Ranking Ground Games
ESPN.com has released their rankings of which teams have the best group of running backs on their roster. The top five teams were ranked, in order, as follows, Chargers, Vikings, Jaguars, Steelers, Cowboys. I have to agree 100 percent with these rankings. LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson put their teams in the top two spots regardless of who else is on the depth chart at the position. They are the two most dominant backs in the game, hands down. The Jaguars’ one-two punch of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew has been terrorizing teams for two years now. They complement each other very well, as Taylor is the between-the-tackles, hard runner and Jones-Drew is the more elusive and speedy runner of the two. That’s not a knock on Jones-Drew’s power that has earned him the nickname “Pocket Hercules” though.
The Steelers could find themselves ahead of the Jaguars on this list next year. Willie Parker is one of the faster, more elusive backs in the league and the team added rookie Rashard Mendenhall via the draft. Mendenhall is a powerful back with great all-around ability and could earn himself the bulk of the carries by season’s end. The Cowboys nabbed Arkansas running back Felix Jones to be the lightning to Marion Barber’s thunder and should be a great change of pace back for the touchdown machine that is Barber. The Rams were sixth on the list thanks to Steven Jackson.
To get NFL Tickets, go to Stubhub.com.
Rookie Torain Next Bronco Star?
We’ve seen it time and time again; a relatively unknown Denver Broncos running back sets the league on fire with big game after big game. The zone blocking scheme utilized by Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan has gotten superstar production out of players like Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson, Reuben Droughns and Clinton Portis. There is no denying that these guys had talent, but Davis was a sixth round pick and none of the other three players has experienced the type of individual production that they did in Denver. The Broncos selected little-known Arizona State running back Ryan Torain with the 139th overall pick in this 2008 NFL Draft and the rookie could be on the fast track to the starting job.
Selvin Young currently sits at the top of the depth chart, but Shanahan is notorious for misleading people with his depth chart and of the five different players who have led the team in rushing since 2003, only Portis sat atop the depth chart entering into training camp. There are concerns about Young’s small frame and his tendency to wear down. Torain, on the other hand, is big and strong and the kind of running back that can carry the ball 25 times a game. Could we see another unknown running back shine in the Denver system? We’ll have to wait and find out.
To get NFL Tickets, go to Stubhub.com.
Bears Sign Forte
The Chicago Bears have locked up their second-round pick, running back Matt Forte, to a four-year deal. This is no surprise after the Bears released their first round pick in 2005, running back Cedric Benson, after the former Longhorn had repeated run-ins with the law and a woeful 2007 season. The team had intended on letting the two backs battle it out in training camp for the starting gig, but it now appears that Forte will be lining up in the backfield for the Bears when the season begins.
Forte put up impressive numbers at Tulane and should be more effective than Benson was last season. Benson struggled to consistently gain good yardage on the ground and managed only 3.4 yards per carry. While Forte provides an improvement at the position, the Bears’ depth at the spot is not great. Veteran Adrian Peterson is a decent backup but lacks breakaway ability while the Bears’ third string back, Garrett Wolfe, is unproven. I wouldn’t expect the offense to roll over anybody, mainly due to the team’s questionable move to ignore their issues at quarterback this off-season. The team will likely rely heavily on the defense to keep them in games and if Forte can perform well the team should be better than last season.
To get NFL Tickets, go to Stubhub.com.
Favre to Return?
Ironically enough, just hours after the previous blog post was published it was reported that Brett Favre already has the itch to play football again. With Aaron Rodgers set to take over and the team ready to move on from the Brett Favre era, Favre throws a kink into everything. The team hasn’t even begun training camp and he’s already itching to play? That was fast. Favre did send a text to a local paper that it was just a rumor, but it seems like most people are not buying that.
There’s no denying that there are tons of fans in Green Bay that would kill for another season of Brett Favre; the guy is a living legend. But does there come a point where you just need to move on? Favre has spent the past few off-seasons wavering about whether he was going to retire, keeping the team in a state of limbo. He retired, somewhat convincingly, after a tough playoff loss to the Giants in this year’s NFC title game. If he changes his mind returns, what is that going to do to the team? I know one guy who will not be happy, Rodgers. This kid looks ready to take the reins and they need him to start getting some game experience if he’s going to be their quarterback of the future. Favre had a great run, but he’s got to start thinking about other people instead of just himself. Plus, what if he comes back and throws up a stinker of a season? What will that do to his legacy?
To get NFL Tickets, go to Stubhub.com.
Rodgers Ready to Lead
Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has come under a bit of fire after comments he made in this month’s issue of Sports Illustrated. Rodgers said he doesn’t feel the need to sell himself to Packers fans in the wake of Brett Favre’s departure and that the fans need to get on board now or keep their mouths shut. Rodgers is gearing up for his first season under center for Green Bay after the living legend Favre announced his retirement this off-season.
In a sense, I like what I’m hearing from Rodgers. This is the kind of personality you want from your starting quarterback; you want a guy with some swagger. He perhaps could have left out the part about fans shutting their mouths, but it’s not like he disrespected Favre or anything else that would be considered borderline blasphemous in certain parts of Wisconsin. Rodgers knows that no what matter he says to the people of Green Bay, there is no way he can convince them that, without Brett Favre, everything is going to be just fine. Favre has been under center for some Packers fans’ entire lives. The only way Rodgers can sell himself to the fans is to step onto the field and make plays. Nobody is ever going to forget Brett Favre, but good play from Rodgers and a trip to the postseason could sure take the focus off Favre and back onto the team as a whole. Rodgers has a lot of talent and three years of learning from the great Favre under his belt, during which time he gave Favre the utmost respect and was never calling for him to retire. I think he’s ready to lead this team and will do a heck of a job.
To get NFL Tickets, go to Stubhub.com.
ESPN Polls Coaches on Players and Owners
ESPN.com had the NFL’s head coaches vote on who they thought were the dirtiest and smartest players in the league, as well as who they considered to be the best owner. The results declared Rodney Harrison as the dirtiest player, Hines Ward as the smartest offensive player and Zach Thomas as the smartest defensive player. Pittsburgh’s Dan Rooney was voted as the best owner.
I don’t think there was any doubt that Harrison was going to take this “honor.” He’s been considered to be the dirtiest player for years now. Cowboy’s safety Roy Williams was second in the voting, which was also no surprise, considering his tackling has inspired a league rule (horse collar). The smartest offensive player could not be a quarterback, so Ward is a pretty good pick here. If Marshall Faulk were still in the league I would have considered him, but I think Ward makes a lot of sense considering he played QB in college. As for Zach Thomas being the smartest defensive player, I can’t argue with that either. I might vote for Ed Reed due to his knack for getting his hands on the ball more than any other defender. As for owner, Rooney edged out Dallas’ Jerry Jones and Denver’s Pat Bowlen. Any of those guys would have been a good answer.
To get NFL Tickets, go to Stubhub.com.
Brady Quinn Staying Hungry
The fact that Derek Anderson is the Browns’ starting quarterback going into this season hasn’t discouraged second-year backup Brady Quinn; it’s motivated him more than anything else. Quinn, known for his tireless workout routine in the weight room, has become an all-around workaholic. Quinn reportedly looked impressive in minicamp and routinely spends hours after practice refining his routes and working on throws.
Quinn is the kind of player that any team would want. His work ethic could be unparalleled from a physical standpoint the way Peyton Manning’s time spent watching tape is unmatched. Some first round picks would be sulking if they knew they weren’t going to be starting the season as the team’s signal caller, but Quinn just works harder and keeps his mouth shut. He accepts that Anderson had a great season last year and isn’t calling for his turn or demanding a trade. In this day and age where too many young athletes come into the league with a sense of entitlement, Quinn’s humble demeanor and dedication serve as a breath of fresh air. The Browns must have high hopes for this young man, and I must admit that I’ve been rooting for him ever since his well-documented draft day slide.
To get NFL Tickets, go to Stubhub.com.
Jets’ Quarterback Questions
The New York Jets have a major decision to make this preseason. Head coach Eric Mangini and his staff will have to decide who the team’s starting quarterback will be, Chad Pennington or Kellen Clemens. Pennington is a seasoned veteran with several seasons as a starter under his belt. Clemens, the team’s second round pick in 2006, has little experience but has showed some promise.
I would go with Clemens. Pennington might give a better-rounded team a chance to win because he usually won’t do anything to lose the game, but he just doesn’t seem to have the ability to do that much to win games anymore. Pennington has never had great arm strength, but multiple arm surgeries have left him with little to no downfield ability to speak of. Clemens is still pretty raw and is by no means a proven signal caller, but I’d give him a go based solely on his physical advantages over Chad. It’s time for the Jets to see what they have in this kid and get a read on whether he’s their franchise quarterback of the future, or if that’s something they’re going to have to address. I don’t think, even with Pennington at the helm, that the Jets are a playoff team, so giving Clemens a shot this year would enable the Jets to get a better feel for where they’re headed as a franchise.
To get NFL Tickets, go to Stubhub.com.
Youngs Needs to Improve as a Passer
Vince Young led the Titans to the playoffs last season despite throwing 17 interceptions to only nine touchdown passes. That makes one wonder how good this team could be if Young was more efficient. With a new offensive coordinator, the Titans are hoping that Young can find some balance on the field. Young has provided the Titans with a lot of intangibles during his first two seasons with the team. Despite mediocre numbers, Young has stepped in as a leader from day one and multiple players on the team has said he’s just one of those guys that a team rallies around. His big play ability has also been an enormous asset, as we saw in his now famous game-winning rushing touchdown in overtime against the Texans.
Young, now entering his third season, needs to take the next step as a passer. His decision making needs to improve and he needs to dedicate much of his time to learning Mike Heimerdinger’s playbook. The Titans have a solid defense that will always keep them in games and if Young can make some strides and enable the offense to really get rolling this team could be a sleeper to do some real damage in the postseason.
To get NFL Tickets, go to Stubhub.com.
Bills Ready to Take the Next Step?
The Buffalo Bills have not made the playoffs since the 1999-2000 season when they were ousted by the Tennessee Titans and the Music City Miracle. Since then, each preseason you hear Bills fans talking about how this is the year they’re going to break through and return to the postseason. It hasn’t materialized yet, but the fans’ optimism may not be so unwarranted this year.
The Bills have a number of up and coming players that seem to be ready to take the next step as professionals. Their defense has been improving year to year and they have young playmakers like safety Donte Whitner and linebacker Paul Posluszny. The team also added defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, an absolute beast, and linebacker Kawika Mitchell through free agency as well as corner Leodis McKelvin via the draft. The defense will give the team a chance to win but I think a lot of the season rests on the shoulders of second-year quarterback Trent Edwards. Their young offensive core consists of Edwards, speedy receiver Lee Evans, second-year running back Marshawn and franchise tackle Jason Peters. Both Edwards and Lynch played exceptionally well for rookies last season and seem poised for even bigger years in 2008-2009. Edwards and Evans appear to be developing some good chemistry and with the addition of 6-5 receiver James Hardy (the Bills’ second round pick), Edwards should have a new red zone target as well. It will be interesting to see how the season plays out in Buffalo (and Toronto).
To get NFL Tickets, go to Stubhub.com.