Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 10, Issue 76 (Saturday, July 4th)
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Hi Folks,
Welcome to Sunday. Hope you had a great 4th of July. Was a good one here. Lots of BBQ, good friends and fireworks. Can't go wrong with that. We've got plenty of news and notes for you so let's get to it.
J
SITE NEWS
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. Former Titan Steve McNair killed2. DEN - WR Eddie Royal the next Welker?
3. OAK - QB Jeff Garcia believes he should be starter
4. DAL - Cowboys could use RBs Felix Jones and Marion Barber at the same time
5. DEN - HC McDaniels has high hopes for RB Knowshon Moreno
6. DET - Offense is familiar to QB Matt Stafford
7. CHI - QB Jay Cutler to get new contract?
8. DAL - Don't overlook TE Martellus Bennett
9. NYG - RB Andre Brown's rookie role - scatback
10. NYJ - RB Shonn Greene relishes grinder role
11. CHI - Bears could keep only two QBs in roster
12. SD - WR Gregg Carr thankful for the opportunity
13. SF - WR Michael Crabtree ready for camp
14. DEF - IND - DT Eric Foster focused on pass rush
Former Titan Steve McNair killed
Source: Tennesseean.com
Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was killed in an apparent murder-suicide with a young woman he met at a local restaurant and have been dating for at least a few months.
Metro police spokesman Don Aaron said they were leaning toward certain scenarios based on the evidence, but they hadn't ruled anything out. Still, they were not actively looking for suspects Saturday night.
"The medical examiner will be conducting autopsies (Sunday)," Aaron said. "We expect to make additional conclusions after the autopsy process."
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Condolences to family, friends and fans.
DEN - WR Eddie Royal the next Welker?
Source: Bill Williamson, ESPN.com
Bill Williamson, of ESPN.com, reports Denver Broncos WR Eddie Royal could have a similar effect in head coach Josh McDaniels' system this season as New England Patriots WR Wes Welker did while McDaniels served as offensive coordinator with the Patriots.
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Eddie Royal has the physical tools to be an elite receiver in the NFL, and his role may be increased if the Broncos get rid of Brandon Marshall. The Broncos will use Royal as their "Wes Welker" and his numbers at the end of the year could reflect that. Jabar Gaffney should do most of his damage as the starting slot receiver, and has made a nice player/coach for the Broncos because he knows the offense so well from his playing days in New England. With a better line, and better receivers than he had in Chicago, QB Kyle Orton could have a career year his first season in Denver.
OAK - QB Jeff Garcia believes he should be starter
Source: Sam Farmer, The Los Angeles Times
Sam Farmer, of the Los Angeles Times, reports Oakland Raiders QB Jeff Garcia believes he should be the team's starting quarterback this season, even though he is No. 2 on the depth chart behind QB JaMarcus Russell. 'Not knocking JaMarcus or anybody else on the team, but I have a belief in my own abilities,' Garcia said in a phone interview. '(That has) me feeling I am the best quarterback on the team. That's just how I approach the game.'
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Jeff Garcia is not afraid to tell it like it is, and has a reputation for never holding his tongue. Both Russell and Garcia have been struggling in OTAs, but Russell should be the starter for the season barring injury or a catastrophic meltdown in his play.
DAL - Cowboys could use RBs Felix Jones and Marion Barber at the same time
Source: Eric Edholm, Pro Football Weekly
Eric Edholm, from Pro Football Weekly, reports the team is playing around with using Marion Barber and Felix Jones - something it did sparingly last season when the two were healthy - on the field at the same time. It doesn't have to be in traditional, two-back sets, either; Jones has the flexibility to split out and motion into or out of the backfield.
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t's going to be a 3-headed RBBC in Dallas this year with Marion Barber, Felix Jones, and Tashard Choice all getting playing time. It's smart for the Cowboys to use Barber and Jones at the same time because there's so many questions surrounding their wide receivers. With Jason Witten and Felix Jones catching passes it means Tony Romo has playmaking options to throw to regardless of how Roy Williams and the rest of the WR corps develops. Barber can help keep defenses honest with his bruising running style, and Jones can even play a little Wildcat QB if need be.
DEN - HC McDaniels has high hopes for RB Knowshon Moreno
Source: Bill Williamson, of ESPN.com
Bill Williamson, of ESPN.com, reports Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels envisions RB Knowshon Moreno as a three-down back.
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Moreno was in the Broncos top 3 prospects before the 2009 NFL Draft, so they were elated when he was available with the 12th overall pick. Coach McDaniels has raved about Moreno's ability in the passing game - not just receiving, but pass protection as well. He is currently 3rd on the depth chart behind LaMont Jordan (who has received most of the 1st team work) and Correll Buckhalter. He is expected to win the starting job in training camp and should be the full time back for the Broncos. It remains to be seen if anyone (like Jordan or FB Peyton Hillis) will replace him at the goalline.
DET - Offense is familiar to QB Matt Stafford
Source: CBSSports.com
At the NFL Rookie Symposium in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Lions rookie QB Matthew Stafford told CBSSports.com in an exclusive interview that his new team's offense is familiar to him, and that's helped him get acclimated to his new playbook. "Coming from Georgia, we do a lot of the same concepts with [offensive coordinator Scott] Linehan that we did there," Stafford said. "It's obviously called something completely different and you may look for a different look for certain coverages, but a lot of the concepts are similar, so it's been a pretty easy transition for me so far."
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Stafford has already been "better than advertised" according to earlier reports, and his familiarity could certainly be one of the reasons why. Daunte Culpepper will battle the rookie in training camp for the starting job. Even if the veteran wins the job initially it will be hard to keep Stafford on the bench. Worst case scenario - Stafford starts after the Lions week 7 bye.
CHI - QB Jay Cutler to get new contract?
Source: Brad Biggs, The Chicago Sun-Times
Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports the Chicago Bears will look to get a long-term contract done with QB Jay Cutler, perhaps during the upcoming season.
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They will likely need to make a move in October, in order to take advantage of cap room and apply money to this season. Although Cutler has three more seasons under contract, he has a $12 million roster bonus in 2012 that the team would probably like to avoid.
DAL - Don't overlook TE Martellus Bennett
Source: Eric Edholm, Pro Football Weekly
Eric Edholm, from Pro Football Weekly, reports the team has two plus pass catchers in Jason Witten and Martellus Bennett. Don't overlook Bennett, who is said to have matured a great deal in his first year with the team. In limited duty, Bennett gained more than 14 yards per catch and had four TD catches, most of them in the second half of his rookie season.
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Jason Witten and Tony Romo are like peas and carrots, but that doesn't mean that Martellus Bennett can't be a consistent contributor for the team. Coming out of Texas A&M there were many in the scouting community that compared Bennett's skill set to that of Jason Witten. He has good body control and the ability to make tough catches seem routine. He also loves to fight for yards after contact, and is a player that creates mismatches against linebackers or safeties. Bennett could be used very effectively in 2 TE sets, and will give Tony Romo another great target in the red zone.
NYG - RB Andre Brown's rookie role - scatback
Source: CBSSports.com
At the NFL Rookie Symposium in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Giants rookie RB Andre Brown told CBSSports.com in an exclusive interview that his new team likes him for his versatility, and that he'll be utilized for it. "I'm a scatback compared to Brandon Jacobs, so that's what they're trying to get me into because I can catch the ball real well out of the backfield," Brown said when asked about his role. "Otherwise they're just telling me to come in there and work hard, and I'm just going in trying to do what I can do to help the Giants win another Super Bowl."
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Andre Brown does run with power, but he's not just a power back - he can be a good receiver out of the backfield as well. The Giants will use him as their 3rd back in a 3-headed RBBC if he can beat out former Georgia RB Danny Ware.
NYJ - RB Shonn Greene relishes grinder role
Source: CBSSports.com
At the NFL Rookie Symposium in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Jets rookie RB Shonn Greene told CBSSports.com in an exclusive interview that the moniker "fourth-quarter back" that his coaches have labeled him is appropriate. Built with a huge upper body, Greene is looking forward to making a sizable impact for a second-day draft choice. "I think it plays well into how I play the game of football, very tough, down-and-dirty and grind time, fourth quarter time," Greene said. "I like it a lot. I think that's what football is all about, getting down in the trenches between the tackles. But whatever else they need for me to do I'm willing to do."
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Shonn Greene runs with authority but he is more of a grinder than a true power back. Too often at Iowa Greene would not run with the type of power that one would expect from a RB his size. He is a load to bring down, and keeps his feet moving upon contact, but he's more like Rudi Johnson than he is Brandon Jacobs. He will be groomed to be the eventual replacement to Thomas Jones, and could be a "closer" for the Jets in the 4th quarter when they could use his fresh legs to run out the clock.
CHI - Bears could keep only two QBs in roster
Source: Brad Biggs, The Chicago Sun-Times
Brad Biggs, of the Chicago Sun-Times, reports there is a chance the Chicago Bears only keep two quarterbacks on their final roster but likely will have three on the roster because of the unproven nature of QB Caleb Hanie and QB Brett Basanez.
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Caleb Hanie played so well last year in the preseason that some were calling for him to start over Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman. Hanie or Basanez won't see the field unless Jay Cutler goes down with an injury. Caleb Hanie should win the backup job, but the Bears want to push him in training camp and preseason. If Hanie performs like he did last season the team will let Basanez go.
SD - WR Gregg Carr thankful for the opportunity
Source: Michael Kranzler, from SDBoltreport.com
Michael Kranzler, from SDBoltreport.com, interviewed undrafted rookie WR Gregg Carr from Florida State who is now trying to make the Chargers roster. In the interview Carr revealed what he'd like Chargers fans to know about him, "Greg Carr is going to do whatever he can to the best of his ability to be the best player he can be, and he's very thankful for the opportunity to have a chance to play for the Chargers. "
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Greg Carr was a disappointment during his career at Florida State. He was a late addition to the Senior Bowl, but showed up at practice and his value was immediately evident. Unlike Ramses Barden, Carr knew how to use his big frame to shield defenders away from the ball and he had a tremendous "my ball" mentality in practice. He is buried on San Diego's depth chart, but just like Malcolm Floyd the Chargers could bring him along slowly (perhaps put him on the practice squad) and see if he could develop into something more than just a red zone target.
SF - WR Michael Crabtree ready for camp
Source: CBSSports.com
At the NFL Rookie Symposium in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., 49ers rookie WR Michael Crabtree told CBSSports.com in an exclusive interview that the foot he had a stress fracture in back in February won't keep him from being ready for the start of training camp. "The foot is great," Crabtree said when asked how his offseason has been. "I'm ready. I'm running and everything."
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Crabtree has been chomping at the bit to start practicing full time for the team as he has yet to work with the 49ers QBs so far. He has mostly been working on the sidelines in individual drills with the coaching staff and by the time the regular season rolls around Crabtree is hoping that his foot injury is just a distant memory. Crabtree is an elite talent, but it may take him some time to get up to full speed in the NFL. His current ADP is WR34, so be sure to pick him up in your fantasy leagues if he falls much past that mark. He could be a tremendous reserve fantasy WR with huge upside.
DEF - IND - DT Eric Foster focused on pass rush
Source: John Oehser, Colts.com
John Oehser, from Colts.com, reports Eric Foster said he knows as he enters his second NFL season that he must work on all elements of his game - run-stopping included - he said there is one statistic from his rookie season he particularly plans to change. That's the one that shows him with no sacks.
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Foster signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent last year, and ended up starting 11 games for the team in his rookie season. He finished the year with 49 tackles, 6 QB pressures, but 0 sacks. Foster was known for his leadership ability at Rutgers - plus a sick spin move that can take offensive linemen by surprise. "Right now, I'm focusing on basically finishing - basically pass rush," Foster said recently during the Colts' off-season conditioning program "I have to get after the quarterback, finish my moves."
That'll do it for today, Folks. Have a great Sunday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J