Author Topic: 2012 Player News And Rumors (Read 403 times)

TheGame · « **on:** January 30, 2012, 06:44:49 PM »

Speaking to NBCSportsTalk at the Super Bowl Monday, new coach Dennis Allen confirmed that Carson Palmer "absolutely" will be the Raiders' starter in Week 1 of the 2012 season.

dsanty · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2012, 05:56:20 PM »

Players signed by new teams:

Note: Listing of players is based on overall fantasy impact.

Wide Receivers

Brandon Marshall (Acquired by Chi from Mia) – In a surprising move just minutes before the start of free agency, FOXSports.com reported that the Bears acquired Marshall from the Dolphins in exchange for 3rd-round picks in 2012 and 2013.

Fantasy Analysis: While we’ve seen Marshall recently opine about a reunion with Jay Cutler, we didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. Instead of Cutler relying on his old buddy from college Earl Bennett to be his most reliable receiver, he finally gets the #1 talent that’s been missing from the Bear receiving corps since Cutler joined the team in 2009. Of course, the two played together in Denver from 2006-2008, before Cutler was traded to Chicago. Neither player became a full-time starter until 2007, but they immediately clicked. In 2007-2008, Marshall grabbed 206 of 352 targets (58.5%) for 2,590 yards and 13 TDs, as part of two of his three straight seasons with 100+ catches. While Marshall hasn’t been as productive without Cutler, he still had 81/1214/6 on 142 targets (57% caught) and was 19thamong WRs in 2011 with 9.9 FPG primarily playing with Matt Moore as his QB. Cutler will obviously be a huge step up from Moore, and Marshall will join a Bear receiving corps that certainly could use his help. Bennett is fine as a slot receiver, but they’ll have to hope that Johnny Knox will be able to return from a back injury that ended his season in mid-December of last season. Knox would be a nice #2 opposite Marshall with Bennett in the slot, plus the team still has one of the best receiving backs in the league in Matt Forte. Marshall may have had lapses in concentration, but he’s still one of the league’s most physically talented WRs at 6-4, 230 pounds. We’d still like to see the Bears provide a little more protection for Cutler, but this addition is a great step forward for his fantasy value and probably Marshall’s as well.

Pierre Garcon (Signed by Was from Ind) – Garcon posted on his own Twitter account that he has agreed to terms with the Redskins. Terms are not yet known.

Fantasy Analysis: The Redskins have, apparently, set up a pitch-and-catch combo for the future. With last week’s monster trade for the #2 overall pick in April’s draft, the Redskins will presumably pair strong-armed rookie QB Robert Griffin III with Garcon, a big-play threat at the WR position. Obviously, Garcon broke out in 2009 with the help of QB Peyton Manning, but he managed to post a very solid 2011 season even without him. With Kerry Collins, Curtis Painter, and Dan Orlovsky at QB, he actually had value as a deep threat. He had a career-high 70/947/6 on 131 targets (53.4%) with an average of 13.5 YPC, but unfortunately a lot of his production came in just a few games. He had three games with 100 receiving yards, and all 6 of his TDs came in those games, so he frequently came up small. Garcon’s had mental lapses in the past that bugged Manning, and for every big play he’s made he’s seemed to make a boneheaded one to offset it. But he’s fantastic after the catch, and if he and Griffin get on the same page with a full off-season of work, they could become dangerous. He might not be a #1, but ideally, he’s a great fit for a QB who throws an accurate deep ball.
Randy Moss (Signed by SF from Ten) – With less than 24 hours to go before the official start of the league year and free agency, the 49ers signed the veteran Moss, 35, to a one-year contract. ESPN reports that the deal is for $2.5 million with up to $1.5 million more in incentives.

Fantasy Analysis: It’s a little surprising, given the team-first (and winning) culture the 49ers built last year, that they would take a flyer on the veteran Moss, but it does illustrate their desperate need for speed and verticality in their offense. You also have to have some faith in the Niner decision-makers because everything they touched last year turned to gold, so it’s probably safe to assume that Moss won’t create too many waves in the Bay Area, at least during his first season there. On the other hand, his track record certainly indicates that he could be a distraction and maybe even a poor influence on young receiver Michael Crabtree. He won’t enjoy stellar QB play from Alex Smith on a consistent basis, and Smith’s arm strength is mediocre, but the savvy 49er coaches can certainly put Moss in a position to help the team, and Smith is capable of getting him the ball deep, despite his so-so arm. Moss will be worth owning in fantasy football this year, but it’s important to note this is still going to be a team that is more about defense and running the ball than anything else, so Moss’ fantasy value won’t be through the roof. His biggest influence might actually be on TE Vernon Davis, who could be freed up more throughout the field and inside the numbers (Moss is an outside the numbers guy, for the most part), and who could be utilized better now as a moveable chess piece. In addition to making the occasional big play down the field – assuming Moss can still run well enough – he’s an excellent red zone threat, and the team has needed another viable option inside the 10 for fade routes, etc. Smith was a decent 15th in the league in QB pass attempts in the red zone last year, but only Joe Flacco had fewer pass attempts inside the 10 among all QBs with 16 starts last year, so expecting double-digit TDs from Moss this year might be asking too much. While this acquisition helps Smith, it probably doesn’t change Smith’s position as a low-end backup, but it might hurt Crabtree’s value a bit, since Moss should steal some valuable red zone looks from him. Again, we do like the move as it relates to the TE Davis’ fantasy potential this year. As for Moss himself, he should be viewed as a #3 WR at best, and ideally a #4/depth guy in a 10 or 12-team league. It’s not inconceivable he emerges as a top-25 threat, but based on his age, the year off in 2011 and his ugly 2010, and the conservative nature of the offense, it’s best to be cautious with the mercurial veteran. Although it might not matter much because Moss will always be Moss, and the Niners likely know that, it's worth pointing out that this destination seems to be the closest Moss has come to playing in a West Coast offense, which Moss has never been in, so there should be an adjustment there.

TheGame · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2012, 11:41:19 AM »

Five weeks ago Vikings running back Adrian Peterson said he expects to be all the way back from knee surgery in time to play in Week One. As Peterson’s rehab continues, the Vikings remain optimistic about that.

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said at the league meeting that while he doesn’t want to put a specific date on when Peterson will be at full speed, he does believe Peterson is making the necessary progress and perhaps even progressing more quickly than they expected

dsanty · « **Reply #3 on:** April 11, 2012, 10:26:34 PM »

** While RB Jamaal Charles (knee) is expected to be held out of OTAs, he remains on track to be ready for training camp. "Dr. James Andrews, who did my surgery, said I was ahead of schedule," Charles said. He just started doing "hard running" and should be on the field for the team's season-opener. J-Chaz definitely comes with some risk in 2012 fantasy drafts, but he's still only 25 years old and will be almost a full year removed from that torn ACL by the time Week 1 rolls around. We'd gladly scoop him up in the 2nd-round.
** The Panthers have signed WR Steve Smith to a 3-year contract extension. Tacked on to the final year of his current deal, Smith is now locked-up through 2015. He'll be 36 years old at that point. Smith was on the decline before being sparked by QB Cam Newton last season. Smith's 79 catches were his most since 2007, and his 1,394 yards marked his best total since 2008. We'd bet against him repeating those numbers this coming year, but he should at least produce as a WR2.
** New Colts HC Chuck Pagano has made it clear that running the football will be a priority this season. Team insider Phillip Wilson expects to see a committee attack with RBs Donald Brown and Delone Carter. Brown emerged as Indy's starter last season, finishing with career-highs in carries (134), rushing yards (645), TDs (5), and yards per carry (4.8). Carter, meanwhile, managed just 3.7 yards per carry and lost 3 fumbles on his 106 touches. We're not completely sold on Brown after just 1 good season, though, and Carter is better than what he showed last year. This could end up being close to a 50-50 split in 2012. Of course, that'd make both guys shaky fantasy options.
** In case you missed it, we posted our “Top Offensive Prospects” article on Monday. It’s an in-depth look at the top-5 prospects at QB, RB, WR, and TE in this month’s draft. Whether you’re in a hardcore dynasty league or just a redraft kind of guy, this is a must-read as we get ready for the 2012 fantasy season. Plus, we’ll have our “Top Defensive Prospects” and another Mock Draft coming over the next couple weeks. These are all available to Draft Sharks members only. But the good news is that you can become a part of our exclusive community right now! Just click right here to get going!
** Raiders QB Carson Palmer got a look at new OC Greg Knapp's playbook and says that the RBs will be busy in the passing game. “The good thing with all this play-action stuff and move-the-pocket stuff is that some of the best plays are the screens and checkdowns to running backs," Palmer said. "When you cover Jacoby (Ford) downfield and Denarius (Moore) downfield, one of the positives is the checkdown, the easy throw, the dumpoff to the running back. When Darren McFadden and Taiwan Jones have five, six or seven yards separation between them between the next defender, they rarely get tackled by the first defender." When Knapp was Oakland's OC back in 2007 and 2008, the RBs averaged 78 catches per season. That included a 29-catch campaign from McFadden in his 2008 rookie campaign. If he can stay healthy, run DMC should zoom by that total this year.
** Baylor QB Robert Griffin will reportedly meet with the Redskins a couple of times per week between now and the NFL Draft. RGIII isn’t allowed to work out for the team during the get-togethers, but he is expected to start diving into the playbook. We rarely see this – especially with a guy not expected to go #1 overall – but Griffin is practically already donning a Redskins uniform. Getting a head-start on the offensive system can only help his 2012 fantasy outlook.
** Ravens WR Torrey Smith says he's "fully recovered" from February sports hernia surgery. Smith played through the groin injury for much of the 2011 season but still finished with an impressive 16.8 yards-per-catch average. It's a number he's capable of repeating this coming season. The fact that he'll be able to participate in OTAs is good news for his development.
** According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Panthers believe WR Brandon LaFell is "poised for a breakout" in 2012. Don't count us among the believers just yet. LaFell hasn't shown much in his first 2 seasons, totaling only 72 catches for 1,081 yards and 4 TDs. The former 3rd-round pick wasn't even able to beat out WR Legedu Naanee last season. Naanee is now gone, but WR David Gettis is set to return from last August's torn ACL. We're tentatively expecting Gettis and Naanee to split targets behind #1 WR Steve Smith, but it'll be a situation to monitor this summer.
** 49ers RB Brandon Jacobs hasn't been guaranteed any type of role with his new team. “My role is going to come off how much I earn,” Jacobs said. “I’m going to earn everything I get. As far as competing, that will make every one of us better. It makes us better as a team, it makes us better at our job. I’m looking forward to the opportunity of playing with Frank [Gore]." Almost 30 years old, Jacobs is on his last legs. He's not a threat to Gore's role as lead back and may finish 3rd on the team in carries behind both Gore and RB Kendall Hunter. Jacobs will need to earn his keep as a short-yardage and goal line guy.
** The National Football Post’s Dan Pompei polled 8 personnel men and none of them said they would take Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill in the 1st-round. He received an average grade in the mid-2nd. “Because the position has such a high value and because there is such a need to have a quarterback who is consistent and stable, people are reaching,” one GM said. The personnel men pointed to Tannehill’s limited body of work and questionable decision-making as reasons they’d pass in Round 1. But Tannehill also comes from a pro-style offense and boasts an impressive blend of arm and athleticism. He’ll be a top-8 pick later this month.
** The NFL has upheld the suspensions of Saints HC Sean Payton, assistant HC Joe Vitt, and GM Mickey Loomis. Their fines may be reduced, but Payton is done for the entire 2012 season, while Vitt and Loomis are gone for 6 and 8 games, respectively. Payton's suspension begins on April 16th, giving him 1 more week to get his ducks in a row. We're still waiting to find out if any players will be suspended for their role in Bounty-Gate.
** WR Jerome Simpson has been sentenced to 15 days of jail time and 3 years of probation on felony drug charges. Simpson was caught having 2.5 pounds of marijuana shipped to his home back in September. He got off relatively easy here but is still facing a suspension from the NFL. The free-agent hasn't drawn any interest on the open market yet.
** Broncos TE Julius Thomas underwent surgery last week to repair ligament damage in his ankle. He won't do much in OTAs but is expected to be ready for training camp. A raw prospect, Thomas appeared in just 5 games and caught only 1 pass last year. After Denver's additions of TEs Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreessen this offseason, Thomas will once again be an afterthought.

dsanty · « **Reply #4 on:** April 19, 2012, 01:03:25 PM »

* Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew is not in attendance for the start of the team's voluntary offseason workouts this week. And CBS Sports' Pete Prisco reports that it's because MJD is looking for a new contract. Last year's rushing champ is currently the 8th-highest paid RB in the league. There are still 2 years left on his current deal, but Jones-Drew is looking for more loot after a brilliant 2011 campaign. This will be a situation to monitor over the next few months. Missing these April workouts is no big deal for a veteran like MJD. But if the squabble bleeds into training camp, it'll definitely be cause for concern.

** Cowboys WR Miles Austin admits that he didn't stay in peak physical condition during the lockout last offseason. He went on to miss 6 games with hamstring issues. "I feel like last year I wasn’t prepared for the season the way I should’ve been condition-wise, even though I looked and felt it at the time," Austin said. "That’s one thing that I have to keep an eye on. To make sure I’m in the best physical shape I can be." Austin promises to be in better shape for 2012. If he can stay healthy, he still has top-10 upside on an explosive Cowboys offense.

** Raiders HC Dennis Allen said that RB Darren McFadden (foot) "was able to go through all the drills" during voluntary team workouts on Tuesday. It's more confirmation that he's 100% recovered from last year's Lisfranc injury that cost him the final 9 games. McFadden will enter 2012 as a high-risk, high-reward fantasy option. He's missed 19 games in his first 4 seasons but has finished among the top-7 RBs in fantasy points per game in each of the last 2 years.

** CBS Sports' Pete Prisco believes Blaine Gabbert will be talked about as "one of the rising QBs in the league" a year from now. Gabbert was a disaster during his rookie year, completing just 50.8% of his passes and finishing with a league-worst 65.4 QB rating. Prisco blames the lockout, run-centric offense, WRs, and Gabbert's toe injury. Prisco believes Gabbert will turn it around in 2012 because "he is smart, has a big arm, can make all the throws and spins his head. He's also willing to put in the work." Gabbert does have the physical tools to succeed, but he'll need to make big-time improvements with his footwork, accuracy, and decision-making if he's to develop into a quality NFL QB. Color us skeptical.

** Texans QB Matt Schaub underwent a procedure last week to have "hardware" removed from his surgically-repaired foot. It was a planned surgery, so his recovery timeline is unaffected. “I’m right on schedule because where the hardware removal takes place in this procedure is right where we are and so from here, we just move forward and just keep going," Schaub said. "But we have a lot of time left to get ready and there’s no doubt I will be ready.” Although he probably won't do much in OTAs, Schaub confirmed that he expects to be good to go for training camp.

** Rams QB Sam Bradford is learning his 3rd new offense in 3 years. But he's a fan of new OC Brian Schottenheimer's system, likening it to the Pat Shurmur offense that helped Bradford win Rookie of the Year back in 2010. "I like the offense that we're running this year," Bradford said. "It's more similar to two years ago than to last year. There is some carryover, so I am somewhat familiar with it, which makes it nice trying to learn it again." Bradford completed 60% of his passes for 3,512 yards and 18 TDs in 2010 before regressing across the board last year. We're expecting him to bounce-back this season, but he needs more weapons to become a fantasy starter.

** The first 2 picks in next week’s draft are virtually set in stone – Andrew Luck to the Colts, Robert Griffin to the Redskins. But the #3 spot is where it’ll start to get interesting. Conventional wisdom has the Vikings nabbing USC LT Matt Kalil there. But ESPN’s Adam Schefter hears that Minnesota is still considering LSU CB Morris Claiborne, Oklahoma St. WR Justin Blackmon, and Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd. It’s the first time we’ve heard Floyd mentioned as a potential top-3 pick, although his draft stock has been steadily climbing. We’re still betting the Vikings lock-up blindside protection for QB Christian Ponder with the #3 pick, but don’t be surprised if they go in another direction.

** Vikings WR Percy Harvin's shoulder surgery is scheduled for April 24th. It's a minor procedure to remove bone spurs. Recovery is expected to take only 3 weeks. Barring some sort of setback, Harvin should be ready for the start of OTAs on May 29th. The surgery doesn't impact his 2012 fantasy outlook.

** At a press conference on Tuesday, Broncos QB Peyton Manning heaped praise on WR Eric Decker. Manning called him the "veteran" of the receiver group and revealed that the coaching staff is planning on moving Decker around the field more in 2012. Manning and Decker have been working out together since Manning signed with the Broncos, and there's clearly some chemistry being built here. While Demaryius Thomas is clearly the most talented WR in Denver, Decker could finish with the better numbers this season.

** CBS Sports’ Rob Rang spoke to 3 different personnel evaluators about Oklahoma St. WR Justin Blackmon. While all 3 guys had Blackmon as the #1 receiver in the class and a top-10 overall prospect, none of them consider him “elite.” There are questions about Blackmon’s size (6’1, 215 pounds) and deep speed. We think that he plays big and has enough giddy-up to make defenses respect the deep ball. Blackmon will come off the board somewhere between the 4th and 9th overall picks in next week’s draft.

** Cardinals RB Ryan Williams (knee) participated in the start of voluntary team workouts on Monday. He's recovering from last August's torn patellar tendon and estimated a few weeks ago that he was at 75-80%. It looks like Williams' recovery is on track. If healthy, he's capable of pushing RB Beanie Wells for touches this season.

** According to ESPN's Sal Paolantonio, the Jets are planning to use Tim Tebow as the Wildcat QB, and at RB, FB, and H-Back. He could also see time as the "personal protector" on the punt team. HC Rex Ryan estimated earlier this offseason that Tebow would see about 20 snaps per game. He still won't be a fantasy option unless he takes over the starting QB job, but Tebow will put a huge dent in Mark Sanchez's stock.

** Bengals WR Jordan Shipley has yet to be medically-cleared but hopes to be ready in time for the start of OTAs in late May. He went down with a torn ACL in his left knee last September. Barring a setback, he should be a full-go for training camp this summer. “I’m planning on doing all the workouts with the guys," Shipley said. "Some days I feel really good and other days I feel close. At this point in the process it is based on how you feel that day. Some days I am 100 percent.” Shipley is currently sitting #2 on the Bengals' depth chart, although they're expected to add to the position through free-agency or the draft. Ideally, Shipley would be the slot receiver. If that knee holds up, though, he could be an asset in PPR leagues this season.

** WR Jabar Gaffney has been informed that the Redskins are trying to trade him. The 31-year-old quietly had an impressive 2011 season, tallying career-highs in catches (68) and receiving yards (947). His 5 TDs tied a personal-best. But after adding free-agent WRs Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan, Washington has little room for Gaffney on the depth chart. Look for him to get dealt before or during next week's draft.

** The Bucs gave veteran CB Ronde Barber some reps at safety in Tuesday's workouts, according to the Tampa Bay Times. It's not a surprising move. Barber is 37. The team added CB Eric Wright in free agency and is reportedly quite interested in LSU CB Morris Claiborne. The Bucs also recently released FS Tanard Jackson. FS would be a good way to keep Barber's savvy and experience on the field without relying on him too heavily in man coverage. Barber has never been a big turnover guy, so it's tough to say whether the change would produce more INTs. It certainly wouldn't hurt his IDP outlook, though.

** The Dolphins have signed WR Legedu Naanee to a 1-year deal. His 44 receptions and 467 yards last season were both career-highs, which gives you an idea of his talent level. The Fins are desperate for WR help, though, so Naanee has a good shot to see significant playing time behind Davone Bess and Brian Hartline. But he's still unlikely to be a fantasy factor.

** The Broncos have signed WR Brandon Stokley to a 1-year deal. The 35-year-old has appeared in only 13 games and caught just 32 balls in the 2 years since departing Denver. On the plus side, he'll be reunited with QB Peyton Manning, who helped Stokley to the best seasons of his career in back in Indianapolis. That won't be enough to get Stokley back on the fantasy radar though.

TheGame · « **Reply #5 on:** May 03, 2012, 10:10:07 AM »

CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco considers Frank Gore's playing time "likely" to decrease following the 49ers' offseason running back additions.
The Niners return Kendall Hunter and Anthony Dixon, and they signed Brandon Jacobs before drafting LaMichael James in the second round.

dsanty · « **Reply #6 on:** May 05, 2012, 08:24:03 AM »

** Eagles HC Andy Reid thinks he "overplayed" RB LeSean McCoy last season. "As he continues to get older and have the number of reps under his belt that he does, you'll want to back off the number of reps that he does," Reid said. McCoy set a career-high last year with 273 carries -- 67 more than he finished with in 2010. He stayed efficient, though, averaging a stellar 4.8 yards per tote. That was down from 5.2 the previous year. Expect McCoy's carry total to settle somewhere between those two numbers this season. But we'd bet on him catching more balls than the 48 he finished with last year. Shady remains a top-3 pick in fantasy drafts this summer.
** Chargers WR Robert Meachem underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in late January. It's the same knee that he had surgery on prior to his rookie year back in 2007. Meach said that he "banged" the knee in this past year's season-finale, but he played in New Orleans' 2 playoff games. It "flared up" though, so Meachem decided to clean it up. But he's been a full participant in San Diego's offseason workouts. “I'm still young, so it doesn't concern me,” Meachem said. “I'm 27. I feel great. Just taking it day by day.” We'll keep an eye on him, but it doesn't look like the surgery will impact Meachem's 2012 outlook.
** Vikings RB Adrian Peterson continues to be ahead of schedule in his recovery from last December's torn ACL. Just 4 months after undergoing surgery, he beat out a handful of teammates in wind sprints last week. "He's doing great and we're optimistic that he's going to be ready for that first game," HC Leslie Frazier said. "I know that's his goal and we'll just see how he continues to progress, but he's doing great." We're starting to buy into the idea of AP being ready for Week 1. He's been running for about a month now and recently started doing some cutting. Regardless of how well his rehab goes the rest of the offseason, though, Peterson will be a risky fantasy pick. It generally takes a RB about a full year to return to pre-injury form after an ACL.
** The league has finally handed down the player suspensions for the Saints' bounty scandal: 8 games for DL Anthony Hargrove, 4 games for DE Will Smith, 3 games for LB Scott Fujita and the whole 2012 season for LB Jonathan Vilma. For IDP purposes, this only confirms what we already anticipated on the New Orleans D. Vilma is out, Curtis Lofton in. Smith's absence will hurt the Saints up front and figures to motivate the team to pick up a veteran free agent. James Hall, who played for new DC Steve Spagnuolo in St. Louis, is available. Other options on the open market include Andre Carter and Matt Roth. There have also been rumors that the Jaguars will release Aaron Kampman. Fujita has been Cleveland's starter at SLB. Hargrove might have trouble finding significant playing time once he returns. The Packers picked up Jerel Worthy in the 2nd round of the draft and could have him settled into a starting role by mid-season.
** The Lions are expecting RB Jahvid Best (concussions) to be cleared for contact in time for OTAs in June. Best has been participating in the team's offseason workout program, although that doesn't involve any hitting. “He’s been doing everything in the offseason program and we expect he’ll be cleared sometime probably in June,” GM Martin Mayhew said. “We are not doing anything that involves any contact and he’s been cleared to do everything that we’re doing right now and he’ll be officially cleared for contact in June.” It's been smooth sailing for Best this offseason, and he remains in line to enter Week 1 as Detroit's lead back. There's significant upside here, especially in PPR leagues. But Best's concussion history also makes him one of the riskiest picks in fantasy football.
** Chargers TE Antonio Gates is participating fully in the team's offseason workouts. After dealing with a bum foot for the past 2 seasons, Gates says he's just about back to 100%. "The fact that I am participating in the offseason program, coming here and working my tail off with the rest of the guys, that'll pay off throughout the season," Gates said. The Pro Bowler has missed 9 games over the past 2 years but has still ranked 1st and 4th, respectively, in fantasy points per game. While a decline is inevitable for the soon-to-be 32-year-old, Gates still looks like an upper-echelon fantasy starter heading into 2012.
** Bills WR Stevie Johnson underwent groin surgery this week. His agent described it as "extremely minor surgery that won't keep him out long at all. He will be at [the Bills'] facility for all activities." Johnson battled through a groin injury for much of last season but didn't miss a game. He posted his 2nd-straight season with 75+ catches and 1,000+ yards. We'll keep an eye on his recovery, but it doesn't sound like the procedure will be a factor in 2012.
** Browns President Mike Holmgren loves what RB Trent Richardson brings in the passing game. "...Trent is an excellent pass receiver, not just a willing blocker but a very, very good blocker," Holmgren said. Richardson set career-highs last season with 29 catches and 338 yards. He averaged 10.7 yards per catch over his 3-year career at 'Bama. We know that T-Rich will be Cleveland's workhorse on running downs, and it sounds like he'll play in passing situations too. A rare 3-down back, Richarson could top 300 total touches this year.
** Giants HC Tom Coughlin called WR Rueben Randle "pro-ready." Added scouting director Marc Ross: “I think his game will transfer well up here because of the way he plays. He plays like an NFL receiver – big, strong, physical, catch the ball – as opposed to a raw guy who needs a lot of development on routes and techniques or drops a lot of balls – needs to work on his hands. This guy pretty much has a skill set that fits in, will transfer pretty quickly.” Ross also revealed that the team considered nabbing Randle with its 1st-round pick. It sounds like the LSU product is a good bet to step right into 3-WR sets in the Big Apple. With 6'3, 212-pound size and 4.5 speed, Randle is capable of making an immediate fantasy impact.
** Redskins insider John Keim reports that the team wasn't happy with WR Santana Moss' conditioning last year. "They weren't pleased with him," Keim said. "He wasn't in the best shape of his career." Moss missed 4 games with a hand injury and averaged just 3.8 catches per outing. That was his lowest mark in 7 seasons with the 'Skins. Keim believes that Moss needs to show up in better shape this offseason in order to secure a roster spot. He's currently expected to serve as the team's slot receiver behind Pierre Garcon and the winner of the Leonard Hankerson/Josh Morgan battle.
** WR Stephen Hill is regarded as a raw prospect, but the Jets believe he's capable of contributing sooner rather than later. “We really feel like he can run all the routes that we’ll ask in our offense,” GM Mike Tannenbaum said. “We think the transition can happen fairly quickly." Added scouting director Joey Clinkscales: "He’s unique. He’s a 6-4 kid that’s 215 (pounds) and runs a 4.32 (40-yard dash). He’s a unique athlete, he really is. I mean... Calvin Johnson maybe. I’m not going to put that label on him but from a height, weight, speed (standpoint)... He’s just a unique athlete.” The Megatron comparisons have been widespread throughout the pre-draft process. Hill certainly has a similar physical makeup, but he has a long ways to go in terms of route-running and understanding coverages. Still, he has a good shot of winning a starting job in training camp for a Jets team desperate for a #2 receiver opposite Santonio Holmes.
** 49ers HC Jim Harbaugh considers rookie Lamichael James a "multi-down back." Harbaugh got a first-hand look at James' ability when he coached at Stanford. James rushed for 382 yards and 4 TDs in 2 games against Harbaugh's Cardinal. That was just part of the Oregon-record 5,082 rushing yards that he racked up in 3 seasons. There's no doubting this guy's skill-set. James boasts 4.3 speed and incredible short-area quickness. But at just 5'8 and 194 pounds, he's unlikely to ever be more than a committee back. With Frank Gore still locked-in as San Fran's workhorse, James will battle for touches with Kendall Hunter and Brandon Jacobs.
** The Browns are clearly expecting QB Brandon Weeden to step right into the starting lineup. "He's displayed the ability to get his team in the end zone and win games," HC Pat Shurmur said of Weeden. "We all know the importance of the quarterback position and we're addressing it to the point that we have a guy that we think is our guy as we move forward." GM Tom Heckert confirmed that Weeden was drafted to be the starter. Weeden has all the physical tools to succeed at the next level, although he may need a year after playing in Oklahoma State's spread attack. The Browns could still use another pass-catcher too.
** After missing out on WR Justin Blackmon, WR Brian Quick became the Rams' top target last week. The Appalachian State product blew the coaching staff away at a private workout a week before the draft. "We were all pretty impressed," OC Brian Schottenheimer said. "The ball [practically] never hit the ground once. Even though he's a tall guy, he got his weight low and grabbed the ball without making it look difficult. He got in and out of breaks, and he was explosive." A small-school product who didn't start playing football until his senior year in high school, Quick is considered raw. But he has the size (6'4, 220 pounds), speed (4.48), and athleticism to develop into a #1 WR. Considering the Rams' underwhelming group of receivers, Quick has a shot to jump right into the starting lineup. "He's a tall, athletic, talented receiver," HC Jeff Fisher said. "He's got great speed and impressive ball skills. He might not be a big name, but we believe he'll do some big things for us."
** Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland considers 4th-round rookie Lamar Miller a "developmental RB." Miller possesses 4.4 speed and good quicks, but he needs to pack some muscle onto his 5'11, 212-pound frame. He also needs work in the passing game. Miller is expected to see most of his action on special teams this year. Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas will remain Miami's top-2 RBs.
** The 49ers believe rookie WR A.J. Jenkins is capable of lining up all over the field. "Some guys are strictly X's (split ends), some guys can sit in the slot, and some guys are strictly Z's (flankers). We feel this is a multi-align guy," GM Trent Baalke said of Jenkins. "A guy who can line up and any of those three spots and have success in our system. It creates a lot of versatility in the position group." Jenkins' versatility will help him get on the field sooner, although he's still unlikely to make a 2012 fantasy impact in a suddenly-deep WR corps. He figures to open the season 4th on the depth chart behind Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham, and Randy Moss.
** The Green Bay Press-Gazette posits that 1st-round pick Nick Perry "figures to start right away" at ROLB. GM Ted Thompson said he likes Perry's ability to set the edge against the run and rush the passer. That sounds like a starter and full-timer. Perry delivered a Pac-12 best 9.5 sacks last year. We'll see how his pass-rush ability translates from 4-3 LE in college to 3-4 OLB in the NFL. Perry is worth a late shot in IDP leagues that are less tackle heavy.
** The best immediate pass-rush fit from this draft? We'll take Whitney Mercilus in Houston. The only real question on the former Illinois DE seems to be whether he's a 1-year wonder. Well, that's 1 more year than Jason Pierre-Paul posted in college. Obviously, nobody else's road proves or disproves Mercilus' worth. If there's one thing DC Wade Phillips knows, though, it's pass rushing. Mercilus led the nation in sacks and forced fumbles and ranked 2nd in tackles for loss during a wildly productive junior year in 2011. The Texans like the pass-rushing ability of OLB Connor Barwin, but Mercilus should be an improvement on 2011 2nd-rounder Brooks Reed in that area. If he can get enough snaps, Mercilus should be a sack factor right away. He probably won't be draftable right away in most redraft leagues, but he looks like a 10+ sack threat whenever the playing time is there.
** Saints OC Pete Carmichael sees some Marques Colston in rookie WR Nick Toon. “His range and his hands remind me more of Colston," Carmichael said. “He runs better than I think people give him credit for. He was timed real well at the combine. I think that speed shows up on film.” At 6'2 and 215 pounds, Toon isn't quite as big as Colston. But he has 4.5 speed and is considered NFL-ready thanks to crisp route-running and reliable hands. The Wisconsin product reeled in 64 balls for 926 yards and 10 TDs this past season. In New Orleans, he'll compete with Adrian Arrington and Devery Henderson for #3 WR duties. It's a battle Toon is capable of winning. And keep in mind that Colston made an immediate impact with the Saints, racking up 1,038 yards and 8 TDs in his rookie year. Toon is a long shot to sniff those numbers, but he could work his way onto the fantasy radar this season.
** The Texans released WR Jacoby Jones. He's been on the trade block all offseason but didn't draw much interest. Jones figures to find his free-agent market soft after failing to show much improvement as a WR over the past few years. He's off the fantasy radar for now. Meanwhile, Kevin Walter and rookies DeVier Posey and Keshawn Martin will battle for #2 WR duties in Houston. The winner could accrue WR3 value.
** The Panthers continued their love affair with LBs Thursday night by drafting Luke Kuechly 9th overall. The former Boston College Eagle can play any LB spot in the team's 4-3 front, which will come in handy. The Panthers return 3 starters, but James Anderson might be the only guy locked into his spot. WLB Thomas Davis has suffered 3 ACL tears and seems the likely odd man out. Like Kuechly, Jon Beason can play MLB or OLB. We'll see how Ron Rivera's staff sorts them out, but all 3 starters deserve some fantasy attention. The talent on hand certainly doesn't make this the best home for Kuechly's IDP value.
** After moving down from 5th, the Bucs got the draft's consensus top safety in Mark Barron. The Alabama All-American figures to step into the starting lineup right away on a team thin at safety. Only Tanard Jackson and Sean Jones played 300 snaps or more at safety for the Bucs last year. Jackson is gone already. Jones is OK at best. Barron is an all-around talent capable of playing in coverage or coming up against the run. He should keep busy in a division with lots of offensive talent. Barron looks like he should go among the top 5 rookies off the IDP draft board and will be a starter across leagues with DB spots.

dsanty · « **Reply #7 on:** May 05, 2012, 02:44:59 PM »

Post-Draft Stock Watch

by John Hansen, Publisher
Published, 4/30/12

This was a fairly deep draft class in terms of the skill position players, but overall it wasn’t exactly a stellar one, so we needed things to shake out well if we were to see legitimate improvements in the fantasy landscape.

But I can’t say with confidence that we got what we wanted in most cases.

There were still some positives, but for the most part, the movement in terms of players seeing their stocks rise or decline was subtle. It doesn’t help that the league now is all about getting more and more players involved in the offensive process from the skill positions, so the production even among experienced veterans is spread more thinly than ever before.

So I’m sad to report that this year’s rookie class appears to be very top-heavy in terms of fantasy impact. There are 4-5 players who should be keys for their respective teams, yet the rest appear to be complementary and role players, at best.

That said, I’ve still invested a ton of time to research and analysis the residual effects of this year’s NFL draft – and this is what I’ve got.

Upgrades

Quarterbacks

Matt Hasselbeck/Jake Locker (QB, Ten) – While we really haven’t seen a complete offense here in quite some time, we can’t say that’s due to a lack of trying, since the Titans have now invested a #1 pick on a skill player in four of the last five years. We’re still looking at an offense that is great on paper and merely intriguing in reality, but you have to love the weaponry they’re supplying for these QBs. Hasselbeck is the starter, and he’ll likely play Week One. But unless he’s lighting it up and they are winning – which is possible, but their defense is shaky – there’s a decent chance we’re going to see Locker before Thanksgiving. It’s not a clear situation for fantasy, but if you’re looking for upside at QB and can afford to stash him away, Locker clearly has a lot of it due to his skills and due to what potentially is a sick receiving corps. Even if they surprisingly part ways with Nate Washington, the addition of Kendall Wright gives the team another serious playmaker with vertical ability, and Locker has a rocket for an arm. Wright is also good protection for Kenny Britt, should he have any setbacks with his recovery from knee surgery (he’s in good shape right now). But if Britt is back, Washington stays, and if TE Jared Cook continues to show progress, the Titans are absolutely loaded at receiver now. Hasselbeck should produce here as long as he’s the guy, but while I fully comprehend how Locker is still a work in progress and needs to deliver the ball accurately to his receivers on a consistent basis, I just love his physical tools, intangibles, and upside – and I’m even more intrigued now that the explosive Wright has been brought into the fold.

Kevin Kolb/John Skelton (QBs, Ari) – While WR Michael Floyd landing in Arizona may not be a greatest thing for fantasy, it’s not bad at all, and it’s fantastic news for these two QBs. With the Cardinals, Floyd can settle comfortably under Larry Fitzgerald’s wing (Floyd, like Fitzgerald, is a Minnesota guy and was lobbied for by Fitz), so we’ll likely see some good things from the rookie in Arizona as he starts from Day One. He’s big and physical, and he moves well for his size. Playing with an elite receiver like Fitzgerald will likely result in some single coverage for Floyd, and his addition will also move wideouts Early Doucet and Andre Roberts down the depth chart, which is for the best, since both players can be effective from the slot and would be miscast as starters on the outside. The Cardinals actually had a greater need on the OL, which continues to be a concern for these QBs. But there’s enough talent now at the skill positions to push the starting Cardinal QB into serious fantasy relevance. And luckily for the Cardinals, they were able to grab in the 4th round a player in OT Bobby Massie, who was considered to be a likely 2nd-round pick. He probably likely slid for a reason, but they may have solved an issue at RT with Massie, which would also be good news for these QBs. They also gave themselves some depth at G/T with Senio Kelemete in the 5th round, so at least they’re not ignoring their OL anymore. If the job is clearly Kolb’s this summer, he’ll certainly be an interesting backup candidate. Even if that’s the case, in deeper leagues with available roster spots, Skelton could be worth a late pick because he’s clearly going to push for Kolb’s job, and he might be better suited to take advantage of these two key receivers than Kolb. No matter how you slice it, the Cardinal QB is more appealing now based on the addition of Floyd, who may go down as the best wideout from this draft class. If they can avoid key injuries, they will definitely score points, no matter whom they start at QB.

When WR Ryan Broyles is back to 100%, he's going to be another very handy weapon for QB Matt StaffordMatthew Stafford (Det) – In reality, Stafford is merely “holding steady,” since it’s going to be next to impossible for him to exceed 2011’s massive production, but there’s no disputing the fact that Stafford’s situation in Detroit has improved after the draft. They started things off by taking the second-best OT in the draft in Riley Reiff, who can give them great depth at OT this year or even possibly start at LT if veteran Jeff Backus moves to guard. He’ll help Stafford most for the long-term, but the Lion OL definitely got better for 2012. Next, they surprised by bypassing a great need at corner to select in Round Two WR Ryan Broyles, who is coming off an ACL injury suffered in November. Broyles does claim he’ll be ready for training camp, but he could be a little slow off the mark (especially if he lands on PUP). While this was a luxury pick, it was understandable, given Stafford’s massive potential throwing the football. All Broyles did in his career at Oklahoma was break the NCAA’s all-time receiving record, highlighted by a ridiculous junior season in which he posted 131/1622/14. We’ll have to see what their plans are for him, but he’s a natural receiver who could be a terrific slot guy in the NFL. He could be in the perfect situation, since he can clearly be ultra-productive, yet he might be better off as a complement to a beast like Calvin Johnson, since he’s not very big or fast. He’ll get on the field at some point, and if that’s in 2012 Stafford will have better depth at receiver, which was needed, and yet another weapon in the passing game at his disposal, which he can clearly take advantage of.

Blaine Gabbert (Jac) – It’s no secret that Gabbert was awful last year, but in his defense, he was probably asked to start a little too soon, especially since the off-season was seriously curtailed due to the lockout. And his receiving corps was horrendous. Gabbert has a live arm and good movement and mobility, but his inability to handle pressure in the pocket was incredibly disconcerting. It was so bad that his margin for error even as soon as this year may be small, since veteran Chad Henne is a viable competitor for the starting job. The good news is that Gabbert did show some signs of improvement very late in the season, and it’s fair to argue that he might actually stand taller in the pocket if he actually has some strong targets to throw to. The Jags have a poor history of drafting wideouts, especially slower ones, which is a red flag, but there’s no question the receiving corps has been upgraded substantially. In fact, it’s actually a pretty solid group all of a sudden, thanks to the free agent acquisition of Laurent Robinson, who can be a downfield threat and is excellent in the red zone, and, of course, #1 pick Justin Blackmon. The Jags last year emphasized a short passing game, and that approach should work with Blackmon, who will fight for the ball and break a lot of tackles gaining yardage after the catch. Veteran Lee Evans was also added for depth, but with Robinson and Blackmon on the outside, Mike Thomas, who was grossly miscast as their #1 last year, can return to the slot, where he can be effective, plus they do still have TE Marcedes Lewis, who caught 10 TDs back in 2010 (although 0 in 2011). Honestly, this passing game still has several red flags, including Robinson’s injury history and Blackmon’s ability to separate in the pros – not to mention Gabbert’s struggles as a rookie – but at least now they have a chance to have a respectable passing game. That’s right: I’m saying there’s a chance.

Alex Smith (QB, SF) – The planets aligned for Smith last year, and he took the team to the brink of a Super Bowl appearance. He played very well in the team’s run-based offense, one that allowed the team to stay on schedule and ahead of the down. They wisely threw a lot of shorter passes, but Smith did sling it with confidence, and he did throw well at times with bodies around him, which was a good sign. But clearly, they’re looking for more production from their passing game, and their focus this off-season has been speed at receiver. They’ve undoubtedly addressed their inability to get vertical with the additions of free agents Randy Moss and Mario Manningham, and, of course, with the surprise 1st-round selection of A.J. Jenkins, whom the team reportedly timed at an excellent 4.31 in the 40 at the combine. The 49ers obviously love Jenkins, which isn’t a shock to us, since we had him ranked as the 5th-best rookie WR in 2012 heading into the draft (he was the 4th off the board). Jenkins has the ability to play inside or outside, so this receiving corps is a lot more dynamic, explosive, and versatile. I highly doubt I’ll be going “all in” on Smith as a great fantasy backup option, but there’s no denying his impressive body of work in 2011, combined with the receiver upgrades in 2012, not to mention the savvy guidance he receives from their coaches, make him a lot more intriguing. This is a more complete and versatile offense, and Smith should be (finally) ready to take advantage of that.

If #2 pick Alshon Jeffrey pans out, QB Jay Cutler is definitely going to be back on the fantasy radarJay Cutler (Chi) – While the Bears did nothing to improve a still-shaky OL, they did give Cutler what could turn out to be a very key weapon at receiver in South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffrey. Jeffrey’s production was way down in 2011 after a spectacular ’10 season due to a shift in offensive philosophy and issues at QB, but also due to Jeffrey playing at a weight that was just too high. Former Bear QB Jim Miller told me over draft weekend that the Bears are excellent in terms of training and working with players to stay slim and trim, and if they can keep Jeffrey down to about 220 pounds, then they may have formed a very dangerous WR duo with Brandon Marshall. Jeffrey is considered a great red-zone threat (17 TDs the last two years), and the team does claim to have timed him at 4.47 at his pro day. This was a key addition because the Bears can’t count on Johnny Knox, so there was a gaping hole at their #2 WR spot. Now they can team Jeffrey with Marshall to form an imposing duo, and they can use Earl Bennett as their slot receiver, which is his ideal role. I wouldn’t expect much from him this year, but Chicago also added in the 4th round an athletic target at TE in Evan Rodriguez, who brings some potential. Cutler has been quietly brilliant the last 1-2 years, so if the OL is decent and Jeffrey comes through, Cutler should challenge for a top-12 finish in fantasy this year. He loves throwing the ball to big, physical receivers, and now the Bears have a great one in Marshall and a potentially good one in Jeffrey.

Josh Freeman (TB) – The Bucs last year completed 92 passes to their RBs, which was an increase from 67 in 2010. They have added a legit #1 wideout in Vincent Jackson, but they needed some receiving help out of the backfield with Earnest Graham aging and unsigned and Kregg Lumpkin gone. LeGarrette Blount doesn’t have much of a presence in the passing game, and Blount overall has limited upside due to his very basic skill set, so Freeman’s supporting cast just got a lot better, thanks to the addition of RB Doug Martin, whom we had as the #2 RB in this draft (he was the second back off the board). Martin is arguably the most complete back in this class, so it should not be hard for him to pass the limited Blount on the depth chart. Keep in mind Freeman’s struggles last year were likely due to the fact that he tried to do too much and because of his limited weapons at the skill positions – and the team has done a very nice job of correcting those two deficiencies. And Martin is a big part of that.

Running Backs

BenJarvis Green-Ellis (Cin) – Well, with free agency essentially over and the draft in the rear view, Green-Ellis clearly remains their lead back, so you have to recognize that for fantasy. The best FA back available is Cedric Benson, whose days in Cincy are over, so it does not appear as if the team will be adding anyone of note to its backfield in 2012. I’d prefer more juice from my fantasy backs, but there is something to be said for his role as the lead guy and his ability to punch the ball into the endzone from short range, plus this is a very capable offense. OC Jay Gruden has indicated that he wants to go with an RBBC approach, but there’s no one else on the roster who should merit a lot of carries. Veteran Bernard Scott should be involved, but he’s more of a specialty player and not someone who should get significant touches. The team also used a #1 pick on OG Kevin Zeitler, who is a road-grader whose strength is blocking for the run, plus they signed the solid
OG Travelle Wharton from the Panthers this year. That helps, since the Bengal OL hasn’t been great blocking for Benson the last couple of years. Any extra production in the passing game would be a bonus, and if BJGE is right about his underrated and his underutilized receiving ability, you have to consider him a top-20 back based on that element of his game and his role and ability to score double-digit TDs. He’s not the type of fantasy option who will win you a title, but you can win one if you’re being represented by the Law Firm.

Alex Green (GB) – My guy! While he’s probably more of a “holding steady” entry, especially since he’s coming off an ACL injury (he’s on track to be ready for camp, however), I’m as excited as I’ve been with Green right now than I’ve been all year. That’s because the Packers have not yet re-signed veteran Ryan Grant and they might not in the coming months. And more important, they did not draft a RB. They had some chances to grab some quality backs, including Miami’s Lamar Miller as a great value, yet they passed on all RBs. Whether or not that’s an endorsement of Green remains to be seen, but I believe it is. How can it not be? Remember, when I asked Greg Jennings earlier this year about Green and conveyed my affinity for the player, Jennings’ reply was, “You really know what you’re doing, don’t you?”. Whether or not I do know what I’m doing is up for debate, but I’ve clearly been onto something with Green for quite some time. I’m sure the Packers will add another back, but it appears as if they have some big plans for the second-year back. I realize they don’t run the ball a lot, but Green can catch the rock well, and this is a player who scored 18 rushing TDs in his final year at Hawaii on only 146 rushing attempts. He’s a lot more explosive than James Starks.

The Packers haven't re-signed veteran Ryan Grant, and they did not draft a back. Is that an endorsement for Alex Green?Steeler RBs (Pit) – A slight upgrade here, of course, but we’ve been bemoaning the Steelers’ issues on the OL for years, and you have to give them credit for trying to address those deficiencies in their last two drafts. They have now used two of their last three #1 picks on players for the interior of the offensive line. In 2010 it was C Maurkice Pouncey with the 18th pick of the draft, and this year it was G David DeCastro with the 24th pick of the draft. Some felt DeCastro was the best lineman in the draft, period, and he’s a dominant run blocker who also handles the opposition in pass protection. He has a lot of upside and should break into the starting lineup right away and be a fixture for years to come. In the 2nd round, the team further bolstered its talent and depth on the OL with Mike Adams, a tackle who they gave a 1st-round grade to going into the draft. The Steelers’ picks the last few years haven’t been sexy, but they’ve done a nice job patching some serious holes on their line, and that’s big for their offense. The Steelers did address the RB position later in the draft with the 5th round selection of Chris Rainey out of Florida. Rainey is a smaller and speedier back, so he’s a changeup for them this year, at best. For now it’s still veteran Isaac Redman filling in as the starter until Rashard Mendenhall is ready to contribute, which might not happen until the second half of the season. Redman isn’t special, but he usually gets every yard that’s there for him close to the line of scrimmage, and the upgrades on the line will help him.

Wide Receivers

Austin Collie (Ind) – Although the drafting of QB Andrew Luck was merely a formality, it is now official, so I am now officially excited about Collie’s chances in 2012. The team did add TE Coby Fleener, Luck’s college teammate and good friend, with the 34th overall pick, and then they added another quality TE in Dwayne Allen, so there will be some competition for the ball. But the fact remains that the pro-ready Luck has a history of methodically and efficiently beating opponents with timing-and-rhythm passing, and he excels throwing inside the numbers. This all sets up very well for Collie to be an extremely active target for Luck from Day One. He managed to avoid a concussion in 2011, which is cause for optimism, so Collie looks like a savvy PPR pick in the middle rounds.

Pierre Garcon (Was) – Another formality was the Redskins taking QB Robert Griffin III with the #2 pick overall, and now that it’s also official, it’s time to isolate Garcon as the player best suited to take advantage of RG III’s ability to effortlessly flick the ball downfield with both velocity and accuracy. Garcon is clearly the team’s best deep threat, and the Shanahans know how to manage QBs well and put them in a position to succeed. They also handle mobile QBs well and feature a downfield passing game, which is why they acquired Garcon. He could be a little hit-or-miss, and his value is tied to Griffin’s ability to transition quickly to the pros coming from a spread approach in college, but the potential for big plays is definitely there. If the team cuts ties with veteran Jabar Gaffney, that should mean a few more targets for Garcon, as well.

Tight Ends
None

Defensive Teams

Philadelphia Eagle Defense (DT, Phi) – I hate to use the two words, but, uh, dream team? Philly was very fortunate to get the best DT in the draft in Fletcher Cox, whom they did move up to acquire. His athleticism and versatility are intriguing, and Cox has the potential to line up at several different spots on the defensive line and bolster Philly’s defensive front. When you add into the equation their addition of a solid MLB in DeMeco Ryans and the fact that the trade of Asante Samuel will clearly allow them to cater their defensive backfield to their personnel, with an elite corner in Nnamdi Asomugha and a high-end talent in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and you can easily see how Philly may have swiftly corrected all its problems last year. Heck, thanks to the addition of 2nd round pick LB Mychal Kendricks they may actually be able to cover TEs now. And for all their problems, the Eagles were still tied for first in the NFL with 50 sacks and finished in the top-10 for fantasy in both total points and points per game. Expect them to rank higher in 2012.

Green Bay Packer Defense (DT, GB) – The Packers are one of the many fantasy defenses that ranked highly despite having some issues in NFL terms. Their biggest problem was clearly their pass rush, and they have addressed that with a savvy pick of DE/OLB Nick Perry out of USC. Perry is an explosive and athletic prospect who has all the physical skills necessary to make an impact at the next level, and he has huge upside. He’ll likely play on the other side of Clay Matthewsin their 3-4 defense and greatly help their pass rush. That, in turn, will help their fantasy defense. They otherwise went heavy on defense in the draft, most notably nabbing in the 2nd a 1st-round talent in DE Jerel Worthy, who could play right away and beef up their defensive front.

Seattle Seahawk Defense (DT, Sea) – Despite finishing only 19th in the league in sacks with 35 last year, Seattle’s defense was able to finish 7th in fantasy last year. The Seahawks feasted on some poor teams down the stretch and scored 5 TDs, but their secondary is excellent and might even be the best in the league this year. That secondary can only get better with an improved pass rush, which was their biggest need entering the draft and a need they addressed with the selection of DE Bruce Irvin with the 15th pick. The Irvin pick was a little earlier than expected, but Irvin has been one of the better pass rushers in college football the past two years and has made a large number of plays behind the line of scrimmage. He may project best as 3-4 outside linebacker, but we’ll defer to the Seahawks, who do run a 4-3 and have landed some really good defensive players the last 1-2 years. Seattle’s clearly a top-10 fantasy defense in 2012.

New York Jets Defense (DT, NYJ) – The Jets, much like Seattle, managed a strong finish in 2011 for fantasy (6th in points), despite the fact that their pass rush left something to be desired. They scored 5 DT/ST TDs, but to enjoy sustained success in the fantasy world, they can’t rely on scoring. They have certainly addressed their so-so pass rush the last two years with DE Muhammad Wilkerson in the 1st round last year and now with DE Quinton Coples in the 1st round this year, although they still need help at linebacker. That pass rush has to improve in 2012, which should result in more sacks and probably more turnovers.

New England Patriots Defense (DT, NE) – The Pats have been a good example of the disconnect between fantasy and reality the last two years, as their NFL defense has been poor, yet they have finished 8th and 1st in fantasy the last two years. That’s been mostly on the strength of 13 DT/ST TDs the last two years, but they also have had a lot of INTs and a decent number of sacks. They still have issues on the back end, but their defensive front and been infused with two 1st-round talents, thanks to their two #1 picks in DE Chandler Jones and LB Dont'a Hightower. They have addressed their need for a pass rusher here, and they now have 5-6 rock-solid players on their defensive front, so they should remain on the fantasy radar, for sure.

Dallas Cowboy Defense (DT, Dal) – We’ve been teased by this unit for fantasy for years, but they may come through finally in 2012, due to the additions of CBs Morris Claiborne from the draft and Brandon Carr from free agency. Rob Ryan’s defense puts a lot of pressure on its corners, like his brother Rex’s defense, yet the Cowboys have not had the players in their secondary to hold up in single coverage. If these two guys can lock opposing receivers down like Darrell Revis and Antonio Cromartie do in New York, then Dallas’ sack and turnover numbers should be on the rise. They also still have corner Michael Jenkins, who could be a solid #3 if he remains on the roster.

dsanty · « **Reply #8 on:** May 05, 2012, 02:45:36 PM »

Downgrades

Quarterbacks

Colt McCoy (QB, Cle) – It’s obviously early, but while I would be surprised to see #1 pick Brandon Weeden start Week One because he’s transitioning from a spread offense in which he played in the shotgun a lot, the selection of the mature (read: ancient for a rookie) Weeden is clearly a major indictment on McCoy. I felt the Browns could have grabbed a wideout and still nabbed Weeden in the 3rd, but they obviously weren’t messing around, which speaks to their opinion of Weeden. It also speaks to their opinion of McCoy, and it would appear as if that opinion is in line with ours: He isn’t the answer. McCoy had a lot of things working against him last year, but as we hear from players all the time, windows of opportunity for players must be taken advantage of, and McCoy has not taken advantage of his. You have to think his window in Cleveland has essentially closed, so McCoy is looking a lot like a journeyman backup type for the rest of his career. I would like to see the team make Weeden beat McCoy out this summer, but they might be ready to hand him the job without a battle.

Running Backs

LeGarrette Blount (TB) – The Bucs got a little lucky to grab Blount off the scrap heap in 2010, and he gave them a productive season. He’s big and physical, but he doesn’t New RB Doug Martin is simply better than LeGarrette Blount, so the former undrafted free agent should soon be out of luck in Tampaalways “bring it,” so with a limited skill set to work with, he’s a player with limited upside. He’s also fumbled nine times the last two years, and new head coach Greg Schiano is a stickler for ball security. Schiano coached Ray Rice at Rutgers, and the polished and mature Doug Martin does compare to Rice because he’s the same height and is also built very well at 223 pounds (Rice is about 10 pounds lighter) and can be an inside or outside runner like Rice. He’s a good receiver out of the backfield, and his blocking is considered strong, so he could be their 3rd-down back right away. He has better vision than Blount and some lateral agility to make people miss. There really isn’t anything he can’t do (he even plays special teams), so he’s just a better player, which explains why the team traded up six spots to get him. The Giants probably would have grabbed him had the Bucs not moved up, so it was a great move. Martin may open the season as only a complement to Blount, and Blount will likely have a role all year. But I don’t see the veteran holding the more versatile and dynamic rookie off for too long, so Blount is about to tumble down my board. Tampa also grabbed in the 7th round a speedy back in Michael Smith out of Utah State. Due to his speed, which is very much needed in this backfield, Smith could actually play some this year, which would hurt Blount further.

Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG) – If Bradshaw is able to play, he’s your Week One starter, no question. But at this point, it’s safe to say he can’t be relied on, given his lingering foot issue, so it was not a surprise to see the G-Men address his position in the first round of the draft. They did so with a player in David Wilson who not only has a legitimate chance to be a lead back in the NFL, but can be someone who brings explosiveness and big-play ability to the table, which is something we really haven’t seen in the Giant backfield in a little while. Now, while it’s fair to downgrade Bradshaw based on this move (the Giants claim Wilson was #1 on their board when they drafted), keep in mind Wilson, while potentially a lead back down the road, will need some time to develop, so he’ll optimally be in a rotation with Bradshaw. Wilson also has to prove he can block at this level, and his work in the passing game, while solid, isn’t stellar. And if he continues to look for the big run early and/or put the ball on the ground, he might not play a lot. On the other hand, if Bradshaw has issues and if Wilson is asked to and is able handle a larger workload, the talented and explosive back could certainly take the ball and literally run with it. At the very least, the addition of Wilson – who right away seems like the perfect complement to the physical and bruising Bradshaw – likely bumps Bradshaw down from a lower-end #2 RB to merely a #3.

Montario Hardesty (Cle) – Uh, yeah; Hardesty’s screwed. Young players in the NFL have to take advantage of their opportunities quickly because those opportunities are often limited, and Hardesty has not taken advantage of the opportunities that he’s had (and he has had some). So with Trent Richardson in the fold, he’s merely a backup for the Browns going forward – if he’s lucky.

Dion Lewis (Phi) – Between the UFA signing of Washington’s Chris Polk, who surprisingly didn’t go over the board in the draft’s seven rounds, and the selection by Philly of RB Bryce Brown out of Kansas State in the 7th round, it may not be a lock that Lewis is the second most valuable back in Philly. Lewis does have a big advantage in terms of his experience, and the Eagles are usually pretty hesitate to play inexperienced RBs a lot. But if he makes the team, a guy like Polk could emerge as a sizable complement to LeSean McCoy, and Polk does catch the ball well (one scout to our Adam Caplan compared Polk to Pierre Thomas). Brown is a real wild card, but he has very good speed and much better size than Lewis, plus he catches the ball well. He’s had a checkered past, but the talent is definitely there. Basically, as usual, the situation behind the Eagles’ starting RB is a little cloudy.

Dexter McCluster (RB, KC) – McCluster is an undersized back who can run the ball, catch the ball, and contribute in the passing game. Problem is, so is their 6th-round pick Cyrus Gray out of Texas A&M. So maybe McCluster can be a slot receiver? Perhaps he could have before the team selected speedy slot guy Devon Wylie. Once again, McCluster appears to have no set role, and with former OC Charlie Weiss long gone, there appears to be no one capable of utilizing him. I’m essentially waving the white flag with McCluster. I give up.

Wide Receivers
None

Tight Ends
None

dsanty · « **Reply #9 on:** May 05, 2012, 02:46:36 PM »

Holding Steady

Eli Manning (QB, NYG) – I’ve written a few times about the thin Giant receiving corps this off-season, and it concerned me because of Hakeem Nicks’ various bumps and bruises over the last few seasons. But the selection of LSU wideout Rueben Randle goes a long way toward solidifying their receiving corps and adding some needed depth. Randle is a big receiver at 6’3”, 210 pounds, but he has the versatility and lateral quickness to play anywhere in a formation. Randle can play Nicks’ spot as the “X” receiver, yet he can also spell Victor Cruz in the slot. I wasn’t very confident in someone like Jerrel Jernigan handling the #3 WR role, yet that should now be Randle’s gig this year if all goes well. Even better for Manning, the team injected some serious juice in their backfield with #1 pick David Wilson. The Giants had to throw a little more than they wanted to last year, which helped Manning’s numbers, but he’s probably better off with an improved running game, which he should get with Wilson in the mix. In short, thanks to just these two picks, there’s little reason to believe Manning’s usual rock solid level of production won’t continue in 2012.

Matt Schaub (QB, Hou) – Acquiring the explosive Kendall Wright at WR was not to be, or else Schaub would be a definite upgrade, but it’s not like the Texans ignored their need at receiver. While we’ll probably see the pedestrian Kevin Walter starting yet again opposite Andre Johnson, which is annoying, the Texans did add speed at receiver with the 68th overall pick in wideout DeVier Posey. Posey played only the final two games of the 2011 season because of NCAA issues, but the Texans seem very high on him. He has good size 6’ 2”, and while he’s not a serious deep threat, he has the ability to stretch the field, and he recorded a 40 time of 4.4 at the combine. They also added depth and return ability with their 4th round selection of Keshawn Martin out of Michigan State. Martin is a pretty solid low-end slot receiver prospect who has quickness and some lateral explosiveness in and out of his breaks. He has good hands and the ability to move around the offense, so he has a chance. The Texans didn’t address their need at OT, but they did possibly replace RG Mike Brisiel, who they lost in free agency, with 3rd round pick Brandon Brooks. Schaub’s not looking great after the draft, but they have given him some more potential now with the two receivers in the fold. Almost anything is an improvement over relying on Walter and the erratic Jacoby Jones.

The Bengals receiving corps is very young, which is a concern, but things are looking up for the long-term for Andy DaltonAndy Dalton (QB, Cin) – The addition of WR Mohamed Sanu may end up being a great one for Dalton, but for now, I will remain only relatively optimistic on Dalton in Year Two. I was hoping the team would get Michael Floyd on the roster, which could have been deadly, but Sanu does make a lot of sense. He doesn’t run as well as Floyd and he’s not as gifted, but he’s also a tough, physical receiver with good hands, and he should fit in very well with the Bengals as the possession guy and #2 opposite star A.J. Green. I also think Sanu runs a little faster than he’s given credit for, so he does have a little upside. In addition, the Bengals added needed WR depth by selection Cal’s Marvin Jones in Round Five. Jones isn’t a stud, but his size is good, his speed decent, and he’s a solid all-around player with excellent hands, a very wide catching radius, and good route-running ability. Finally, the team added another athletic target at TE in Georgia’s Orson Charles. Charles may not do much as a rookie, but he’s an upgrade for their offense and was something of a luxury pick with Jermaine Gresham still clearly the guy. Overall, I’m not thrilled with the players around Dalton for 2012 (it’s a very young receiving corps), but there’s enough here to expect him to continue to progress in Year Two, especially if slot receiver Jordan Shipley returns to form this year (he’s ahead of his rehabilitation schedule in coming back from a torn ACL).

Cam Newton (QB, Car) – I’m trying not to go overboard when analyzing the impacts of this year’s rookie class because, while it’s a deep class at positions like wide receiver, it’s not exactly a great class. But the Panthers did draft a player in Arkansas’ Joe Adams who could legitimately help Newton this year. Newton threw for over 4,000 yards as a rookie, yet, as crazy as it sounds, he has even more upside as a passer compared to what we’ve already seen because he can make all the throws, and he stands tall in the pocket with bodies around him. Newton finished 10th in the NFL in passing yards as a rookie, yet his receiving corps was somewhat limited, which is why the addition of Adams, coming from a pro-style offense in college, could play a role in Newton’s fantasy production this year. Adams is a laterally quick and agile player who should be dangerous running underneath routes from the slot, and those are traits that are missing from this offense right now. Adams didn’t time well at the combine, but if he’s up-to-speed mentally and gets on the field, he can be an explosive option for Newton.

Joe Flacco (QB, Bal) – I can’t give him an upgrade based on a 6th-round pick, but I really liked the selection of WR Tommy Streeter out of Miami for the Ravens. They’ve been looking for speed at receiver for years, and Streeter can run very well (4.4 40). He’s also 6’5”, so he gives them excellent size. He’s not a polished route-runner, but he might be able to help this offense right away if they use him in certain situations. For one, he’s a dangerous red-zone threat due to his size and leaping ability. He’s also a player who upgrades their speed at receiver, and he could possibly make some big plays for them if they ask him to run fly patterns and the like and haul in some jump balls on passes deep down the field. The Ravens were pretty thin at receiver, so this looks like an outstanding flyer. Raven GM Ozzie Newsome compared Streeter to former Raven Michael Jackson, who had a 14-TD season for Baltimore in 1996. The Ravens also addressed their OL and added a backup RB to Ray Rice in Bernard Pierce, so they did some good things for their offense while also adding a key defender with their first pick.

Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB, Buf) – Here’s another guy I can’t in good conscience give a ringing endorsement to after the draft, but the Bills did some good things for Fitzpatrick in the draft. For one, they did add to their OL with the pick of Cordy Glenn, who was at least considered by some teams in the 1st round (he was a 2nd rounder). Glenn can play tackle, but he might be moved to guard this year. Either way, Glenn will add to their talent up front, and that was needed. They also finally gave him some speed at receiver with 3rd-round pick T.J. Graham. Graham may have been a bit of a reach in the 3rd, but the Bills desperately needed a player capable of blowing the top off a defense, and Graham can fly. He’s a bit raw as he continues to transition from sprinter to football player, so Donald Jones may not go away in his role as their “deep threat.” But if the rookie can get on the field and challenge defenses down the field with a downfield play here and there, it will help their offense, for sure.

Matt Cassel (QB, KC) – Nothing earth-shattering here, but the Chiefs did use two earlier picks on OTs, so their depth at the position a lot better this year (they also signed Eric Winston, a very good right tackle). They also drafted wideout Devon Wylie, an explosive player (4.36 40 at the combine) who’s dangerous after the catch and projects well as a slot receiver. He’s already getting a ton of inevitable Wes Welker comparisons, but it does hold water because if GM Scott Pioli’s ties to New England (Pioli was the guy who signed Welker). Wylie is unlikely to make a huge impact in KC this year, but he’s yet another potential weapon for Cassel, whose supporting cast looks very good on paper this year. That certainly helps, since Cassel has no chance if he’s not surrounded by playmakers and difference-makers on offense. He certainly is in 2012.

Mark Sanchez (QB, NYJ) – It’s going to be really hard to get behind Sanchez this year – and I don’t intend to – based on his shaky supporting cast at receiver and the presence of potential TD vulture Tim Tebow, whom the team intends to get on the field this year for up to 20 snaps a game. But at least the team added a receiver in Georgia Tech’s Stephen Hill who has a ton of raw talent. Hill’s experience running routes is very limited, but due to his deep speed and blocking ability, he should get on the field this year. If they utilize him well, he’ll only be asked to run deep in a straight line, and Sanchez actually throws a pretty good deep ball, so Hill’s presence helps the offense overall. There’s still no truly compelling reason to back Sanchez this year, but Hill does help.

Carson Palmer (QB, Oak) – It’s been a very quiet off-season for the Raiders, who’ve been dealing with some salary cap issues and who had only six draft picks and none until the 3rd round (their first pick as the 95th pick of the draft). But after losing the sizable Chaz Schilens at wide receiver in free agency, they did add another potentially-solid possession guy in Arizona’s Juron Criner. There’s some concern about Criner’s speed, especially since he ran a 4.68 40 at the combine, but he could be a pretty solid possession receiver. He was also very impressive during Senior Bowl week and surprisingly got open regularly there. We didn’t see a lot of NFL routes from him in college, but many NFL scouts think Criner could be a player in the NFL. If Criner can contribute with even 20-25 catches this year, that should make the Raider receiving corps more well-rounded, and his size should fit in with the revised offense they will be running in Oakland this year.

Michael Turner (RB, Atl) – One thing that can help offset another year of aging and mileage on Turner’s wheels is to create more space for him to run, and despite not having a #1 pick, the Falcons landed the best C in the draft in Peter Konz, who was expected to merit serious consideration in the 1st round this year. Between Konz and T Lamar Holmes, who was the 91st pick of the draft, the Falcons have injected some youth and some nastiness to their offensive line, which should help Turner’s ability to come through with another stellar season. The Falcons have veteran Todd McClure at C, so Konz could play guard this year, and Holmes is expected to challenge for a starting spot at T. In addition, the team used its third pick in the draft (Round Five) on a FB in Bradie Ewing, who is known for being able to move people in the running game. So for all the talk of the Falcons becoming a passing team, their draft focus was power football, which is a pretty good sign for Turner. The team has talked about utilizing complementary back Jacquizz Rodgers more this year, and they likely will, but their moves in the draft sure do seem to point to plenty power running with Turner again this year.

Willis McGahee (RB, Den) – We have a long way to go before this backfield is settled, but things are starting to come into focus now with the bulk of free agency and the draft behind us. And as of now, McGahee still stands alone as the best candidate to be their lead back. They clearly need to work some other players into the mix, but as of now they have not added another back of note. They have, however, added a back from the draft, and he’s an intriguing one in San Diego State’s Ronnie Hillman, whom they traded up 20 spots in the 3rd round to select. The addition of Hillman could mean the end of Knowshon Moreno in Denver, since he’s a speedier back with potential in the passing game. While Hillman is undersized at 5’9”, 200 pounds – he’s built a little like Ahmad Bradshaw – he handled a full share of carries at San Diego State (311 carries last year). He appears to be a good fit in a backfield with Manning lining up under center, and they took him over Miami’s Lamar Miller, who was widely considered to be a much better prospect. But while Hillman is interesting, he’s probably not a threat to McGahee – for now. Unless the team has big plans for 2011 undrafted free agent Mario Fannin, who is in the mix here, McGahee has stable value here for 2012.

Maurice Jones-Drew (RB, Jac) – If MJD can run for 1600+ yards with literally nothing at receiver for the Jags, then he should be in good shape this year and should, at worst, have another very good season. In Justin Blackmon, the Jags now have a legit #1 wideout, and teamed with Laurent Robinson, Jacksonville actually now has a viable receiving corps. Jones-Drew has handled a pretty heavy workload in his six seasons, but his 4.7 yard-per-carry average in 2011 was his best since his rookie season in 2006, when he had only 166 carries. He told me last July that he played most of the 2010 season on one leg, and it’s hard to dispute that after seeing what we did in ’11, so MJD once again looks like a can’t-miss guy.

Ryan Mathews (RB, SD) – While no one expected the Chargers to draft a RB in the earlier rounds, it’s still good to know for Mathews’ sake that they didn’t. They did use a 7th-round pick on Edwin Baker out of Michigan State. Baker was a solid back for the Spartans, but he projects as a 3rd down/situational runner, at best. The team could still bring in a veteran free agent and likely will, but it’s still all about Mathews in this backfield for 2012.

Chris Johnson (RB, Ten) – Since in the last two years he hasn’t been the same guy who we saw dominate in 2008-2009, it’s fair to say that Johnson may need some help if he’s to return to fantasy glory – and the Titans have given him some help. The OL is aging, but the addition of WR Kendall Wright gives the team another dynamic and explosive threat at the position. Teamed with their other big-play receivers, it’s going to be difficult for defenses to handle all their weapons, and with Hunter presenting a vertical challenge to defenses from even the slot, Johnson should have some room to run. The team is in good shape behind Johnson dating back to last year, but it’s worth pointing out that they haven’t added another back this year, so he’s obviously still the guy. On what is clearly an ascending offense, and with no holdout or contract issues this year, there are no more excuses for Johnson.

Roy Helu (RB, Was) – Obviously, anyone with a pulse on this roster at this position is in the mix for playing time – if not the lead role – and fellow second-year back Evan Royster certainly is in the mix. The team could also still re-sign veteran Tim Hightower as well if his knee checks out. But the Redskins haven’t added a back of note this year, the draft included, so it’s all systems go for Helu to get the first crack at this lead role. Washington did use a 5th-round pick on RB Alfred Morris out of Florida Atlantic, but he’s a big back who could be utilized at FB. Helu could be a lot more effective this year, too, playing with the dynamic QB Robert Griffin III. RGIII will challenge defenses on the perimeter, which could work out very well for the speedier Helu this year. I still like Helu a lot more than Royster, which is why I’m including only Helu him into this entry. Of course, Royster is a solid fit for the scheme and did pretty darn well late in the season, so he can’t be ruled out.

Steven Jackson (RB, Stl) – The Rams finally addressed their backup RB spot with a potential impact player in a complementary role in Isaiah Pead out of Cincinnati, which is great for their offense. Pead is an explosive playmaker with a lot of upside as a receiver, but he’s undersized and he does have issues in pass protection, so it might be hard for him to see the field a ton and bogart a significant number of catches from Jackson. Pead can be moved around the formation with designs on getting him the ball with a seam, but it’s unlikely he’ll have a truly negative effect on Jackson’s fantasy value in 2012. The team also drafted the speedy Daryl Richardson out of Abilene Christian in the 7th round.

Stevan Ridley and Shane Vereen (RBs, NE) – There was some talk of the Patriots possibly drafting another back this year, but I didn’t see that happening. It didn’t, so these two guys remain the favorites to handle the “bulk” of the workload in this backfield. That was certainly the plan last year when the team invested two Day Two picks on Ridley and Vereen, and they complement each other pretty well. I have a sick feeling that we’ll be forced to group these guys a lot this coming season in our weekly game and player previews, but if you’re going to draft a Patriot back, it obviously has to be one of these guys. Based on Ridley’s fumbling last year and Vereen’s speed and versatility, I’m actually a little more intrigued by Vereen. Then again, the team did lose some size and power with BenJarvis Green-Ellis signing with the Bengals.

Toby Gerhart (RB, Min) – Not that they were expected to, but the Vikings didn’t add a RB in a draft, and they didn’t add one in free agency, unless you count Lex Hilliard (sorry, but I do not). This could be construed as a good sign for Adrian Peterson, as he attempts to come back from a torn ACL suffered late in the 2011 season. But it’s certainly something of an endorsement for Gerhart, who was surprisingly productive and really maximized his touches last year. If AP is not ready, Gerhart is the guy.

Greg Little (WR, Cle) – Little is a very talented player and has a chance to be a go-to receiver, but his adjustment to the NFL last year was a little rough, which wasn’t surprising, considering he missed his last season at North Carolina and dealt with a shortened off-season. He’s also a guy who played RB in college, so there was a learning curve. He also played with a bad QB in 2011. But things are looking up for him these days. It would have been nice for Little if the team had added a speed receiver of note, but they did grab Miami’s Travis Benjamin, who is very fast and could conceivably help Little. Benjamin is far from a complete receiver, but he could be a dangerous big-play weapon, as he ran a 4.36 40 at the combine to tie for the best mark among WRs. But otherwise, the team has upgraded the QB position with Brandon Weeden, who can make all the throws and has a lot going for him. Weeden, of course, helped Justin Blackmon win the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver two consecutive seasons. He has a much better arm than Colt McCoy, which helps Little for sure, and he’s possibly the best pocket passer in this ’12 draft class. The team also added an elite runner in Trent Richardson, who can only help this offense and take some pressure off the passing game. Richardson will likely see a lot of stacked boxes, as most top backs do, and that can help Little. Little is a physical receiver with good size and excellent ability to make plays happen after the catch, and his stock is looking solid in Year Two.

Brandon LaFell (WR, Car) – I was curious to see what the Panthers did in the draft at WR because I felt it had a large bearing on LaFell’s fantasy future. They did add a wideout in Arkansas’ Joe Adams in the 4th round, but he’s probably not a threat to LaFell. Adams is more of a slot receiver and a kick returner, so his addition means they’ve given up on Armanti Edwards, who was a #3 pick in 2010. Unless the intriguing David Gettis blows up in the preseason, LaFell should be a lock to be the #2 opposite Steve Smith, and there is some potential from that spot, since QB Cam Newton threw for over 4,000 yards in 2011. LaFell came on a little later in the season, too, separating himself from (since-departed) Legedu Naanee and putting up 103/1 in Week Sixteen. He’s is a former
3rd-round pick out of LSU, and he did average a nice 17.0 yards a catch last year, so he’s worth a look as a player capable of slipping into the top-40 at WR in 2012.

Doug Baldwin/Golden Tate (WRs, Sea) – While we’ve viewed Tate as a better inside guy, the Seahawks preferred to see him outside, which might be because Baldwin is a terrific slot receiver. Toward the end of 2011, the Seahawks started to get Tate a little bit more involved. Through Week Twelve, Tate caught only 16 passes, but finished the year with 19 receptions in his last five. Baldwin’s line of 51/788/4 on 84 targets (60.7%) was much better, and he flashed more potential. With zero wideouts added in the draft and of note in free agency, the team is clearly going to ask these two to play key roles. Baldwin is our favorite, and with an upgrade at QB in Matt Flynn, who doesn’t have the strongest arm in the league, Baldwin could catch 70+ balls in 2012.

Vernon Davis (TE, SF) – On one hand, there’s only so much production to go around in this passing game, and they have added three new receivers who have either done a lot in the league already or have major potential, so that’s a small concern for Davis. But on the other hand, they did not grab TE Coby Fleener in the 1st round, so Davis is clearly still the guy at the TE position. QB Alex Smith will have more options in the passing game this year, but those options – all of them big-play/vertical threats – should help clear out some space and open things up for Davis. Ultimately, you have to believe that Smith will still be looking for Davis a ton. Davis was a disappointment in 2011 with very little else in the passing game, so it’s quite possible that he’ll actually do better with a lot of options in the passing game.

Owen Daniels (TE, Hou) – The Texans lost TD vulture Joel Dreessen to free agency, which might be a good thing for OD, and they’ve done nothing to address the position in the off-season and in the draft. Daniels may never be the player he was a few years ago, when he was younger and before his serious knee injury, but he’s still a player who can be very effective. You have to think he’ll be the #2 option in the passing game again this year, and if he can grab a few more cheapie TDs, he could be very relevant for fantasy.

Rob Housler (TE, Ari) – Not that anyone expected the Cardinals to draft a TE, but you never know. They did not, so the extremely athletic Housler is still very much in the mix to take over for Todd Heap once Heap’s run as a featured guy in the NFL is over – which could happen at any point in time, starting now.

Kellen Davis (TE, Chi) – While the team did add a more athletic TE in Evan Rodriguez in the 4th round, he’s not considered a top prospect, so he’ll likely need some time to develop. He’s also almost strictly a receiving TE, so with questionable blocking he might not even see the field. For at least 2012, Davis should be the guy, for what it’s worth, unless Rodriquez really surprises and picks things up very quickly.

We’ll See

Sam Bradford (QB, Stl) – I love Bradford and think he’s capable of becoming an elite player at his position, but he’s certainly not there yet – and the guy needs help at receiver. The Rams may have passed on the only two wideouts in this draft class capable of being legit #1 WR targets for Bradford in Justin Blackmon and Michael Floyd. The good news is the Rams did address receiver, and they are very high on 2nd-round pick Brian Quick out of Appalachian State. The Rams are obviously high on him and likely love his combination of size and speed, as well as his ability to snatch the ball away from defenders. But Quick is transitioning from a lower level of competition in college, and he’s considered raw as a route runner and needs to prove that he can consistently get separation in the pros. The Rams also grabbed WR Chris Givens out of Wake Forrest in the 4th round. Givens will supply some much-needed speed at the position, and he has the talent to become pretty dangerous both outside and in the slot. But he has some issues with his hands, and he’s still a little raw. The Rams may hit a homerun with one or both of these players, but it’s hard right now to assume they’ve truly helped themselves at receiver for 2012, so I still think Bradford’s receiving corps might wind up being a prohibitive factor this year unless someone like Danario Alexander steps up and miraculously stays healthy. Hopefully, I’ll feel better about this group in training camp and the preseason, but we’re not there yet.

Christian Ponder (QB, Min) – It’s nice that they got Ponder a premier prospect at LT in Matt Kahlil, and he will definitely help Ponder, and the pick addresses a glaring need on the OL. Protecting Ponder is even more important because he’s had plenty of injury issues in the past, including in his rookie season last year. But there’s also an obvious need at wide receiver, so unless they hit a homerun with either the free agent signing of Jerome Simpson (doubtful) or with one of their draft picks (too early to tell), Ponder’s supporting cast at receiver is still shaky. Ponder is a player who clearly needs help at the skill positions to excel, and while Percy Harvin is a star, he’s not an outside threat, so unless someone like 4th rounder Greg Childs, a 6’3” WR out of Arkansas, surprises, it’s hard to feel good about Ponder. They did add another Arkansas wideout (also in the 4th) who was more accomplished in college in Jarius Wright. Wright is an inside guy like Harvin, so perhaps they are looking for insurance for Harvin. But if he’s ready he should play early, since he’s a downfield threat who is also able to turn underneath throws into big plays because of his elusiveness, burst, and straight-line speed. But while there is more potential with this receiving corps now, it’s not enough potential to feel particularly optimistic. With very good depth at the position, Ponder’s case to be a fantasy backup isn’t great.

Matt Moore (QB, Mia) – Most likely, Moore’s your Week One starter, especially since rookie Ryan Tannehill had only 19 college starts after playing receiver for two years. On the other hand, #1 picks tend to play right away at any position these days, even QB, and Tannehill does have a lot of familiarity with the offense, having played for Miami offensive coordinator Mike Sherman in college. In fact, he knows it better than Moore. So it’s not inconceivable to believe we’ll see the rookie on the field at some point this year. And while Moore will likely be atop the depth chart, we do still have veteran David Garrard in the mix if Moore is benched before we see Tannehill. But for now, the plan in Miami has to be Moore for the immediate future. Of course, while they did add a couple of bigger receivers who might be viable short-to-intermediate threats in the west coast offense, they’ve done very little to help Moore for 2012 at wide receiver, and they’ve, of course, traded his top target from 2012 in Brandon Marshall. They added a TE in the draft who could help them in Michael Egnew, but there’s little reason to consider any Dolphin QB in 2012. As far as I’m concerned, they’re off the grid.

It may take a little while to figure out what Kendall Hunter's value is now in SF with LaMichael James in the mixKendall Hunter (RB, SF) – I’m still trying to wrap my head around the 2nd-round selection of Oregon’s LaMichael James, but I do understand it on a few levels. For one, head coach Jim Harbaugh is all about competition at every position, so he doesn’t give a rat’s ass about your fantasy team. The team is also obviously hell-bent on adding speed, explosiveness, and big-play ability to their offense, and they have certainly done that. It’s still a little curious, however, since James and Hunter are similarly smaller backs who are both probably better off in complementary roles. They’re both talented enough, though, to be very active complements, so I’m not sure where this leaves Hunter for the long term. James does have some ball-security issues and he’s not an accomplished receiver out of the backfield, so Hunter should be okay for this year. But unless they view Hunter as the eventual replacement for Frank Gore and would like to pair him with the diminutive but explosive James, it’s hard to figure out their values going forward. The 49ers are all about a physical, power running approach, and while Hunter is very physical for his size, he really doesn’t project as a true lead back like Gore does. That said, I wouldn’t be surprised in 1-2 years if they are rolling with a three-headed monster backfield, which isn’t great news for fantasy.

Reggie Bush (RB, Mia) – The Dolphins were clearly in BPA (best player available) mode when they selected the talented Lamar Miller in the 4th round and with the 97th overall selection, so he’s not a threat to Bush from the outset here in 2012. But this is a new coaching staff and system, so we can’t just focus on Bush’s stellar 2011 season because that has little bearing on his role and production this year. If Miami is going to mirror what Green Bay does on offense, then we could see more of Daniel Thomas than many expect, since the Packers typically hand the ball off to bigger, more physical backs. Bush will obviously have a large role, but it’s questionable if that role will translate to steady production, at least in non-PPR leagues. And if Bush reverts to previous (and unspectacular) form and/or suffers through some injuries, anything can happen with Miller later in the season, once he starts picking up the scheme and the like. Miller, like Bush, isn’t that great laterally, so he’s best off in a one-cut, downhill runner in a zone scheme, which is likely what the Dolphins will be running this year. In short, while it’s a stretch to assume Miller – who does have several similar traits to Bush – will make an impact, it’s not a stretch to say his presence makes selecting Bush a little bit of a scarier proposition this year.

Shonn Greene (RB, NYJ) – Greene’s starting job isn’t in jeopardy, but thanks to the addition of Baylor’s Terrance Ganaway in the 6th round, his margin for error might have been reduced just a tad. With Ganaway and Bilal Powel, The Jets now have two big, bruising backs behind Greene who could potentially handle a large workload in the “ground and pound” attack they plan to continue running in 2012. Ganaway was only a 6th-round pick, but he has a chance to contribute in the NFL as a rotational runner because he’s quicker than most backs his size, and he could still help move the chains because of his natural power and short-area burst as a downhill runner (although he can play soft at times). In theory, he could be an option for them near the goal line (so could Timmy Tebow). The one thing Greene still has in his favor is versatility, as Ganaway isn’t a viable receiver out of the backfield (6 catches last year). Greene’s not Marshall Faulk catching passes, but he was decent last year as a receiver. It could have been a lot worse for Greene, though. The Jets focused mainly on defense in the draft, and they didn’t use an early pick on a player at his position, so he’s still clearly the guy.

Donald Brown/Delone Carter (RBs, Ind) – The Colts did draft RB Vick Ballard out of Mississippi State, and while he’s a bruising runner with a nice ability to get to the edge, he’s not considered a top prospect. So for now, this backfield still appears to be a rotation between these two guys. Based on their first four picks (QB, TE, TE, and WR) it looks like OC Bruce “Pass Happy” Arians is already putting his stamp on this team, but head coach Chuck Pagano does want to get bigger and more physical in all areas, so there is a good opportunity here for a guy like Carter, who is probably more talented than Ballard and can be a physical inside runner. There should be a healthy role for Brown as well, but both guys are holding steady after the draft and the bulk of free agency, since they really are the team’s best options.

D.J. Ware and Da'Rel Scott (RBs, NYG) – While one or both of these guys could easily be in the mix for 5-10 touches per game this year, especially early in the season, the Giants were very high on RB David Wilson, and they grabbed him as both the best player remaining on their board and also to address a big need. In a perfect world, Wilson quickly settles in as an active complement to Ahmad Bradshaw, which would render both of these players essentially worthless.

Andre Roberts (WR, Ari) – We’re likely looking at a battle between Roberts and Early Doucet for the #3 WR spot for the Cardinals, but for now, Roberts is a noted because he was actually a starter on the outside last year. He won’t be this year, obviously, now that Michael Floyd is a Cardinal. Doucet is a more traditional slot guy, but we’ve been told by someone in the organization that Roberts has to play inside because he can’t really handle coverage on the outside. He is quick in the short area, so he could be a nice slot option for the team. Through Week Eight last year, Roberts wasn’t a factor. But from Week Nine on, he had 38/453/2 on 67 targets, and ranked a respectable 47th at the WR position, with 6.7 FPG. Roberts caught at least 4 passes six times over the last nine games of the season. Roberts is a small guy at 5’11”, but he is a better athlete than Doucet, so he might be the favorite to be the team’s #3, which could render Doucet relatively useless.

Nate Washington (WR, Ten) – Washington in 2011 stepped up after stud Kenny Britt went down and reminded us that he's a talented player and can run well and be an effective receiver in the red zone. Washington, who played through troublesome ankle and back injuries, played in every game and finished with 74/1023/7 (13.8 YPC) on 121 targets (61.2% caught), which put him 22nd among WRs with 9.4 FPG. It’s hard to envision the team cutting him loose after using their #1 pick on wideout Kendall Wright, but there’s no question Washington’s stock takes a hit now. The Titans clearly loved Wright, as we do, and they plan on utilizing him right away. Wright is good insurance for Britt, in case he has issues with his repaired knee, but if Britt is okay, I’m not sure there’s enough production to go around here among all of their talented receivers. It’s all great news for their QBs, and they now have great speed, playmaking ability, and versatility, but this isn’t exactly an offense poised to post huge numbers just yet. Washington, if he’s on the team, will almost certainly still “start,” but Wright will be utilized, and he will take away some of Washington’s (and Britt’s) fantasy value.

Marcus Easley (WR, Buf) – It’s probably wishful thinking just listing Easley here, since his first two seasons have been completely destroyed by injury and health issues. But the team didn’t select WR Michael Floyd in the 1st round as some expected, so Easley still has a chance. I heard before the draft that Buffalo hasn’t given up on Easley yet, and I can understand why because Easley has an intriguing combination of size, speed, and overall athletic ability. The Bills reportedly timed him in the 40-yard dash at 4.4 seconds back in 2010. Easley missed most of 2010 with a knee injury and he missed the entire season again because of a heart condition, but he’s flashed in the preseason, and he’s expected to be ready to play in 2012. It would not be shocking, if all went well, to see Easley finish second or third on this team in catches. He’s more talented than a guy like Donald Jones, and maybe even Stevie Johnson (although Johnson has obviously proven to be very productive).
Anthony Fasano (TE, Mia) – The Dolphins didn’t get a top prospect at the TE position in the draft, but they did get one of the better options in Michael Egnew out of Missouri. Missouri TEs have a poor recent history in the NFL, but at least Egnew has very good size and speed. He’s not overly athletic, but neither is Fasano, so Egnew could see the field early in the team’s new offense. I’m rooting for Egnew because it would be nice to have a TE in Miami who someone can actually project on a week-to-week basis. Over the last few years, just when you think Fasano is dead for fantasy, that’s when he scored 2 TDs in a game. If you give him some attention, he catches 1 ball for 7 yards in a game. If he could just go away, that would be okay with me.

dsanty · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2012, 09:59:02 PM »

** Saints RB Mark Ingram will reportedly miss the next 6 weeks after a knee scope last Thursday. That timeline would cost him all of OTAs and the team's June minicamp. The missed time doesn't help the 2nd-year back, but the fact that it's knee trouble is more worrisome. The biggest knock against Ingram heading into last year's draft was a questionable knee that reportedly removed him from some teams' boards altogether. He didn't have any publicized knee issues as a rookie, but Ingram missed time with several other ailments. The upside is obvious if he can get and stay healthy, but the injury questions should knock him down draft boards. Pierre Thomas only gains intrigue with Ingram's physical questions.
** Titans HC Mike Munchak says that WR Kenny Britt (ACL) will be "eased" through training camp. While Britt has been jogging for a couple months, he's yet to begin cutting. Still, all signs point to him being ready by the time Week 1 rolls around. And based on last year, the missed work in camp shouldn't impact his production. A bum hammy prevented Britt from doing much last August, but he went out and posted 271 yards and 3 TDs in his first 2 games.
** For the first time in his pro career, 49ers WR Michael Crabtree will have the luxury of a full offseason this year. A contract dispute kept him off the field his rookie year, while neck and foot injuries limited his work the past 2 seasons. "For him to have a benefit of an offseason and OTAs and training camp like he's never had, he's got an opportunity to have that offseason this year which he has not had -- and not of his own doing," HC Jim Harbaugh said. "Looking forward to making the most of that this year." Crab took a step forward last season, setting career-highs with 73 catches and 880 yards. But even with continued improvement in 2012, his numbers could take a step back. San Fran's WR corps is awfully crowded after the additions of Mario Manningham, Randy Moss, and rookie A.J. Jenkins.
** RB Joseph Addai has signed on with the Patriots. He joins one of the league’s most crowded backfields, consisting of Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead, and Shane Vereen. Posting just one season with a yards-per-carry average north of 4 over the last 4 seasons, the 29-year-old will have to impress this summer to have a shot at gaining fantasy value. We’d recommend targeting a higher upside guy late in your draft.
** Vikings QB Christian Ponder was sacked 30 times in just 11 games last season. He suffered a hip injury and a concussion. Ponder admits that he didn't trust his offensive line. "A lot of times I wasn't comfortable getting to my third, fourth reads, checking the ball down," Ponder explained. "Instead of just checking it down when a guy is wide open, I'd just run. That's something I have to get away from." But after Minnesota added OT Matt Kalil in the 1st-round of the draft, Ponder is expecting better protection in 2012. "It's just going to make it so much better having full confidence in the protection," he said. "Offensive line is looking good. They got stacked up pretty quickly and they've got a lot of depth now. I'm excited about that as a quarterback." Kalil will step right into the starting lineup at LT, allowing Charlie Johnson to kick inside to LG. It's good news for Ponder, who entered the league with durability concerns.
** Although he's unsure how much he'll be able to do in OTAs, Chiefs TE Tony Moeaki (knee) expects to be a full-go for training camp. He went down with a torn ACL in last year's preseason finale. “Rehab is good,'' Moeaki said. ''As far as team activities, I’m just doing what the trainers and the coaching staff tells me to do. I don’t really know until we get there.'' T-Mo is extremely injury-prone, but he flashed intriguing potential during a 47-catch, 556-yard rookie campaign back in 2010. We'll continue to monitor his rehab, but a healthy Moeaki would be worth gambling on as a backup in fantasy drafts this summer.
** Jacksonville's top pick, WR Justin Blackmon, missed the final day of rookie camp Sunday with a sore foot. We don't want to overreact, but this probably threatens his career and obviously turns him into an immediate draft bust. Either that or it's no big deal, which is what the team says. Coaches figured there was no reason to push anything on the final day of the first spring workout. Doing so could risk not only further aggravation of the trouble spot but overcompensation with a different part of his feet or legs. It's a marathon, after all. Not a sprint.
** Ravens 3rd-round rookie RB Bernard Pierce is currently #2 on the depth chart. And it sounds like he'll stay there. Ravens director of player personnel Eric DeCosta says that the team isn't planning on bringing any others backs on board. "I think this year we're content," he said. "We like the young backs we have." Pierce's only competition for the #2 spot is Anthony Allen. Pierce has the big edge in the talent department. He goes 6'0 and 218 pounds with 4.5 speed. He racked up 1,481 yards and a whopping 27 TDs at Temple last season. As Ray Rice's primary backup, Pierce is likely looking at around 100 total touches this season. Still, he's more of a Rice handcuff than a real fantasy option.
** Dolphins WR Davone Bess revealed that he suffered a torn MCL and a "partially" torn ACL in last year's season finale. He spent the entire offseason rehabbing in Florida. He's been participating in voluntary team workouts, though, so the injury seems to be behind him. Bess is in for a big spike in targets this year after Miami dealt WR Brandon Marshall to Chicago. He could produce as a WR3, especially in PPR formats. We'll keep an eye on his health the rest of the offseason.
** Redskins TE Chris Cooley “feels as good as he’s felt for the last couple years," according to HC Mike Shanahan. “Chris Cooley right now is feeling great,” Shanny added. “The knee is feeling great. His weight is down. There’s been no swelling, so hopefully he is full speed once we get started with our OTA days [in mid-May] and you know, he can stay injury-free.” Cooley suffered a broken index finger in Week 6, but it was the bum knee that eventually landed him on IR in late-October. Due $6.25 million against the 2012 salary cap, Cooley's roster spot is in jeopardy even if he is healthy. Fred Davis is locked-in as Washington's starting TE.
** A broken thumb cost Chiefs WR Jonathan Baldwin most of training camp and the first 5 games of his rookie season last year. He never got comfortable in the offense and finished with just 254 yards and 1 TD. But teammate Steve Breaston has seen big improvement from Baldwin this offseason. “When he came back this offseason, he studied his playbook and he’s learned a lot," Breaston said. "The thing about that at receiver, when you know your offense and you know where to be, you play faster. You’re no longer thinking and your athletic ability takes over. You see (Baldwin) out there. He’s in meetings, he’s attentive, he’s calling out the plays, motion and shifts and things like that. With him knowing that, he’s just going to be a lot faster on the field.” Baldwin and Breaston will battle for the #2 WR spot this summer. Baldwin's physical skill-set gives him the edge. The former 1st-rounder will be worth drafting as a bench guy with plenty of upside.
** Chargers GM A.J. Smith sees 4th-round rookie TE Ladarius Green as Antonio Gates' successor. "Green is a rare receiving threat who fits the model of our offense -- like an Antonio Gates," Smith said. "He's not a blocker, and he isn't going to be a blocker. But he has rare skills with speed, and we like his height, his hands, catch radius and burst." From a pure athleticism standpoint, Green is actually more impressive than Gates. The Louisiana-Lafayette product goes 6'6 and 238 pounds with 4.4 speed and a 35-inch vertical. He's extremely raw, but studying under Gates should help his development. Green will push Randy McMichael for backup TE duties this season, but he's unlikely to be a fantasy factor. He's certainly worth stashing in keeper and dynasty leagues though.
** WR Jabar Gaffney has agreed to a 2-year deal with the Patriots. He spent 3 seasons in New England from 2006-2008, managing only 85 catches in 43 games. His familiarity with the offense will help, but Gaffney is joining an extremely crowded WR corps. He'll battle with Deion Branch, Chad Ochocinco, Donte Stallworth, and Anthony Gonzalez for #3 WR duties. Even if Gaffney wins the job -- and we'd give him a good chance to do so -- he'll struggle for targets behind Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Rob Gronkowski, and Aaron Hernandez.
** DE Charles Johnson had his right knee scoped Friday, a procedure deemed a "minor clean-out." It came in response to some recent swelling and isn't expected to impact his readiness for training camp. The knee will be worth keeping an eye on to see if any issues resurface, but there seems no reason to worry about his 2012 outlook. Johnson was bothered by low-back problems last year, an area that will also be worth watching. If he's healthy, expect a more productive season than the RE had in 2011.
** Cowboys rookie Danny Coale will be "in the mix" for #3 receiver duties, according to HC Jason Garrett. "He's a guy that we like physically. We like him intangibly. He's got some position versatility and flexibility," Garrett said. "We feel like he has good traits to be an inside receiver, also the physical skills to be an outside receiver." Coale goes 6'0, 201 pounds and ran a 4.50-second 40 at the Combine. Those are measureables that will certainly work from the slot. Coale is a crafty receiver with reliable hands. He caught 60 balls for 904 yards this past season. With the mediocre Kevin Ogletree representing his biggest competition, Coale is definitely capable of winning the #3 WR job. But he'd still be buried in the pecking order and is unlikely to be a real fantasy factor in 2012.
** Lions GM Martin Mayhew confirmed that rookie WR Ryan Broyles may start training camp on the PUP list after tearing his ACL last November. While the team does believe Broyles will be ready before Week 1, they won't rush him. "The great thing with him is, we have the ability to take our time and get him healthy and get him on the field," Mayhew said. "We think the world of Ryan and he fits with our offense. As soon as he gets healthy, he'll be in the mix." Long-term, Broyles could be a big-time weapon out of the slot. But for now, he's more of a "stash" for both the Lions and dynasty leaguers.
** The Giants' brass is raving about 4th-round rookie TE Adrien Robinson. "We really think this guy has a huge up-side," GM Jerry Reese said. "He is a big, big man; long arms... He is kind of a late bloomer who has really come on. And we think this guy is kind of a [Jason Pierre-Paul] of tight ends." At 6'4 and 264 pounds with 4.5 speed, Robinson is certainly an intriguing athlete. But he's extremely raw and caught only 29 passes in 4 seasons at Cincinnati. Robinson is worth monitoring but won't be a fantasy factor in 2012.

dsanty · « **Reply #11 on:** May 10, 2012, 10:56:37 PM »

** Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (knee) worked out in front of the media on Wednesday and looked good. But head trainer Eric Sugarman isn’t ready to guarantee that AP will be ready for the season-opener. "...Let's make this clear: I'm still not going to be quoted as saying he's going to play in the first game," Sugarman said. "That's not fair. I don't know that. That's obviously our goal, to get him playing the first game. But only if he's functionally safe to do it." AP has been running since late-March and recently started doing some cutting. Peterson no longer has swelling in the knee and has regained full range of motion. Now it comes down to regaining strength and trusting the stability of the knee. "Right now, when he tries to stop on a dime, he looks like he's on ice," Sugarman said. "That's normal. Deceleration is the hardest thing for those guys." While we'd still give AP a good chance of being ready for Week 1, don't expect him to return to pre-injury form until the 2nd half of the season -- at the earliest.
** There's been talk of the Steelers disliking the pass-leaning ways of former OC Bruce Arians. That has led to speculation of new OC Todd Haley getting back to more running. Here's what Ben Roethlisberger had to say on Tuesday's Rich Eisen Podcast: "I get a little confused at times because I know so much has been made about us quote-unquote throwing the ball too much, or we’re going back to Steeler football and running the ball more. But in these meetings I’ve had with coach Haley he’s all about the no-huddle, and using our wide receiver weapons, and throwing the ball, and stuff like that, so I’m still confused. I’m not sure what’s going to happen yet.” Haley went run-happy as HC of the Chiefs, but his personnel seemed to dictate that. He arrived in K.C. after coordinating Arizona's offense, then among the pass-happiest in recent league history. Again, the Cardinals' personnel seemed to support that, and the team made a Super Bowl the year before Haley left. The Steelers' offense sure seems built to pass more than run, led by young studs Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown. We're expecting a Pittsburgh lean that way, and some very nice fantasy passing numbers as a result. We'll see what training camp and the preseason tell us about Haley's plans.
** Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles says he's 80% recovered from last September's torn ACL. “I feel like I can do the same things my teammates do,” Charles said. “I do it without the coaches around. I catch balls, I cut, I do ladder drills and I’ve been doing this for like two months." J-Chaz is expected to be limited in OTAs, but he should be a full-go for training camp. The addition of free-agent RB Peyton Hillis will allow the Chiefs to ease Charles back in, but we're still expecting him to see about 15 touches per game right off the bat. He'll be almost a full year removed from the injury when the 2012 season kicks off.
** For once, Mike Shanahan isn't playing games. The Redskins HC has already named rookie QB Robert Griffin his starter. "He's the starter. Period," Shanny said. RGIII was always a lock to be under center come Week 1, but the early declaration is good news because he'll have the maximum amount of time to work with the 1st-team offense. “One thing that the NFL is not used to is a quarterback with his type of speed and his type of throwing ability,” Shanahan said after spending 3 days with Griffin at the team's rookie minicamp. “I think we can do some things that people haven’t done. He fits into our system perfectly because we like to run play-action, quarterback keeps, bootlegs. With his speed, he can get on the edge and do things most quarterbacks can’t do.” Besides fitting Griffin's skill-set perfectly, Shanahan's offense is also extremely pass-heavy. It all means that RGIII has top-10 upside this season.
** Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin is ready to put a strange 2011 season behind him. He came down with a mysterious illness last July that knocked him out of training camp and preseason. He couldn't hold down food, had no energy, and lost about 20 pounds. Maclin got on the field for the season-opener, though, and caught 44 balls for 606 yards in the team's first 8 games. But he faded in the 2nd half, missing 3 contests and managing only 19 grabs for 253 yards. He's spent this entire offseason working on his fitness and is up to 205 pounds -- 7 over his 2011 playing weight. "Luckily I'm healthy now and hopefully I can get stronger, faster, bigger to prevent those things from happening this year," Maclin said. Prior to last season, Maclin had missed just 1 game in 2 seasons, so we're not concerned about durability. Turning 24 years old in a couple days, Maclin's arrow is pointing straight up.
** It sounds like Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray is just about completely recovered from the fractured ankle that ended his 2011 season. “Him on the ankle, you want to see if he’s able to cut, change direction, plant and drive off that thing. And he was able to do that," RB coach Skip Peete said after watching Murray work out last week. "We had him run different routes, and he had to actually put pressure and plant and drive hard off of it and there was no problem doing it. Right now, looks good, fine.” The ankle shouldn't be a concern heading into this season, but durability issues remain for Murray. He was constantly banged-up in college and dealt with bum hamstring last summer. He'll be a risk/reward pick in fantasy drafts this summer.
** Bucs GM Mark Dominik revealed that QB Josh Freeman has shed 20 pounds this offseason. It has him down in the 235 range. "He's getting his body right, working on getting more mobility and better conditioned and buying in, heart and soul, to how and what Mike Sullivan is and wants to be as offensive coordinator," Dominik said. Freeman took a giant step back last year, tossing just 16 TDs vs. 22 INTs. He posted a ridiculous 25:6 TD-to-INT ratio the previous season. Freeman's ability falls somewhere between those two extremes. Working in his favor this year will be the additions of OG Carl Nicks and WR Vincent Jackson. On the downside, new HC Greg Schiano is known for deploying extremely run-heavy offenses. Freeman looks like a fantasy backup at a deep position.
** Browns QB Brandon Weeden is the heavy favorite to beat out Colt McCoy for the starting job this summer. But team president Mike Holmgren isn't ready to hand the rookie the spot just yet. "We drafted a young quarterback that we think can come in and play right away," Holmgren said of Weeden. "But we're not just going to hand him the football. I still love Colt McCoy [but] we had a chance to get a mature quarterback who has a chance to come in and contribute right away. Whether that happens or not we have to let it play out." This sounds like a case of the staff not wanting Weeden to get too cozy. Cleveland will officially hold a competition in training camp, but Weeden has a big talent edge over McCoy and is a strong bet to be under center come Week 1.
** Cardinals RB Ryan Williams believes he's ahead of schedule in his recovery from last August's torn patellar tendon. “I am running and cutting and doing things I didn’t think I’d be doing this early," Williams said. "I’m not worried about it.” The 38th overall pick of last year's draft has been working out with the team since mid-April. Barring a setback, he should be ready to push RB Beanie Wells for carries in training camp.
** Redskins WR Leonard Hankerson expects to be ready to participate in the team's minicamp in mid-June. He's recovering from a February procedure to repair a torn labrum in his hip. “I’m feeling good, getting better each and every day,” Hankerson said. “I’m not quite there yet, but I’m looking forward to being there in a couple weeks.” Last year's 3rd-round pick will battle with Josh Morgan for Washington's #2 WR job this summer.
** "I've never been around a receiver, never seen a receiver who runs routes like Devin Hester does outside. He has all the skills to be a great, a Pro Bowl receiver." That's what new teammate Brandon Marshall told ESPN Radio listeners in Chicago on Monday. There's something new: offseason talk about how awesome a season Hester is going to have at wideout. We've heard from HC Lovie Smith and former OC Mike Martz about just how well Hester can do at WR. The problem is, we've never actually seen it in the regular season. Through 6 pro seasons, Hester has personal bests of 57 catches, 757 yards and 4 TDs. None of those came last year. Ignore.
** Bengals WR Jordan Shipley announced that he's received full medical clearance after tearing his ACL last September. It means he'll be able to participate in OTAs and training camp. Shipley will be almost a year removed from the injury when the 2012 season kicks off, so he has a good shot to contribute. If he's healthy, Shipley will reassume slot duties for Cincinnati. He caught 52 balls for 600 yards in that role back in 2010.
** Dolphins HC Joe Philbin revealed that the coaching staff is considering getting rookie RB Lamar Miller some time at WR this season. "There's a chance down the road, as Lamar gets acclimated, that he might be able to spread himself a ways as a receiver to a certain degree," Philbin said. "I'm not saying make a full position change, but I think there's some flexibility with what you can do with the guy." Miller is an elite athlete with 4.4 speed, but he's considered a raw runner and is buried on the depth chart behind Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas. Using him at WR would be a way for Miami to get his playmaking ability on the field. Miller is worth monitoring this summer, but he's unlikely to get enough touches to be a fantasy factor in 2012.
** Free-agent RB LaDainian Tomlinson says he's 95% sure he'll retire. He did leave the door open, saying that he'd return for a 12th season if the right situation presented itself. That situation would likely be a 3rd-down role on a championship contender (Packers). LT hasn't drawn any interest on the open market though. While he's remained a capable pass-catcher, Tomlinson has averaged just 3.7 yards per carry over the past 4 seasons. The future Hall-of-Famer's career is likely over.
** The Ravens have signed WR Jacoby Jones to a 2-year, $7 million deal. Despite a solid combination of size (6'2, 210 pounds) and speed (4.5 40-time), Jones never broke out in Houston. He's yet to top 562 yards or 6 TDs in a season. Still, Jones is the heavy favorite to win the #3 job in Baltimore behind Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin. Of course, that doesn't give him a whole lot of upside on an offense that will continue to revolve around RB Ray Rice.
** The Vikings released K Ryan Longwell. It’s a bit of a surprising move when you consider the 37-year-old’s track record. Prior to a 2011 that saw him post a disappointing FG % of 78.6, Longwell tallied two straight seasons with a FG % north of 92. Minnesota invested a 6th-round pick in Georgia K Blair Walsh last month, though, and will likely hitch their wagon to him this season. Still, they’d be wise to bring in veteran competition, as Walsh connected on just 21 of 35 attempts last season. He won’t be a viable fantasy option.

dsanty · « **Reply #12 on:** May 16, 2012, 06:42:03 PM »

** Saints RB Mark Ingram will reportedly miss the next 6 weeks after a knee scope last Thursday. That timeline would cost him all of OTAs and the team's June minicamp. The missed time doesn't help the 2nd-year back, but the fact that it's knee trouble is more worrisome. The biggest knock against Ingram heading into last year's draft was a questionable knee that reportedly removed him from some teams' boards altogether. He didn't have any publicized knee issues as a rookie, but Ingram missed time with several other ailments. The upside is obvious if he can get and stay healthy, but the injury questions should knock him down draft boards. Pierre Thomas only gains intrigue with Ingram's physical questions.
** Titans HC Mike Munchak says that WR Kenny Britt (ACL) will be "eased" through training camp. While Britt has been jogging for a couple months, he's yet to begin cutting. Still, all signs point to him being ready by the time Week 1 rolls around. And based on last year, the missed work in camp shouldn't impact his production. A bum hammy prevented Britt from doing much last August, but he went out and posted 271 yards and 3 TDs in his first 2 games.
** For the first time in his pro career, 49ers WR Michael Crabtree will have the luxury of a full offseason this year. A contract dispute kept him off the field his rookie year, while neck and foot injuries limited his work the past 2 seasons. "For him to have a benefit of an offseason and OTAs and training camp like he's never had, he's got an opportunity to have that offseason this year which he has not had -- and not of his own doing," HC Jim Harbaugh said. "Looking forward to making the most of that this year." Crab took a step forward last season, setting career-highs with 73 catches and 880 yards. But even with continued improvement in 2012, his numbers could take a step back. San Fran's WR corps is awfully crowded after the additions of Mario Manningham, Randy Moss, and rookie A.J. Jenkins.
** RB Joseph Addai has signed on with the Patriots. He joins one of the league’s most crowded backfields, consisting of Stevan Ridley, Danny Woodhead, and Shane Vereen. Posting just one season with a yards-per-carry average north of 4 over the last 4 seasons, the 29-year-old will have to impress this summer to have a shot at gaining fantasy value. We’d recommend targeting a higher upside guy late in your draft.
** Vikings QB Christian Ponder was sacked 30 times in just 11 games last season. He suffered a hip injury and a concussion. Ponder admits that he didn't trust his offensive line. "A lot of times I wasn't comfortable getting to my third, fourth reads, checking the ball down," Ponder explained. "Instead of just checking it down when a guy is wide open, I'd just run. That's something I have to get away from." But after Minnesota added OT Matt Kalil in the 1st-round of the draft, Ponder is expecting better protection in 2012. "It's just going to make it so much better having full confidence in the protection," he said. "Offensive line is looking good. They got stacked up pretty quickly and they've got a lot of depth now. I'm excited about that as a quarterback." Kalil will step right into the starting lineup at LT, allowing Charlie Johnson to kick inside to LG. It's good news for Ponder, who entered the league with durability concerns.
** Although he's unsure how much he'll be able to do in OTAs, Chiefs TE Tony Moeaki (knee) expects to be a full-go for training camp. He went down with a torn ACL in last year's preseason finale. “Rehab is good,'' Moeaki said. ''As far as team activities, I’m just doing what the trainers and the coaching staff tells me to do. I don’t really know until we get there.'' T-Mo is extremely injury-prone, but he flashed intriguing potential during a 47-catch, 556-yard rookie campaign back in 2010. We'll continue to monitor his rehab, but a healthy Moeaki would be worth gambling on as a backup in fantasy drafts this summer.
** Jacksonville's top pick, WR Justin Blackmon, missed the final day of rookie camp Sunday with a sore foot. We don't want to overreact, but this probably threatens his career and obviously turns him into an immediate draft bust. Either that or it's no big deal, which is what the team says. Coaches figured there was no reason to push anything on the final day of the first spring workout. Doing so could risk not only further aggravation of the trouble spot but overcompensation with a different part of his feet or legs. It's a marathon, after all. Not a sprint.
** Ravens 3rd-round rookie RB Bernard Pierce is currently #2 on the depth chart. And it sounds like he'll stay there. Ravens director of player personnel Eric DeCosta says that the team isn't planning on bringing any others backs on board. "I think this year we're content," he said. "We like the young backs we have." Pierce's only competition for the #2 spot is Anthony Allen. Pierce has the big edge in the talent department. He goes 6'0 and 218 pounds with 4.5 speed. He racked up 1,481 yards and a whopping 27 TDs at Temple last season. As Ray Rice's primary backup, Pierce is likely looking at around 100 total touches this season. Still, he's more of a Rice handcuff than a real fantasy option.
** Dolphins WR Davone Bess revealed that he suffered a torn MCL and a "partially" torn ACL in last year's season finale. He spent the entire offseason rehabbing in Florida. He's been participating in voluntary team workouts, though, so the injury seems to be behind him. Bess is in for a big spike in targets this year after Miami dealt WR Brandon Marshall to Chicago. He could produce as a WR3, especially in PPR formats. We'll keep an eye on his health the rest of the offseason.
** Redskins TE Chris Cooley “feels as good as he’s felt for the last couple years," according to HC Mike Shanahan. “Chris Cooley right now is feeling great,” Shanny added. “The knee is feeling great. His weight is down. There’s been no swelling, so hopefully he is full speed once we get started with our OTA days [in mid-May] and you know, he can stay injury-free.” Cooley suffered a broken index finger in Week 6, but it was the bum knee that eventually landed him on IR in late-October. Due $6.25 million against the 2012 salary cap, Cooley's roster spot is in jeopardy even if he is healthy. Fred Davis is locked-in as Washington's starting TE.
** A broken thumb cost Chiefs WR Jonathan Baldwin most of training camp and the first 5 games of his rookie season last year. He never got comfortable in the offense and finished with just 254 yards and 1 TD. But teammate Steve Breaston has seen big improvement from Baldwin this offseason. “When he came back this offseason, he studied his playbook and he’s learned a lot," Breaston said. "The thing about that at receiver, when you know your offense and you know where to be, you play faster. You’re no longer thinking and your athletic ability takes over. You see (Baldwin) out there. He’s in meetings, he’s attentive, he’s calling out the plays, motion and shifts and things like that. With him knowing that, he’s just going to be a lot faster on the field.” Baldwin and Breaston will battle for the #2 WR spot this summer. Baldwin's physical skill-set gives him the edge. The former 1st-rounder will be worth drafting as a bench guy with plenty of upside.
** Chargers GM A.J. Smith sees 4th-round rookie TE Ladarius Green as Antonio Gates' successor. "Green is a rare receiving threat who fits the model of our offense -- like an Antonio Gates," Smith said. "He's not a blocker, and he isn't going to be a blocker. But he has rare skills with speed, and we like his height, his hands, catch radius and burst." From a pure athleticism standpoint, Green is actually more impressive than Gates. The Louisiana-Lafayette product goes 6'6 and 238 pounds with 4.4 speed and a 35-inch vertical. He's extremely raw, but studying under Gates should help his development. Green will push Randy McMichael for backup TE duties this season, but he's unlikely to be a fantasy factor. He's certainly worth stashing in keeper and dynasty leagues though.
** WR Jabar Gaffney has agreed to a 2-year deal with the Patriots. He spent 3 seasons in New England from 2006-2008, managing only 85 catches in 43 games. His familiarity with the offense will help, but Gaffney is joining an extremely crowded WR corps. He'll battle with Deion Branch, Chad Ochocinco, Donte Stallworth, and Anthony Gonzalez for #3 WR duties. Even if Gaffney wins the job -- and we'd give him a good chance to do so -- he'll struggle for targets behind Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Rob Gronkowski, and Aaron Hernandez.
** DE Charles Johnson had his right knee scoped Friday, a procedure deemed a "minor clean-out." It came in response to some recent swelling and isn't expected to impact his readiness for training camp. The knee will be worth keeping an eye on to see if any issues resurface, but there seems no reason to worry about his 2012 outlook. Johnson was bothered by low-back problems last year, an area that will also be worth watching. If he's healthy, expect a more productive season than the RE had in 2011.
** Cowboys rookie Danny Coale will be "in the mix" for #3 receiver duties, according to HC Jason Garrett. "He's a guy that we like physically. We like him intangibly. He's got some position versatility and flexibility," Garrett said. "We feel like he has good traits to be an inside receiver, also the physical skills to be an outside receiver." Coale goes 6'0, 201 pounds and ran a 4.50-second 40 at the Combine. Those are measureables that will certainly work from the slot. Coale is a crafty receiver with reliable hands. He caught 60 balls for 904 yards this past season. With the mediocre Kevin Ogletree representing his biggest competition, Coale is definitely capable of winning the #3 WR job. But he'd still be buried in the pecking order and is unlikely to be a real fantasy factor in 2012.
** Lions GM Martin Mayhew confirmed that rookie WR Ryan Broyles may start training camp on the PUP list after tearing his ACL last November. While the team does believe Broyles will be ready before Week 1, they won't rush him. "The great thing with him is, we have the ability to take our time and get him healthy and get him on the field," Mayhew said. "We think the world of Ryan and he fits with our offense. As soon as he gets healthy, he'll be in the mix." Long-term, Broyles could be a big-time weapon out of the slot. But for now, he's more of a "stash" for both the Lions and dynasty leaguers.
** The Giants' brass is raving about 4th-round rookie TE Adrien Robinson. "We really think this guy has a huge up-side," GM Jerry Reese said. "He is a big, big man; long arms... He is kind of a late bloomer who has really come on. And we think this guy is kind of a [Jason Pierre-Paul] of tight ends." At 6'4 and 264 pounds with 4.5 speed, Robinson is certainly an intriguing athlete. But he's extremely raw and caught only 29 passes in 4 seasons at Cincinnati. Robinson is worth monitoring but won't be a fantasy factor in 2012.

dsanty · « **Reply #13 on:** May 17, 2012, 09:27:25 PM »

2012 Rushing SOS Analysis

Looking Good:

It’s certainly a good sign for Atlanta’s Michael Turner that the Falcons check in with not only a seemingly favorable schedule, but the best in the league. As stated in the intro, volume backs like Turner who don’t do much catching the ball can be affected by SOS. I’m not high on Turner this year, since he’s another year older and could fall off quickly at any point. But this schedule may make me consider him now.
Back in 2010 the Chiefs were a very good team, and it all started with their running game. Matt Cassel is still the QB, so if they’re to have any success, it should start once again with their running game. That’s good news for KC’s Peyton Hillis and Jamaal Charles, since their schedule appears very favorable.
Last year, Jacksonville’s Maurice Jones-Drew’s schedule looked pretty tough on paper, yet he led the league in rushing. This year he’s another year older and might be holding out, so there is a tiny question as to whether or not he can do it again. I’m encouraged by the upgrades this team has made on offense and also by MJD’s softer schedule, so I’m inclined to say he can, in fact, do it again. Assuming a potential holdout doesn’t happen and get ugly.
It looks like everyone’s on board with San Diego’s Ryan Mathews this year, and while he still scares the crap out of me due to his lingering injury issues and fumbling, I’m also in. Mike Tolbert is gone, which obviously helps, but he doesn’t have a huge margin for error and it would be nice to see him with any advantage possible, and he might have one with a favorable schedule, so that’s good. He does have Baltimore and Pittsburgh in the second half of the season, but otherwise there are many favorable matchups.
Last year I mentioned Houston starter Arian Foster’s easy schedule here about 10 times, and it’s looking good again in 2012. He’s a beast, and a lock to get it done if he can avoid injury.
The Bucs want to be all about physicality and their running game, so it’s good that they drafted Doug Martin and have a solid schedule. That will help Martin, since the Bucs don’t face off against a single run defense considered elite.
Not that anyone can predict which back will take advantage, but it’s worth pointing out that the Panthers also do not face a single shutdown run defense this year, so their schedule does not look prohibitive at all. That’s worth noting for Jonathan Stewart, who’s in a contract year, and DeAngelo Williams, who is still playing at a very high level and has the ability to post massive digits if he’s (somehow) getting a lot of touches.
It doesn’t rank extremely high due to a couple of tough matchups (Bal and Pit), but the 49ers schedule overall looks pretty darn good, which could help Frank Gore hold on for one more year. If not Gore, it could help a breakout for Kendall Hunter, the presumed lead back if Gore is hurt.
Otherwise, the schedules for Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, and Pittsburgh appear to be factors that could help their RBs.

Looking Not-So-Good:
He's coming off an ACL injury, but at least Jamaal Charles' schedule looks like a big positive this year
We’ve learned the last two years that, if a back in the AFC North is going to have success, he needs to have things go well around him and he needs a lot of volume. If things go well and the player can bring it, success is attainable. Cleveland’s Peyton Hillis, for example, was the #2 RB in total RB points in 2010. Four games against Pittsburgh and Baltimore is scary for Trent Richardson, but both defenses might be mortal in 2012, and Richardson’s schedule otherwise looks pretty good.
The Rams schedule ranks dead last, which is certainly a concern for an aged RB in Steven Jackson who has some serious mileage on his tires, but it’s worth pointing out that it is heavily-influence by their two games against the 49ers. Otherwise, it doesn’t look all that bad.
Now here’s a red flag: The defenses in the NFC East have either been improved this year (Dal and Phi) or are already pretty good (Was), so it’s a concern that Ahmad Bradshaw and the Giants also play the best three run defenses in the league, all out of their division (SF, Pit, and Bal). Between Bradshaw’s injury issues and the presence of #1 pick David Wilson, this might be a deal-breaker for me with Bradshaw.
Arizona’s schedule comes out low on the favorability list, but that’s another one that is influenced heavily by the 49ers. And it’s worth pointing out that it’s not that bad otherwise. And if your league is over in Week Sixteen, one of the SF matchups is Week Seventeen. So I would not be overly concerned about the schedule for Bean Wells and Ryan Williams.
Last year, I pointed out there that New York’s Shonn Green could get off to a slow start but could heat up later in the season based on the schedule, and that’s essentially what happened. It’s looking tough again early this year – really tough.
Once again, the 49ers have influenced a SOS ranking for Seattle, but it’s not bad otherwise for Marshawn Lynch. Considering Lynch ran for 100+ against the Niners late last year, I would not include schedule as one of the red flags with Lynch. We all know about Beast Mode, but my bigger concern would simply be that he’s not an incredibly skilled runner.
You’re taking on some risk if you draft Cincy’s BenJarvus Green-Ellis based on his division and four games against Pit/Bal, but otherwise, the Bengal schedule isn’t that bad. And as stated above, anyone can be run on if there’s a commitment to running the ball, which there may be for BJGE in Cincy. But no question those four matchups are worrisome. The second Baltimore matchup is in Week Seventeen at least, which may be a meaningless week for you.
Like the Giants, Dallas also plays the AFC North this year, which is a concern for DeMarco Murray because the defenses in his division are rock solid. Luckily, Murray can offset some potential struggles running it with his receiving ability, which is excellent.

2012 Passing SOS Analysis

Looking Good:

You could argue that no team this year improved its supporting cast for their QB more than the Jaguars, and Blaine Gabbert obviously needed a lot of a help. The cavalry is on the way with WRs Laurent Robinson and Justin Blackmon. But those guys are hardly sure things, so it does help that the Jag schedule against the pass appears very favorable. Gabbert (and maybe Chad Henne) have half of their games this year against defenses that I view as below-average against the pass.
The Texans have added 2-3 young receivers this off-season in the draft (and one was an UDFA), so Matt Schaub should have a few more viable options in the passing game. If one or more of their rookies step up and contribute, Schaub should have success throwing against an easier schedule.
Atlanta’s Matt Ryan isn’t a special player by any stretch, but he can get it done, and the team seems to be transitioning more toward the pass, even though they do want to remain physical and active with their running game. Since Ryan isn’t elite, it’s nice to see him getting some help from the schedule, which definintely appears favorable on paper this year. That’s obviously a factor that could help WRs Roddy White and Julio Jones.
If the Bear OL can somehow pull itself together and give Jay Cutler just decent protection, and if his two new WRs come through, then look out because the Bears have a whopping eight games against pass defenses that I view as below-average. Handicapping a defense against the pass is tough to do, but that schedule sure looks great on paper (other than a couple of rough spots).
It’s going to be tough for rookie QB Andrew Luck, but we know he’ll probably have to throw it a lot, and he does have a good number of matchups (5) against defenses that appear to be below-average against the pass, which helps Luck’s chances.
The Chiefs simply have a favorable schedule this year, as they rank very high against the run. It’s not as good against the pass, but it looks pretty darn solid, which helps Matt Cassel’s chances for sure because he needs help. If he can play with an edge this year a la Alex Smith in 2011, he has a chance to post noteworthy numbers. The KC offense is pretty darn loaded this year on paper.
The Jet passing game needs all the help it can get and they do get some support from the schedule with six games against teams I currently view as being vulnerable against the pass. I’m still not touching Mark Sanchez, but this could convince me to take a flyer on Santonio Holmes.
Jay Cutler's schedule looks fantastic to start the season and for most of the season

Looking Not-So-Good:

It’s hard to say definitively that the Cardinal schedule is tough against the pass, but there are six matchups that I currently view as below-average (or even very tough) against the pass, so that is a red flag for Kevin Kolb and John Skelton (as is the potential flip-flopping of these guys this coming season).
Dallas’ schedule against the pass looks pretty tough. Every defense they play is conceivably strong against the pass. That’s a concern for Tony Romo and their receivers, but the bulk of their tougher matchups come right in their division against the Eagles and Giants, and you can sometimes throw everything out the window when it comes to divisional matchups. In addition, both offenses are capable of forcing the Cowboys into pass-happy shootouts.
One player I’m really struggling with this year is Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger. I’m concerned because it’s a new offense with a lot of changes, his body could potentially start breaking down given all the hits he’s taken (upgraded OL helps), and WR Mike Wallace looks like he’ll miss most of the OTAs while looking for a new long-term contract. The other issue is the schedule, which includes five tough matchups and only two matchups that looks easy (Ind, Ten). This is a little unusual for Big Ben, whose schedule is typically very favorable.
The Bengal schedule overall doesn’t look brutal, but it does average out to being one of the toughest in the league this year, which is a red flag for QB Andy Dalton because we’ve seen sophomore QBs take a step back too often in the past. That could happen with Dalton, whose receiving corps is very young and who has a new lead back behind him. I would not, however, allow this to sway me too much on A.J. Green, who is special and will get the ball a ton no matter what.

dsanty · « **Reply #14 on:** May 20, 2012, 09:05:57 PM »

2012 NFL Team Reports

Published, 5/18/12

AFC East

Buffalo Bills

QB: The Bills obviously feel comfortable with veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB. Fitzpatrick signed a monster extension in 2012, and Buffalo didn’t add a young player to compete for snaps in the draft. But the Bills did sign veteran QB Vince Young to a one-year deal to back up Fitzpatrick. Coach Chan Gailey likes his mobile QBs, and Young will compete with Tyler Thigpen to be Fitzpatrick’s primary backup. Where this leaves wildcat QB Brad Smith is anyone’s guess. If the Bills do keep four QBs, Smith at least offers some versatility as a slot receiver.

RB: The Bills are hoping Fred Jackson is healthy in 2012, giving them one of the best one-two punches in the NFL at the position. Despite Jackson’s age and the fact that he’s coming off a broken fibula, the Bills rewarded the veteran with a two-year extension worth up to $11 million. He’s expected to be the Bills’ main ball carrier again in 2012, with C.J. Spiller used as a movable chess piece, potentially when Jackson is also on the field. Spiller proved last year he’s earned a shot at more touches, but it’ll be tough to keep Jackson off the field if he’s as effective as he was last season. Second-year man Johnny White and veteran Tashard Choice will compete for the #3 job.

WR/TE: The Bills recruited Mario Manningham and Robert Meachem in the off-season, but they’ll enter 2012 with a very similar receiving corps to what they fielded in 2011 (but hopefully healthier). The biggest news of the off-season was the team’s monster extension with top dog Steve Johnson, worth up to $36 million over five seasons. Johnson has had some perceived personality issues, but his new contract is beneficial to both him and the team (especially QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who really trusts him). What the Bills hope is that they have a legitimate deep threat in 2012, with either Donald Jones staying healthy, or rookie T.J. Graham (whom our own Greg Cosell called the most vertically explosive receiver in the 2012 Draft) asserting himself as a legitimate weapon. Either of those players stepping up would allow David Nelson to stay in his more comfortable slot position. At TE, the Bills re-signed the important Scott Chandler to a two-year deal. Chandler is little more than a backup option for fantasy, but he’s a fantastic blocker and is an essential part of the Bills’ red-zone offense and the running game.

OL: If there was one area the Bills struggled on offense last season most consistently, it was almost certainly up front, where the team had a patchwork line that had a bunch of injuries, to boot. While Buffalo lost the gifted but oft-injured Demetress Bell to Philadelphia, the club is hoping for a healthier year up front, in addition to contributions from a couple of rookies. The Bills drafted two young tackles to compete for spots – Cordy Glenn and Zebrie Sanders. While neither is currently slotted for a starting job, the de facto starting bookends – LT Chris Hairston and RT Erik Pears – are mediocre at best, and the Bills are in a position to get their best players onto the field. LG Andy Levitre and C Eric Wood are good players along the interior, although RG Kraig Urbik has been a disappointment and could be vulnerable down the road if Chad Rinehart or another rookie in Mark Asper shows well. The Bills should be able to mask their deficiencies along the front as it is a quick-drop offense, but now they also have some young depth and upside.

D/ST: The Bills are comfortable with Ryan Fitzpatrick as their QB, but they know they don’t have an elite player there. So they understand that they have to stop opposing QBs from being great to advance in the playoffs (and there’s that Tom Brady guy in the division). The Bills might have the best defensive line in football, bolstered with the biggest free-agent signing in franchise history, DE Mario Williams (six years, up to $100 million, making him the highest-paid defensive player in the history of the league). But Williams won’t have to make plays alone, as he’ll line up next to DTs Kyle Williams and Marcel Dareus, and opposite DE Mark Anderson, signed away from the Patriots this off-season. With two new starting DEs, with DE Chris Kelsay and DT Dwan Edwards in rotational roles, the Bills have one of the most gifted DLs in football, but it’s also deep. Work will be easier for the LB corps, which brought back veteran Kirk Morrison to group with elder statesman Nick Barnett and promising young MIKE Kelvin Sheppard. In the secondary, the Bills are also focusing on depth. They drafted CB Stephon Gilmore in the first round, cut veteran Drayton Florence, and re-signed third safety/dime LB Bryan Scott, who plays often in the team’s subpackages. The Bills are focusing on pass rush and depth as they switch full-time to a 4-3 under new coordinator Dave Wannstedt, and they now have one of the most intriguing defenses in the NFL because of it. On special teams, the Bills re-signed K Rian Lindell to a four-year deal, but they also drafted rookie John Potter for insurance.

Miami Dolphins

QB: The Dolphins actually got solid play under center from Matt Moore after Chad Henne’s injury last season, but owner Stephen Ross doesn’t feel Moore is enough to take his club to the next level. Not only did Miami bring in veteran David Garrard to compete for snaps, but they drafted Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill in the first round in April’s draft. Tannehill is considered much less of a sure thing than either Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, but ultimately he does have the skill set to be a high-end NFL QB, and he’s reunited with his college coach Mike Sherman, who is the Dolphins’ new offensive coordinator. The Dolphins are expected to have an open competition for the starting QB job.

RB: For fantasy purposes, the Dolphins’ RB situation is among the most interesting. Reggie Bush had a career year last season, and Daniel Thomas showed some promise as a physical rookie, but the new coaching staff led by Joe Philbin has no connection to either player. The staff, however, did add rookie Lamar Miller in April’s draft, considering him too good a value to pass up in the 4th round. How the Dolphins chose to rotate these backs is unknown at this point (they also still have Steve Slaton on the roster), and it’s probably not going to be decided until training camp, at the earliest. The result could be Bush falling a few rounds later in fantasy drafts than his numbers should indicate.

WR/TE: After trading Brandon Marshall to the Bears this off-season, the Dolphins were left with a severe dearth of weapons on the perimeter, one reason they might want to try to bring rookie QB Ryan Tannehill along slowly. Marshall’s absence leaves Brian Hartline (who is about as average as average comes) and Davone Bess (who is better suited in the slot) as the team’s top two receivers. The Dolphins signed another mediocre veteran in Legedu Naanee, but their biggest hope is that they can get positive contributions from second-year man Clyde Gates or rookies B.J. Cunningham and Rishard Matthews. At TE, the decent Anthony Fasano is still the starter, but the Dolphins have two intriguing young players in H-Back Charles Clay and rookie TE Michael Egnew, both of whom project as guys who can makes plays separated from the formation.

OL: The Dolphins have one of the NFL’s best bookends in LT Jake Long, but a switch to coach Joe Philbin’s West Coast offense might mean unrest for the remainder of the line. The offense calls for more athletic, flexible linemen, and previous coach Tony Sparano preferred big bullies up front. Long and C Maurkice Pouncey clearly are not going anywhere, but big guys in LG Richie Incognito and RG John Jerry might have to battle for their jobs (RG Vernon Carey, a bruiser, was not re-signed and is still on the market, and RT Marc Colombo retired). The early favorite for the RT job is rookie Jonathan Martin, whom the team selected in the second round in April, although he’ll have to beat out Lydon Murtha to win the job. Other options along the front include veteran Artis Hicks, who can play tackle and guard and was added in the off-season, and young interior linemen Ryan Cook and Nate Garner. But because the Dolphins are switching schemes, don’t be shocked if there is a little bit of unrest here.

D/ST: Under new defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, the Dolphins are expected to transition for a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense, although their recent financial commitment seems to indicate that they’re still counting on the same player to anchor the defense. Cameron Wake, who played OLB the last few years under Tony Sparano, is almost certain to switch to DE, but he’ll have a brand-new contract (five years and up to $49 million, with $17 million guaranteed). It also remains to be seen if Jared Odrick, whom we view as a more natural 4-3 DT, can handle DE, which the Dolphins are going to attempt to find out. Aside from the scheme switch, the Dolphins’ front seven personnel remains relatively stable. In the secondary, the addition of veteran Richard Marshall gives Miami a nice third CB to go with Vontae Davis and Sean Smith, and Marshall will have a chance to compete with Smith for the starting job opposite Davis. Miami also cut veteran S Yeremiah Bell, leaving Chris Clemons, Reshad Jones, and new acquisition Tyrell Johnson to battle for two starting spots at safety. On special teams, the return jobs seem to be open. If the coaching staff reduces Reggie Bush’s reps at RB, he could be a candidate for returns, along with Clyde Gates, Davone Bess, and rookies Lamar Miller and Rishard Matthews.

New England Patriots

QB: Status quo under center for the Patriots. Tom Brady is the starter, Brian Hoyer signed his RFA tender and will be the backup, and second-year man Ryan Mallett remains a projectable talent as the #3 guy here. Hoyer might receive some interest as a potential starter in the near future, but it appears that he’ll have to play at least one more year as Brady’s caddy.

RB: The Patriots looked like they might have things cleared up a little bit in the backfield when BenJarvus Green-Ellis left for Cincinnati, but those hopes might have washed away when the club signed veteran Joseph Addai, who probably won’t be in the market for more than a handful of touches per game but does enough as a blocker and receiver to earn key snaps in passing situations. That leaves Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, and Danny Woodhead to compete for the remaining touches. Ridley is presumed to be the most likely “bell cow” of this group, but Vereen is an unknown with real upside and Woodhead is versatile. Also note that new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels wanted to bring in some FBs, which the Patriots didn’t even carry on the roster last year. Spencer Larsen and Tony Fiammetta each have a chance to make the team. The Patriots figure to have a frustrating backfield yet again in 2012, but Ridley can make it less frustrating by working on his ball security, which might have been BJGE’s best asset.

WR/TE: The Patriots revolutionized the TE position in 2011, but the one thing they did lack was a deep threat and a player who could win on the outside against man coverage. That’s no longer a problem with the addition of the mega-talented Brandon Lloyd, who rejoins offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels yet again. Lloyd and Wes Welker (who signed his franchise tender but wants an extension) will start at WR, with a bunch of veterans competing for the rest of the snaps. Deion Branch, Matthew Slater, and Chad Ochocinco are back, but there’s a chance one or two of them won’t make the team given the additions of Jabar Gaffney, Anthony Gonzalez, and Donte’ Stallworth. That’s not to mention Julian Edelman and rookie Jeremy Ebert, both of whom project as “Welker handcuffs.” At TE, the Patriots will still utilize the human mismatches of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, but they also have a very gifted #3 TE in Daniel Fells in case of injury. All in all, this is one of the deepest and most versatile receiving units in the entire league.

OL: Although LT Matt Light retired this off-season, the line still projects as a strength for this Patriot team. Light’s retirement allows Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer to handle the tackle jobs, but there’s also some depth and competition along the interior. C Dan Koppen is a favorite of Tom Brady, but he’ll have to beat out Dan Connolly for the starting job. Connolly can play a bit of a swingman, as can new acquisition Robert Gallery, who will back up Logan Mankins and Brian Waters at the guard spots but can also play tackle in a pinch. The Patriots have also been encouraged by the development of second-year man Marcus Cannon, who could take over at RT if Vollmer doesn’t progress as the team hopes.

D/ST: The Patriots might have lost the Super Bowl last year in large part because they couldn’t get to the QB, and their moves this off-season suggest they want to defend the pass much better in 2012. They drafted Syracuse stud DE Chandler Jones in the first round and added veteran Jonathan Fanene from the Bengals to help bolster the pass rush, and both players offer scheme versatility, which the Pats value (they also drafted DE Jake Bequette in the third round). The addition of LB Dont’a Hightower with the team’s second first-round pick was curious, considering we thought he was overrated coming out of Alabama, but he adds competition to a gifted but underachieving LB corps (with Jerod Mayo, Brandon Spikes, and Rob Ninkovich). In the secondary, the Patriots are hoping second-year CB Ras-I Dowling is healthier in 2012, as he can be a huge boost to a struggling pass defense. New acquisitions CB Will Allen and S Steve Gregory will compete for snaps and provide depth, but neither projects to be a game-changer.

New York Jets

QB: You might have heard, but the Jets added a QB this off-season. Yes, Tim Tebow. While the Jets insist that Mark Sanchez is their starter, and we have no reason to disbelieve them yet, there’s obviously much more of a circus surrounding Tebow than there would be for a normal backup QB (the original player they brought in to handle the role, Drew Stanton, was dealt to the Colts in the wake of the Tebow acquisition). In a perfect world, Sanchez will play well, and Tebow can be used as a “Wildcat QB.” Remember that their new offensive coordinator is Tony Sparano, who developed the Wildcat in Miami. Tebow could also contribute in third- and fourth-down situations and in going for two. But if Sanchez struggles (this off-season, QB coach Matt Cavanagh has lamented his poor decision making), how long will it take for Tebow to become the starting QB outright? The speculation has already started.

RB: Whether Mark Sanchez or Tim Tebow is the starting QB in New York, a strong run game is almost certainly a requirement if the Jets are to be successful. But do they have the personnel for it? With LaDainian Tomlinson gone and potentially retiring, the Jets only added 6th-round rookie Terrance Ganaway to a backfield that includes the mediocre Shonn Greene and the talented but unproven Joe McKnight (who gained 15 pounds this off-season, but McKnight admitted it was “McDonald’s” weight) and Bilal Powell. Greene is decent, but he probably isn’t good enough to be a lead back on a team with a presumed QB controversy that might well struggle to throw the football. The Jets’ best hope is Ganaway emerges as a rookie, Greene somehow becomes a better player than we’ve seen in his three NFL seasons, or McKnight drops the Big Macs and adequately replaces Tomlinson’s production.

WR/TE: With Plaxico Burress gone, the Jets needed to make a play for a starting receiver opposite the underachieving Santonio Holmes. As of now, that guy looks to be gifted but oft-injured veteran Chaz Schilens, unless rookie Stephen Hill steps up and makes an immediate impact as a rookie. Hill is big and fast, and could provide a downfield element to this offense that was severely lacking without Braylon Edwards last year. He signed his contract quickly and was eager to get to work, a good sign because he ran a very limited route tree in college at Georgia Tech, and he’s not nearly as versatile a prospect as Demaryius Thomas was coming out of the school. The hope is Schilens or Hill augments the perimeter offense so Jeremy Kerley can handle the slot work, while Dustin Keller hopefully can maintain some consistency as the movable TE in this offense.

OL: The Jets entered 2011 with one of the most lauded offensive lines in football, but a mediocre season now leaves the front five with about as many questions as every other unit on this offense. Not only are the Jets apparently still counting on RT Wayne Hunter to protect what could be the blind side if QB Tim Tebow takes over, but they added only one rookie in April’s draft – 6th-round pick OG Robert Griffin. The Jets would love Vladimir Ducasse to win a job, but he’s now struggled at both RT and LG, which means the Jets could well enter 2012 with the same starting five as in their underachieving 2011: LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson, LG Matt Slauson (recovering from shoulder surgery), C Nick Mangold. RG Brandon Moore (Pro Bowl alternate), and Hunter. If the lines stays healthy, it could still be a strength, but it’s not a dominant unit anymore.

D/ST: The Jets’ biggest weakness on defense last year was the pass rush, so it’s curious that their biggest off-season investment came along the defensive line, where 1st-round pick Quinton Coples projects more as a versatile five-technique DE as opposed to a natural pass-rusher (he’s been impressing in minicamps, for what it’s worth). The Jets now have a lot of money and time invested into their 3-4 DEs in Coples and Muhammad Wilkerson, but neither is what we’d call a true “rush end.” The best rusher here might well be OLB Aaron Maybin, picked up off the scrap heap last year and re-signed to an RFA tender this off-season. But Maybin isn’t an every-down player, and Calvin Pace and Bryan Thomas are getting old. The secondary is still strong, and if new safeties LaRon Landry and Yeremiah Bell are healthy, it could be among the best defensive backfields in the entire league, but the lack of pass rush still appears concerning (Landry, for what it’s worth, is a great blitzer). On special teams, veteran K Josh Brown was brought in to compete with the oft-criticized Nick Folk, who seems like he’s been hanging onto his job for dear life since he arrived in New York.

dsanty · « **Reply #15 on:** May 20, 2012, 09:06:41 PM »

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

QB: This is a critical year for QB Joe Flacco, who will apparently enter training camp without a new contract extension, heading into the final year of his rookie contract. Flacco does have some momentum, playing perhaps the best game of his career in the Ravens’ AFC title game loss to New England, but he absolutely must be more consistent for this franchise to trust him long term. It seems both Flacco and the Ravens are backed into a corner. Flacco wants big money, which is understandable, and the Ravens appear hesitant to give it to him, which might be even more understandable. For 2012, this is clearly Flacco’s team, as the Ravens have only Tyrod Taylor and new acquisition Curtis Painter behind him, but if Flacco is as inconsistent in 2012 as he has been in the past, they might be willing to let him hit the market. We’ll be watching closely.

RB: As of now, star RB Ray Rice has signed neither a long-term extension with the Ravens, nor his franchise tender, but there doesn’t appear to be any significant concern that Rice would be willing to hold out into the regular season (the new deals for Arian Foster and LeSean McCoy should provide a framework for a Rice extension). If we get to training camp without Rice’s signature on a contract or tender, we’ll start to worry, but that time is a ways off, and he’s saying all the right things to the media. What might cause the Ravens a little more distress than usual in this situation, however, is that veteran RB Ricky Williams retired, and Rice’s primary backup looks to be rookie 3rd-round pick Bernard Pierce. Pierce is a physical back, but he doesn’t project as a true three-down player at the next level. Rice has the Ravens handcuffed here, plus his interviews haven’t been contemptuous, and that’s why it appears a deal will get done sooner rather than later.

WR/TE: The Ravens’ receiving corps was helped in a huge way last year when rookie WR Torrey Smith contributed more than anticipated, which gives the club some real downfield speed for QB Joe Flacco. But they also don’t believe they have enough of it, given the signing of former Texan Jacoby Jones to a two-year deal, and the drafting of Miami WR Tommy Streeter (whom some have compared to new Jet rookie Stephen Hill) in the sixth round. The downfield options should help take some pressure off of veteran Anquan Boldin, and the Ravens are hoping for some contributions from second-year possession guy Tandon Doss, as well. The Ravens have been very disappointed with both TEs Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta, neither of whom has stepped up and truly established himself as a true starter. Both are useful players, but their mental mistakes have kept them from being truly high-end players.

OL: The Ravens count on their zone-blocking line to stabilize their offense, in large part because QB Joe Flacco has been inconsistent under pressure in his NFL career. It might be an issue, then, that the interior of their line looks stronger and deeper than the tackle positions. C Matt Birk has been good seemingly forever, RG Marshal Yanda is one of the top players at his position in the NFL (the Ravens just had to restructure his big-money deal to clear cap space), and Baltimore added two quality prospects in 2nd-round pick Kelechi Osemele and 4th-rounder Gino Gradkowski. Osemele has a chance to unseat Jah Reid for the LG job vacated by Ben Grubbs, and Gradkowski could be the heir apparent to Birk at C. We do worry about the tackle spots, where LT Bryant McKinnie isn’t very good and RT Michael Oher hasn’t lived up to his promise. This could be a good unit if McKinnie can hang on for one more year and Oher can stabilize, but it could be decidedly mediocre if neither happens.

D/ST: The Ravens have suffered one of the off-season’s biggest losses in DE Terrell Suggs, who tore his Achilles working out in April. Suggs vows he’ll be back at some point in 2012, but he obviously can’t be counted on, and that’s why it’s such a blessing that DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw fell to them in the second round in the NFL Draft. Upshaw can do many of the same things as Suggs, and while he can’t be expected to dominate like Suggs, his versatility (along with that of Pernell McPhee and Paul Kruger) can help soften the loss, along with that of SAM Jarret Johnson, a really underrated player who departed in free agency. If the Ravens can muster a rush without Suggs, they’ll still be really dangerous defensively. Top CB Lardarius Webb signed a monster $50 million extension, CB Cary Williams signed his RFA tender and is working on an extension, and second-year man Jimmy Smith showed some things as a rookie last year and could win a starting job opposite Webb. The Ravens also signed SS Bernard Pollard to a three-year extension, a quality move given the departure of Tom Zbikowski in free agency. While the loss of Suggs is huge, the Ravens could still have an elite defense if their young rushers can step up, NT Terrence Cody can continue his strong play, and LB Ray Lewis can at least provide two quality downs of play (he struggled immensely in coverage last year). There is also the strange case of FS Ed Reed, who looks ready to go physically for 2012, but recently conceded to SiriusXM NFL Radio that he’s “not 100% committed” to playing this season (Reed does have a flair for the dramatic, however).On special teams, undrafted rookie PK Justin Tucker will be given an outside chance to beat out playoff goat Billy Cundiff, and new acquisition Jacoby Jones and rookie CB Asa Jackson could be in the mix for return jobs.

Cincinnati Bengals

QB: The Bengals have staked their future on QB Andy Dalton, and although Dalton’s struggles late in 2011 might be concerning, overall there were more positives to take from his rookie season than negatives. And Dalton has now bulked up this off-season, adding close to 10 pounds and working on his footwork. Dalton told the Bengals’ official website that he’s looking to improve his deep balls, and he’s confident his legs are the place to start. Dalton also noted he sometimes rushed his dropbacks, and he’s looking to improve his timing and confidence with a full off-season’s worth of reps. Dalton does have limitations, but it at least appears he’s doing everything right so far.

RB: With Cedric Benson gone, the Bengals needed to replace their bell cow back, and they hope they did that with former Patriot BenJarvus Green-Ellis, whom the club signed to a three-year, $9 million deal in the off-season. Green-Ellis isn’t as gifted as Benson, but he has been better in short yardage throughout his career, and more important, he’s never fumbled. But given Green-Ellis’ relatively “boring” skill set, it’s surprising the Bengals didn’t upgrade more behind him. Bernard Scott is still in town, but he’s been just a guy in his career, and the Bengals didn’t draft a back until the sixth round, when they selected Dan Herron out of Ohio State. Herron might have a chance to claim the #2 job here, but the top job is Green-Ellis’ to lose. Coordinator Jay Gruden likes running the football, but he also understands he needs to protect QB Andy Dalton by eliminating turnovers. Green-Ellis will be a key cog in that department.

WR/TE: Although the Bengals don’t have a clear #2 WR behind A.J. Green, they have built some very interesting depth at the WR position, and it’s a good group to pair with the anticipatory QB play of Andy Dalton. Obviously, Green is a stud, but can rookies Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones make an impact with Jerome Simpson gone? We think Sanu is intriguing. We figured he projected more as a slot-type of WR, but he could very well be a strong possession-oriented #2 alongside a superstar like Green. In fact, the Bengals realize a pairing like this has worked in the past: team officials have likened Sanu to a more athletic T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who moved the chains consistently while Chad Ochocinco did the more dynamic work. Sanu looks to have the inside track to start, while Jones could be an interesting prospect in the red zone because of his huge catch radius, a great asset for Dalton because he can put the ball where he wants it. The Bengals also have two nice slot receivers in Jordan Shipley and Andrew Hawkins. Shipley might be the favorite for the #3 job, but although he’s cleared for football activities after tearing his ACL early last season, his extensive injury history might open the door for Hawkins. At the TE position, the Bengals are hoping Jermaine Gresham has more success mentally in his second season in Gruden’s offense. Gresham is extremely gifted, but he’s hurt his own consistency with mental errors. The Bengals added an intriguing prospect in the 4th round of April’s draft in TE Orson Charles, a raw player who could give Cincy some formation options if he can hone his craft quickly. For what it’s worth, he’s been impressing in minicamps.

OL: The Bengals had a solid line in 2011, but the club thought it could improve on the interior. Veteran guards Bobbie Williams and Nate Livings are gone, and they’re replaced with another veteran in LG Travelle Wharton (signed away from Carolina), and an extremely gifted rookie in RG Kevin Zeitler (a first-round pick). The Bengals are hoping that their new guards fit their power scheme well alongside C Kyle Cook, and that LT Andrew Whitworth (who said this month that he had issues with tendinitis in his left leg) improves in the run game. RT Andre Smith showed up to minicamps in shape, believe it or not, and the Bengals are looking strong up front if their core five can gain chemistry and stay healthy. They also have some quality depth with Otis Hudson, Clint Boling, and Dennis Roland (they had also signed veteran Jacob Bell, but Bell opted to retire). This is a good group.

D/ST: The Bengals had a strong defense last year, but they didn’t want to stand pat. They focused a great deal of their attention on defense in free agency and the draft. The biggest changes for Cincinnati come in the secondary. They were left shorthanded last year when CB Leon Hall went down with an Achilles injury in November. That won’t be the case in 2012, as, not only did the Bengals sing veterans Terence Newman and Jason Allen, but they used one of their two 1st-round picks on Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick, who will compete with Nate Clements for a starting job alongside Hall, presuming Hall is healthy for Week One (he is progressing well, according to reports). Up front, the Bengals also have changes. They lost DEs Jonathan Fanene and Frostee Rucker in free agency, and they’re hoping to get enough rush from the oft-injured Carlos Dunlap, Robert Geathers, and Michael Johnson, along with reclamation projects Jamaal Anderson and Derrick Harvey. Where the Bengals are at their strongest defensively is in the interior of the defensive line. Geno Atkins and Domata Peko are a rock-solid starting pair, and they beefed up the DT position with rookies Devon Still and Brandon Thompson. On special teams, the Bengals have a wide range of options to return kicks, including Brandon Tate, Pacman Jones, Jordan Shipley, and rookie Marvin Jones.

Cleveland Browns

QB: Despite an effort to acquire the #2 pick in April’s draft, the Browns fell short of the Redskins’ offer, and they lost out on the Robert Griffin III sweepstakes. But coach Pat Shurmur was apparently adamant on not going into 2012 with Colt McCoy as his starting QB, so the Browns spent their second of two 1st-round picks on Oklahoma State QB Brandon Weeden. Because of his age (Weeden is older than Aaron Rodgers), Weeden is one of the most intriguing QB prospects in years. In general, he could have been the most pure pocket passer in the draft, and he should enter Week One as the Browns’ starter barring a disastrous training camp (the coaches have said there’s an open competition that is not yet settled, but we’re not buying it). There have also been trade rumors swirling around McCoy, and if he’s moved, Seneca Wallace would once again be the Browns’ backup QB. According to the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, Shurmur said Weeden is “headed in the right direction” in terms of becoming the starter, and that’s good news so early into his NFL career.

RB: Although the Browns didn’t land Robert Griffin III, they might have landed a player who is even stronger at his position, RB Trent Richardson. And if QB Brandon Weeden plays well, our guess is Browns’ fans will be completely satisfied with their draft. Richardson is an absolute bull at 228 pounds, capable of stepping into the Browns’ starting lineup as an every-down back right away. With Peyton Hillis gone and a host of mediocrity (Montario Hardesty, Brandon Jackson, Chris Ogbonnaya) left in his wake, the Browns desperately needed someone to jumpstart their running game. Richardson can do that. He was drafted to anchor this offense, and that’s what we’re expecting. This job is his. As if it’s been any surprise, he’s blown away beat writers at minicamps, and he could be in line for a huge rookie season.

WR/TE: One area the Browns probably could have afforded to improve was at the WR position, considering their investment in rookie QB Brandon Weeden. Unfortunately, the Browns didn’t see an option worth pursuing on the free agent market, and didn’t find adequate value in the draft, as the only player of note added was fourth-round rookie speedster Travis Benjamin. That means the Browns are crossing their fingers that Mohamed Massaquoi establishes himself as a reliable option, and Greg Little builds on a promising but inconsistent rookie campaign. Third-year player Carlton Mitchell could be in danger of being cut if he doesn’t show something in training camp. There has been some talk about Plaxico Burress (out of his own mouth on a SiriusXM interview, at least), but it doesn’t appear the Browns will add anyone of consequence here. At TE, the Browns have solid veteran Ben Watson, who is recovering from concussion issues, and youngster Evan Moore. We like Moore quite a bit, but his production hasn’t exactly matched his talent so far. Perhaps Weeden can help him find the stat sheet more consistently.

OL: The Browns don’t have a bad offensive line, but there are some questions up front that training camp could settle. The Browns cut G Eric Steinbach and T Tony Pashos, opting instead to go young at a couple of positions. The most notable addition was RT Mitchell Schwartz, drafted in the second round of April’s draft. Schwartz is a grinding type of player, and he should be an ideal blocker in front of RB Trent Richardson. He also prevents the Browns from going with a Band-Aid veteran RT, as they have the last few years. RG Shawn Lauvao and C Alex Mack are back, as is LT Joe Thomas. Thomas’ job might be even more important this year – while we like QB Brandon Weeden, we noticed he had some problems in college when faced with pressure. Thomas is one of the top bookends in football, and keeping Weeden clean and healthy as a rookie is really important. The biggest competition will likely come at the LG spot, where second-year man Jason Pinkston appears the early favorite, but he’ll have competition from veteran John Greco and rookie Ryan Miller (both of whom could also unseat Lauvao). The Browns also brought back veteran Oniel Cousins to back up the tackles spots. We wouldn’t necessarily call this unit a weakness, but the Browns do have to hope they get better play from their guard spots (Richardson, however, will help to make them look pretty damn good).

D/ST: Kind of like their offensive line, the Browns’ defense has a truly elite player (CB Joe Haden), some good ones (LB D’Qwell Jackson, DT Ahtyba Rubin, DE Jabaal Sheard), and some question marks. The Browns understand their pass rush was a weakness last year, something they tried to fix with the additions of DEs Frostee Rucker and Juqua Parker on free-agent deals. The problem for the Browns is that they already have some positions they need to fill. Starting DT Phil Taylor tore his pectoral muscle this month, and he could be a candidate to start the year on the PUP list (meaning rookie John Hughes might have to play more snaps than anticipated). LB Scott Fujita will miss the first three games of the year for his involvement in the Saints’ bounty scandal, and we know that SS T.J. Ward has dealt with his fair share of injuries in his two-year career thus far. The Browns have to hope their pass rush is better than last year’s, and that they find a suitable CB opposite Haden (Sheldon Brown is probably better suited to play safety at this point, a reason the Browns re-signed Dmitri Patterson to a multi-year deal this off-season). Fortunately, the Browns shouldn’t have many questions in the kicking game. PK Phil Dawson signed his franchise tender, and Josh Cribbs hopefully will be able to focus on return duties if the Browns have a young receiver step up.

Pittsburgh Steelers

QB: Obviously, the Steelers’ fate hangs more on QB Ben Roethlisberger than it ever has, with the team’s noted defense getting older every year. Ben has had his own injury problems, most notably a high ankle sprain last season, so the Steelers have to have backup QBs they trust. This off-season, they re-signed both Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch to back up Ben, continuing their trend of having multiple QBs with starting experience. With new offensive coordinator Todd Haley, the Steelers might actually look to be more balanced than under Bruce Arians (imagine that), and that could take some pressure off Roethlisberger, who might be one serious injury away from his effectiveness and improvisational abilities from taking a huge hit.

RB: The biggest change for the Steelers in 2012, perhaps even more so than the questionable availability of RB Rashard Mendenhall (ACL), will be the addition of offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who replaces Bruce Arians. Haley, like Arians, is known for a pass-heavy offense, but remember that Haley also had the NFL’s #1 run attack with the Chiefs in 2010, when he juggled Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones. He has always adjusted to his personnel well, so while we think he’ll be enamored with the gifts of Ben Roethlisberger and his WRs, if backup RB Isaac Redman is pressed into action, Haley will know the best way to get him his carries, for sure. Coach Mike Tomlin told reporters that Mendenhall might start the year on the PUP list, even though he expects his star to play at some point in 2012. The Steelers have spent the off-season complimenting Redman, but they also added an interesting weapon in scatback Chris Rainey in the NFL Draft, a player whom Haley could find a way to work into the offense in interesting ways.

WR/TE: On the surface, it doesn’t look like there should be much upheaval for the Steelers at the WR position. Veteran Hines Ward retired, but that’s the only roster move of note… so far. As of now, RFA Mike Wallace has not signed his tender as he looks for a new deal. While the trade rumors regarding Wallace have always seemed far-fetched, he doesn’t appear to be anywhere close to actually signing something unless it’s a long term deal. If Wallace’s stalemate extends into training camp, there will be a lot expected of third-year men Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders, and coach Mike Tomlin has openly admitted he has concerns about Sanders’ ability to stay healthy. As such, it makes sense that the Steelers re-signed veteran possession option Jerricho Cotchery. At the TE position, the Steelers aren’t flashy, but they’re deep. Heath Miller is the starter, second-year man Weslye Saunders is an interesting prospect, and new acquisition Leonard Pope provides some very good depth.

OL: The Steelers have made a habit over the past decade of not changing much from off-season to off-season, but this year is an exception in one area – the offensive line. There is a legitimate chance that only C Maurkice Pouncey is starting in the same position in 2012 as 2011. First and foremost, the Steelers made a concerted effort to add youth and upside to this line, drafting RG David DeCastro in the 1st round in April to replace the departed Chris Kemoeatu, and OT Mike Adams in the 2nd DeCastro is a grinder who plays the “Steeler way,” tough and mean in the run game. Adams is a perceived first-round talent with off-field issues, but if the Steelers can get him to pull it all together, he could be considered a legitimate steal. With oft-injured RT Willie Colon moving to LG, Adams could well start at either LT or RT, with Marcus Gilbert or Jonathan Scott at the other spot. Adams signed his contract early and was working exclusively at LT in minicamps, which could tip the Steelers’ hand. If we had to take a guess, Adams will start at LT, with Colon, Pouncey, DeCastro, and Gilbert at the remaining spots from right to left. Scott, Trai Essex, Doug Legursky, and Ramon Foster will provide the main depth.

D/ST: As with most years, the Steelers didn’t make a whole lot of changes defensively, and they’ll continue to rely on veterans for another year. The most notable departures in the front seven are LB James Farrior and DE Aaron Smith, both of whom were near the end of the line, if not there already. Larry Foote and Lawrence Timmons will provide the tackles at the ILB spots, although Timmons would be a candidate to move outside if James Harrison is either injured or ineffective (with rookie Sean Spence having perhaps the first dibs on his WILB job). The Steelers are also bracing for the future along the defensive front. If DE Brett Keisel’s effectiveness falls more, Cameron Hayward can take snaps, and rookie Alameda Ta’amu is next in line for the NT job behind the ancient Casey Hampton. As was the case last year, however, the Steelers’ front seven is probably not a worry compared to the secondary. Top CB Ike Taylor is still around, but he got burned in the playoffs last year, and the Steelers have a bunch of question marks – Keenan Lewis (the favorite for the LCB job), Cortez Allen, Walter McFadden – behind him, with both William Gay and Bryant McFadden gone. Safeties Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark are a good pair, but Polamalu is too often injured, and his effectiveness has taken a huge hit in recent years. On special team, if the Steelers want to reduce Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders’ roles in the return game, they could look to rookie RB Chris Rainey or rookie WR Marquis Maze to step up in training camp.

dsanty · « **Reply #16 on:** May 20, 2012, 09:07:19 PM »

AFC South

Houston Texans

QB: The Texans might have been a Matt Schaub injury away from being the favorites to win the AFC last year, so despite young QB T.J. Yates’ best efforts, there feels like some degree of unfinished business here. The Texans say that Schaub is close to 100% as he recovers from Lisfranc surgery, but coach Gary Kubiak told the Houston Chronicle that the club is taking it slow with Schaub by holding him out of minicamps, opting instead to have him ready for training camp. It appears as if Yates did enough to hold down the backup job for the near future (which isn’t surprising), and veteran John Beck was brought in to be the #3 QB, unless undrafted rookie Case Keenum (the NCAA’s all-time leading passer) impresses enough in the reps he’ll get.

RB: The biggest news for the Texans this off-season was the re-signing of superstar RB Arian Foster to a monster deal – five years and up to $43.5 million, with about $21 million guaranteed. Foster had hamstring problems early in the season, but he rebounded to have yet another monster season in the Texans’ zone running scheme, and that should be the expectation moving forward. Ben Tate will be back as the backup RB, but it’ll be interesting to see if the Texans add a veteran to be the #3 RB. Right now, second-year back Javarris Williams projects to that role for a lack of a better option, but there’s a chance veteran Derrick Ward signs a deal to return to that role, as well. The Texans consider Ward a good “mentor” for the position, but he isn’t effective on the field anymore, and they might want someone with a better shot of actually contributing given the extensive injury histories of both Foster and Tate.

WR/TE: The Texans understand that Andre Johnson might be a top-two WR in the game, but he’s disappointingly fragile, and a lack of depth at the WR position really hurt them last year. While Kevin Walter will be back presumably as the #2 guy here, Jacoby Jones was cut and signed with the Ravens. The Texans drafted two very intriguing prospects in DeVier Posey and Keshawn Martin, and big body Lestar Jean was impressive in training camp last year before getting hurt. The Texans are hoping their youngsters step up, and that TE Owen Daniels (who won’t be held back for fantasy by the departed Joel Dreessen anymore) is more consistent. The wild card here is TE/FB/H-Back James Casey, whom the Texans will use “everywhere,” coach Gary Kubiak told the team’s official website. The departure of Dreessen and the Texans’ need for impact players on the perimeter could mean interesting things for Casey, who is entering his fourth year in the NFL.

OL: The Texans were in a pretty dire cap situation this off-season, and outside of the loss of DE Mario Williams, no place felt the sting as much as the offensive line. The Texans had one of the better lines in football last season, but money talks, and the club had to let go the right side of its offensive line as a result. RT Eric Winston was cut and signed with the Chiefs (the Texans gave a failed physical as the reason, but money was the motivator), and RG Mike Brisiel signed a big deal with the Raiders. The Texans will plug in veteran Rashad Butler at RT (he is still recovering from surgery on his elbow and triceps), and fourth-year man Antoine Caldwell is expected to be recovered from a high ankle sprain to play RG, although he might see some competition from rookie Brandon Brooks, a huge kid who can really move for his size (343 pounds). Fortunately, QB Matt Schaub’s blindside will be well protected, as LT Duane Brown has become a very good player, and LG Wade Smith is also a pretty steady asset. C Chris Myers will be snapping the ball once again, although he’s getting up there in age, and we also like rookie C Ben Jones out of Georgia. While the Texans had to make some moves along the front they

D/ST: Coordinator Wade Phillips put his stamp on the Texans’ defense last year, gaining an aggressive rush from multiple players, but he’ll have to be a little bit more creative in 2012 with the loss of DE/OLB Mario Williams. But it’s also easy to forget that Williams missed a good deal of last season with a torn pectoral muscle. So the Texans will look to get their high-end rush from Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed yet again, while working in versatile and gifted rookie Whitney Mercilus as well. The Texans also made a significant change at the LB position, trading away team leader DeMeco Ryans to Philadelphia, and installing youngster Darryl Sharpton as the new starter at ILB. But it’s a move that makes sense. The Texans cleared some money, and Ryans was not a three-down player anymore, as the Texans’ nickel snaps went instead to Brian Cushing, who is now the unquestioned leader of this defense. Although there are still questions at CB opposite star Johnathan Joseph, it’s evident the Texans felt comfortable with their great defense from last year, spending only two draft picks on that side of the ball (Mercilus and DE Jared Crick). The hope is that third-year CB Kareem Jackson takes the next step, especially since veteran Jason Allen left for Cincinnati. On special teams, the Texans brought in veteran PK Shayne Graham and rookie Randy Bullockto compete for the job left by the departed Neil Rackers, and they’ll also have to replace PR Jacoby Jones, where rookie WR Keshawn Martin could be in the mix.

Indianapolis Colts

QB: An off-season review for the Colts would have looked really boring for the last 13 years prior to this one, but this year is quite different, isn’t it? The Colts released the legendary Peyton Manning, freeing him to sign with the Broncos after missing the entire 2011 season with a neck injury, and they drafted Andrew Luck out of Stanford to hopefully lock down the QB job for 13 seasons, like Manning did. Luck has yet to actually take the field with the Colts, as he’s still taking classes at Stanford, but the reason the Colts went with Luck at #1 overall is because they view him as a cerebral “general” of the offense, much like Manning was. In addition to his Stanford classes, Luck is studying the playbook and material coaches gave him, according to the Indianapolis Star. Our guess: Luck will be just fine when he finally graduates and takes the field in the huge shoes he’s being asked to fill. The Colts also acquired a new backup QB in Drew Stanton, an opportunity that befell them when the Jets acquired Tim Tebow, resulting in Stanton asking for a trade where he could be the clear #2 QB. He’ll be that in Indy.

RB: The Colts’ longtime starter at RB, Joseph Addai, was deemed expendable this off-season, and he was cut and later signed with the Patriots. That means the Colts are likely to head into 2012 with Donald Brown, Delone Carter (who is recovering from thumb surgery), and rookie Vick Ballard at RB. Brown is coming off his best NFL season, but he was little better than mediocre, and coach Chuck Pagano has said he wants to switch to a more physical running style, which might suit the games of Carter and Ballard better. Carter and Ballard will get their chance to show their stuff in training camp (Carter’s thumb is supposed to be fully healed by that point). We wouldn’t be surprised if the Colts employ a rotational approach in the backfield, with the staff rolling with whichever back looks the best in camp. This job looks like Brown’s to lose, but he could do just that if he remains inconsistent.

WR/TE: Although the Colts allowed Pierre Garcon to depart for the Redskins and their big bucks, they did make a move that surprised people, re-signing veteran WR Reggie Wayne to a three-year deal worth up to $18 million (many had just assumed Wayne would follow Peyton Manning wherever he went). So Wayne and Austin Collie (who is one more year removed from concussion issues and plans to work out with QB Andrew Luck soon) project to be the top two WRs here, with rookie T.Y. Hilton providing some fantastic speed in a rotational role. But what’s most interesting is the Colts’ TE approach. They drafted Luck’s favorite college target, Coby Fleener, in the 2nd round, and then followed that pick up by selecting Clemson’s Dwayne Allen in the 3rd. Fleener is more of a movable chess piece, and Allen the more in-line TE. But expect both to start, as Luck was comfortable in a two-TE offense in college, and the Colts are tipping their hand with their idea for their offense in the NFL.

OL: The offensive line with Peyton Manning at QB might never have been a strong suit for the Colts – Manning’s dominance and brilliance just helped disguise that fact. While it’s a nice luxury to have a QB who can mask offensive line woes, it’s probably not the most prudent strategy to employ, especially now with rookie Andrew Luck under center. So while the Colts may not be exactly good up front in 2012, they have made a concerted effort to beef up the line. Second-year man Anthony Castonzo will start at LT, and he’ll join new acquisition Winston Justice, who appears the favorite to start at RT. Justice is a solid player who can play multiple positions, but he didn’t fit the Eagles’ scheme under coach Howard Mudd (coincidentally, the Colts’ former OL coach). The Colts also signed veteran Samson Satele to replace Jeff Saturday at C, signifying a philosophy change up front – the Colts want to be big and mean. They hope that second-year RG Ben Ijalana can hold down a job, but that’s not a guarantee as he recovers from an ACL tear. Ijalana, Joe Reitz, and new acquisition Mike McGlynn will battle for the two guard spots.

D/ST: The Colts have a lot of question marks defensively, but what we do know is that new head coach Chuck Pagano is going to get the most out of the personnel he has. And it will start at OLB, as the Colts are switching to a 3-4 defense that will probably include some 4-3 fronts, as well. In the base 3-4, the edge rushers are expected to be Robert Mathis (who signed a monster contract worth up to $31 million over four year this off-season) and Dwight Freeney (presuming he doesn’t get traded, which Freeney adamantly denies requesting). The Colts have been pleased with Freeney’s enthusiasm about the switch thus far, and they view Mathis as the “SAM OLB,” much like Jarret Johnson in Baltimore with a greater pass-rushing threat, according to the Indianapolis Star. A quality pass rush and front three (where Cory Redding was signed to fill a starting spot, and Fili Moala and Drake Nevis will compete for the other five-tech spot) can help take some heat off the secondary, where the Colts might struggle to find consistency. Top RCB Jerraud Powers is solid, but he’s coming off an elbow injury and Kevin Thomas is just a guy. There’s no real depth at CB, so the Colts hope their pass rush is strong, and new leaders whom Pagano is familiar with (Redding, S Tom Zbikowski, NT Brandon McKinney) help ease the transition to a new D. For fantasy purposes, the Colts could be sneaky if their pass rush works out, as both rookie WRs T.Y. Hilton and LaVon Brazill could make big-time impacts as return men.

Jacksonville Jaguars

QB: If it wasn’t evident already, the new Jags’ coaching staff is a little bit worried with QB Blaine Gabbert, who was unimpressive as a rookie in 2011 and is leaving us significant doubts about his future in the NFL (although reports surfaced that Gabbert did play through a broken toe as a rookie). The Jags brought in an intriguing backup in the gifted but inconsistent Chad Henne, and their play for Tim Tebow came down to the last minute, when Tebow was eventually dealt to the Jets. If the Jags truly believed in Gabbert, the Tebow overtures never would have been made (ticket sales notwithstanding), so it’s clear where new coach Mike Mularkey stands (despite his comments to the media). In fact, Sports Illustrated recently reported that there are people within the Jags organization who expect Henne to win the job from Gabbert at some point, even though Mularkey said last week that Gabbert will enter camp as the team’s top QB. This will be a really intriguing situation to watch.

RB: A stalemate is the biggest story in the Jaguars’ backfield . RB Maurice Jones-Drew is currently holding out for a new contract, and there’s no end in sight, with reports from the Florida Times Union suggesting that neither side has engaged in contract talks. Ultimately, we feel the situation has to get resolved, as MJD was the Jags’ entire offense last year, but there’s no doubt that the recent monster deals for Arian Foster and LeSean McCoy are going to provide a framework (and given what MJD means to the Jags, he might want more). What’s surprising is that the Jags didn’t shore up the backfield behind MJD, insurance if the situation gets uglier. Rashad Jennings didn’t play last year after a knee injury, but he didn’t need surgery and he’s fully healed. He should be the primary backup, with youngsters Montell Owens and DuJuan Harris competing for the #3 job vacated by the cut Deji Karim.

WR/TE: The 2011 Jaguars might have had the worst receiving corps we’ve ever seen, and while QB Blaine Gabbert didn’t help matters, the receivers didn’t help him either. So the Jags went out this off-season with a clear intent to improve. Not only did they signed Laurent Robinson to a deal worth up to $32 million over five years, but they traded up to the #4 spot in April’s draft to select Oklahoma State star Justin Blackmon, maybe the best pure possession receiver in the class. With two new starters on the outside, the Jags can afford to move Mike Thomas to his more comfortable slot position, and they also added veteran Lee Evans as a #4 type to potentially make some plays down the field. Cecil Shorts is a second-year player with promise, and he appears to be the current favorite to win the #5 receiver job. The Jags also have a solid pair of TEs, although both enter 2012 with questions. Marcedes Lewis is not a stiff, but his 2011 season was a nightmare, and at times it seemed as if it were physically impossible for him to score a TD. And athletic backup Zachary Miller was cleared for football activity about a month ago after undergoing shoulder surgery in October. While the QB position remains a big question, this set of weapons all of a sudden looks deep and versatile.

OL: The Jaguars’ offensive line might not be a strength of the club, but it’s certainly adequate enough to win, although Blaine Gabbert’s pressure phobia helps to make it look a lot worse than it is. It’s a good line in the run game and decent enough in the pass game. At the tackle position, RT Eben Britton will be back after missing most of last season with a back injury. He’ll join LT Eugene Monroe as the Jags’ bookends. Neither player has developed into what the Jags have hoped, but they’re not liabilities. The Jags have gotten solid play on the interior from RG Uche Nwaneri and C Brad Meester, although the concern with Meester is that he’s now 35 and is nearing the end of the road (he’s been up-and-down the last few years). The weakness up front last year was LG Will Rackley, who struggled as a rookie. But he’s entering his second year, and a full off-season will only help him out. The top backups along the line will continue to be veteran T Guy Whimper and G Jason Spitz. The Jags didn’t make any significant changes here in the off-season, and they’re just hoping their guys stay healthy.

D/ST: Credit Jag defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. He actually had one of the NFL’s most impressive defenses last year, considering what little personnel he had to work with. The Jags are hoping an off-season of rest helps their guys recover, and that rookie second-round pick DE Andre Branch is ready to step in and provide a rush early in his NFL career. The Jags are also hoping for some good fortune in the secondary. Top CB Rashean Mathis tore his ACL last year, but there’s a shot he’s ready for training camp. The Jags are slotting in fourth-year CB Derek Cox as the starter opposite Mathis, but they also brought in veteran Aaron Ross on a three-year, $15 million deal to provide some depth. The safety position remains a concern (although the club loves FS Dwight Lowery), as do two key injuries: LB Paul Posluszny was brilliant last year, but he’s recovering from shoulder surgery and isn’t full-go at OTAs, and DT Terrance Knighton remains a question mark for training camp as he recovers from eye surgery as a result of an April nightclub altercation. If the Jags can get some pass rush from Branch and perhaps Jeremy Mincey, this could actually be a pretty good unit. On special teams, it must be noted that PK Josh Scobee has yet to sign his franchise tender.

Tennessee Titans

QB: The Titans will have one of the most interesting decisions to make of any team in the NFL in 2012, as they must decide between solid veteran Matt Hasselbeck and promising second-year player Jake Locker as the team’s starting QB. Locker showed well in the few opportunities he got last season, but Hasselbeck was as steady as can be expected, and he nearly led the Titans to the postseason. For right now, it’s only prudent to consider Locker the #2 here, but GM Ruston Webster recently told The Tennessean that the club’s decision will be based on “gut feeling” and whoever gives “the best chance to help [the team] win,” and the battle is expected to extend into training camp, if not deep into the preseason. This battle is even more interesting on the heels of team owner Bud Adams’ spirited and public pursuit of Peyton Manning this off-season, and because the Titans have made a concerted effort to beef up their receiving corps. From a fantasy perspective, a strong performance from Locker in preseason would be awesome, because his athleticism could help make him a high-end fantasy QB even if he’s still rough around the edges.

RB: Last season, the Titans learned the downside of fielding an offense dependent on Chris Johnson – while his 2009 campaign will go down as one of the best in NFL history, the last two years (especially 2011) have highlighted Johnson as perhaps a player best suited as a cog. And while he might be one of the most gifted “cogs” ever, he might be better off as a cog nonetheless, and the Titans’ moves at the WR position might suggest as much. That said, Johnson did get paid last year, and the Titans added no real competition for his position behind Javon Ringer and Jamie Harper. Johnson is now doing all the right things, including getting into better shape and working out with the Titans in OTAs for the first time in his five-year career. The Titans’ new “spread it out” focus is expected to help Johnson, and remember that he still contributed a lot as a receiver last year. There are reasons to be optimistic, but the Titans aren’t looking for him to contribute another 2500 yards from scrimmage.

WR/TE: The Titans’ 1st-round pick in April’s NFL Draft speaks perhaps to a bigger philosophy change than any other team in the NFL. With defensive needs essentially across the board, the Titans instead opted to select Baylor speedster Kendall Wright, giving them one of the deepest and most interesting receiving corps in the NFL. Yes, a lot of that depends on star Kenny Britt’s ability to recover from two procedures on a torn ACL and MCL, and Britt’s availability for training camp is up in the air at this point. But if he’s healthy, Britt, Wright, Nate Washington, Damian Williams, and Lavelle Hawkins form a really deep 1-5, and that’s not even mentioning a set of TEs that includes Jared Cook, Craig Stevens, and raw but gifted rookie Taylor Thompson. Washington has come out and said explicitly this off-season that he’s “licking his chops” to play in an “explosive” offense constructed by coordinator Chris Palmer, and with these weapons, it’s easy to see why it might be exciting. The only question is: Who will be throwing the football?

OL: If there is an identifiable weakness on the Tennessee roster, you’re probably looking at it. That’s amazing to say, considering this group of five was one of the most highly rated units in the NFL just two years ago. While LT Michael Roos and RT David Stewart are solid enough (they were considered an elite pair just a bit back), the interior of this line was awful last season after a scheme change, prompting a reconstruction. RG Jake Scott was allowed to leave, and it appears that last year’s starting LG Leroy Harris (coming off both knee and shoulder surgeries, which might have been why his run blocking was so poor) will flip sides to the right to allow room for veteran Steve Hutchinson. Hutchinson is a legendary interior lineman, but his play has deteriorated for years now, and even the OL-starved Vikings were willing to let him go. The Titans’ biggest question heading into training camp will be C Eugene Amano, who is sitting out of OTAs as he recovers from knee surgery. Amano was not very good last year, but there are no better options on the roster right now. The Titans did make some moves, but we’re still not convinced the interior of this line will be anything but poor. Perhaps the Titans will help it look better by switching to a more spread-based attack.

D/ST: The Titans don’t have a poor defense, but it’s not a shutdown unit, and remember that they lost top CB Cortland Finnegan to the Rams in free agency. For 2012, the club is hoping that CBs Jason McCourty and Alterraun Verner step up to negate the loss (along with veteran Drayton Florence), and that franchise player S Michael Griffin gets signed soon (he’s participating in off-season workouts, so the relationship is good here. Up front, the Titans expect new acquisition Kamerion Wimbley (five years, $35 million) to provide the high-end rush the team was lacking last season. The Titans also believe that third-year DE Derrick Morgan is ready to step up, now that he’s over a year removed from the ACL tear that cost him a huge chunk of his rookie season. Playing opposite Wimbley should help him out. The Titans’ youth movement extends to other positions, as well: DTs Sen’Derrick Marks and Jurrell Casey are expected to start, but the rotation could include second-year man Karl Klug and rookie Mike Martin. At some point in 2012, the Titans could have no LBs with more than one full year of experience – MLB Colin McCarthy was great as a rookie in 2011, and although SAM Akeem Ayers was a disappointment, he’s still expected to start in 2012. The true battle will be at WIL, where veteran Will Witherspoon is still slotted in, but rookie Zach Brown could make a very interesting push if he shows something in training camp.

dsanty · « **Reply #17 on:** May 20, 2012, 09:07:56 PM »

AFC West

Denver Broncos

QB: The Broncos made perhaps the most high-profile sequence of moves in the league this off-season. First, they won the Peyton Manning free agency derby, then, after signing one of the greatest QBs in league history, John Elway traded everyone’s favorite winner Tim Tebow to the Jets of all teams. So, with the addition of Manning, the Broncos are obviously poised to tailor their offense to his game, meaning OC Mike McCoy will run an offense similar to what the Colts ran. Forget John Fox’s conservative history. This is Manning’s team now, and all the Broncos’ eggs are in his basket. After all, if he has trouble with his neck, the Broncos can kiss their season goodbye with Caleb Hanie and raw 2nd-round rookie Brock Osweiler sitting behind him. The Broncos are committed to Manning, and they signed him to a five-year, $96 million deal.

RB: While the previous Bronco administration spent a 1st-round pick on Knowshon Moreno the current staff clearly isn’t enamored with him. He’s put up numbers occasionally, but he’s not a foundation back and is now coming off a torn ACL (plus a DUI charge in February). He may not even be ready for the start of the season. The lead back here is clearly veteran Willis McGahee, while the Broncos spent a 3rd-round pick on San Diego State’s Ronnie Hillman to act as a change of pace and possible 3rd-down back – taking Moreno’s role. It’s possible Moreno’s days in Denver could be numbered, as they have a decent enough #3 back in Lance Ball if Moreno is pushed out.

WR/TE: The Broncos may not have a standout stud at WR, but they actually look pretty good with a decent supporting cast around Manning. The two holdovers at WR are Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, and there’s little reason to think they won’t transition well to a Manning-led offense. Thomas has gotten a delayed start because he underwent surgery to remove a pin inserted in his broken finger early last season. Meanwhile, Decker has worked extensively with Manning already, and he’s 100% after spraining his MCL late in the season. Manning said the coaching staff plans to move Decker around the formation and use him in different ways. Additionally, the Broncos signed versatile former Bengal WR Andre Caldwell to a two-year deal. While primarily a slot receiver, he can play outside, and he could be a good fit for Manning. They also signed Manning favorite Brandon Stokley, but he’s 35 years old and caught only 1 pass last year. At TE, the Broncos made some big moves despite having young talent in guys like Julius Thomas. They signed a pair of veterans, adding former Colt backup Jacob Tamme – who was fantastic in 2010 when Dallas Clark got hurt – and noted TD vulture Joel Dreessen from Houston. Tamme could be a move TE with Dreessen lining up in a more traditional role. The athletic Thomas underwent ankle surgery to repair ligaments in early April, while second-year TE Virgil Green faces a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

OL: The Bronco offensive line won’t look much different this year. The biggest question is LG, where Chris Kuper is still recovering from a nasty broken ankle from Week Seventeen. The good news is that Kuper is expected to be ready for training camp. Russ Hochstein, the man who replaced Kuper in the playoffs, is a free agent, and the Broncos used a 4th-round pick on Baylor G/C Philip Blake, who provides depth and hopefully some insurance for Kuper. Manning can often compensate for a weak offensive line, but the Broncos certainly don’t want to take any chances given that Manning is coming off an injury and missed time for the first time in his career. Ryan Clady and Orlando Franklin are the tackles, with J.D. Walton at center and Zane Beadles at LG.

D/ST: The Bronco defense took a big step forward last year, thanks largely to the return of Elvis Dumervil and the drafting of #2 overall pick Von Miller, who both provided big boosts to a stagnant pass rush. The biggest change this year is the presence of former Jaguar HC Jack Del Rio as Fox’s new DC, replacing Dennis Allen, who took the Raiders’ head job. The Broncos will continue running a 4-3, with Miller and Dumervil leading the pass rush, and they made a couple moves to bolster the front seven by signing DT Justin Bannan from Baltimore and drafting talented Cincinnati DT Derek Wolfe in the 2nd round. However, the most noteworthy moves were made in the secondary, as the Broncos look to force more turnovers. They signed former Saint CB Tracy Porter to a one-year deal, and he’ll likely slide into the starting lineup alongside Champ Bailey with Andre Goodman gone. Additionally, they added discarded Bill CB Drayton Florence for depth, plus a new starter in Mike Adams, a former Brown who will replace the retired Brian Dawkins at SS after signing a two-year deal. On special teams, PK Matt Prater was hit with the franchise tag but has not participated in OTAs.

Kansas City Chiefs

QB: The Chiefs spoke about wanting a competition at QB, but given that the only QB they brought in was Brady Quinn, it’s not surprising to see GM Scott Pioli praising incumbent Matt Cassel as a “really good quarterback.” The Chiefs did not bring back Kyle Orton, who started late in the year after Cassel went down and Tyler Palko didn’t work out, as he instead opted to sign in Dallas as Tony Romo’s backup. The Chiefs, with new OC Brian Daboll, then signed Quinn, who spent last year on the bench behind the Orton/Tebow circus in Denver. Quinn hasn’t started a game since 2009 with the Browns, so he shouldn’t be much of a threat – and neither should second-year QB Ricky Stanzi – to Cassel, who is coming back from a broken hand.

RB: The big story for the Chiefs is the return of Jamaal Charles, who, after a breakout 2010 season, went down early in 2011 with a torn ACL. The good news is that Charles is on track for the season, as he recently declared himself 80% healthy. Charles has participated in some off-season workouts, and he’ll surely be slowly worked back into the mix over the next few months to protect him for the regular season. Charles’ former backfield mate Thomas Jones – the two led the league’s #1 rushing offense in 2010 – is gone, and the Chiefs appear to have secured an upgrade in former Brown Peyton Hillis. Hillis may have struggled with assorted issues last year, but when he starred in 2010, it was under the Chiefs’ new OC, Daboll. Not surprisingly, Charles recently said that he expects Hillis to have a role similar to what Jones played in 2010, as the hard-nosed, inside runner. In that season, Jones had 245 carries for 896 yards and Charles had 230 carries for 1467 yards. Behind them, the biggest question is the role of multipurpose player Dexter McCluster, who has struggled to become the big-play guy the Chiefs hoped he’d become. The Chiefs drafted a quick backup RB in Cyrus Gray – a handcuff for Charles, perhaps – and a slot receiver in Devon Wylie, leaving McCluster’s offensive touches up in the air. The Chiefs will likely be versatile with the formations, working McCluster into the mix but also lining up Charles and Hillis in the same backfield, especially since FB Le’Ron McClain is gone.

WR/TE: The Chiefs wisely used the franchise tag on #1 WR Dwayne Bowe, but the two sides remain in a contract squabble. Bowe has not signed his franchise tender, and, according to NFL.com, had no plans to sign it any time soon as of late April. Still, Bowe will likely sign it in time for camp, and Pioli has said the team does not intend to trade him. The player most people are keeping an eye on for the future is 2011 1st-round pick Jonathan Baldwin, whose career got off to a rough start when he broke his thumb in a locker room scuffle with Jones. Baldwin has a full off-season to work now, and veteran Steve Breaston has complimented Baldwin on his commitment to learning the playbook – which will help him play faster on the field – and developing into a better all-around receiver. As of now, Bowe and Breaston are the likely starters, but as a former 1st-round pick Baldwin is expected to work his way into the lineup eventually. Behind those three, the Chiefs drafted talented Fresno State slot receiver Devon Wylie, who has similarities to Wes Welker and fits with Cassel but will have to fight for targets in a pretty deep offense. Meanwhile, the TE position should be much improved after Leonard Pope and Jake O’Connell led the way last year. Tony Moeaki, who tore his ACL last year, has participated in conditioning work and is expected to be fully healthy for training camp. Additionally, the Chiefs have insurance in the form of former Giant and Raider Kevin Boss, who signed a three-year deal and allows the Chiefs to use some two-TE sets.

OL: The Chiefs lucked out when the Texans made starting RT Eric Winston a cap casualty, as the Chiefs were then able to lock up one of the league’s best RTs to a four-year, $22 million deal. Winston did undergo arthroscopic ankle surgery in February, but he said it’s fine and will immediately start at RT in place of Barry Richardson, who signed with the Rams, and Ryan O’Callaghan. The other change is at center, where Casey Wiegmann retired after a decade anchoring the Chief line. In his place, look for 2011 2nd-round pick Rodney Hudson to step up in his second year. Otherwise, the rest of the line remains in place with LT Branden Albert, LG Ryan Lilja, and RG Jon Asamoah.

D/ST: The Chiefs lost two key defensive contributors, and the only moves of note they made on defense were to replace the two guys they lost. First, at CB, the talented man-coverage tandem of Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr was broken up, as Carr cashed in and signed a big deal with the Cowboys as a free agent. Replacing him will be former Raider Stanford Routt, who was a cap casualty and signed a three-year, $20 million deal to join the Chiefs. Routt made too many mistakes last year, but he’s talented guy and a solid replacement in a unit that will be boosted by the return of stud SS Eric Berry from a torn ACL. Like the other Chief starters coming off torn ACLs, Berry expects to be ready for training camp. The Chiefs are also dealing with an injury to their other starting safety, as Kendrick Lewis underwent shoulder surgery in early January. The other big move was the drafting of a raw talent at NT in Dontari Poe of Memphis. Poe has a long way to go in terms of football production, but he’s a freak athlete who the team hopes can replace Kelly Gregg in the middle of its 3-4 under Romeo Crennel.

Oakland Raiders

QB: The Raiders upgraded the QB position in the middle of the season last year by acquiring former Bengal Carson Palmer after Jason Campbell got hurt. Palmer is entrenched as the starter now, with Campbell off to Chicago. To replace Campbell, the Raiders signed Matt Leinart, who, interestingly enough, was Palmer’s successor at USC. In one of the most interesting groups of college QBs in the league, the Raiders also have former Ohio State star Terrelle Pryor, who was selected in last year’s supplemental draft. Palmer should be a good fit in a more West Coast oriented approach under new HC Dennis Allen and OC Greg Knapp, given his diminishing arm strength. Still, the Raiders will continue to take shots as well, utilizing the play-action passing game with their speed at WR.

RB: The key to the Raiders’ season could be the health of star RB Darren McFadden, who played only seven games last year because of a Lisfranc foot sprain. The good news is that McFadden finally made his return to the field in front of the media at the Raiders’ first OTAs, and he reportedly looked good running and was a full participant in drills. The Raiders will move back to a zone-blocking scheme, and while McFadden struggled in it early in his career, he’s clearly made great strides as an NFL back over the last two seasons before getting hurt. As always, durability is the key, especially with Michael Bush gone. Bush signed with the Bears, and the only replacement the Raiders have brought in so far is a very different backup in quick, change-of-pace runner Mike Goodson from Carolina. Goodson went on IR in November with a hamstring injury but says he’s back to 100%. The Raiders will also look to get increased production from explosive young RB Taiwan Jones, who will compete with Goodson for touches behind McFadden. Versatile FB Marcel Reece will also be in the mix and could see more touches with Bush gone.

WR/TE: The most noteworthy thing to happen to the Raider receiving corps lately was the arrest of Darrius Heyward-Bey on a DUI charge. While he could face punishment from the league, it’s highly unlikely that he’ll face anything severe that diminishes his fantasy value. DHB developed chemistry with Palmer over the course of the 2011 season and actually became a decent fantasy player and a solid intermediate receiver. Capturing the most attention lately was rookie Juron Criner, a 5th-round pick who had a good Senior Bowl and draw rave reviews for making circus catches at the Raiders’ OTAs. Criner is essentially a replacement for the often-injured Chaz Schilens, who signed with the Jets. Heyward-Bey and Criner are the team’s best intermediate receivers, and they’re joined by a trio of deep threats in Denarius Moore, Jacoby Ford, and Louis Murphy. The Raiders continue to love Moore’s potential, and Allen said that Ford was nearly 100% in early April after missing much of last year because of foot issues. Meanwhile, the Raiders apparently still don’t care about the TE position. A year after letting Zach Miller walk, they let Kevin Boss walk to the division-rival Chiefs, leaving Brandon Myers as the starter with raw but athletic second-year player David Ausberry in the mix. Allen said Ausberry could be used as a receiving TE.

OL: The biggest change up front for the Raiders will be the shift back to a zone-blocking scheme in the run game. As part of that change, the biggest addition they made was signing former Texan G Mike Brisiel, who was part of a zone scheme in Houston and previously played under Knapp. It’s a logical fit, and he’ll step in right away as the starting RG. That allows talented 2011 rookie Stefen Wisniewski (nephew of Steve) to shift to center, with Cooper Carlisle moving from LG to RG to make room for Brisiel. Wisniewski is facing a minor issue after undergoing shoulder surgery after the season, but he’s expected to be ready for camp. While the Raiders shuffled the interior of their line, they’ll roll with the same duo at tackle. Jared Veldheer is on the left side, while they re-signed starting RT Khalif Barnes to another one-year deal.

D/ST: The Raiders’ salary cap situation was a total mess entering the off-season, so perhaps the two most notable moves they’ve made were cuts. First, they got rid of CB Stanford Routt (signed with KC), then they got rid of pass rusher Kamerion Wimbley (signed with Ten). Given that they also lost Nnamdi Asomugha last year, they’ve lost a lot of their most notable players. Still, there is some talent, most notably up front with Richard Seymour, Tommy Kelly, and Matt Shaughnessy. Shaughnessy missed most of last season with a shoulder injury and has been absent from OTAs as he continues his rehab. The Raiders added five players to the defense via free agency, with three of them probably starting. Former Colt MLB Philip Wheeler will likely replace Wimbley as starting SLB, and the Raiders could have two new corners in Shawntae Spencer and Ronald Bartell. Most notably, starting SS Tyvon Branch will be back playing under the franchise tag. Of course, now the Raiders could have another hole to fill after MLB Rolando McClain was sentenced to 180 days in jail after being found guilty of assault, reckless endangerment, menacing and wrongful discharge of a firearm. That could sideline him for the season, and as of now the Raiders’ best option may be starting WLB Aaron Curry or Travis Goethel, so they could be forced to sign someone.

San Diego Chargers

QB: Philip Rivers’ numbers weren’t terrible last year, but he fell behind the game’s other elite QBs and had to answer questions about possible injuries and general inconsistency. He struggled with accuracy more than usual, resulting in bad throws and more turnovers. Not surprisingly, according to the U-T San Diego, Rivers is spending his off-season focusing on eliminating mistakes after he threw 20 interceptions. The good news, at least for fantasy, is that HC Norv Turner is back, thanks in part to lobbying by Rivers on his behalf. The one change here is that long-time backup Billy Volek was released, making room for the Chargers to bring back Charlie Whitehurst two years after trading him to Seattle. Whitehurst’s short stint in Seattle was unsuccessful, and now he won’t have to play unless Rivers misses time – something he hasn’t done since becoming the full-time starter in 2006.

RB: Year Three of the Ryan Mathews era opens without a key piece of the backfield: noted vulture Mike Tolbert. Tolbert signed with the Panthers, leaving the Chargers with Mathews, Curtis Brinkley, and rookie Edwin Baker at RB, although they did sign former 900-yard rusher Le’Ron McClain at FB to join Jacob Hester. Still, despite his fumbling and durability issues, Mathews is the clear bell cow back here. Not surprisingly, HC Norv Turner has called for a breakout season from Mathews, and he also said he expects McClain to play a versatile role as a lead blocker, receiver, and runner.

WR/TE: The Vincent Jackson contract issues are a thing of the past, as the former Charger #1 WR signed a big deal with the Bucs. But the Chargers were active at the position in free agency, signing Robert Meachem from New Orleans to take Jackson’s place, in addition to locking up slot receivers Eddie Royal and Roscoe Parrish and return man Michael Spurlock. That makes this a crowded group, as starter Malcom Floyd and versatile and promising second-year WR Vincent Brown are also in the mix. Staying healthy is big for this group, especially Floyd, who is plagued by inconsistency and injuries. Of course, Meachem is also coming off postseason arthroscopic knee surgery, although he said he feels fine and was ready for OTAs. He’ll move to a larger role with the Chargers as a replacement for Jackson after serving as a secondary deep threat in New Orleans. The rest of the group is a little bit difficult to sort out, but the Chargers spread the field enough to get both Brown and Royal on the field. Brown has the ability to be a very good slot receiver and would also likely start on the outside if Floyd missed time again, while Royal is a quick receiver best in motion. At TE, veteran Antonio Gates returns as starter and remains one of the league’s best despite his foot issues. The Chargers re-signed reliable backup Randy McMichael, and they also made a great move by using a draft pick on raw but athletic TE Ladarius Green, who makes a good protégé for Gates.

OL: While the line was a big issue for the Chargers at times last season, there actually won’t be a lot of change. In fact, the group came together toward the end of the season when Jared Gaither replaced Marcus McNeill at LT, and they’ll stick with that solution. McNeill is gone, while Gaither re-signed on a four-year deal. The big change is the retirement of starting LG Kris Dielman, which leaves a big hole that is still open. Tyronne Green, a 4th-round pick in 2009, is the current favorite for the job, and he worked himself into shape by dropping about 25 pounds since last training camp, according to the U-T San Diego. Green will be pushed by free agent signing Rex Hadnot, who started 16 games for a lousy Cardinal line last year. On the positive side, the Chargers locked up free agent C Nick Hardwick, re-signing him to a three-year, $13.5 million deal.

D/ST: With Ron Rivera off to Carolina last year, the Chargers brought in Greg Manusky to run the defense in a move that ultimately backfield. While the Chargers weren’t particularly talented in 2010, Rivera schemed his way to the #1 ranked defense in the league. Last year? Not so much. The pass rush in particular was an issue, and the DBs were also prone to giving up big plays. So, they got rid of Manusky and promoted from within, tabbing LB coach John Pagano as the new DC, which means not much will change in terms of scheme. They will, however, be more aggressive, and hopefully the personnel will be better. The Chargers made OLB a priority, signing former Raven Jarret Johnson and making a big pickup in the draft by taking South Carolina’s Melvin Ingram in the 1st round. Ingram may have been a steal, and he’ll surely see plenty of snaps in a rotation with Shaun Phillips. If the Chargers can get improve play from 2011 1st-round pick Cory Liuget at DE, the front seven could be pretty good. But can the secondary improve? The Chargers are sticking with status quo at CB, with Quentin Jammer at one CB spot and Marcus Gilchrist pushing Antoine Cason at the other spot. Perhaps more problematic is the SS spot alongside FS Eric Weddle, as rookie 3rd-rounder Brandon Taylor will compete with Atari Bigby for the job. On special teams, the return units will be boosted by the additions of WRs Royal, Parrish, and Spurlock, who will all be in the mix for jobs.

dsanty · « **Reply #18 on:** May 20, 2012, 09:08:36 PM »

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

QB: The retirement of backup Jon Kitna left a hole in the team’s QB depth chart that they didn’t feel comfortable filling with third-stringer Stephen McGee. Instead, the team gave Kyle Orton a three-year, $10.5 million deal to back up Tony Romo. The team has made it clear that Romo is the starter, but it is interesting to see Orton, who we thought could land a starting job elsewhere, take a nice contract to be a backup at age 29.

RB: After suffering a fractured right ankle and high ankle sprain that ended his season in Week Fourteen of last year, DeMarco Murray said he was cleared by doctor and has been going through normal workouts without limitations. Murray went as far as to say he feels “great,” and he holds the edge over Felix Jones.

WR/TE: WR Miles Austin is coming off a disappointing 2011 season that saw him miss extended time with hamstring issues, and he admitted to not feeling like he was in the best shape due to a lack of normal off-season program. The Cowboys have a couple of holes to fill in their receiving corps. Former #3 WR Laurent Robinson cashed in on his breakout 2011 season with the Cowboys and signed with the Jaguars this off-season. QB Tony Romo believes some of the team’s young WRs could step up to fill that void, although the frontrunner would have to be veteran WR Kevin Ogletree, although we should be keeping an eye on 5th-round pick WR Danny Coale. After five mostly disappointing seasons with Dallas, TE Martellus Bennett wasn’t brought back as the backup to Jason Witten, so look for the talented John Phillipsto move up the depth chart.

OL: Last season, the OL went through a bit of a makeover and started to come together in the final games of the season. They’ll continue to change things up in 2012 as second-year OT Tyron Smith will move from RT to LT with Doug Free switching to the right side. They’re also expected to add a pair of new OGs to the starting lineup thanks to the signings of LG Nate Livings and RG Mackenzy Bernadeau. In fact, the position not changing in 2012 is C, where Phil Costa started all 16 games last year. Luckily, they’ll have one of the best OL coaches in the league, Bill Callahan, joining the staff this season.

D/ST: With the team struggling to pick up DC Rob Ryan’s defense last year due to a lockout-shortened off-season, Ryan plans to re-teach his defense this year by slowing down. Ryan admitted that he probably accelerated things too much last season, but he’s trying to correct that starting with OTAs. While the defense certainly had talent, they added more with the signing of CB Brandon Carrfor five years and $50.1 million and rookie CB Morris Claiborne, who they traded up for in this year’s draft. They’ve also added former Panther LB Dan Connor, who should slot in at one of the ILB spots. Although Claiborne was considered not only one of the best CBs in this draft, but one of the best players overall, secondary coach Jerome Henderson fully expects opponents to go after the rookie, which is why Henderson is doing everything he can to prepare Claiborne for his first season. Claiborne is expected to beat out CB Mike Jenkins for a starting role, although owner/GM Jerry Jones did say Jenkins would be part of the defense after rumors swirled that they were looking to move the former Pro Bowler. The team used their franchise tag on LB Anthony Spencer, who signed it in late April. The deal will pay him almost $8.9 million in 2012.

New York Giants

QB: There’s not much to say about Eli Manning. He’s joked about being the third-most talked-about QB in New York, hosted Saturday Night Live, and just received his second Super Bowl ring. Manning showed just how good he is last season despite a shaky OL that dealt with injuries all season. The debate now seems to be about just how good Manning actually is when it comes to the top QBs in the league. He’s certainly made his case to be mentioned in that group. David Carr will return as Manning’s backup after signing a one-year deal in March.

RB: With the release of Brandon Jacobs, it was pretty clear the Giants needed to address the RB position in this year’s draft and with the last pick of the 1st round, they selected David Wilson out of Virginia Tech. Not only did they need to replace Jacobs, but with Ahmad Bradshaw slowed by injuries due to his physical running style, the Giants needed to find a player that could carry the load if need be, and Wilson should be able to fit that bill. We’ve yet to see much from guys like D.J. Ware and Da’Rel Scott, so while they may still play minor roles, Wilson is someone the team is high on going in the season. OC Kevin Gilbride said seeing Wilson’s speed in rookie minicamp was “encouraging” and “exciting.”

WR/TE: The breakout 2011 season from Victor Cruz made it a little easier to let Mario Manningham hit the free agent market. Now, the team needs to figure out who will become the team’s #3 WR. Jerrel Jernigan, a 3rd-round pick in 2011, was specifically mentioned by GM Jerry Reese as a potential candidate to fill the void left by Manningham. Another option could be 2012 2nd-round pick Rueben Randle, who Reese compared to Hakeem Nicks in terms of his play speed and size. Reese also noted that Randle was a bit handcuffed by his QB situation in college, which limited Randle from showing off his ability to run the entire route tree. Cruz said he’s gotten comfortable with playing in the slot and expects to play there in 3/4-WR sets. While Cruz made his salsa dance famous last year, Reese advised Cruz not to accept an invitation to be a part of “Dancing with the Stars,” noting that Cruz had “one good year” and “one good year don’t make you a great football player.” Despite dealing with knee, hamstring, and shoulder injuries last season, Nicks didn’t need surgery this off-season and said his body “felt like it was in pieces” once the season ended. With both TEs Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum suffering torn ACLs in the Super Bowl, the Giants had to make a move in free agency to solidify depth at the position. They signed Martellus Bennett to a one-year deal worth $2.5 million. While Beckum believes he’ll be able to return for Week One, Ballard, who also needed microfracture surgery, admitted his best chance to play in 2012 would be by mid-season, if he’s able to come back at all.

OL: This unit had their issues last year, but a good portion of those problems were masked by the play of Eli Manning. Outside of taking OT Brandon Mosley in the 4th round and OT Matt McCants in the 6th round of this year’s draft, the Giants haven’t done anything to change things up in terms of personnel on the OL, but they could be shifting some players around when it comes to where they’ll be lining up. David Diehl, who lined up at LT last season, realizes he could be moving to RT with Kareem McKenzie not being brought back. Diehl expects Will Beatty to return from his detached retina to reclaim his spot at LT. OC Kevin Gilbride noted that all the injuries that the unit dealt with last year didn’t allow them to mesh due to the constant changes. Gilbride agreed that moving Diehl to RT and Beatty back to LT makes sense. RG Chris Snee underwent elbow surgery, but he appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery and is looking to participate in OTAs.

D/ST: The LB corps dealt with injuries and inconsistent play in 2011, so it shouldn’t be a surprise for DC Perry Fewell to expect some battle to happen during training camp, specifically in the middle. While Michael Boley at WLB and Mathias Kiwanuka at SLB appear to be set, Chase Blackburn should be getting competition from recent acquisition Keith Rivers, as well as Greg Jones and Mark Herzlich. Fewell did say that the MLB position may not be as important as it once was and that the team would be looking to figure out the best plan of action considering the trend of offenses relying more and more on their passing game.

Philadelphia Eagles

QB: After an up-and-down 2011 season that was marred by injuries, the Eagles were rumored to be looking for Michael Vick’s replacement. First there was talk of signing Peyton Manning, although that seemed to be nothing more than exploratory. Then, the Eagles were mentioned as a team that was looking to move up in the draft because of how much they loved Robert Griffin III, but obviously that didn’t come to fruition either. The Eagles did end up taking a QB in the draft, but they surprised everyone with the selection of Nick Foles in the 3rd round. Foles is very different from Vick in that he’s a big QB (6-5, 250) who lacks mobility and doesn’t have a great arm. Foles looks like a project player, and isn’t expected to challenge for the backup spot. Instead, Trent Edwards, who the team signed early in the off-season, should be the team’s #2 QB. That could make Mike Kafka the odd man out.

RB: The Eagles locked up arguably their best offensive player when they gave LeSean McCoy a five-year, $45 million extension, including almost $21 million guaranteed. While McCoy is coming off a great 2011 season, HC Andy Reid said he overworked McCoy and would be looking to lighten his load a bit in 2012, specifically mentioning Dion Lewis as someone who could help accomplish that. The Eagles added a power runner and solid pass-catcher in UDFA Chris Polk, who wasn’t drafted due to a shoulder issues in college. In addition to Polk, the team drafted Bryce Brown in the 7th round to help replenish the RB depth after deciding to not bring back Ronnie Brown. Brown is a real wild card, but he has very good speed and much better size than Lewis, plus he catches the ball well. He’s had a checkered past, but the talent is definitely there. Basically, as usual, the situation behind the Eagles’ starting RB is a little cloudy.

WR/TE: DeSean Jackson had a disappointing 2011 season, which was partially to blame on being unhappy with his contract situation. The Eagles gave Jackson the franchise tag in early March, but ended up signing him to a five-year, $47 million deal, including $47 million guaranteed. Jackson said 2011 “was a tough year for myself, had a lot of struggles, had a lot of things that just took me off of my game and my focus.” However, with his new deal, Jackson feels like “100 pounds of stress” is gone, allowing him to totally focus on getting back to top form in 2012. After dealing with an illness for much of the off-season in 2011, Jeremy Maclin is “much stronger right now,” according to HC Andy Reid.The Philadelphia Inquirer was told by an Eagle coach that Maclin was a candidate for a “breakout” year.

OL: The team suffered a huge loss when their best OL, LT Jason Peters ruptured his Achilles tendon in March while working out on his own. He wasn’t expected to play in 2012, but those chances were lowered even more when Peters re-ruptured the Achilles during a freak accident when the apparatus he was using to get around collapsed. After he was initially injured, the Eagles did their best to replace Peters by signing Demetress Bell to a five-year deal worth over $34 million. Other moves on the OL included the re-signing of OGEvan Mathis to a five-year, $25 million deal, the release of C Jamaal Jackson, and the trade of OT Winston Justice to the Colts.

D/ST: Perhaps more frustrating than any of the disappointments in 2011 was the play of the defense. The Wide-Nine scheme wasn’t picked up as well as the staff hoped and it was obvious that the team didn’t have the proper personnel to excel. They started with the LB position and traded for DeMeco Ryansto shore up their MLB spot. Philly would trade up in the draft to select the best DT of this year’s class in Fletcher Cox. Cox has athleticism, but more importantly the versatility to line up at multiple spots on the DL. They added more help to the LB corps with the selection of Mychal Kendricks in the 2nd round. In addition to being solid in coverage, the Eagles are excited about Kendricks ability to blitz, which Andy Reid highlighted as one of his strengths in college. In a move that really didn’t surprise anyone, the team traded CB Asante Samuel to the Falcons in exchange for a 2012 7th-round pick. That makes Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie the starting CBs with good depth behind them in Joselio Hansonand 2011 3rd-round pick Curtis Marsh. Reid said Kurt Coleman will start in front of 2011 2nd-round pick Jaiquawn Jarrett.

Washington Redskins

QB: The Redskins made their intentions clear when they traded three 1st-round picks in 2012, 2013, and 2014 and a 2012 2nd-round pick to the Browns in exchange for the #2 overall pick in this year’s draft. They selected Robert Griffin III with their top pick, but then in a surprise move, took Kirk Cousins out of Michigan State in the 4th round. A controversy was started, but HC Mike Shanahan cut that off at the pass when he named Griffin the team’s starter in early May. Shanahan has talked up Griffin by saying, "The NFL is not used to a quarterback with his type of speed and his type of throwing ability. I think we can do some things that people haven’t done." Shanahan also said Griffin was ahead of schedule in learning the offense and believes he can be a “game-changing player.” Shanahan added that Griffin can make any throw and “fits into our system perfectly because we like to run play-action, quarterback keeps, bootlegs. With his speed, he can get on the edge and do things most quarterbacks can’t do." The selections of Griffin and Cousins allowed the Redskins to part ways with John Beck. However, Rex Grossman was a signed to a one-year deal and is expected to be the primary backup for Griffin, for now.

RB: The most frustrating situation to deal with in fantasy football is the Redskin backfield. It didn’t get any easier when the team re-signed Tim Hightower to a one-year deal, despite him still getting over the torn ACL he suffered last season. Hightower admitted he wasn’t sure if he’ll be ready for OTAs or the start of training camp, but vows to be ready for Week One. Hightower is considered a solid all-around back and a great blocker, which was important for the Redskins to have to protect rookie QB Robert Griffin III. Hightower re-joins a backfield that already has Roy Helu and Evan Royster, who were called “two guys who can help you in the future,” according to OC Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan said of Royster, “He has a knack for finding the right hole. He’s a very natural running back, he does it with ease.” To make things even more complicated, the team used a 6th-round pick on Alfred Morris. HC Mike Shanahan wants to keep Morris at RB instead of moving him to FB and said, "He has the ability to make people miss, has great quickness, and can cut on a dime. we get a chance to see how he'll come in and compete with the other backs."

WR/TE: Washington got right to work revamping its receiving corps by giving Pierre Garcon a five-year deal worth $42.5 million. The Redskins also added former 49er WR Josh Morgan on a five-year, $12 million deal. Morgan is one of the favorites to start opposite Garcon, but that leaves a quandary as to what to do with Santana Moss. The team already released Jabar Gaffney and has 2011 3rd-round pick Leonard Hankerson as someone who can compete for reps, but Moss apparently helped his cause by cutting 15 pounds and being in “excellent shape,” according to HC Mike Shanahan. That’s important because the Washington Examiner reported that the team wasn’t happy with the shape he was in last season. While it appears Moss has lost his starting job, he may be able to keep his spot on the team with a good off-season. After missing the last four games of the 2011 season due to a drug suspension, TE Fred Davis was still given the franchise tag, which he signed. GM Bruce Allen called Davis the team’s “most valuable free agent.” TE Chris Cooley continues to recover from a knee injury that landed him on the IR last season, and HC Mike Shanahan said Cooley hasn’t had any setbacks.

OL: Although the Redskin OL could be improved, the team has yet to make any major moves this off-season outside of drafting OG Josh LeRibeus in the 3rd round of this year’s draft. HC Mike Shanahan believes LeRibeus can play OG or C, and actually used him at C for all of the team’s rookie minicamp. They spent a 5th-round pick on OG Adam Gettis and a 6th-round pick on OT Tom Compton. Depth remains an issue for this unit, which is why they went after a player with versatility like LeRibeus.

D/ST: The Redskins have tried to keep important parts of their defense intact by resigning DE Adam Carriker and LB London Fletcher to multi-year deals. They also brought in cast-offs CB Cedric Griffin, CB Leigh Torrence, S Tanard Jackson, S Brandon Meriweather, and S Madieu Williams to provide some veteran depth for a secondary that dealt with multiple injuries last season. With players like safeties O.J. Atogwe and LaRon Landry leaving via free agency, Meriweather and Jackson could end up starting. It wasn’t a pretty 2011 season for PK Graham Gano, so the team signed Neil Rackers to provide some competition.

dsanty · « **Reply #19 on:** May 20, 2012, 09:09:13 PM »

NFC North

Chicago Bears

QB: While we can’t really blame him, Jay Cutler drew some attention in May when he said, "The offensive line is definitely going to be a concern, and seeing where those five guys fit in, and seeing what five we go with. There are some question marks there. Until we really get that resolved … we have some work to do on the offense." Luckily for Cutler, he’ll finally get the high-end WR he’s been lacking since coming over from Denver. Cutler specifically said he was look for a “big receiver,” noting that he’d like “anyone over 6-2,” and the team obliged. The Bears traded for Cutler’s old Bronco teammate Brandon Marshall, reuniting the two for the first time since 2008. Speaking of being reunited, Cutler will once again work with Jeremy Bates, who is the Bears’ QB coach and passing game coordinator. Bates, Cutler, and Marshall worked together in Denver for three years from 2006-2008. Bates wants to use Cutler’s athleticism to the team’s advantage this season. He said, "We're going to use his feet. He's athletic, he can throw on the run, he can see downfield on the run." Also, instead of the dropbacks used in previous seasons, Bates wants to roll Cutler out more. Although it was totally expected, HC Lovie Smith said back in February that Cutler was 100 percent recovered from the broken thumb that landed him on the IR last season. Jason Campbell signed a one-year deal to back up Cutler and Josh McCown came back on a one-year deal to serve as the #3 QB.

RB: Matt Forte played in the Pro Bowl after missing the final four games of the 2011 season with a knee injury. It was believed to be a way to show the Bears he was over his injury and worthy of a new deal. They began contract talks soon after, but the Bears ended up giving Forte the franchise tag, although GM Phil Emery said the team intended on signing Forte to a deal for 2012 and beyond. Then, in a shocking move, the Bears signed one of the top free agent RBs, Michael Bush, to a four-year, $14 million deal. Bush was told by HC Lovie Smith that the team planned to use a rotation in the backfield with Smith later clarifying that Bush would play a role similar to the one Marion Barber, who was released, played in 2011. Forte was not shy about his frustration with the signing of Bush and has yet to participate in any of the team’s off-season workouts, which could continue until he gets a long-term deal. While there’s no end in sight to this stalemate, Forte isn’t expected to miss any regular season games, if it goes that far. Meanwhile, Kahlil Bell signed a one-year, $1.26 million deal as an RFA and has been a participant in the team’s off-season program. Smith was complimentary of Bell last season when he filled in for Forte, but admitted that he had concerns with using Bell as a #2 RB due to his ball security issues.

WR/TE: The Bears gave Jay Cutler the “big receiver” he was looking for when they traded 3rd-round picks in 2012 and 2013 to acquire Brandon Marshall from the Dolphins. Almost immediately after the trade was announced, it was reported that Marshall was possibly involved in an altercation that could lead to legal action and/or NFL review. Marshall was not worried about any repercussions and has since been cleared of any wrongdoing. The Bears selected Alshon Jeffrey in the 2nd round of this year’s draft to give the team another big target (6-3) to go along with Marshall. However, despite WR coach Darryl Drake saying Jeffery had the best hands in the draft and a “great ability to attack the ball,” it doesn’t look like he’ll be in the starting lineup to open the season. That’s because the Bears are insistent on keeping Devin Hester as a starter. Apparently, QB coach/passing game coordinator Jeremy Bates likes Hester in the new system and the team has installed a special package of plays to take advantage of his skill set. However, Drake said they may try to limit Hester since he will still return both punts and kicks this season despite the signings of Eric Weems and Devin Thomas. WR Johnny Knox (back) is expected to begin the season on the PUP list, as it was reported that Knox had “more structural damage than initially anticipated.” TE Kellen Davis, who was used primarily as a blocker under former OC Mike Martz, re-signed with the team on a two-year deal. HC Lovie Smith said he believes Davis can be featured in the team’s offense.

OL: Even though the OL has been much-maligned, the team didn’t address the unit in the draft. New OC Mike Tice said he didn’t believe the decision-makers on the team thought they needed help at OT, so one wasn’t selected. Tice believes the returns of RT Gabe Carimi, who played just two games last season due to a knee injury, and LG Chris Williams, who was limited to nine games due to a wrist injury, will help greatly. Tice said, "With the change in scheme, the change in personality, an offseason, and getting some guys healthy, I think we'll make a big jump in the offensive line. We have a couple young guys who have played good football in half the scheme, if you will. They need to step it up in the other half of the scheme."

D/ST: With their 1st-round pick, the Bears selected DE Shea McClellin, who is expected to open the season as the team’s #3 DE behind Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije. Although he’s played LB in the past, the Bears are expected to use McClellin as a nickel pass rusher with the belief he could eventually unseat Idonije on the left side, as Idonije returned on just a one-year deal. The team added solid depth with the signings of DT John McCargo, LBs Geno Hayes and Blake Costanzo, and CB Kelvin Hayden. The Bears also signed a pair of returners in Eric Weems and Devin Thomas to help offset the possible absence of Johnny Knox and to help out Devin Hester.

Detroit Lions

QB: Matthew Stafford has had a pretty quiet off-season, and helped the team out by converting almost all of his 2012 salary into a bonus. It was revealed after the end of last season that Stafford played through a high-ankle sprain from Week Seven on, which certainly quiets the notion that he wasn’t able to play through injury after being banged up in his first two seasons. Stafford will once again be backed up by Shaun Hill, who returns on a two-year deal. The team also signed UDFA Kellen Moore, although HC Jim Schwartz didn’t commit to keeping three QBs on the roster, as he did last season.

RB: The Lions decided to bring back Kevin Smith on a one-year deal after he gave them a bit of a lift when brought in last November. Hopefully, he’ll provide insurance for Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure. Best has been participating in the team’s off-season conditioning program and GM Martin Mayhew expects him to be cleared for football activities at some point in June.Leshoure, who missed all of his rookie season with a torn Achilles, is expected to be ready for training camp, if not before. Leshoure was arrested twice this off-season for marijuana possession, and he took a plea bargain to pay a fine. It’s possible that he’ll face a suspension. The Lions don’t seem to be too worried about the RB position, though, as they didn’t pick one in the draft.

WR/TE: After a monster season, the Lions rewarded Calvin Johnson with a seven-year, $132 million deal, and a month later he won the tournament to grace the cover of Madden 2013. The only negative of Johnson’s off-season was the Achilles tendinitis that caused him to skip the Pro Bowl, although he said it was more about not wanting to have any nagging injuries heading into 2012. While the Lions selected Ryan Broyles in the 2nd round of this year’s draft, there are apparently no intentions of letting Nate Burleson go. Broyles, who the team believes is the ideal slot receiver, is still recovering from a torn ACL suffered last year. While GM Martin Mayhew said Broyles could open the season on PUP, HC Jim Schwartz said there’s still a chance Broyles is active for Week One. Broyles said he’s “doing everything normal,” but the team isn’t saying that just yet.

OL: The Lions needed some help on the OL and addressed that issue with the selection of OT Riley Reiff in the 1st round. Reiff worked at both OT positions at rookie minicamp and could be a candidate to start, possibly at LT with Jeff Backus coming off a torn biceps. Luckily for the Lions, they’ll have all five starters coming back for a third straight season, which is great for continuity. LG Rob Sims has added some weight in an effort to improve his blocking, noting that he felt the need for the extra weight to handle some of the bigger DLs in the league.

D/ST: DE Cliff Avril was franchised by the team, but as of early May the two sides are at an impasse when it comes to working out a long-term deal. While Avril is staying in shape, he decided to skip the start of the team’s off-season program until a deal is reached. The team was able to come to terms with MLB Stephen Tulloch on a five-year, $25 million deal. With CB Eric Wright departing for Tampa Bay, Detroit used a 3rd-round pick to select CB Dwight Bentley, who our own Greg Cosell believes has a similar playing style to Asante Samuel. He could be in the mix to start, but he may be better off playing in the slot. UDFA PK Derek Dimke was signed and is expected to give long-time Lion PK Jason Hanson some competition.

Green Bay Packers

QB: With Aaron Rodgers firmly entrenched as the team’s starter, the biggest issue for the Packers at QB will be Graham Harrell’s ability to move up to the primary backup spot with Matt Flynn leaving via free agency. HC Mike McCarthy has “high hopes” for Harrell, who was promoted from the practice squad last December when the Bills showed interest. The team is not expected to sign a veteran backup.

RB: Alex Green appeared in just four games last season before tearing his ACL last season, but has been making a quick recovery with HC Mike McCarthy noting how good Green looked in the weight room as he continued to progress in his rehab. Green began straight-line running towards the end of April and recently started “a little bit” of cutting. Green said his “speed is picking up daily” and that he’s “definitely excited” with his progress. Team doctor Pat McKenzie said he’s “hopeful” that Green will be ready for training camp. The Packers apparently felt good enough about Green and the rest of their RBs to not select one in this year’s draft. With Ryan Grant not looking like he’ll return, the team will enter the season with a hopefully healthy Green, James Starks, and Brandon Saine as their top three RBs plus FB John Kuhn, who avoided surgery after suffering an MCL injury in January. It should be noted that HC Mike McCarthy has some concerns with Starks’ durability going forward, especially since he hasn’t played a full season dating back to 2008 as a junior at the University of Buffalo.

WR/TE: TE Jermichael Finley initially received the franchise tag, but was then given a two-year deal worth $14 million. There was some discrepancy over Finley’s actual position with HC Mike McCarthy admitting the team has used Finley as a WR in multiple sets. Veteran WR Donald Driver has been busy with “Dancing with the Stars,” but his name has still be in the news quite often as it relates to his status with the Packers. Because of his high contract number as a player with a limited role, Driver will probably need to restructure his deal to remain with the team. His agent said the team has wanted Driver back and Driver wants to return, so once Driver is back in Green Bay, the new structure will be worked out. Driver’s diminished role could have something to do with HC Mike McCarthy looking to expand WR Jordy Nelson’s route tree by making him more of the focus. TE Andrew Quarless continues his rehab from a torn ACL he suffered in December and may not be ready for the start of training camp.

OL: The Packers are going through a little bit of a rebuilding phase when it comes to their OL, as the newly-signed Jeff Saturday will take over at C with Bryan Bulaga at RT and Marshall Newhouse at LT. That’s because Chad Clifton was cut and C Scott Wells was signed away by the Rams. The Packers hope to have 2011 1st-round pick OT Derek Sherrod ready for the start of training camp, as he continues to recover from a broken right leg suffered last December. If Sherrod is healthy, he could challenge Newhouse for the starting LT spot.

D/ST: The Packers had a great pass rush during their Super Bowl season in 2010, but they struggled to get to the QB last year, so they attempted to address that issue by selecting LB Nick Perry with their 1st round pick in this year’s draft. Perry will be moving to the unfamiliar position of OLB after playing DE. However, Perry lined up at LOLB during rookie minicamp, a spot that’s been filled by Clay Matthews over the last two seasons. The idea is to move Matthews back to ROLB, where he last played in 2009 as a rookie. The team also moved up to get DE Jerel Worthy in the 2nd round as a possible rotational player. There’s been talk of CB Charles Woodson moving to safety after the team cut S Nick Collins due to a neck injury, and Woodson has been receptive to the idea, as long as the CB position is shored up. That could be the case if 2nd-round pick CB Casey Hayward shows he’s ready to start opposite Tramon Williams.

Minnesota Vikings

QB: Christian Ponder was slowed by a hip injury at the end of last season, but was 100 percent healed in early March and ready to participate in the team’s OTAs. Ponder admitted that, because of the team’s poor pass protection last year, he wasn’t comfortable going through all of his reads and would run instead of checking down, which may have caused his hip injury. Joe Webb, who filled in for Ponder, will no longer be used at multiple positions. Instead the team has him focusing on just playing QB, which Webb believes is a positive. The team brought back Sage Rosenfels as insurance for Ponder and Webb, but the Vikings seem to want Webb to serve as Ponder’s backup this season and give him a bit of a push for the starting job.

RB: Adrian Peterson’s rehab has being going quite well after suffering a torn ACL, MCL, and meniscus late last season. He resumed running in late March and was already doing wind sprints (and beating his teammates) by late April. HC Leslie Frazier said Peterson was doing great and that the team was “optimistic he’ll be ready for that first game.” However, head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman said, "I love Adrian. But let's make this clear: I'm still not going to be quoted as saying he's going to play in the first game. That's not fair. I don't know that." Sugarman also said that while the goal is for Peterson to play in the opener, it will happen "only if he's functionally able to do it." Peterson showed off his progress in a workout in front of the media. Toby Gerhart, who is expected to handle more of the load even if Peterson is ready for the opener, is over his sprained MCL and should be good to go for OTAs.

WR/TE: Percy Harvin will be getting a little help thanks to the addition of WR Jerome Simpson, who signed a one-year deal. Simpson will miss the first three games of the season due to a suspension, but is expected to start opposite Harvin once his suspension is over. OC Bill Musgrave said of Simpson: "He's a legitimate split end. He has speed to threaten down the field and also get in and out of breaks and beat man coverage." Christian Ponder talked up Simpson, saying, "The guy is so fast. He's so athletic. I think he's going to be a great asset to our 'X' position." Harvin underwent offseason shoulder surgery in April and should be recovered in time for the start of OTAs. With Visanthe Shiancoe not returning, the team signed TE John Carlson to a five-year deal worth $25 million despite Carlson missing all of last season with a shoulder injury. The Vikings still have high hopes for Kyle Rudolph, who is expected to start entering his second season. The team drafted WRs Greg Childs and Jairus Wright, both in the 4th round. Childs had a disappointing senior season, but believes it was because he returned too soon from a torn patella tendon. Wright suffered a head injury at the team’s first rookie workout in early May, but he was able to return without any issue the next day.

OL: As we mentioned, Christian Ponder didn’t feel comfortable going through all his reads due to poor pass protection, which is why he was thrilled when the Vikings used their 1st round pick on LT Matt Kalil. He should start immediately on the left side but is part of a unit that is still working its starting lineup out. Geoff Schwartz was signed to be part of the competition at LG, and it looks like he’ll battle Brandon Fusco, who was drafted as a C, for the starting job.

D/ST: Outside of an amazing performance by DE Jared Allen, it wasn’t a pretty year for the Viking defense in 2011. NT Remi Ayodele and CB Cedric Griffin were cut loose and the team hasn’t made a decision on FS Husain Abdullah yet. The Vikings won’t bring back LB E.J. Henderson, but did re-sign his brother Erin Henderson to a one-year deal. The added CBs Zack Bowman and Chris Carr to help a secondary that struggled mightily last year. CB Josh Robinson was also added to the mix after being selected in the 3rd round this year. The team parted ways with veteran PK Ryan Longwell after selecting PK Blair Walsh in the 6th round of this year’s draft.

dsanty · « **Reply #20 on:** May 20, 2012, 09:09:53 PM »

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

QB: Matt Ryan has been making an effort to get stronger this off-season in attempt to improve his arm strength. He noted that he needed to be more effective on downfield throws, which is something he’s been focusing on improving. The team re-signed Chris Redman to back up Ryan for another year.

RB: HC Mike Smith said that while the team wants to keep Michael Turner as their feature back, they want to get other backs involved as well, noting that Turner may be kept on a carry count of sorts to keep him fresh. The Falcons want to get Jacquizz Rodgers involved more, specifically in the screen game, which would make sense since Turner isn’t a pass catcher and doesn’t have the dynamic ability that Rodgers does. Atlanta brought back RB/FB Jason Snelling on a three-year deal.

WR/TE: Roddy White led the league in dropped passes last year, which he called “unacceptable,” but felt he had a good season other than that. White said the addition of Julio Jones did “wonders” for him because it got him more one-on-one coverages. Jones certainly helped the Falcons’ downfield passing attack, but with new OC Dirk Koetter looking to get the most out of Ryan and Ryan attempting to build up his arm strength, Jones could have an even bigger presence in the offense in 2012. The Falcon re-signed TE Tony Gonzalez, it what he believes could be his last season, to a one-year deal, and they also brought back #3 WR Harry Douglas for four years.

OL: Matt Ryan is a QB who needs protection to succeed, and the Falcons didn’t give him enough of it in 2011. That’s why they spent a 2nd-round pick on Peter Konz, who will compete for the starting RG position, but was probably selected as the long-term answer at C. Konz is considered a solid pass protector, but will need to improve in run blocking.

D/ST: Atlanta made a shrewd move in trading a 7th-round pick for CB Asante Samuel, and followed that up by giving him a three-year deal worth $18.5 million. He projects as a starter opposite Brent Grimes with Dunta Robinson possibly being relegated to third on the depth chart, where he’ll be used as a slot corner, which he’s done in the past. The Falcons re-signed DEs John Abraham and Kroy Biermann, as well as Grimes, who received the franchise tag. They also gave FS Thomas DeCoud a five-year deal worth $21 million.

Carolina Panthers

QB: Cam Newton believes his improvement this off-season has been “through the roof” and our own Greg Cosell said Newton was one of the best young QBs in the league thanks to his exceptional play in the pocket. Cosell added, "He was poised and composed, decisive and accurate. He stood tall and delivered the ball in the eye of the storm. He made difficult throws into tight coverage." As of now, Newton will be backed up by Derek Anderson with Jimmy Clausen serving as the third-stringer.

RB: Carolina’s backfield became an even bigger headache for fantasy players with the signing of Mike Tolbert to four-year deal worth $10 million. However, the Panthers have insisted that Tolbert will play FB to kill any notion that Tolbert’s presence would open the door to trade Jonathan Stewart, who’s in a contract year. Rivera said that Tolbert’s athleticism as a FB is something that will help the team and something the team loved to have. The team is expected to continue the rotation of Stewart and DeAngelo Williams with Tolbert serving as a lead blocker and possible third-down back. Mike Goodson, who fell out of favor, was traded to the Raiders.

WR/TE: Steve Smith will hopefully be getting some help on the opposite side this year, but from whom is yet to be determined. The best bet might be Brandon LaFell, who ESPN said the team really likes and believe he could be “poised for a breakout” in 2012. David Gettis might be LaFell’s biggest competition, and while he’s expected to participate in OTAs, his return from a torn ACL might hinder him as well as being a year behind in OC Rob Chudzinski’s system. The Panthers used a 4th-round pick on Joe Adams, but his role in the offense may be limited since he’s expected be used primarily as a return man.

OL: The selection of OL Amini Silatolu in the 2nd round of this year’s draft was a necessity for a Panther OL that’s dealt with injuries to their best players in recent years. He played LT in college, but is expected to be in the competition for the starting LG spot. They kept OG Geoff Hangartner after re-signing him to a three-year deal and also acquired OL Bruce Campbellin a trade. However, they lost OLs Mackenzy Bernadeau and Geoff Schwartz to free agency.

D/ST: With a LB corps that’s dealt with their fair share of injuries over the last couple of seasons, it appeared to be a position of need in this year’s draft, which is why the team selected LB Luke Kuechly in the 1st round. There’s still a question as to where he’ll play along with Jon Beason and Thomas Davis. Beason is coming off a torn Achilles and needs to prove himself to be 100 percent recovered. Davis will try to come back from his third torn ACL, and may end up playing behind James Anderson on the strong side. The team signed PK Justin Medlock to compete with Olindo Mare.

New Orleans Saints

QB: Drew Brees and the Saints continue to battle over a new deal with Brees going as far as saying the talks have been “extremely frustrating.” Brees clearly wasn’t happy when the team hit him with the franchise tag and was “very upset” that he wasn’t attending team workouts due to the holdup. Even though GM Mickey Loomis said there’s “no ill will” and a deal “will get done,” it should be noted that Brees has yet to sign his franchise tender.

RB: It’s been a fairly quiet off-season for the Saint RBs outside of Mark Ingram. He ended the season on the IR due to a turf toe injury, but was expected to be 100% by OTAs. However, he was forced to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery in early May and won’t be a full-go for the start of training camp, according to interim HC Joe Vitt. Ingram’s now had three surgeries over the last three years.

WR/TE: Marques Colston and the Saints had little trouble reaching a new contract worth $40 million over five years. Unfortunately, they had to let Robert Meachem go due to cap restraints, leaving a bit of a hole in their receiving corps. Adrian Arrington, who re-signed with the team in February is expected to get the first chance at replacing Meachem, according to the Times-Picayune. WR Nick Toonwas taken in the 4th-round and got a high compliment from OC Pete Carmichael, who said Toon reminded him of Colston. Carmichael said, "He runs better than I think people give him credit. He timed real well at the combine. I think that speed shows up on film."

OL: While it wasn’t surprising to see the Saints lose OG Carl Nicks to free agency, it’s still quite a hole to fill. That’ll be up to new LG Ben Grubbs, who signed a five-year deal worth $36 million. The Saints didn’t do much to address anything else on their OL outside of using a 6th-round pick on OG Andrew Tiller and a 7th-round pick on LT Marcel Jones.

D/ST: The biggest story of the off-season has been the bounty sanctions handed down by the league to the Saints. HC Sean Payton was suspended for the season, GM Mickey Loomis will be suspended for the first eight games, and interim HC Joe Vitt will be out for the first six games. LB Jonathan Vilma was suspended for the entire season and DEWill Smith got four games. Vilma has appealed the suspension and is suing Roger Goodell for defamation. In what may have been a move to cover themselves in preparation for the suspension, the Saints gave LB Curtis Loftona six-year deal worth over $33 million. They also added LBs Chris Chamberlain and David Hawthorne. With Vilma out, Lofton is expected to play in the middle with Scott Shanle on the strong side and Hawthorne on the weak side. The DL will be bolstered by the signing of NT Brodrick Bunkley and the selection of 3rd-round pick Akiem Hicks.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

QB: Josh Freeman has made an effort to drop 20 pounds after struggling in his second season, which drops him down to about 235 pounds. New OC Mike Sullivan is expected to help the development of Freeman and has expressed optimism with working with his new QB. Sullivan spent the last two seasons working with Eli Manning as part of the Giants’ staff. Freeman and the Bucs won’t be looking for an extension until 2013. The Bucs signed Dan Orlovsky to back up Freeman this year.

RB: The Bucs hit a home run when they traded back up into the 1st round to grab RB Doug Martin at #31 overall. HC Greg Schiano called Martin a “very complete back” who possesses patience and ability to block, catch, and be patient with his runs. Martin is expected to eventually take over for LeGarrette Blount, but for now the Bucs are calling this a competitions, although it should be noted that Schiano indirectly called Blount out for his issues with ball security. Blount has lost some weight and believes he’s showing he can be an every-down back, noting that the selection of Martin might have been just what he needed.

WR/TE: Obviously, the biggest move the Bucs made with their receiving corps was the signing of Vincent Jackson to a five-year deal worth over $55 million.Jackson is expected to take over the #1 role from Mike Williams, who will move back into the #2 spot, which probably fits him better. Jackson may take a step back in fantasy value if HC Greg Schiano sticks to his run-heavy offense. In a bit of surprise, WR Dezmon Briscoe hasn’t been at any of the team’s voluntary workouts due to a personal issue, although it is not known what that issue is.

OL: Tampa Bay made a big splash with the signing of LG Carl Nicks to a five year-deal worth $47.5 million. He’ll immediately be slotted into a starting job at LG, which will certainly help what was a weak left side of the line along with LT Donald Penn. The team also gave OL Jeremy Zuttah an extension, which was very important as he has the ability to play multiple positions. An improvement in run blocking will be necessary if the Bucs plan to run the ball more this season.

D/ST: Attacking the defense in the draft was a key for the Bucs, and they did a great job in trading down and still being able to get SS Mark Barron in the 1st round. Tampa Bay has struggled at safety in recent seasons, but Barron gives them an immediate starter opposite Cody Grimm. They’ve also moved forward with the move of Ronde Barber from CB to S. CB Eric Wright, who was part of some early signings in free agency, will replace Barber in the starting lineup. 2nd-round pick LB Lavonte David is expected to fit right it as a starter on the weak side.

dsanty · « **Reply #21 on:** May 20, 2012, 09:10:28 PM »

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

QB: The competition is open in Arizona. On one side, we have the man who was coveted in trades just a year ago in Kevin Kolb, who signed a five-year, $65 million deal. On the other side, we have John Skelton, a 2010 5th-round pick out of Fordham. Given his contract, Kolb will surely be given every chance to win the job, but HC Ken Whisenhunt may have to go with whoever is more consistent and handles pressure better – a big issue for both last year. This could be a make-or-break year for the 27-year-old Kolb, but the coaches aren’t just going to hand it to him, because Skelton could be a capable starter. Additionally, Kolb must get over the concussion problem that has plagued him and even lasted a few weeks into the off-season, according to the Arizona Republic. Behind them, the Cardinals drafted a developmental player in San Diego State’s Ryan Lindley, who has NFL tools but must become more accurate and make better decisions.

RB: The Cardinals spent a 2nd-round pick on Ryan Williams last year, only to see Beanie Wells finally emerge as a solid producer. Of course, Wells had to be the guy again after Williams tore his patellar tendon, ending his season before it could even start. Fortunately, Williams’ rehab appears to be on track, as he’s already running and cutting, and the Cardinals will need him healthy given Wells’ frequent issues. In fact, Wells underwent a knee scope in January. Wells should be fine, given that it was minor surgery, but there always seems to be some kind of issue with him, and he said he told the team’s official website that he’s not quite sure when he’ll be ready to go. He’s the starter, but Williams will push him. Depth is provided by a solid change-of-pace back in LaRod Stephens-Howling, who re-signed on a one-year restricted tender in April.

WR/TE: Neither Andre Roberts nor Early Doucet is a bad player, but the Cardinals wanted a big upgrade at the #2 WR spot, pushing Roberts and Doucet into complementary roles. That’s why they invested a 1st-round pick in Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd, who should start immediately alongside star WR Larry Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald receives all the attention from defenses, and Floyd, who has similarities to Dwayne Bowe, should help solve that problem if he develops quickly. Fitzgerald attended all the team’s workouts in the off-season and will also take Floyd under his wing, as the two are both natives of the Twin Cities and have been friends for several years. Doucet re-signed on a two-year deal before the Floyd selection, and he’ll have to compete with Roberts for snaps, mostly out of the slot, assuming Floyd wins the starting job. At TE, the Cardinals will hope for the emergence of athletic second-year player Rob Housler, who, ideally, will push veteran Todd Heap for some snaps.

OL: While it’s hard to argue with the Cardinals’ selection of Floyd, it doesn’t change the fact that their O-line is still a massive issue. The line has acted as turnstiles for opposing pass rushers, and it doesn’t help that Kolb has done a poor job handling pressure. The Cards brought back LT Levi Brown at a reduced price, and while he’ll ideally move to RT, they might not have that luxury unless backup Nate Potter improves. On the other side, Jeremy Bridges is slated to start at the moment with Brandon Keith unsigned, but he should get pushed by rookie Bobby Massie, who somewhat surprisingly fell to 4th round. Guards Deuce Lutui and Rex Hadnot are gone, and the one free agent signing the Cardinals made up front is former 49er Adam Snyder, who is versatile but will probably start at RG. Unless Massie unexpectedly emerges as a stud, it’s hard to imagine this group being a lot better, which is bad news considering they surrendered the 2nd-most sacks in the league last year.

D/ST: While everyone was complaining about the Cardinals’ offensive line, positive changes were made over the course of the 2011 season on defense, where DC Ray Horton has a pretty solid group now. A key, of course, was the emergence of 1st-round pick Patrick Peterson as a star at one CB spot after some early struggles, and he also provides a big boost to the return game, making him incredibly valuable. There really won’t be a lot of changes on this unit, and that might not be a bad thing. LBs Joey Porter and Clark Haggans remain un-signed, but they’re well past their prime, and guys like Daryl Washington and O’Brien Schofield make this a solid unit. It helps that they’re playing behind a good line anchored by Darnell Dockett, Calais Campbell, and Dan Williams in Horton’s 3-4 scheme. The signings occurred in the secondary, where former Steeler William Gay will compete with A.J. Jefferson, Greg Toler, and 3rd-round pick Jamell Fleming for the starting job opposite Peterson.

San Francisco 49ers

QB: After a surprisingly successful 2011 season in Jim Harbaugh’s first year as coach, Alex Smith re-signed with the 49ers, agreeing to a three-year, $24 million deal to keep him as starting QB despite Colin Kaepernick’s selection in the 2nd round of last year’s draft. With Smith locked up, the focus has been on improving his mechanics. Smith visited with motion specialist Tom House, and Harbaugh said Smith has made “dramatic improvements,” according to the San Jose Mercury News. In addition to re-signing Smith, the 49ers signed free agent backup QB Josh Johnson, a former Buccaneer who played for Harbaugh in college at San Diego. Harbaugh has said the starting job belongs to Smith, with Kaepernick and Johnson competing for the backup job.

RB: The 49ers signed Frank Gore to a four-year, $25.9 million deal last August, but there’s still been a lot of movement in this backfield this off-season. Despite the drafting of Kendall Hunter last year, they signed former Giant Brandon Jacobs as a power back and drafted explosive Oregon runner LaMichael James in the 2nd round. Harbaugh said the selection of James was not an indictment of anyone on the roster, but, at his age, it seems likely that Gore will come off the field more than he used to, even though he’ll still be the clear lead back. Jacobs signed a cheap deal and will have to earn his roster spot, and the same goes for reserve power back Anthony Dixon. James is not going to be a threat to ever be an every-down back, but instead the 49ers will probably use him in a Darren Sproles satellite role.

WR/TE: Given that the 49ers ran with Michael Crabtree and Kyle Williams as the starting receivers in the playoffs, it’s not surprising that the WR position was their biggest focus in the off-season. Braylon Edwards was a failure in San Francisco, and Josh Morgan missed most of the season. Both are gone, and in their place the 49ers drafted A.J. Jenkins and signed Randy Moss and Mario Manningham. Crabtree will certainly be one of the starters as he continues to develop a better rapport with Smith, while Manningham has to be the favorite for the other spot. The Sacramento Bee has indicated that Crabtree could see time in the slot when the 49ers go three-wide, although Manningham and Jenkins also have that versatility. Of course, the wild card in this group is the embattled Moss, who had a horrendous 2010 season with the Patriots, Vikings, and Titans and didn’t even play last year. Moss has drawn nothing but rave reviews in workouts so far, but can we really trust him? We know he’s still talented even if he’s not as explosive as he once was, but the question is effort and commitment once he’s actually in game situations. The 49ers also re-signed Ted Ginn, who has made no impact at receiver but is valuable as a return man, as we saw in last year’s NFC title game. At TE, the 49ers will stick with the athletic duo of Vernon Davis as starter and Delanie Walker as his backup.

OL: After initially struggling last year, the 49er O-line came together over the course of the season, and there’s only one noticeable change this year. Starting RG Adam Snyder is gone, having signed with the Cardinals, and he’ll probably be replaced by Alex Boone, who played a lot of snaps last year as a swing player on the line. Boone will compete with 2011 5th-round pick Daniel Kilgore, as Chilo Rachal signed with the Bears. The rest of the group appears set, with LT Joe Staley, LG Mike Iupati, C Jonathan Goodwin, and RT Anthony Davis starting.

D/ST: The 49ers had the league’s most dominant defense last season, so there was no reason to make changes. They’ll continue to roll with what’s working. Backup DBs Shawntae Spencer and Madieu Williams are gone, but that’s about it. Starting FS Dashon Goldson was hit with the franchise tag, although CSNBayArea.com reported that Goldson has no plans to sign his tender any time soon. The biggest moves were re-signings. CB Carlos Rogers is back on a four-year, $29 million deal, and OLB Ahmad Brooks also re-signed on a six-year, $44.5 million deal. With young stars like ILB NaVorro Bowman and OLB Aldon Smith, and veterans like ILB Patrick Willis and DE Justin Smith still in the mix, this defense is absolutely loaded. In his second year, expect to see Aldon Smith play more than just passing downs after his productive rookie year as a situational player.

St. Louis Rams

QB: Well, it’s Year Three of the Sam Bradford era in St. Louis, and he’s stuck learning a new offense for the third time. First, there was Pat Shurmur. Then, in a lockout-shortened off-season, there was Josh McDaniels. Now it’s Brian Schottenheimer, who takes over as OC under new HC Jeff Fisher. Schottenheimer never really had an identity in New York, as the Jets waffled between the “ground and pound” and letting Mark Sanchez throw. Fisher likes to run, and the Rams will surely do that, but they also have to get Bradford – a former #1 overall pick – comfortable after he was bombarded by opposing pass rushes and given little help at receiver last year, aside from Brandon Lloyd. In a vote of confidence for Bradford, new GM Les Snead said the Rams did not consider trading Bradford and using the #2 pick on Robert Griffin III. Behind Bradford, the Rams re-signed backups Kellen Clemens and Tom Brandstater and did not bring back A.J. Feeley.

RB: It’s no secret that Fisher had his eye on Alabama RB Trent Richardson in the draft, but the Rams ended up trading back, meaning they appear comfortable rolling with veteran Steven Jackson, who will be 29 years old this season. Jackson is still effective, of course, always running hard, and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch also shot down rumors that Jackson was unhappy with his contract. Instead of Richardson, the Rams ended up with explosive Cincinnati RB Isaiah Pead in the 2nd round of the draft. The undersized Pead isn’t a threat to take over as the every-down back, although ESPN has reported that the Rams do envision him as a possible successor to Jackson. Either way, for this year, it’s safe to assume that Pead will serve as a change-of-pace behind Jackson, and the two appear to complement each other well. With Cadillac Williams and Jerious Norwood not re-signed, the Rams have very little depth behind Jackson and Pead. The other RBs on the roster include Chase Reynolds and 7th-round pick Daryl Richardson.

WR/TE: Last year, the Ram receiving corps looked like it might have some potential, but it was a mess to figure out because there were so many bodies. Well, Danny Amendola got hurt early, Mike Sims-Walker was a bust, and Mark Clayton couldn’t get healthy, and the biggest contributor by far ended up being Brandon Lloyd, who started the season in Denver. Now, it’s time to pick up the pieces. Lloyd, not surprisingly, followed McDaniels to New England, and the Rams spent two picks in the first four rounds of the draft on big Appalachian State WR Brian Quick and explosive Wake Forest WR Chris Givens. They join Brandon Gibson, Danario Alexander, Austin Pettis, and Greg Salas in vying for spots, along with Amendola and former Giant and Eagle Steven Smith. Once again, this group is a mess. The Rams clearly have an eye toward the future, and while Quick and Givens are raw, it’s possible one or both could start. The Rams clearly love Quick’s potential to be a complete receiver, and Givens could be a healthy version of Alexander as a deep threat. Amendola re-signed with the Rams on a one-year deal as a restricted free agent, and in early April he said he was 100% healthy after his season-ending elbow injury last September. He’s the favorite for the #3 slot receiver role, while the wild card is Smith, who is looking for a fresh start after 2010 microfracture surgery derailed his career. If Smith is healthy, he’ll almost surely get a spot, with Alexander, Gibson, Pettis – who faces a four-game suspension – and Salas also competing. Fortunately, things appear a little simpler at TE, where second-year player Lance Kendricks will get another shot after an uneven, at best, rookie season, with Michael Hoomanawanui behind him.

OL: The Rams had a ton of holes in 2011, but no unit was more disappointing than the offensive line. Opposing defenses teed off on Bradford, and the Rams gave up the most sacks in the league, thanks to injuries and underperforming players like RT Jason Smith. Both Smith and LT Rodger Saffold, who is returning from pectoral surgery, will get another shot as starters. Saffold has not been cleared yet, but he’s expected to be ready soon. The much-maligned tackle duo missed a combined 17 games last year. Smith took a paycut and has participated in OTAs. As for the other positions, the main battle is at LG, where Bryan Mattison will compete with Robert Turner and Quinn Ojinnaka for the spot vacated by Jacob Bell. Harvey Dahl, who had a disappointing season after coming over from Atlanta, will start at LG with former Packer Scott Wells, who signed a four-year, $24 million deal, starting in the middle. In addition, the Rams added depth by signing former Chief RT Barry Richardson and drafting OT Rokevious Watkins in the 5th round.

D/ST: The Ram run defense was atrocious last year, but overall the group didn’t do a bad job, considering the circumstances. The secondary was decimated by injuries, and the offense couldn’t score points, putting a lot of pressure on the defense. Well, now there is reason for hope on what could develop into a solid unit. The most noteworthy move was the signing of former Titan CB Cortland Finnegan, who agreed to a five-year, $50 million deal. The Rams made other moves at CB too, including taking a risk that could pay off in a big way by using a 2nd-round pick on Janoris Jenkins, who is a top-10 talent but fell because of character concerns. Trumaine Johnson, a 3rd-round pick, is also sure to be in the mix, and the Rams are pretty solid at safety with Darian Stewart and Quintin Mikell. They also have a chance for a pretty good pass rush up front. DE Robert Quinn improved over the course of his rookie season, Chris Long is strong off the edge, and the Rams used a 1st-round pick on DT Michael Brockers. Additionally, the Rams signed DTs Kendall Langford and Trevor Laws, along with OLB Jo-Lonn Dunbar and DE William Hayes. Perhaps there will be some growing pains, especially at CB, but there is some talent to work with here. On special teams, the Rams got rid of PK Josh Brown, making room for rookie 6th-round pick Greg Zuerlein.

Seattle Seahawks

QB: The Seahawks somewhat surprisingly handed their starting QB job to Tarvaris Jackson last year, but now he faces stiff competition from former Packer backup Matt Flynn and, if you believe HC Pete Carroll, 3rd-round rookie Russell Wilson. Flynn is the overwhelming favorite to win the job, despite his lack of starting experience. He put up huge numbers in the Packers’ regular season finale, and he was a coveted free agent after biding his time behind Aaron Rodgers. Flynn signed a three-year, $28 million deal, and he will almost certainly win the job, but Carroll has said the team won’t rush to name a starting QB. That means the inconsistent and erratic Jackson is still in the mix, as is Wilson, with former backup Charlie Whitehurst now in San Diego. Wilson does have pro tools as a QB, but the problem is he’s under 5’11” tall, so he faces a big challenge. Still, if Wilson continues to impress coaches and plays well, he could put Jackson’s spot in jeopardy.

RB: One of the most pleasant surprises in the league last year was the hard and decisive running of Marshawn Lynch, who finished 8th among RBs for fantasy last year. Lynch’s success earned him a four-year, $31 million deal, as the Seahawks are now comfortable riding him as the foundation of their offense. Behind Lynch, the Seahawks made a couple moves but did not re-sign Justin Forsett. First, they signed former Buc reserve Kregg Lumpkin, who saw increased action in Tampa because of LeGarrette Blount’s inability to block. Then, they drafted solid Utah State RB Robert Turbin, who runs with a similar style to Lynch and fits the team’s zone running scheme. Lynch has the starting job locked down, and it seems that Turbin could be his handcuff, with veteran Leon Washington occasionally mixed in as a change of pace and third-down back. Former Panther Tyrell Sutton will also compete for a roster spot. Meanwhile, at FB, the Seahawks wisely re-signed special teams captain Michael Robinson, a college QB who made the Pro Bowl last year.

WR/TE: Will Sidney Rice ever be 100% healthy? He’s apparently going to be better than ever this off-season, but can he actually be that way during the season? In five pro seasons, Rice has played a full season and put up more than 500 yards only once – his massive 2009 season in which he had 84/1312/8 with Brett Favre at QB. This off-season, Rice had two surgeries to repair his shoulders. He also dealt with concussions last season and hip injuries in 2010, but right now the biggest concern is the shoulders. GM John Schneider said the procedures will allow Rice to be “the healthiest he's going to be since he's been a professional,” according to The Seattle Times. Rice has worked out but probably won’t be cleared for contact until training camp. The Seahawks are counting on Rice to stay healthy, as they made no changes to the position in the off-season. Former UDFA Doug Baldwin is hoping to build on his successful rookie season and believes he could be even more than just a quick slot receiver, while Golden Tate is also looking to build on a strong finish to his second season. The Seahawks will have to see if they can get contributions from Michael Williams, who finally emerged in 2010 but struggled with injuries last season and skipped workouts as he recovers from leg issues. Also in the mix are decent backup Ben Obomanu and undersized but speedy wideout Deon Butler, who was a nonfactor last year after suffered a bad leg injury late in 2010. At TE, John Carlson is gone, and the question now is whether they’ll actually make an effort to get Zach Miller involved after he was irrelevant despite signing a five-year, $34 million contract last year. Flynn at QB could help him.

OL: Pass protection has been a big issue for the Seahawks, especially with Jackson running the show at QB. Having Flynn could help, but, still, improvements are needed up front this season. Injuries certainly haven’t helped, and the key is keeping LT Russell Okung on the field. Okung has missed 10 games in two seasons, but the good news is he participated in OTAs after tearing his pectoral. On the right side, Breno Giacomini (who signed a two-year deal) will likely take over the starting spot permanently as James Carpenter battles back from a torn ACL. According to the Tacoma News Tribune, Paul McQuistan is slated for LG, while John Moffitt should be ready to start at RG despite undergoing MCL surgery on his knee. Max Unger will start at C, and the Seahawks added some insurance by signing OT Frank Omiyale from Chicago and G Deuce Lutui from Arizona with Robert Gallery released.

D/ST: The Seahawk defense developed into a very solid unit last year, and it appears to be on the verge of getting even better, even if people question the Seahawks’ 1st-round choice of West Virginia pass rusher Bruce Irvin. Some teams did covet Irvin as a big-time pass rusher, so time will tell whether not that was a reach, especially with a guy like Melvin Ingram still on the board. Still, Aldon Smith proved last year for the 49ers that a rookie pass rusher doesn’t have to play every down to make a big impact. Irvin joins a pretty deep rotation up front that features re-signed DE Red Bryant, top pass rusher Chris Clemons, and DTs Jason Jones (signed from Tennessee), Brandon Mebane, and Alan Branch. The LB corps is not quite as impressive. David Hawthorne signed with the Saints, and now the Seahawks will be forced to go with either 2nd-round pick Bobby Wagner or Barrett Ruud, who lost his job in Tennessee last year, at MLB. The most interesting name in the unit is Allen Bradford, who is being converted to LB after playing RB for Carroll at USC. Meanwhile, the Seahawks have quietly put together one of the best secondaries in the league, so the LBs may not be a big issue if they are successful in their pass rush and in coverage. They released and then re-signed Marcus Trufant at CB, simply for depth, as big corners Brandon Browner and Richard Sherman played very well last year. And the Seahawks continue to be strong in the middle of the field with the safety duo of Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor.

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Author Topic: 2012 Player News And Rumors (Read 403 times)

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