too much of a flake to last the full season. I have to disagree.
Williams is going into a system with an OC that loves to pound a
big back. This is a perfect case of a system that is tailor made
for the star player's skill set. Williams can be had between picks
five and eight in most drafts and should be taken in that range.
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That's it for this Saturday - Hope you all had a great time on the
Fourth and that you continue to enjoy the weekend.
Greg Kellogg
Komments.com
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