FFI: GAME NOTES
SEPTEMBER 6th, 2007
THE NFL 2007 SEASON HAS BEGUN
Well its official, the 2007 regular season is underway. The 2007 season opener featured a couple of teams with some high-powered offenses and had the makings to be an exciting clash of Superstars!
Well Thursday night was filled with many pre-game stars from Kelly Clarkson to John Cougar-Mellencamp to Faith Hill, but what it was missing were a few from New Orleans.
On the primetime stage Peyton Manning and Company did not disappoint, although their new feature back did put a huge scare in the hearts of many fantasy football gamers. On the team’s first offensive play from scrimmage running back Joseph Addai went down and did not get up for several minutes. When he did finally make it up he went straight to the bench and sat out the remainder of the series. Fortunately for league owners with Addai on their team it was nothing more than the wind knocked out of him.
Like his counterpart Manning, Addai was equally impressive carrying the ball 23 times for 118 yards. Addai also added three catches for another 25 yards, looking very much like a young James, but perhaps with more scat. If tonight was any indication, 79% of the touches in the running game, Addai is on his way to a huge season!
Manning’s start tonight was also an indication of possibly another Peyton like season (288 yards passing, 3-tds). Take it for what you will, not only do the Colts look primed on offense to do what they do (Marvin & Reggie, 11 catches for 198 yards & 3 touchdowns combined), but now they have a defense (3-takeaways)?
On the flip side, Drew Brees did not look poised all night. He seemed to be pressing at times and very hesitant to throw down field. When he did, it was not good (two picks on the night). The Saints are coming off a big season from a year ago and perhaps expectations this year could be adding some pressure on the boys from Louisiana.
On a night when the Saints needed stars, they fell like meteors and landed with a thud. Reggie Bush and company could not get the running game untracked (McAllister & Bush; 22 carries for 76 yards, 3.4 yards per carry combined). The Saints tried to get Bush involved in the passing game with 4 catches, but for only 7 yards.
The night was expected to be full of fireworks, but the 41-10 result showed only one team arrived cocked and loaded. The defending champs are well on their way to backing up last years title run. There are 16 more weeks of football to go, so we have got a lot to look forward to in Indianapolis.
The Saints however can take tonight’s game and look at the results with the same perspective. Although they did not look like last year’s dream-season team, they still contain many of those same ingredients. There are 16 more weeks of football to play, so we still have a lot to look forward to in New Orleans!
~D.Ortega
FFI
Friday, September 7, 2007
Monday, September 3, 2007
THE WEEKLY ROUTINE
By Drew Sagon, Special To NFL Draft Bible
The casual fantasy owner manages their team on the weekends. They make spot starts on occasion, but usually do not land the top free agents each week. They set their lineup on Saturday, or in the extreme case, on Sunday morning. There is absolutely nothing wrong with assuming the role of the casual fantasy manager--as long you don’t mind sitting at home during the latter portion of the season as the other owners duel for a championship.
If you’re the type of competitor that will never be content with second place, then the chances are that you make for a much better fantasy manager. Fantasy football was made for people like this; people that take risks, people that love the excitement and thrive under the immense pressure of managing a winning team.
In my own, extensive, fantasy experience which dates back to the late 1990s, I have not seen many managers able to undergo a change in philosophy. Few start out as casual managers and later discover that there is more to fantasy than two days a week. Few grasp from the onset the full time job that being a successful fantasy football manager truly is. However, if winning is important to you, and you are interested in becoming more active in your league, I have developed a winning formula. The following is a solid blueprint as to how you should spend each day of the week leading up to Sunday.
Monday:
It is very important every Monday, usually in the morning when the events of the previous day are still fresh in your mind, to critique your performance that week. I understand that many managers are still concerned about the Monday night game, and may have their weekly fate resting upon it, but the Monday night game last’s only three hours- there is twenty-one more in which to work with. So examine your lineup and find out what you did wrong and what you did right. Be reasonable, you can’t fault yourself for starting Steven Jackson during a week where he accumulates 80 total yards, over Fred Taylor who, by chance, just so happens to punch in two scores. At the same time you may have overlooked a match up. For example, LaMont Jordan has historically had tremendous success over the Browns, and if you stuck with Brandon Jacobs against the Bears, you might very well have cost yourself a W. Don’t be too brash on Mondays. Although Laveraneus Coles may have caught one pass for six yards, understand that he is still worthy of a roster spot, but make note of the reason for the poor performance and try to get him out of your lineup before the next disappointment. Finally watch the Monday night game. There’s nothing more exciting in the fantasy universe than watching your team nail down a victory on Monday night.
Tuesday:
With the week officially over, Tuesday is your day to trash talk. Tuesday is a great day to post. You definitely want to play up your team’s performance (if it was a good one), or slam your next week’s opponent. If you made a great pickup and started Anthony Gonzales who happens to explode for 80 yards and a touchdown, let your league know about it. Although I can’t advise you on exactly what to say because I feel it’s important to leave some creativity the imagination of the manager, I’m sure you will be able to think of something.
Wednesday:
Wednesday is the week’s turning point. It’s time to look ahead and set a tentative lineup. Much like last year, this season sports eight Thursday night games. This means that in some cases, you will have to set your lineup by Thursday night. On Wednesday you must take a look at your team and decide where your holes are. Take a look at the available free agents and decide whether or not any of them are capable of helping your team. By the time you go to sleep on Wednesday night, you should be fairly certain of your lineup for the upcoming week. Confidence is very important toward Fantasy success.
Thursday:
Thursday is a day for the future. On Thursday’s you need to look ahead past your current opponent and take a look to see if any players that could potentially help you, down the road, are available. A lot of managers will have made a few waiver moves by Wednesday and in a disappointed rage it is possible that one or two gems were dropped from their teams. You may also want to take a chance on an injured player. If Kevin Jones is returning from PUP in a week and Tatum Bell has not been performing, throw a roster spot Jones’s way. You could potentially hit the jackpot and have a new starting running back or he could become trade bait for the owner of Tatum Bell.
Friday:
Friday is as close to a day off as we have in the business of fantasy. The weekend is upon you and your roster is pretty well set for the current match up. Follow any breaking news in the NFL but enjoy your day off, even the most extreme managers can take a night off on a Friday night.
Saturday:
With one day until game time Saturday is your day to finalize your lineup. You want to beat the Sunday morning rush and be satisfied with who you’re going to put on the field in hopes of a bringing home a win. This also allows for you to make any changes on Sunday morning in case of an emergency. Make sure you are confident; there is no bigger disappointment in fantasy than starting an underachiever. If your gut tells you to go with Matt Leinart against the Bills, rather than Matt Hasselback versus the Patriots, then do it with conviction.
Sunday:
Sunday is obviously game day, and you should be at your computer consistently throughout the day checking scores and stats. However, it is also important to pay attention to injuries. If someone big goes down, you want to be the first one on the waiver wire. Make sure that if Shaun Alexander so much as breaks a finger nail, you know about it, and if necessary, you are the first one to put in your claim for Maurice Morris. Above all else, enjoy your Sunday--it is after all what we play for in this crazy business we call Fantasy Football.
Of course this alone is not enough to make you a successful manager. Make sure to pay attention to any and all NFL news during the week. Also pay attention to what’s happening in your league and check it daily. If another manager has to make a roster spot and throws out a capable starter in a temporary brain lapse, your attentiveness could very well be a big piece of your run at a championship.
The casual fantasy owner manages their team on the weekends. They make spot starts on occasion, but usually do not land the top free agents each week. They set their lineup on Saturday, or in the extreme case, on Sunday morning. There is absolutely nothing wrong with assuming the role of the casual fantasy manager--as long you don’t mind sitting at home during the latter portion of the season as the other owners duel for a championship.
If you’re the type of competitor that will never be content with second place, then the chances are that you make for a much better fantasy manager. Fantasy football was made for people like this; people that take risks, people that love the excitement and thrive under the immense pressure of managing a winning team.
In my own, extensive, fantasy experience which dates back to the late 1990s, I have not seen many managers able to undergo a change in philosophy. Few start out as casual managers and later discover that there is more to fantasy than two days a week. Few grasp from the onset the full time job that being a successful fantasy football manager truly is. However, if winning is important to you, and you are interested in becoming more active in your league, I have developed a winning formula. The following is a solid blueprint as to how you should spend each day of the week leading up to Sunday.
Monday:
It is very important every Monday, usually in the morning when the events of the previous day are still fresh in your mind, to critique your performance that week. I understand that many managers are still concerned about the Monday night game, and may have their weekly fate resting upon it, but the Monday night game last’s only three hours- there is twenty-one more in which to work with. So examine your lineup and find out what you did wrong and what you did right. Be reasonable, you can’t fault yourself for starting Steven Jackson during a week where he accumulates 80 total yards, over Fred Taylor who, by chance, just so happens to punch in two scores. At the same time you may have overlooked a match up. For example, LaMont Jordan has historically had tremendous success over the Browns, and if you stuck with Brandon Jacobs against the Bears, you might very well have cost yourself a W. Don’t be too brash on Mondays. Although Laveraneus Coles may have caught one pass for six yards, understand that he is still worthy of a roster spot, but make note of the reason for the poor performance and try to get him out of your lineup before the next disappointment. Finally watch the Monday night game. There’s nothing more exciting in the fantasy universe than watching your team nail down a victory on Monday night.
Tuesday:
With the week officially over, Tuesday is your day to trash talk. Tuesday is a great day to post. You definitely want to play up your team’s performance (if it was a good one), or slam your next week’s opponent. If you made a great pickup and started Anthony Gonzales who happens to explode for 80 yards and a touchdown, let your league know about it. Although I can’t advise you on exactly what to say because I feel it’s important to leave some creativity the imagination of the manager, I’m sure you will be able to think of something.
Wednesday:
Wednesday is the week’s turning point. It’s time to look ahead and set a tentative lineup. Much like last year, this season sports eight Thursday night games. This means that in some cases, you will have to set your lineup by Thursday night. On Wednesday you must take a look at your team and decide where your holes are. Take a look at the available free agents and decide whether or not any of them are capable of helping your team. By the time you go to sleep on Wednesday night, you should be fairly certain of your lineup for the upcoming week. Confidence is very important toward Fantasy success.
Thursday:
Thursday is a day for the future. On Thursday’s you need to look ahead past your current opponent and take a look to see if any players that could potentially help you, down the road, are available. A lot of managers will have made a few waiver moves by Wednesday and in a disappointed rage it is possible that one or two gems were dropped from their teams. You may also want to take a chance on an injured player. If Kevin Jones is returning from PUP in a week and Tatum Bell has not been performing, throw a roster spot Jones’s way. You could potentially hit the jackpot and have a new starting running back or he could become trade bait for the owner of Tatum Bell.
Friday:
Friday is as close to a day off as we have in the business of fantasy. The weekend is upon you and your roster is pretty well set for the current match up. Follow any breaking news in the NFL but enjoy your day off, even the most extreme managers can take a night off on a Friday night.
Saturday:
With one day until game time Saturday is your day to finalize your lineup. You want to beat the Sunday morning rush and be satisfied with who you’re going to put on the field in hopes of a bringing home a win. This also allows for you to make any changes on Sunday morning in case of an emergency. Make sure you are confident; there is no bigger disappointment in fantasy than starting an underachiever. If your gut tells you to go with Matt Leinart against the Bills, rather than Matt Hasselback versus the Patriots, then do it with conviction.
Sunday:
Sunday is obviously game day, and you should be at your computer consistently throughout the day checking scores and stats. However, it is also important to pay attention to injuries. If someone big goes down, you want to be the first one on the waiver wire. Make sure that if Shaun Alexander so much as breaks a finger nail, you know about it, and if necessary, you are the first one to put in your claim for Maurice Morris. Above all else, enjoy your Sunday--it is after all what we play for in this crazy business we call Fantasy Football.
Of course this alone is not enough to make you a successful manager. Make sure to pay attention to any and all NFL news during the week. Also pay attention to what’s happening in your league and check it daily. If another manager has to make a roster spot and throws out a capable starter in a temporary brain lapse, your attentiveness could very well be a big piece of your run at a championship.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The Art Of The Early Deal
By Ralph Mancini, NFL Draft Bible
There are two types of fantasy football enthusiasts, the ones who draft their players with the mindset that they will live and die with them and there are those who love living on the edge. If you’re one of those who enjoy walking on the wild side and treat the game as one continuous “buy and sell” venture in the effort of progressively reinforcing your team, you’re probably already scheming on the numerous trade possibilities that could seriously give you a leg-up on the competition.
Trading up or down in the draft order is only recommended if you know how your league drafts. Knowing the tendencies of others will help you determine whether the player you’re targeting will be available once you’ve made the exchange. But once draft day has come and gone, all bets are off. It’s now time to scour everyone’s personnel and start zeroing in on proven commodities that are sometimes taken for granted.
Take Tampa Bay’s Joey Galloway for instance. The grizzled 36-year-old put up another 1,000-yard season in 2006 despite catching passes from the inexperienced and underwhelming Bruce Gradkowski for most of the year. The noted speedster may be reaching the twilight of his career, but he still possesses the skills that have made him one of the better deep threats over the past 10 years. With new quarterback Jeff Garcia at the helm, Galloway will have many more opportunities to flash his big play ability and make defenses look silly.
Deion Branch is another undervalued wide out flying under the radar. With Darrell Jackson running routes in San Francisco, Branch now headlines Seattle’s wide receiver corps and things are looking very promising in the early going. The former Patriot has established good chemistry with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and has reportedly been uncoverable in practice. To his credit, Branch claims to have completely absorbed Seattle’s offensive scheme and is now just reacting rather than thinking his way through his routes.
The time to make a bid for these players is before the start of the regular season. Once they take off and start putting up numbers, their respective values will rise and your opportunity to trade for them fades. By the same token, the preseason is also a most propitious time to unload overhyped players whose considerable name value isn’t commensurate with their true fantasy potential. Sit too long on them and everyone will come to realize that these emperors are running around naked.
If Edgerrin James is on your roster, it may be a good idea to see if you can upgrade your team via the trade route. The Arizona Cardinals are once again one of the league’s offseason darlings and with a run oriented coaching staff on board, many seem to think that ole’ gold teeth is due to experience a renaissance and recapture some of his past glory.
Even if this year’s offensive line looks to be improved with newcomers Al Johnson and Levi Brown in the starting lineup, James showed no signs of being gamebreaker last year with his longest run going for a paltry 18 yards and so far this summer, he has looked rather sluggish. James recently mentioned that he’s gunning for Emmitt Smith’s all time record for rushing yards, but if last year’s 3.4 yards per carry average is any indication, the 29-year-old may need to play into his 40s to come within sniffing distance of his desired goal.
The prospects for second-year signal caller Vince Young are a bit more optimistic, but to expect him to perform like a top-ten quarterback may be too much to ask this early in his career. Unless you’re in a keeper league, it won’t hurt to see what Young can garner in a trade. For all his physical gifts, Young has yet to prove that he can beat defenses by standing in the pocket and throwing the ball. The departure of running back Travis Henry is sure to make life more hectic under center for the two-time Rose Bowl MVP. This isn’t to say that Young won’t be making any jaw-dropping plays this year, but it should serve as a warning to temper your expectations of him.
There are two types of fantasy football enthusiasts, the ones who draft their players with the mindset that they will live and die with them and there are those who love living on the edge. If you’re one of those who enjoy walking on the wild side and treat the game as one continuous “buy and sell” venture in the effort of progressively reinforcing your team, you’re probably already scheming on the numerous trade possibilities that could seriously give you a leg-up on the competition.
Trading up or down in the draft order is only recommended if you know how your league drafts. Knowing the tendencies of others will help you determine whether the player you’re targeting will be available once you’ve made the exchange. But once draft day has come and gone, all bets are off. It’s now time to scour everyone’s personnel and start zeroing in on proven commodities that are sometimes taken for granted.
Take Tampa Bay’s Joey Galloway for instance. The grizzled 36-year-old put up another 1,000-yard season in 2006 despite catching passes from the inexperienced and underwhelming Bruce Gradkowski for most of the year. The noted speedster may be reaching the twilight of his career, but he still possesses the skills that have made him one of the better deep threats over the past 10 years. With new quarterback Jeff Garcia at the helm, Galloway will have many more opportunities to flash his big play ability and make defenses look silly.
Deion Branch is another undervalued wide out flying under the radar. With Darrell Jackson running routes in San Francisco, Branch now headlines Seattle’s wide receiver corps and things are looking very promising in the early going. The former Patriot has established good chemistry with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and has reportedly been uncoverable in practice. To his credit, Branch claims to have completely absorbed Seattle’s offensive scheme and is now just reacting rather than thinking his way through his routes.
The time to make a bid for these players is before the start of the regular season. Once they take off and start putting up numbers, their respective values will rise and your opportunity to trade for them fades. By the same token, the preseason is also a most propitious time to unload overhyped players whose considerable name value isn’t commensurate with their true fantasy potential. Sit too long on them and everyone will come to realize that these emperors are running around naked.
If Edgerrin James is on your roster, it may be a good idea to see if you can upgrade your team via the trade route. The Arizona Cardinals are once again one of the league’s offseason darlings and with a run oriented coaching staff on board, many seem to think that ole’ gold teeth is due to experience a renaissance and recapture some of his past glory.
Even if this year’s offensive line looks to be improved with newcomers Al Johnson and Levi Brown in the starting lineup, James showed no signs of being gamebreaker last year with his longest run going for a paltry 18 yards and so far this summer, he has looked rather sluggish. James recently mentioned that he’s gunning for Emmitt Smith’s all time record for rushing yards, but if last year’s 3.4 yards per carry average is any indication, the 29-year-old may need to play into his 40s to come within sniffing distance of his desired goal.
The prospects for second-year signal caller Vince Young are a bit more optimistic, but to expect him to perform like a top-ten quarterback may be too much to ask this early in his career. Unless you’re in a keeper league, it won’t hurt to see what Young can garner in a trade. For all his physical gifts, Young has yet to prove that he can beat defenses by standing in the pocket and throwing the ball. The departure of running back Travis Henry is sure to make life more hectic under center for the two-time Rose Bowl MVP. This isn’t to say that Young won’t be making any jaw-dropping plays this year, but it should serve as a warning to temper your expectations of him.
The Art Of The Early Deal
By Ralph Mancini, NFL Draft Bible
There are two types of fantasy football enthusiasts, the ones who draft their players with the mindset that they will live and die with them and there are those who love living on the edge. If you’re one of those who enjoy walking on the wild side and treat the game as one continuous “buy and sell” venture in the effort of progressively reinforcing your team, you’re probably already scheming on the numerous trade possibilities that could seriously give you a leg-up on the competition.
Trading up or down in the draft order is only recommended if you know how your league drafts. Knowing the tendencies of others will help you determine whether the player you’re targeting will be available once you’ve made the exchange. But once draft day has come and gone, all bets are off. It’s now time to scour everyone’s personnel and start zeroing in on proven commodities that are sometimes taken for granted.
Take Tampa Bay’s Joey Galloway for instance. The grizzled 36-year-old put up another 1,000-yard season in 2006 despite catching passes from the inexperienced and underwhelming Bruce Gradkowski for most of the year. The noted speedster may be reaching the twilight of his career, but he still possesses the skills that have made him one of the better deep threats over the past 10 years. With new quarterback Jeff Garcia at the helm, Galloway will have many more opportunities to flash his big play ability and make defenses look silly.
Deion Branch is another undervalued wide out flying under the radar. With Darrell Jackson running routes in San Francisco, Branch now headlines Seattle’s wide receiver corps and things are looking very promising in the early going. The former Patriot has established good chemistry with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and has reportedly been uncoverable in practice. To his credit, Branch claims to have completely absorbed Seattle’s offensive scheme and is now just reacting rather than thinking his way through his routes.
The time to make a bid for these players is before the start of the regular season. Once they take off and start putting up numbers, their respective values will rise and your opportunity to trade for them fades. By the same token, the preseason is also a most propitious time to unload overhyped players whose considerable name value isn’t commensurate with their true fantasy potential. Sit too long on them and everyone will come to realize that these emperors are running around naked.
If Edgerrin James is on your roster, it may be a good idea to see if you can upgrade your team via the trade route. The Arizona Cardinals are once again one of the league’s offseason darlings and with a run oriented coaching staff on board, many seem to think that ole’ gold teeth is due to experience a renaissance and recapture some of his past glory.
Even if this year’s offensive line looks to be improved with newcomers Al Johnson and Levi Brown in the starting lineup, James showed no signs of being gamebreaker last year with his longest run going for a paltry 18 yards and so far this summer, he has looked rather sluggish. James recently mentioned that he’s gunning for Emmitt Smith’s all time record for rushing yards, but if last year’s 3.4 yards per carry average is any indication, the 29-year-old may need to play into his 40s to come within sniffing distance of his desired goal.
The prospects for second-year signal caller Vince Young are a bit more optimistic, but to expect him to perform like a top-ten quarterback may be too much to ask this early in his career. Unless you’re in a keeper league, it won’t hurt to see what Young can garner in a trade. For all his physical gifts, Young has yet to prove that he can beat defenses by standing in the pocket and throwing the ball. The departure of running back Travis Henry is sure to make life more hectic under center for the two-time Rose Bowl MVP. This isn’t to say that Young won’t be making any jaw-dropping plays this year, but it should serve as a warning to temper your expectations of him.
There are two types of fantasy football enthusiasts, the ones who draft their players with the mindset that they will live and die with them and there are those who love living on the edge. If you’re one of those who enjoy walking on the wild side and treat the game as one continuous “buy and sell” venture in the effort of progressively reinforcing your team, you’re probably already scheming on the numerous trade possibilities that could seriously give you a leg-up on the competition.
Trading up or down in the draft order is only recommended if you know how your league drafts. Knowing the tendencies of others will help you determine whether the player you’re targeting will be available once you’ve made the exchange. But once draft day has come and gone, all bets are off. It’s now time to scour everyone’s personnel and start zeroing in on proven commodities that are sometimes taken for granted.
Take Tampa Bay’s Joey Galloway for instance. The grizzled 36-year-old put up another 1,000-yard season in 2006 despite catching passes from the inexperienced and underwhelming Bruce Gradkowski for most of the year. The noted speedster may be reaching the twilight of his career, but he still possesses the skills that have made him one of the better deep threats over the past 10 years. With new quarterback Jeff Garcia at the helm, Galloway will have many more opportunities to flash his big play ability and make defenses look silly.
Deion Branch is another undervalued wide out flying under the radar. With Darrell Jackson running routes in San Francisco, Branch now headlines Seattle’s wide receiver corps and things are looking very promising in the early going. The former Patriot has established good chemistry with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and has reportedly been uncoverable in practice. To his credit, Branch claims to have completely absorbed Seattle’s offensive scheme and is now just reacting rather than thinking his way through his routes.
The time to make a bid for these players is before the start of the regular season. Once they take off and start putting up numbers, their respective values will rise and your opportunity to trade for them fades. By the same token, the preseason is also a most propitious time to unload overhyped players whose considerable name value isn’t commensurate with their true fantasy potential. Sit too long on them and everyone will come to realize that these emperors are running around naked.
If Edgerrin James is on your roster, it may be a good idea to see if you can upgrade your team via the trade route. The Arizona Cardinals are once again one of the league’s offseason darlings and with a run oriented coaching staff on board, many seem to think that ole’ gold teeth is due to experience a renaissance and recapture some of his past glory.
Even if this year’s offensive line looks to be improved with newcomers Al Johnson and Levi Brown in the starting lineup, James showed no signs of being gamebreaker last year with his longest run going for a paltry 18 yards and so far this summer, he has looked rather sluggish. James recently mentioned that he’s gunning for Emmitt Smith’s all time record for rushing yards, but if last year’s 3.4 yards per carry average is any indication, the 29-year-old may need to play into his 40s to come within sniffing distance of his desired goal.
The prospects for second-year signal caller Vince Young are a bit more optimistic, but to expect him to perform like a top-ten quarterback may be too much to ask this early in his career. Unless you’re in a keeper league, it won’t hurt to see what Young can garner in a trade. For all his physical gifts, Young has yet to prove that he can beat defenses by standing in the pocket and throwing the ball. The departure of running back Travis Henry is sure to make life more hectic under center for the two-time Rose Bowl MVP. This isn’t to say that Young won’t be making any jaw-dropping plays this year, but it should serve as a warning to temper your expectations of him.
On Location: Miami Dolphins Training Camp: Part II
By David Kaye, NFL Draft Bible
Offensive mastermind and first-year head coach Cam Cameron enters the 2007 season with four extremely talented and explosive running backs who are all qualified to be starters in the National Football League.
The current starter, Ronnie Brown, has been mediocre at best in his first two seasons, Jesse Chatman has not seen game action in two years, but has been effective in camp, rookie Lorenzo Booker brings a resume from Florida State and Patrick Cobbs rushed for 1,154 yards last season at North Texas.
The impression I received from Cam Cameron’s press conference Sunday is that he’s not completely sold on Brown’s ability and will look to feature more of the backups in prominent roles throughout the course of the season.
‘’Ronnie Brown is an ascending player who needs to keep on improving. That’s not what many people want to hear, but that’s the reality,’’ said Cameron. ‘’He’s a young back in terms of carrying the ball with experience. (We) need to give him a chance to develop. The evaluation of Ronnie Brown is far from over, far from over.’’
If Brown is supposed to play an integral part of the Dolphins offense and be their dependable running back who can be counted on in key situations, why would Cameron insist on continuing to give him a chance? Hasn’t the second overall pick in the 2005 draft had a chance to progress and mature over the past two seasons?
It comes a time when a player with that much ability and talent needs to elevate his game to the next level and be regarded as an elite back in the league. To score only nine rushing touchdowns in 28 games is inexcusable and it makes me think if he really is the answer for the Dolphins.
‘’You need at least two good backs in this system. We’re building some depth at that position and that’s exciting,’’ said Cameron. The practical solution in Miami will be to have Brown stay as the starting running back, but it’s very unlikely that he will distinguish himself as a star in this league.
Offensive mastermind and first-year head coach Cam Cameron enters the 2007 season with four extremely talented and explosive running backs who are all qualified to be starters in the National Football League.
The current starter, Ronnie Brown, has been mediocre at best in his first two seasons, Jesse Chatman has not seen game action in two years, but has been effective in camp, rookie Lorenzo Booker brings a resume from Florida State and Patrick Cobbs rushed for 1,154 yards last season at North Texas.
The impression I received from Cam Cameron’s press conference Sunday is that he’s not completely sold on Brown’s ability and will look to feature more of the backups in prominent roles throughout the course of the season.
‘’Ronnie Brown is an ascending player who needs to keep on improving. That’s not what many people want to hear, but that’s the reality,’’ said Cameron. ‘’He’s a young back in terms of carrying the ball with experience. (We) need to give him a chance to develop. The evaluation of Ronnie Brown is far from over, far from over.’’
If Brown is supposed to play an integral part of the Dolphins offense and be their dependable running back who can be counted on in key situations, why would Cameron insist on continuing to give him a chance? Hasn’t the second overall pick in the 2005 draft had a chance to progress and mature over the past two seasons?
It comes a time when a player with that much ability and talent needs to elevate his game to the next level and be regarded as an elite back in the league. To score only nine rushing touchdowns in 28 games is inexcusable and it makes me think if he really is the answer for the Dolphins.
‘’You need at least two good backs in this system. We’re building some depth at that position and that’s exciting,’’ said Cameron. The practical solution in Miami will be to have Brown stay as the starting running back, but it’s very unlikely that he will distinguish himself as a star in this league.
On Location: Miami Dolphins Training Camp: Part 1
David Kaye, NFL Draft Bible
Our NFL Insider, David Kaye, brings you the latest news from Dolphins camp as he delivers the inside scoop from his visit to Miami.
Most people probably don't know about him but it has become one of the “feel-good� stories of the preseason. Dolphins running back Jesse Chatman is on the comeback trail.
During the 2004 season Jesse Chatman seemed to be slowly carving his way to success as the backup to LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego. In 15 games, he accumulated 392 rushing yards, three touchdowns, an unheard of 6.0 yards per carry and an increased sense of confidence that told him he could accomplish anything on the football field.
Before the 2005 season began, Chatman suffered a painful toe injury that would sideline him for the entire season. Instead of rehabbing and staying in top football shape, he permitted his weight to balloon to a whopping 270 pounds. At 5-foot-8 and a waist size unfit for an NFL running back, the Chargers released him on July 26, 2005.
After a brief stint with the Dolphins and Saints in 2005, Chatman was unemployed and took the 2006 season off in order to return to proper football shape. By the beginning of this year he had lost a remarkable 50 pounds and was ready to prove to general managers around the league that he could make a substantial impact on their team.
When the Miami Dolphins hired former San Diego offensive coordinator Cam Cameron as head coach in January, Chatman immediately called him for an opportunity. So far- he has looked extremely impressive during the team's first two preseason games, rushing for 107 yards on 14 carries.
''I think he's grown a lot. We know that's a constant battle for us all, but I think he's just grown a lot as a man,'' Cameron said when asked if he's seen any changes in Chatman's personality.
''He was a young guy from Eastern Washington thrown into the NFL and that's a huge leap for a lot of guys. It's a huge leap for everybody, truth enough. He's overcome a lot. I tip my hat to him. He knows he still has a long way to go, but he's just become a lot more mature guy.'' The waiting period for Chatman is quickly closing as he's established himself as the number two back for the Dolphins, ahead of Lorenzo Booker and Patrick Cobbs. Until I spoke to local reporters at Dolphins training camp last Sunday, I did not realize the limited amount of playing time Booker has been receiving. When asked about the current running back situation during Sunday's press conference the first-year head coach said,''Don't read anything in between the lines. I'll tell you this, our best running back will play. We want to be in a position if our starting running back goes down we don't miss a beat.'' With that said, it seems highly likely that journeyman Jesse Chatman will see a considerable amount of carries for the Miami Dolphins this season.
Our NFL Insider, David Kaye, brings you the latest news from Dolphins camp as he delivers the inside scoop from his visit to Miami.
Most people probably don't know about him but it has become one of the “feel-good� stories of the preseason. Dolphins running back Jesse Chatman is on the comeback trail.
During the 2004 season Jesse Chatman seemed to be slowly carving his way to success as the backup to LaDainian Tomlinson in San Diego. In 15 games, he accumulated 392 rushing yards, three touchdowns, an unheard of 6.0 yards per carry and an increased sense of confidence that told him he could accomplish anything on the football field.
Before the 2005 season began, Chatman suffered a painful toe injury that would sideline him for the entire season. Instead of rehabbing and staying in top football shape, he permitted his weight to balloon to a whopping 270 pounds. At 5-foot-8 and a waist size unfit for an NFL running back, the Chargers released him on July 26, 2005.
After a brief stint with the Dolphins and Saints in 2005, Chatman was unemployed and took the 2006 season off in order to return to proper football shape. By the beginning of this year he had lost a remarkable 50 pounds and was ready to prove to general managers around the league that he could make a substantial impact on their team.
When the Miami Dolphins hired former San Diego offensive coordinator Cam Cameron as head coach in January, Chatman immediately called him for an opportunity. So far- he has looked extremely impressive during the team's first two preseason games, rushing for 107 yards on 14 carries.
''I think he's grown a lot. We know that's a constant battle for us all, but I think he's just grown a lot as a man,'' Cameron said when asked if he's seen any changes in Chatman's personality.
''He was a young guy from Eastern Washington thrown into the NFL and that's a huge leap for a lot of guys. It's a huge leap for everybody, truth enough. He's overcome a lot. I tip my hat to him. He knows he still has a long way to go, but he's just become a lot more mature guy.'' The waiting period for Chatman is quickly closing as he's established himself as the number two back for the Dolphins, ahead of Lorenzo Booker and Patrick Cobbs. Until I spoke to local reporters at Dolphins training camp last Sunday, I did not realize the limited amount of playing time Booker has been receiving. When asked about the current running back situation during Sunday's press conference the first-year head coach said,''Don't read anything in between the lines. I'll tell you this, our best running back will play. We want to be in a position if our starting running back goes down we don't miss a beat.'' With that said, it seems highly likely that journeyman Jesse Chatman will see a considerable amount of carries for the Miami Dolphins this season.
NFL MUSINGS
By David Narushev, NFL Draft Bible
Expect Leon Washington and Thomas Jones to share more of the load than originally anticipated this season, especially since Jones pre-season injury will likely not have him at full speed by opening day. But even had Jones remained completely healthy, Washington would still have seen fair amount of touches per game. Eric Mangini isn’t the type of coach to overwork or underwork any of his players, instead he waits until the ideal game scenario arises and capitalizes accordingly with the right player in the right situation. Everything is tailored to maximize the strengths of the team, and nobody is asked to do more than they’re capable of. Seems obvious, but not every coach understands his team as well as a Mangini or Belichick (I’m looking at you Herm Edwards).
I’m not ready to go gaga over Vince Young yet. He had a nice rookie season (and was promptly overhyped to the moon), but his throwing mechanics still look like they need some fine tuning. He’s got this nasty habit of haphazardly whipping the ball out of his hand while releasing a pass, often getting a lot of air under it. This could lead to him becoming very interception-prone once the pocket starts to collapse or when throwing off balance, which he does far too often. Young’s arm strength and accuracy remain a question mark, and he certainly won’t be beating teams single-handedly with his legs, NFL defenses catch up to that and will develop schemes to contain him. I just don’t see him as a quarterback who can stand in the pocket and calmly pick a team apart; Young thrives on disorganized, sandlot football. I’m not saying he’ll be a bust or even that he’ll have a sophomore slump, but I see his career plateauing for a while as the league adapts to his game.
Anybody else miss the single bar facemask? I’m too young to remember the days when regular position players used to wear them, but they used to be a fixture on the helmets of the NFL’s scrawniest, goofiest looking kickers and punters until about 8-9 years ago. It was always funny watching them try to make a tackle during a long runback or muffed punt…or better yet, trying to advance the football on a botched field goal attempt. They’d either matador the ball carrier through, or give a halfhearted dive then get trampled by the thundering heard of players converging on them. It would make just about anyone long for their carefree days of intramural soccer in South Africa.
Tired of waiting around for the Arizona Cardinals to become the NFL’s hip new “surprise” team, it seems like all the experts have hitched their wagon to the San Francisco 49ers. Alex Smith doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence and an unreasonably abrasive (though dapper) head coach like Mike Nolan may alienate his team before they even get a taste of success. We may have to look elsewhere for Cinderella this year…Detroit perhaps? Kitna has shown he can be a good quarterback when not asked to do too much. They are deep at wide receiver and running back but still thin on the offensive and defensive lines. However, a quick examination of their schedule shows many of their opponents are even more flawed than they are. Don’t be shocked to see them pull out a nine win season as the Lions offense will just plain overwhelm some teams.
I have a hunch that we may not have seen the last of Bill Parcells on an NFL sideline. Sure he is 66 years old and probably overworked beyond belief, but as long as he can breathe, he can coach. And it’s absolutely unacceptable to him that Bill Belichick is walking around with more Super Bowl rings as a head coach. He has neither time nor patience to rebuild, but should there be a vacancy with a ready made team within the next four years, don’t be surprised to see Parcells jump at the opportunity for one more run at a title.
Though it may seem unrealistic at the moment, it’s my opinion that the Steelers will be Bill Cowher’s team again as soon as he’s ready to return from his mental health sabbatical. It could even occur by the 2009 season should Mike Tomlin fall flat on his face, which I don’t think will happen. It can’t be easy coaching in the Steel City, with the ghosts of Noll and Cowher constantly looking over your shoulder. Unreasonable expectations may doom Tomlin, as it almost doomed Cowher himself. A scenario may arise where if the Steelers brass doesn’t see Tomlin as the guy who can take them to the Super Bowl, and Cowher is entertaining offers from other teams, they might be tempted to go back to the sure thing instead of riding it out with Tomlin.
Be wary of both Jamal Lewis and Shaun Alexander. Alexander will be thirty at the start of the season, which is usually the end of the line for NFL backs. He’s lost a step, and was never that fast to begin with. Not a good sign, especially since he’s running behind an offensive line that is no longer among the NFL’s best. Lewis isn’t quite as old, but his poor yards per carry average the past two seasons may hint at there being too much tread gone from the tires. However, the Browns offensive line has improved on paper, and if they can finally get it together on the field then Lewis can probably squeeze out one more workhorse season.
Expect Leon Washington and Thomas Jones to share more of the load than originally anticipated this season, especially since Jones pre-season injury will likely not have him at full speed by opening day. But even had Jones remained completely healthy, Washington would still have seen fair amount of touches per game. Eric Mangini isn’t the type of coach to overwork or underwork any of his players, instead he waits until the ideal game scenario arises and capitalizes accordingly with the right player in the right situation. Everything is tailored to maximize the strengths of the team, and nobody is asked to do more than they’re capable of. Seems obvious, but not every coach understands his team as well as a Mangini or Belichick (I’m looking at you Herm Edwards).
I’m not ready to go gaga over Vince Young yet. He had a nice rookie season (and was promptly overhyped to the moon), but his throwing mechanics still look like they need some fine tuning. He’s got this nasty habit of haphazardly whipping the ball out of his hand while releasing a pass, often getting a lot of air under it. This could lead to him becoming very interception-prone once the pocket starts to collapse or when throwing off balance, which he does far too often. Young’s arm strength and accuracy remain a question mark, and he certainly won’t be beating teams single-handedly with his legs, NFL defenses catch up to that and will develop schemes to contain him. I just don’t see him as a quarterback who can stand in the pocket and calmly pick a team apart; Young thrives on disorganized, sandlot football. I’m not saying he’ll be a bust or even that he’ll have a sophomore slump, but I see his career plateauing for a while as the league adapts to his game.
Anybody else miss the single bar facemask? I’m too young to remember the days when regular position players used to wear them, but they used to be a fixture on the helmets of the NFL’s scrawniest, goofiest looking kickers and punters until about 8-9 years ago. It was always funny watching them try to make a tackle during a long runback or muffed punt…or better yet, trying to advance the football on a botched field goal attempt. They’d either matador the ball carrier through, or give a halfhearted dive then get trampled by the thundering heard of players converging on them. It would make just about anyone long for their carefree days of intramural soccer in South Africa.
Tired of waiting around for the Arizona Cardinals to become the NFL’s hip new “surprise” team, it seems like all the experts have hitched their wagon to the San Francisco 49ers. Alex Smith doesn’t exactly fill me with confidence and an unreasonably abrasive (though dapper) head coach like Mike Nolan may alienate his team before they even get a taste of success. We may have to look elsewhere for Cinderella this year…Detroit perhaps? Kitna has shown he can be a good quarterback when not asked to do too much. They are deep at wide receiver and running back but still thin on the offensive and defensive lines. However, a quick examination of their schedule shows many of their opponents are even more flawed than they are. Don’t be shocked to see them pull out a nine win season as the Lions offense will just plain overwhelm some teams.
I have a hunch that we may not have seen the last of Bill Parcells on an NFL sideline. Sure he is 66 years old and probably overworked beyond belief, but as long as he can breathe, he can coach. And it’s absolutely unacceptable to him that Bill Belichick is walking around with more Super Bowl rings as a head coach. He has neither time nor patience to rebuild, but should there be a vacancy with a ready made team within the next four years, don’t be surprised to see Parcells jump at the opportunity for one more run at a title.
Though it may seem unrealistic at the moment, it’s my opinion that the Steelers will be Bill Cowher’s team again as soon as he’s ready to return from his mental health sabbatical. It could even occur by the 2009 season should Mike Tomlin fall flat on his face, which I don’t think will happen. It can’t be easy coaching in the Steel City, with the ghosts of Noll and Cowher constantly looking over your shoulder. Unreasonable expectations may doom Tomlin, as it almost doomed Cowher himself. A scenario may arise where if the Steelers brass doesn’t see Tomlin as the guy who can take them to the Super Bowl, and Cowher is entertaining offers from other teams, they might be tempted to go back to the sure thing instead of riding it out with Tomlin.
Be wary of both Jamal Lewis and Shaun Alexander. Alexander will be thirty at the start of the season, which is usually the end of the line for NFL backs. He’s lost a step, and was never that fast to begin with. Not a good sign, especially since he’s running behind an offensive line that is no longer among the NFL’s best. Lewis isn’t quite as old, but his poor yards per carry average the past two seasons may hint at there being too much tread gone from the tires. However, the Browns offensive line has improved on paper, and if they can finally get it together on the field then Lewis can probably squeeze out one more workhorse season.
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