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2009 Sample Article
Is it just us, but has this year’s off-season flown by? Okay, we’re sure it is just us and that you
fantasy players have been waiting for training camps to kick off
somewhere around the second quarter of the Pro Bowl. Well, you get your wish
late this week, when the first team to open camp, the Buffalo Bills,
start working out this weekend. Most teams won’t be full
up-and-running until late next week, but the 2009 season is
basically officially here. One of the benefits to subscribing to the site
is that we do all or most of the work for you. And in August, trust
us, it’s a lot of work. Before we gear up to monitor the NFL’s
training camps and preseason closely, we need to know what to look
for, so here are the main items we’ll be following these next 6-7
weeks. There will, of course, be more situations to watch once
things get rolling, but here’s what we’re monitoring right now.
Check out our
Subscriber-Only Football Homepage here.
2009’s Training Camp Previews
NFC TRAINING CAMP PREVIEWS
NFC East
§ Now that WR Terrell Owens is gone, the focus is solely on WR Roy Williams as the #1 WR. After his atrocious season last year, can he step up and regain the form he had earlier in his career?
§ The team has said they will get RBs Marion Barber, Felix Jones, AND Tashard Choice all involved in the offense. We’ve already heard about the idea of using the Wildcat, and possibly putting Barber and Jones on the field at the same time. The key to their success hinges on the running game.
§ QB Tony Romo has been under a lot of criticism for every move he makes. But that’s the pressure that comes from being the Cowboy QB. After the team went from Super Bowl contenders to missing the playoffs, and without TO, how will Romo respond?
§ The defense looked like it finally got it together in the last third of the year after HC Wade Phillips took over the play calling. Will DE Igor Olshansky and LB Keith Brooking be able to fill the vacancies left by DE Chris Canty and LB Zach Thomas?
§ Is this the year WR Miles Austin finally steps up? Everyone was very excited about what he could contribute last year, but he never got off the ground after suffering a knee injury in training camp. The team sure could use some help at the WR position.
§ We all know how good TE Jason Witten is, but what about TE Martellus Bennett? He was drafted not to be the backup TE, but more to be another weapon on the field in 2 TE-sets for the Cowboys. He had a respectable rookie season, but he could be capable of even more.
§ After a disappointing 2008, HC Wade Phillips looks like he is on the hot seat. With the team opening up a brand new stadium, you’d better believe owner Jerry Jones expects his football team to perform. We even think Phillips could be fired if they don’t get off to a good start. With so many big- name head coaches out there as possible replacements, Phillips has to know that the pressure is on to succeed.
§ K Nick Folk comes off hip surgery, and even though he is expected to be fully recovered, the team still drafted USC K David Buehler, so it’s a situation to keep an eye on.
§ The WR situation is the major focus this year now that WR Plaxico Burress is gone. They drafted WR Hakeem Nicks and hope he can contribute right away. Will any of their WRs step up? Can Domenik Hixon keep the two rookies on the bench?
§ QB Eli Manning had a forgettable playoff game against the Eagles and was once again a little inconsistent during the season. Most were quick to blame Burress’ absence, but it was more than that. He needs to show that he can lead this team and be the one to make his WRs better, not the other way around.
§ RB Ahmad Bradshaw openly admitted that he hoped either RB Derrick Ward or Brandon Jacobs would depart, so he could have a bigger role on the team. With Ward heading to Tampa Bay, Bradshaw got his wish and will be the #2 RB behind Jacobs. Is he ready for this increased role, and can he be the guy if Jacobs goes down?
§ Jacobs got a brand new contract after establishing himself as one of the better RBs in the league. There were some injury issues last year (again) that stemmed from his physical style of running. Can he hold up for the entire season?
§ The great Giant defense lost their DC in Steve Spagnuolo when the Rams hired him as their HC. Now, former LB coach, Bill Sheridan is the new DC. Not much is expected to change under Sheridan, but it will be interesting to see how the team plays under him.
§ Speaking of defense, not only does the team get back DE Osi Umenyiora, but they also added DE Chris Canty from the Cowboys and LB Michael Boley from the Falcons. Canty, while being a veteran of the NFC East, give the team one of the deepest lines in the league. Boley was a much-needed addition to the LB corps that was led by Antonio Pierce, who never seemed like the same player after his involvement in the Burress situation.
§ RB Brian Westbrook will probably not participate in any preseason games as he comes off ankle surgery. This is not the worst situation because he does not really need the reps and is better off resting. However, this will be the first time he will miss all of camp, so it is something to keep an eye on as best as possible, which means we’ll be at practice checking out what he’s doing.
§ RB LeSean McCoy was drafted to be the starter of the future, but he could see a lot of first-team reps with Westbrook on the sideline during the preseason. Can he show that he can contribute immediately?
§ WR Jeremy Maclin was possibly the steal of the draft, and the team was absolutely correct in moving up to get him. Although he is not expected to start, he could end being the top backup in all three WR positions. He may not be a big contributor right away, but he may be the most talented WR on the team.
§ With the defense losing S Brian Dawkins to free agency plus DC Jim Johnson not expected back as he continues his fight with cancer, how will they respond?
§ QB Donovan McNabb got everything he asked for in the off-season, including a raise. If the team struggles at all, especially McNabb, he will once again be under a lot of scrutiny.
§ Is TE Brent Celek ready to handle what should be an expanded role? He no longer has the opportunities to catch defenses off guard.
§ QB Jason Campbell was nearly replaced twice this off-season. So far he has handled it well and has shown nothing but class. As if that wasn’t enough motivation, he is in a contract year and will be playing in the same system in back-to-back years for the first time in his career. This is an interesting situation to monitor.
§ HC Jim Zorn appears to be on the hot seat after just one year on the job. With an owner like Daniel Snyder running things, who knows what will happen?
§ RB Clinton Portis has denied any problems with Zorn, but after the problems they had late last year when Portis was hurt, any little spat will be blown up. Portis was an absolute warrior last year, and he carried the offense on his back at times. Can he continue to do this and play at a high level?
§ The WR corps is a big question. Antwan Randle-El is out of position as the #2, and we all continue to wait for Malcolm Kelly and/or Devin Thomas to live up to their potential. If the offense is going to get to that next level, they’ll need more from their WRs, so Thomas and Kelly are under the microscope.
§ The O-line is very old, and three of the five starters are over 30. They have minimal depth, and after starting the season well last year, they broke down and were one of the worst units in the league. This is not a situation that looks very promising, so we’ll be looking for positive and negative indications.
§ DT Albert Haynesworth was the crown jewel free agent of the off-season, and the Redskins landed him. Will Haynesworth continue to be his dominant self, or will he get complacent now that he got his big contract.
NFC North
§ QB Jay Cutler was the story early in the off-season, but he seems to be fully acclimated to being a Bear. We know his attitude isn’t going to win him many friends, but his arm will. His receiving corps isn’t what it was in Denver, but it will come down to his making his WRs better. If he can, this offense could be scary, but he has to keep the vibes positive all summer.
§ RB Matt Forte was unbelievable in his rookie year. He had some trouble with a hamstring injury in OTAs but is now 100%. The team realizes that they need to keep him fresh, so they’ll get backup Kevin Jones more involved. We’ll check in on Jones, who may be one of the best RB handcuffs no one is currently talking about.
§ TE Greg Olsen is getting a ton of hype, and it is all well deserved. This guy has all the tools necessary to be a top TE in this league. If he can develop chemistry with Cutler, as we all expect, he could be a Pro Bowler.
§ WR Devin Hester has made great strides in transition from a CB to a KR/PR to a WR, and we expect him to have a break-out season. Playing with Cutler will only make him better, and some flashes in the preseason would be nice to see.
§ The rest of the WR corps is also young and inexperienced but has a lot of potential. One guy to really keep an eye on is Earl Bennett. He may not have had a catch last year, but he was Cutler’s favorite target when they played together at Vanderbilt and is expect to start/have a large role.
§ LB Brian Urlacher was very disappointing last season, and he knows it. With all the talk being about the offense, the usually feared Bear defense is getting no love. Expect Urlacher and the large chip on his shoulder to lead by example.
§
QB
Aaron Rodgers was
outstanding in his first season as the starter in
§ The biggest storyline revolving around the team is the switch to the 3-4 scheme. OLB Aaron Kampman is the one player to focus on as he makes the move from DE. It was reported that he has struggled to learn the new position and was not thrilled with the switch. The general consensus is the more he plays, the better and more comfortable he’ll get. This is the most important story right now in terms of the team’s success.
§ RB Ryan Grant had a slightly disappointing season last year after a breakout 2007. However, he was in a contract holdout at the beginning of last year, which definitely hurt his play. That is not the case this year, so he should be expected to regain his top form as long as he’s healthy all summer.
§ ILB AJ Hawk has not lived up to the billing of a #6 overall pick. That’s not to say he has been bad, but he is not the elite player they hoped he’d be. The change to the 3-4 gives him a little more help, but Hawk needs to show he can be more valuable to the team.
§ WR Jordy Nelson has been on our radar since he came into the league last year. He is a little buried on the depth chart, but after 33/366/2 last year, he showed some promise. At 6’3”, 217, he provides a nice target for Rodgers, so let’s see if he can find a role in this offense.
§ The team is high on second-year TE Jermichael Finley, so we’ll have to see if he has some sleeper value and/or may destroy starter Donald Lee’s potential.
§
Although he was expected to learn
behind QB Daunte Culpepper
for a year, first overall pick QB
Matthew
§ New DC Gunther Cunningham has promised that the team will be after the QB and blitz more than any other team in the league. Between this new ideology and the schemes of HC Jim Schwartz, the defense should be better. Should be interesting to see if there is any noticeable improvement right away.
§
We know WR
Calvin Johnson is one of
the best in his position in the league. He has developed into that
kind of player without any consistency from the QB position. We are
salivating at what he could do if he and
§
We’ll be watching RB
Kevin Smith to see if he
can build on his good finish to last season. With “jabronis” like
Rudi Johnson out of the
way, Jones will get to be the starter from day one, which is another
stable position in this offense that can only help
§ The addition of veteran RB Maurice Morris gives the team a solid backup at the position plus a great pass-catcher who can run routes well. Let’s see how the Lions decide to integrate him into the offense. They certainly won’t feature him like the previous administration (unwisely) gave Johnson a chance last year.
§ The Lions other first-round pick, TE Brandon Pettigrew has reportedly started developing a good rapport with Stafford, and as we all know, the TE is a young QB’s best friend. He is a complete player with natural receiving skills, which could make him important right away.
§ QB Brett Favre finally joins the team after much deliberation. We will be interested to see how his teammates take to him, especially after some of them have openly said they were not thrilled with how the situation has gone down. On the field, we are interested to see just where his arm is at after surgery that supposedly fixed the problems he had toward the end of last season. Note: Obviously, as of time of this publication, Favre hasn’t officially signed.
§ WR Percy Harvin might be the most intriguing player to watch in the preseason. We have heard that he has wowed his teammates with his versatility, athleticism, and speed in OTAs. Let’s see if the Vikings can figure out how to use him to maximize his talents.
§ RB Adrian Peterson may be considered the best player in his position, but we have to wonder if he fixed his fumbling problem that was very troublesome last season.
§ WR Sidney Rice took part in a receiving minicamp run by Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald that included instruction from NFL legends Jerry Rice and Cris Carter. That’s a nice thing to hear, but can he finally put it together when it matters? We’ll see.
§ RB Chester Taylor is in a contract year, so it should be interesting to see what chances the Vikings give him. It is doubtful that he re-signs, but will they showcase him in any way?
§ And how about TE Vishante Shiancoe? Might he be poised to put up even better numbers in 2009 with Favre at the helm? If so, he may actually be a fantasy stud.
NFC SOUTH
§
We‘ll be watching to see if QB
Matt Ryan can make the
next step. He was very good in his rookie year, but with a year
under his belt and a new weapon at TE, he could be even better.
§
Speaking of his new weapon at TE,
Tony Gonzalez finally
got his wish to play for a contender. As we’ve said, Gonzalez will
probably be used more as a blocker than he has before and will draw
coverage away. It will be interesting to see how he fits into this
offense, and if his numbers will be that greatly affected.
§
We are very interested to see how RB
Michael Turner comes out
this season. Obviously, he had an excellent year in 2008, which was
his first as a starter. However, he did have 376 carries, which was
more than he had in his previous four years combined. Let’s see how
his body reacts to that stark difference in workload.
§
RB
Jerious Norwood is
someone to watch. He is a very versatile player who can be lined up
anywhere on the field in addition to being a return man, but the
team may try to get him more involved in the running game to keep
Turner fresh.
§
WR
Roddy White is a great
player, but we’ll have to see if there are any indications that his
production may slip with Gonzalez on the field.
§
The key to the season may be the
defense. Outside of DE John
Abraham, they were not very good at all. The team decided to gut
the unit and now must figure out how they will improve this year.
This could be the difference between an extended playoff run and
another one and done.
§ We really like WR Harry Douglas. He was a speedy, elusive receiver for Ryan last year, and he does everything he is asked to do. It’s not likely, but if he can beat out WR Michael Jenkins for playing time, he could be an intriguing part of this offense.
§ How will QB Jake Delhomme react to his terrible performance in the playoffs last season? He has already said that he takes full blame for the loss and expects to hear about it the first time he struggles this year. If he plays well, they may pass it a little more.
§ RB DeAngelo Williams was outstanding last year, but can he keep it up? He may have the ability to, but the same number of touches might not be there.
§ Those touches we alluded to may end up in the hands of RB Jonathan Stewart. Stewart is extremely talented and is too good not to have a bigger role in this offense. How will the team juggle time between these two studs? Conventional wisdom says they don’t change what worked last year, but Stewart may still command more touches.
§ It seems like every year we are waiting for WR Dwayne Jarrett to break out. We are still waiting, but the team, especially Delhomme, thinks he can do it. He may be in a now-or-never situation.
§ DE Julius Peppers finally signed his franchise tender, despite doing everything he possibly could to get himself traded. The big question is which Peppers will show up? One year he’s a ghost, the next he’s a beast. He’s playing for another contract, so let’s see how that factors in.
§ How will the team react to the terrible end to their 2008 season? They went from playing for the #1 seed in Week Sixteen to an embarrassing home playoff loss to an 8-8 team.
§ RB Reggie Bush is coming off knee surgery, but he is expected to be 100% for training camp. Can he and the Saints figure out his role in the offense with Pierre Thomas now “starting?”
§ The team was said to be in the market for a bigger back, but it turns out he was on the team the whole time. RB Pierre Thomas added some weight in the off-season and is projected to be the main ball carrier this year. We are very interested to see how the team will use their two very talented RBs.
§ WR Lance Moore is still not completely recovered from shoulder surgery. He came out of nowhere to be a very reliable target for QB Drew Brees, but he probably won’t contribute right away unless he shows in camp that he’s ready to rock and roll, so we’ll be watching.
§ The injury to Moore leaves the door wide open for WR Robert Meachem. He is a home run threat all the time but has never been able to show any kind of consistency in his play. Let’s see if he can finally put it together.
§ Can WR Marques Colston stay on the field this year? He is one of the most productive players at the position, but he missed five games last year. If he can get back to his 2006-2007 form, he’ll be one of the best once again.
§ QB Drew Brees threw for over 5,000 yards, missing his top two WRs for long stretches of time. How good can he be with everyone healthy? That’s a scary thought.
§ Where exactly is this defense at? New DC Gregg Williams looks to make them more aggressive with exotic looks and blitz packages. If they can get some improvement out of their D, this team could be a legitimate contender. Of course, DEs Will Smith and Charles Grant are suspended the first four games.
§ Who is the starting QB of this team? The only positives we’ve heard are about first-round pick QB Josh Freeman, who was supposed to be the QB of the future, not the present. The team said they will decide whether or not to speed up his progression early in training camp. That could shape the rest of the season. We’ll be watching the QB situation very closely more so as it relates to receivers Antonio Bryant and Kellen Winslow.
§ How will RB Derrick Ward be as the starter? After a few years as the #2 in New York, he signed a big contract to be the #1 guy in Tampa Bay. Can he handle the workload? How much of a workload will he get?
§ Can this defense change their identity in one year? Gone is the Tampa-2 and Monte Kiffin. They will look to play a more aggressive, physical defense. That includes moving former S Jermaine Phillips to LB.
§ WR Antonio Bryant had a huge year last season, but he ended up being franchised. He is playing for a contract once again, so let’s see if that’s enough motivation to play at the same high level as last year (and let’s see if the QB situation stifles him).
§ WR Michael Clayton signed a brand new deal after what has been four straight disappointing seasons following his great rookie year. The deal left a lot of people shaking their heads, so let’s see if he can prove his worth.
§ RB Carnell Williams suffered another season-ending injury for the second straight year. Can he make it back? If he does, will he even get a chance to contribute on a regular basis with Ward and Earnest Graham in front of him?
§ Considering the iffy QB situation, will new TE Kellen Winslow be able to make a big impact on the offense? Despite being a bit cocky and injury-prone, he may be the best athlete at his position.
§ What can we expect from first-time HC Raheem Morris? The team rid themselves of beloved veterans and has changed a lot of their philosophies. Can Morris lead them through a big transition?
NFC West
§ Although the team threw the ball all over the lot last year en route to the Super Bowl, they would like to establish more of a power running game this year. That is very easy to say, but a lot harder to do, considering that the passing game was their bread and butter. Let’s see how serious they are about the run.
§ If they really are committed to making this a running team, RB Chris Wells would be a big part of it. At his best, he was the #1 RB in the draft, and if he can win the starting job over Tim Hightower, then the team should have a better chance at establishing the run. But Wells wasn’t always at his best in college, so he has to show good things in August.
§ Speaking of establishing the run, that will all start up front. In addition to neither Hightower nor Edgerrin James playing at a high-level, this also was an O-line that was much better at pass protection than they were at run blocking. Let’s see if they can improve on that.
§ QB Kurt Warner seemed to sneak under the radar after having hip surgery during the off-season. We understand that he is supposed to be 100%, but any surgery at 38 years old is a major one. Let’s keep an eye on him to make sure he’s healthy.
§ WR Anquan Boldin did not get a new contract and was not traded. It didn’t seem to affect him at all last year, so we don’t expect it to be a problem this year. We have to wonder if the Ravens will come calling if WR Derrick Mason stays retired.
§ Who is the starting TE on this team? They have an abundance of them, but no real clear-cut starter – definitely something to keep an eye on.
§ Are the Cards showing signs of carrying over their aggressive playmaking ways on defense? That helped them for fantasy last year, the big plays.
§ This looks like the last chance for QB Marc Bulger, and it appears that he is well aware of that fact. Can he get back to his old form or have too many shots lowered his eye-level to the point of no return?
§ Will the defense be able to handle the complexities of new HC Steve Spagnuolo’s exotic schemes and blitz packages? They attempted to install it very slowly over OTAs, but we’ll have to see how much they learned and if that translates on the field.
§ The O-line has been a mess the last two years due to injury and overall poor play. Can C Jason Brown and rookie RT Jason Smith make the difference?
§ RB Steven Jackson is the only bona fide threat on this team. He now has a new C in Smith and a new FB in Mike Karney to block for him. If he can stay healthy, he should regain his status as one of the best RBs in the league. But we need to see mostly positive vibes from him and the Rams, unlike last year.
§ The WR position is a big question mark. WR Donnie Avery had a breakout season last year, but outside of that, no one is really established – and Avery’s not exactly established. Keep an eye on Laurent Robinson, who the team traded for in the off-season. He was rarely used in Atlanta, but he has the talent to find a role in this offense.
§ TE Randy McMichael is coming off a season-ending tibia injury in 2008 and will enter the final year of his contract. Can McMichael use all of the motivation he has to get back to the player we saw in Miami?
§ RB Frank Gore will have the offense built around him, thanks to new OC Jimmy Raye’s commitment to the power running game. Gore comes into camp healthy and ready to be the focal point of the offense. He could have the chance to have a huge year. But he needs to be healthy, and it would be nice to see the OL shape up in camp.
§ FB Moran Norris will play a big role in Gore’s season. He was brought in specifically to be the lead blocker for Gore, and interestingly enough, the two are best friends. This kind of relationship will help their communication on the field, and the two have admitted as much already.
§ The QB battle will be decided during training camp, according to HC Mike Singletary. It would appear that Shaun Hill has the edge, but Singletary said that Alex Smith has made great strides and officially made this a battle. Neither guy is anything special, so we’ll have to see how this shakes out.
§ WR Josh Morgan has gotten nothing but praise this off-season. The team thinks he could have a break-out year and become the #1. If he can find his way into the starting lineup, we may get to see just how good he is.
§ First-round pick, WR Michael Crabtree continues his rehabilitation from his foot injury. We’ll continue to monitor his situation to see how much and when he will be able to contribute. We really have no idea how much fantasy value he has right now, so we’ll be narrowing his value down in the coming weeks.
§ The team made it a priority to establish some kind of pass rush this season. Who will be that guy to become a legitimate pass rusher? Might this somewhat talented defense actually have some fantasy value this year?
§ TE Vernon Davis had his run-ins with Singletary last season, but he seemed to finally understand what he was expected to do. He is expected to be used more as a receiver this year, primarily because of his speed. Will he finally turn his raw talent into production?
§ New WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh has done a lot of talking this off-season. He said that both he and QB Matt Hasselbeck will go to the Pro Bowl and lead the team to the playoffs. Although that is nice fodder for the media, we have heard nothing but good things about the chemistry that he and Hasselbeck have developed this off-season, so it’s a situation to keep tabs on.
§ Speaking of Hasselbeck, we need to see just where he is at after missing time last year to deal with his bad back. That is not an injury that goes away forever, so we’ll be monitoring his health. If he is not healthy, this team isn’t going anywhere.
§ Rookie WR Deon Butler has impressed with his great speed and ability to get behind defenders. He may not be a big contributor right away, but his unique talent and blazing speed could make him an impact player down the line, and a great camp from him would bode well overall for their offense.
§ TE John Carlson has gotten a lot of praise for being a great all-around player. He had a great 2008 season, despite the inconsistent QB situation. Now that he gets to (hopefully) play with Hasselbeck all year, he could be even better. This guy could be a top TE for a very long time, and we’ll make sure he’s not possibly heading for a sophomore slump.
§ Between OT Walter Jones still working his way back from microfracture surgery and the switch to zone blocking, there are a lot of questions about the O-line. They will need to be able to protect Hasselbeck and get the running game going, neither of which we are positive they can do – definitely a situation to monitor.
§ The OL will be important to the running game, and we’ll also be watching how that shapes up this year with Julius Jones the guy. We’ll let you know if T.J. Duckett is worth taking a flyer on, or if a guy like Justin Forsett looks like a juicier fantasy flyer.
§ LB Julian Peterson was traded away, so the team selected LB Aaron Curry with their first-round pick. He has spent time at DE as a way to get the most out of his pass-rushing ability, so we’ll see just how they decide to use him.
§ Another player coming off microfracture surgery is WR Deion Branch. He said his knee will feel the same, although he did also say it feels stronger. That’s a strange statement to make, so we’ll see where he is in camp.
§ WR Nate Burleson is finally 100% after ACL surgery last September, so we’ll be watching to see if he can contribute on a consistent basis once again.
§ The team has a new HC in Jim Mora. Mora had some success in Atlanta but ultimately fizzled out, and he will always be remembered for his comments about his desire to coach at the University of Washington while still the HC of the Falcons. Can he pick up where Mike Holmgren left off and take this team back to the playoffs after their dreadful 2008 season?
AFC
TRAINING CAMP PREVIEWS
AFC
EAST
§
We're going to keep a close eye on the RB position early this
season. As we know, Marshawn Lynch is suspended for the first
three games of the year. That really opens the door for Fred
Jackson, who signed an extension this off-season. We like
§
The latest reports had rookie TE Shawn Nelson being used more
as a wild card and a moveable chess piece than a TE in the academic
sense. He's the best receiver by far of the trio the Bills have, but
we want to see how he's utilized before taking a chance on him
fantasy-wise.
§
We weren't too high on the Bills' selection of DE Aaron Maybin
in the first round, thinking he was a better fit as a 3-4 OLB.
But Maybin has apparently been impressive and might actually start
at DE, so we’ll keep up with him.
§
CB Leodis McKelvin could be on the verge of stardom. He'll
get his first chance at a full-time starting job this year.
§
The biggest issue facing the Bill offense this year is the OL, which
has to deal with the losses of LT Jason Peters and LG
Derrick Dockery. The Bills seem to have all the pieces in place
to have a really nice attack, but if they can't block, it won't do
much good. The progress of rookies Andy Levitre and Eric
Wood will be vital to the line.
§
If the line can block, we think QB Trent Edwards has
break-out potential. He has everything he needs: the ability to make
throws, a #1 WR (and a good #2 and #3, for that matter), a talented
pass-catching TE, and a good stable of RBs who
can handle a workload. If he can stay on his feet, he can put up
surprising numbers even in this usually-conservative offense.
§
Hey, there's that #81 guy, too. For the first time in his career,
he's on a one-year deal. How will he behave? Does he look to be
nearing the downside or actually on the downside?
§
The Dolphins have one of the more interesting training camp
situations to watch. How is QB/WR/RB/PR/KR/Pastry chef Pat White
going to be used? White is going to play; there is absolutely no
doubt about that. But will most of his snaps come from under center
in the Wildcat? And will RB Ronnie Brown still run the
Wildcat to keep teams off-balance?
§
Speaking of Brown, who had a really impressive recovery from ACL
surgery last year, he says he's even "more explosive" this year. But
will the team actually commit to him as opposed to giving him only
200-225 carries?
§
QB Chad Pennington is in the final year of his contract, and
despite a particularly strong season last year, the Dolphins have
kept no secrets about the future of second-year QB Chad Henne.
Henne figures to be the future at this position as soon as next
year, so his reps should start to increase. We’ll watch to see if
they do in practice this summer.
§
The Dolphins have been impressed with
WR Ted Ginn this year, and apparently Davone Bess has
been good as well. The big news is that Greg Camarillo has
recovered really well from his ACL injury, and he has reemerged as
Pennington's top target. Still, there's a logjam at WR, so how that
shakes out will have big fantasy implications.
§
G Donald Thomas is probably
the most talented run blocker on a strong Miami OL, but he suffered
a torn pectoral, and he still doesn't know when and if he'll return
during training camp. The Dolphins need him.
§
The Dolphins have to rebuild their
secondary from the ground up, and rookie CBs Vontae Davis and
Sean Smith are going to be two players to watch.
§
DE/LB Jason Taylor returns,
and he'll be transitioning, at least in some respects, to a 3-4 OLB.
This late in his career, it'll be interesting to see.
§
As a whole, how will the Dolphins handle their division title
defense and harder schedule?
§
There might not be a single more
important training camp for a single player than for QB Tom Brady.
If Brady's recovered, and there's no reason to believe he isn't,
look out. This Patriot offense is loaded. First up, we need to see
him in practice and in game situations in the preseason.
§
Former Patriot DE/LB Willie
McGinest has made no secret of the fact that he wants to return.
It seems the Patriots are open to the idea, but contract talks
haven't even begun. It seems like a good fit after the Patriots
missed out on Jason Taylor. They could go into training camp
and still later decide to bring him in. McGinest doesn't really need
camp at this point in his career. The Patriots are reportedly also
interested in DE Derrick Burgess from
§
RB Laurence Maroney is in the
midst of what is likely his final chance with the Patriots. He'll
need to stay healthy, and he'll need to impress in camp. Maroney
also fielded a few kickoffs in minicamp. Heck, he needs to first
prove he deserves a roster spot.
§
The trade for TE Alex Smith means
the Patriots are going to have multiple guys fighting tooth-and-nail
for every snap at that position. Benjamin Watson is still in
town, and the Pats signed Chris Baker away from the Jets. You
also can’t forget about David Thomas. But should fantasy
owners remember any of these guys on draft day?
§
How many reps will LB Tedy Bruschi
get? The veteran has been teetering on retirement this
off-season, and he hasn't committed to the Pats beyond 2009. Maybe
Bill Belichick will try to keep him fresh.
§
NT Vince Wilfork has earned
some praise for showing up to minicamp and playing a leadership
role, despite an outspoken desire for a new contract. But will the
qualms spill over if training camp runs through without Wilfork
locked up long-term?
§
With Josh McDaniels on his way to
§
Veteran WR Joey Galloway
has reportedly looked as good as ever in their practices, so we’ll
watch him in training camp and in their games to make sure that’s
the case.
§
Rookie QB Mark Sanchez
recently told the Jets' official Web site that he is confident he
can win the team's starting job. Training camp is where the battle
between Sanchez and vet Kellen Clemens will be fought. We’ll
not only watch it, but get a feeling for their potential throwing
the ball with whomever wins the job.
§
RB Leon Washington claims he
wants "fair market value" in his pursuit of a new contract.
§
As of right now, it seems like WR
Chansi Stuckey is in the lead to start alongside the Jets' only
proven NFL WR, Jerricho Cotchery. The odds David Clowney
catches him? 2-to-1. The odds we'll finally figure out the
difference between Stuckey and Clowney by the end of the preseason?
3-to-1. In all honestly, they're incredibly different players. But
the semi-similar names are too much to bear for guys who have yet to
make much of an impact at the NFL level.
§
The Jet defense has been absurdly
outspoken this off-season, with several players confident in their
own abilities. S Kerry Rhodes told fans on his Twitter
account that he expects the Jet defense to be the best in all of
football this year. That journey starts in training camp, and it's a
tall task because more likely than not, the D will have to caddy for
the fledgling offense in 2009.
§
Speaking of trash talk, new head coach Rex Ryan has been
endearing himself to the Jet faithful because he hasn't been afraid
to speak his mind in the media. The difference between Ryan and
Eric Mangini, of course, is Ryan actually seems to have a
pleasant personality. That hasn't stopped Ryan from getting into a
war of words with Dolphin LB Channing Crowder, however.
§
Huge, huge camp for DE/LB Vernon Gholston, who had a
disappointing rookie campaign and, according to reports, hasn't been
very impressive yet this off-season. Gholston has now been forced
into a position of importance (the Jets have named him as a starter
through Week Four), because LB Calvin Pace was suspended four
games for violating the NFL's drug policy. Pace admitted to his
mistake, and he said he didn't correctly research an
over-the-counter supplement.
§
We’ll track the chemistry between Sanchez and TE
Dustin Keller, who
should be, at worst, Sanchez’ #2 receiver this year.
§
We’ll also watch to keep up with rookie RB
Shonn Greene and try to
get a handle on any possible role he may have behind Jones.
AFC
NORTH
§
The sudden retirement of WR
Derrick Mason, if Mason doesn't change his mind, would be a
gigantic blow to this offense. Rumor has it that coach John
Harbaugh is going to try to convince the veteran possession
receiver to change his mind. If he doesn't, the Ravens are likely
down to Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams as their
starters. Williams' injury history has been well-documented, and
even a great training camp likely won't soothe the team's nerves
regarding him. But a great camp would be cause for optimism.
§
We'll definitely be watching out for
QB Joe Flacco, whom we considered a so-so fantasy guy even
before the retirement of Mason. Flacco has an absurd amount of
talent, but this isn't really the greatest set of weapons in
football, and that’s the problem. Of course, we may adjust that
position if there are signs of promise because we do love Flacco the
player.
§
LB/DE Terrell Suggs just
signed a huge six-year extension. His presence as a star and a vocal
leader will be huge to this team, which is transitioning from Rex
Ryan to Greg Mattison at defensive coordinator. That
transition is probably going to be a blow to the NFL's #1 defense,
although it'll be interesting to see what Mattison does in camp and
in the preseason.
§
RB is probably the most intriguing
offensive position for fantasy purposes in
§
We’ll also get a feel for how they
plan to use their TEs, and let you know if either
Todd Heap or
Little John Smith are
worth anything.
§
Rookie OT Michael Oher will be
battling for a spot. Right now, he's probably behind Jared
Gaither at LT, but he could squeeze in front of Ryan Terry
at RT.
§
Can
§
The Bengals absolutely need QB
Carson Palmer to be healthy. Not only that, but they need him to
be sharp. Palmer turns this offense from a dreadful one into an
intriguing one, at the least. This is a division that could be up
for the taking if the cards fall the right way, so we’ll be watching
and particularly interested in the vibes, good, bad, or both.
§
The roller-coaster relationship of WR
Chad Ochocinco and Palmer hasn't destroyed Palmer's faith in
the Pro Bowl wideout. Palmer recently said that #85 is without a
doubt his favorite target going into 2009, and that Ocho can still
be a top player in the NFL. Ocho has been blabbing all off-season,
so it will be interesting to see how he recovers from his awful
2008.
§
Let’s see if WR
Chris Henry can prove he
warrants the praise heaped upon him the off-season.
§
We'll be watching the battle to back
up RB Cedric Benson. It looks like recently acquired Brian
Leonard is the favorite, but Kenny Watson can handle
touches on third down, and sixth-round pick Bernard Scott has
been impressive in camps. Scott was a first-round talent plagued by
major off-field issues, but he said he's a changed man. So far, so
good, and we can't help but be intrigued by Scott's talent.
§
Can ex-Cowboy SS Roy Williams
resurrect his career in Cincy? As long as he isn't asked to cover
anyone, it's possible.
§
Rookie LB Rey Maualuga is
playing strong-side LB in base packages to get him on the field, but
eventually he's going to be a middle LB, defensive coordinator
Mike Zimmer said. Maualuga will be one of the more interesting
defensive rookies to watch in training camp, and this is an
underrated
§
The Bengals need a better season from
the defensive line, which generate just about no pass rush. At least
some players are taking initiative, though. DE Antwan Odom,
aware of his struggles in 2008, added 30 pounds in the off-season to
boost his strength.
§
First-round pick T Andre Smith
is still unsigned.
§
Don't forget: You can watch all of these Cincy storylines unfold
before your own eyes. The Bengals are the subject of Hard Knocks
this season on NFL Network.
§
For some unknown reason, head coach
Eric Mangini has yet to name a starting QB between Brady
Quinn and Derek Anderson. We tend to think there's no way
§
Is K Phil Dawson seriously
going to attempt to hold out? He missed the Browns' OTAs, and is
unhappy with his contract. When's the last time, if ever, a kicker
held out?
§
Speaking of holdouts, WR/KR Josh
Cribbs has said he refuses to play under his current contract.
Cribbs is a versatile weapon, and it would be interesting to see
what Mangini would do with him, and it might be more interesting to
see what the Browns do without him.
§
WR Braylon Edwards is now
obviously staying put. But there are still some questions at the WR
position. One, will Bray-Bray bounce back? Two, who will start
alongside him? We think rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed
Massaquoi have great shots here.
§
How is Mangini going to fix this
defense? It certainly has some talent, but consistently
underperformed under Romeo Crennel. Mangini managed to turn
the Jets into a great defensive team some weeks last year, and a
slice of Swiss cheese in others. Don't forget he also brought over
some of his favorite ex-Jets to fill in with
§
Speaking of the defense, Mangini and
star NT Shaun Rogers have already butted heads.
§
The use of RB Jerome Harrison
could have some major fantasy implications.
§
It would be a huge help to this offense if the talented Brown OL can
rebound from a rough 2008.
§
We’re also going to keep tabs on the TE position and let you know if
anyone’s worth looking at. Veteran
Robert Royal is the safe
choice, but youngster Martin
Rucker may have some upside.
§
The Steelers had a rough go of it
three years ago after winning Super Bowl XL, and they failed to make
the playoffs the next year. Some vets who remember how that felt,
like CB Ike Taylor, have been trying to make sure it doesn't
happen again. They'll have a pretty weak division to take advantage
of in 2009, but they're going to have to stay sharp.
§
WR Santonio Holmes is playing
at over 200 pounds for the first time in his career. Holmes said the
added pounds will help him to be more physical and to gain more
separation from defenders. If Holmes' speed isn't affected, this is
a huge development for QB Ben Roethlisberger.
§
The Steelers are trying to establish
some sort of consistency with their weak OL. T Max Starks wasn't
great last year, but the Steelers paid him $26.3 million over four
seasons anyway because they don't have anything close to as good an
option. Common wisdom suggests the line will improve if it can play
together for a while longer. Still, it's a miracle the Steelers
managed to win last year with a weak OL, which simply doesn't suit
Roethlisberger's reckless style of play.
§
RB Willie Parker said he's
gained back the speed he lost over the past two seasons. That would
be good for him, considering he has Rashard Mendenhall breathing
down his neck. Coach Mike Tomlin has said recently that
Mendenhall's role will strictly be based on how he plays, and that’s
fair, given his disappointing rookie season and how Parker remains a
solid player. Watch this mini-battle.
§
Will prototypical slot receiver Shaun
McDonald be the replacement for last year's #3 Nate
Washington or will second-year man Limas Sweed make the
push? Coaches seem impressed with Sweed's progress this off-season.
§
We'll be anxious to see what effect, if any, the pending sexual
assault charges have against Roethlisberger, who was accused of the
charges just this past week.
§
P Daniel Sepulveda finally
seems ready to make a return to the field after two serious knee
operations. He tore his ACL last year, missing his rookie season,
and he had his meniscus repaired last month. The injuries were in
his right knee, his plant leg. The Steelers seem confident because
they just released P Dirk Johnson. But Sepulveda will still
have to impress in camp if the Steelers are going to stick with him.
AFC
SOUTH
§
TE Owen Daniels is still
really unhappy with his status with the team, stemming from the fact
that an uncapped year resulting from the potential expiration of the
CBA in 2010 could make him a restricted free agent again next
season. He's missed some mandatory camps and has been fined, despite
having signed his RFA tender. Head coach Gary Kubiak said he
doesn't know if Daniels or CB Dunta Robinson, the team's
franchise player, will be reporting to training camp.
§
Defensive coordinator Frank Bush
has expressed a strong desire to make the Texans more aggressive
in the pass rush. There are a couple of ways the Texans can
accomplish this, including employing a more diverse rotation on the
DL, and more blitzing from the LBs. We'll see how Bush's influence
affects the mindset of the defense, which has never been a strength
in the history of the franchise.
§
Rookie LB Brian Cushing and
rookie DE Connor Barwin are two players the Texans drafted,
which fit Bush's bill for more aggressive players. They also signed
DE Antonio Smith to help out, but Smith's biggest
contribution might come in drawing heat away from Mario Williams.
§
The battle to be a clear backup QB
isn't interesting with most teams, but it holds a pretty significant
deal of relevance when it comes to the Texans. Matt Schaub is
without a doubt the starting QB, but his inability to put together a
full season makes the #2 battle between Rex Grossman and
Dan Orlovsky all the more interesting. There are sufficient
weapons here for whichever QB wins the spot to take advantage of if
Schaub were to go down again. We’ll be watching to see if Grossman
clearly beats Orlovsky out and if he looks sharp enough to have some
confidence in him should Schaub go down.
§
RB Steve Slaton had a
fantastic rookie season, but the team might want to be careful with
him. Can he handle another full workload? The backups here, Chris
Brown and Ryan Moats, have experience, but Brown is a
walking injury and Moats isn't much of a grinder.
§
This seems like as good a year as any for the Texans to make their
first run at the postseason. The offense is stacked, and the
conference is pretty weak. If this is the year all the parts click,
look out.
§
The team is transitioning from
Hall-of-Fame coach Tony Dungy to Dungy's hand-picked
replacement, Jim Caldwell. There's probably no team in
football, at least offensively, better-suited to handling a coaching
change, but we'll see how it affects them anyway.
§
The Colts expect Tom Moore and
Howard Mudd, two former offensive coaches who retired last
month, to be back as advisers by the start of the season, and that
should appease QB Peyton Manning, even though he said the
retirements of the offensive coordinator and OL coach haven’t been
communicated well, and their status as “consultants” in the upcoming
season is disturbingly undefined.
§
New defensive coordinator Larry
Coyer brings the Tampa-2 philosophy with him, but the Colts
might try to get away from that mindset and focus on stopping the
run in its tracks. They want to get bigger defensively, and Coyer
might start to experiment with changing up the fronts. This will be
one of the key factors to a successful Colts season.
§
Watch the linebackers this year.
Clint Session is probably going to start on the weakside, and
MLB LB Gary Brackett hopes to be ready for the start of
training camp as he recovers from his broken leg.
§
Manning has issued an open challenge
to the team’s young receivers to take the #3 wideout job. Pierre
Garcon, Austin Collie, and Roy Hall all figure to
get a chance to win the job.
§
Colts owner Jim Irsay has announced his top priority for
training camp: Get the run game going by fixing the offensive line
through health and consistency. This raises the question: What will
the breakdown in touches be like between RB Joseph Addai and
rookie Donald Brown?
§
We also want to watch the OL and make sure it’s in much better shape
than it was this time last year, which it should be.
§
The Jags traded WR Dennis
Northcutt to the Lions for FS Gerald Alexander. Alexander
adds some needed depth to a pretty thin corps of safeties, but in
terms of trading Northcutt, the Jags said they felt comfortable
dealing the veteran because they have confidence in some of the
rookies who can play a similar role, like Mike Thomas and
Tiquan Underwood.
§
Remember, this is a team that dumped
all the bad influences from the receiving corps, including Jerry
Porter, Reggie Williams, and Matt Jones. Then they
brought in consummate pro Torry Holt to anchor the staff.
They're young and inexperienced behind Holt, but the purge gives
them a chance to build from the ground up. We'll see if Mike
Walker is able to live up to the mini-hype we've been throwing
his way.
§
Coach Jack Del Rio has been on
the hot seat for about a year now. If the Jags don't compete, he
might be in danger of losing his job. We'll see how his team
responds in the face of that. Signing a contract extension last year
might be the only reason he has a job right now. The Jags might need
a quick start or they're in trouble.
§
New defensive coordinator Mel
Tucker has stressed improving an anemic pass rush in any way
possible. We'll see if Tucker begins to transition to the 3-4 at
all, since the Jags' personnel seems to fit that scheme a little bit
better.
§
QB David Garrard said he feels
comfortable with the changes the Jag front office has made along the
offensive line and at the receiver position. Garrard didn't have the
best of seasons in 2008, and he'll be looking to rebound. That
starts at training camp, where he'll need to build some chemistry
with his new offense.
§
The Jags have a nice pair of rookie
tackles, Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton, but both are
yet unsigned. Going into training camp without either would be bad,
but without both would be tragic. The Jags were weak up front last
year, and they need all hands on deck, especially with the talent
both of these guys possess.
§
Finally, can RB Maurice Jones-Drew handle the burden of being
the without-a-doubt #1 RB? Some say he doesn't have the size, but we
think he does. He’s short, but he’s not small. He’s bulky. The
Jaguars are making the commitment to him, and they think he can be
the guy.
§
For good measure, we’ll try to make heads or tails of the backup RBs
and try to project the winner if MJD gets hurt. We’re thinking it’s
going to be rookie Rashad
Jennings.
·
The Vince Young situation
boiled over last month when he opened up during an interview with
ESPN. Young said the ordeal that left him benched behind Kerry
Collins last year left him depressed and pondering retirement.
Young has since said he feels better after venting, and he is
committed to trying to win back his job, which coach Jeff Fisher
said was certainly possible, although he hasn't declared a
completely open competition. Young said he is open to being a backup
for the remainder of Collins' two-year contract if he doesn't earn
back the starting position.
·
If LenDale White really has
dropped 30 pounds from last season and he really is quicker, there
might not be a better one-two RB punch in football. Chris Johnson
is beginning to come out of his shell as a pretty "out there"
media personality, too. Let's see if he takes the leadership reigns
for this offense or if his heads gets a little too big on the heels
of his impressive rookie season.
·
New defensive coordinator Chuck
Cecil, infamous for his brutal hits as an NFL safety, scoffs at
the notion that his defense will develop a similar “dirty”
reputation, noting that the players on his unit each has his own
style.
·
Cecil's reputation isn't the biggest
mountain he has to climb, however. Replacing the production of
departed DT Albert Haynesworth is certainly easier said than
done. All indications suggest the Titans will be employing sort of a
"DT by committee," including guys like Tony Brown, Jason
Jones, Jovan Haye, Sen'Derrick Marks and others.
·
Rookie WR Kenny Britt will be
a quality pro with the potential to be better than that. He’s not a
finished product, but no one here is. They don’t have very much
depth at the WR position, so Britt is going to have a chance to
contribute as a rookie. If he picks up the playbook in camp, he
could be ready to go really quick.
·
It seems, at this point, that the Titans are going to do what they
do to win: run the ball and play defense. This is a deceptively
strong division, so repeating as champs won't be easy, and the
Titans have some changes to overcome. We'll be watching to see how
they handle them.
·
We’d also like to keep up with the TE situation just in case
impressive rookie
Jared Cook has a chance to severely dip into
Bo Scaife’s production.
AFC
WEST
·
No team has undergone the complete and sweeping overhaul as have the
Broncos: new coaches, new schemes, new players. This is going to be
an interesting season to watch, whether a surprise or a train wreck.
·
QB Kyle Orton is the man here, but you have to feel bad for
him. He's filling huge shoes, and his #1 WR Brandon Marshall
is disgruntled and is requesting a trade. We're going to keep a
close eye on Orton's progress throughout training camp. He's a solid
QB, and he certainly has the skill set to run new coach Josh
McDaniels' offense, but he's in a contract year and is under a
ton of pressure to produce for his own advancement.
·
Speaking of
·
Which of the Broncos' many RBs are going to make the team, and how
will they be used? Will rookie Knowshon Moreno be the
starter? Who’s next in line behind him at RB?
·
The Broncos are going to a 3-4, which they hope will help their
utterly atrocious defense that cost them a division title last
season (and probably Mike Shanahan his job). The transition
might take a while, but do they really have anywhere to go but up?
·
Rookie Robert Ayers can play either 3-4 DE or LB. Ayers was
easily the most versatile player of his type in the draft. We'll see
how the Broncos use him.
·
This is the oldest secondary in football, with all four starters
over 30. How much does new S Brian Dawkins have left in the
tank?
·
We’ll be closely watching the play of
QB Matt Cassel, for whom the team stepped up to the plate and
signed to a new long-term contract this past week. We’ll be looking
for any glimpse of the type and identity of the offense they’ll run,
his chemistry with his receivers, and the state of his top offensive
line.
·
We’ll be paying close attention to RB
Larry Johnson to see if he’s running with some juice and
explosiveness, as he did last summer. And if we can get a better
feel for how large his role will be in the offense, all the better.
·
We’ll also be watching RB Jamaal
Charles to see if there are any indications as to how they’ll
use him this year and how often they’ll use him.
·
We’ll be paying extra attention to WR
Dwayne Bowe, who was overweight a couple of months ago and
didn’t exactly have a good off-season. We need to see him slimmed
down and looking stud-like in practice, as was the case last summer.
·
We’ll be watching to see if WR
Mark Bradley is healthy all summer and to see if veteran
Bobby Engram still appears to have enough left in the tank.
·
We will pay close attention to new
starting TE Brad Cottam to see if he’ll be worth
taking a flyer on as a back-up option this year. He didn’t have a
very good off-season, so we need to see him turn things around
quickly.
·
We’ll be watching how the new defense
and its flirtation with the 3-4 are gelling against 1st-team
offenses in their exhibition games. We’ll also check on their IDPs
to see if any of them are worth using for fantasy.
·
If there are any signs that the OL is
coming together well and appears to be poised to take a step
forward, we’ll be all over it.
·
We’ll keep up on the kicker battle for those of you in 32-team
leagues.
·
There might be a QB battle
brewing. Apparently, Jeff Garcia has been actively pushing
JaMarcus Russell early. But Russell is taking the competition in
stride, and he's invited his receivers to join him for private
workouts outside of the team's facilities to work on chemistry and
timing. We still tend to think Russell would have to outright lose
the job for Garcia to start, but Garcia has been relentless.
·
How is this whole WR situation going
to shake out? We've heard tale of first-round pick Darrius
Heyward-Bey being less than impressive early in minicamp, while
Chaz Schilens and another rookie Louis Murphy have
been standing out as possession-type receivers. Don't forget that
Javon Walker is still in town, although it's anyone's guess as
to what value he might actually have in this upcoming season.
Heyward-Bey has some pressure on him he didn't ask for, but
nonetheless he's going to have to perform to please Raider Nation.
·
The Raiders are trying to employ a
near-extinct offensive philosophy: They want to run with power and
throw vertically over the top off of that. The signing of FB
Lorenzo Neal signifies this mindset. Teams can certainly win
doing this, and the Raiders at least have the personnel at the skill
positions, but can they execute? Will the line, especially, hold up?
The Raiders still have some spots, especially the tackle position,
that might yet shake out.
·
Given this philosophy, RB Darren
McFadden is not a featured back. Michael Bush fits their
offense the best, but is he actually their guy? McFadden’s style is
as a Reggie Bush-type satellite back. He’s a good receiver
but he needs space to be successful. We'll see which ways the
Raiders try to get McFadden involved.
·
The Raiders have some players
defensively, but they're pretty much a mess as a whole. We'll see if
anyone steps up to take charge. The signing of DE Greg Ellis
should help a decent bit. He can make some plays.
·
Will DE Derrick Burgess be traded?
·
RB LaDainian Tomlinson has
been the subject of a lot of discussion this off-season, and many
consider him to be injury-prone and a risk going forward. This leads
to two interesting storylines to watch this preseason: 1) How will
LT respond to the criticism? And 2) How will the Chargers be
utilizing Darren Sproles even when Tomlinson is healthy?
·
The Chargers probably have more key
players in contract years than any other team in football. We'll see
how the players handle it. In terms of motivation, this is great,
but it also leaves the franchise with tough decisions for the next
year. Some of the key players? QB Philip Rivers, LT Marcus
McNeill, RB Darren Sproles, WR Vincent Jackson,
and LB Shawne Merriman. All of these guys have something to
prove, and the Chargers might have to pick favorites when choosing
whom to re-sign.
·
Speaking of
McNeill, he was a disappointment in 2008 but he hopes to rebound
with a healthy 2009. Training camp will be his first serious action
of the year because he sat out spring camps while nursing a bum
neck.
·
Vincent Jackson finally
came into his own last year, but how will the rest of the WR
position shake out? In terms of pure upside, we love Malcom Floyd,
partly because he's big and talented and partly because Chris
Chambers is a walking injury. Second-year man Legedu Naanee has
also being seeing spring snaps, including from under center in the
Wildcat formation (LT's been under there, too).
·
GM A.J. Smith, despite his
team’s offensive successes, said the Chargers need to improve
defensively before they can think about a championship. The
secondary is going to be a place to look, where both Quentin
Jammer and Antonio Cromartie struggled at CB.
·
How will rookie LB/DE Larry
English contribute to the pass rush and help Merriman?
· Interesting situation for the franchise. The Chargers were forced to close training camp to the public because of concerns about safety. A sewer drain burst in February, and the Charger training facilities were heavily affected. The Chargers felt it would be in the best interest of the club to close training camp while the drains are repaired.