· Cardinals cornerback Duane Starks is finished for the season
after tearing ligaments in his left knee during the team's preseason
game against Chicago. Although Starks was less than stellar in 2002
after signing a five-year, $23-million contract, his loss is a big
one for a defense that is going to have trouble rushing the passer
due to the loss of end Kyle Vanden Bosch. Renaldo Hill will take
over as the starter opposite David Barrett leaving Coby Rhinehart
as the nickel back, not exactly a trio that will frighten opposing
offensive coordinators. You can bet Terrell Owens, Torry Holt, Isaac
Bruce, Koren Robinson and Darrell Jackson have circled their teams
two games against the Cardinals on their schedules.
· Lions running back James Stewart is out indefinitely after
separating his right shoulder during the teams final preseason game.
Look for the team to use a committee approach during the first couple
of weeks until one of Shawn Bryson, Avon Cobourne or Autry Denson
step up as the lead back. However, Bryson should get the majority
of the work in week one because of his pass blocking abilities.
· The 49ers are concerned about the play of their defensive
line. Tackle Bryant Young looked like he lost a step last season
and Jim Flanigan was released leaving the other starting spot to
rookie 2nd round pick Anthony Adams is ready. Andre Carter is a
proven pass rushing threat at end but John Engelberger, returning
to the starting lineup after Chike Okeafor signed with the Seahawks,
has been inconsistent. With their 3rd round pick Andrew Williams
not looking like he's ready to contribute, the team was forced to
sign Chidi Ahanotu.
· The Cowboys breathed a sign of relief this week when they
learned promising 2nd year cornerback Derek Ross would miss only
four weeks after undergoing surgery to repair damaged cartilage
in his left knee. There were fears he would miss the entire season.
He should begin rehabilitation quickly and if he comes back strong,
he should take over as the starter from Mario Edwards before long.
Although the Cowboys think Edwards is a solid player, they envision
Ross, who demonstrated big play ability in 2002, and Terence Newman,
the 5th pick in this year's draft, as their starting cornerbacks
for years to come.
· Draft experts were laughing out loud when the Cardinals
traded down in the 1st round of this year's draft and the howls
grew louder when they selected WR Bryant Johnson and DE Calvin Pace
with the 17th and 18th picks. Now the strategy of trading down to
fill multiple needs looks sound, as Pace has displayed excellent
pass rushing ability in the preseason and Johnson should be ready
to start by the second half of the season, if not sooner.
· Minnesota's RB situation is looking bleaker by the day.
It wasn't surprising when Michael Bennett was placed on the physically
unable to perform list, meaning he will miss at the least the first
six weeks of the season, but then Doug Chapman went down with a
high ankle sprain. Moe Williams had already been named the starter
and there is speculation 4th round pick Onterrio Smith will eventually
win the job, but Chapman has some skill and contributes on special
teams. Remember, the reason Smith fell so low in the draft was because
of his questionable character.
· With left guard Jamie Nails struggling to get back to his
2002 form after surgery on his left achilles tendon, the Dolphins
are considering having 3rd round pick Wade Smith open the season
as the starter at left tackle and moving last year's starter at
left tackle, Mark Dixon, into Nails spot at left guard. Of course,
Dixon, a guard before being switched to tackle, must get healthy
first and he is not expected to be ready for the season opener.
· The Rams secondary received a much needed boost with the
recent signing of reserve cornerback Fred Weary, who was surprisingly
cut by cornerback deficient 49ers. Weary will provide a boost to
a secondary that has seen injuries to start free safety Jason Sehorn,
backup safety Kim Herring (since released), nickelback James Whitley
and Kevin Garrett, who appeared to have the inside track on the
nickelback job before his injury. On top of that, Aeneas Williams,
who was inserted as the starting free safety after Sehorn's injury,
will not play until the season opener. With all the injuries, Shane
Walton is listed as the team's starting free safety and he was drafted
in the 5th round to player cornerback.
· The Rams lost rookie 3rd round pick Kevin Curtis to a broken
leg and the loss will have a ripple effect down the wide receiver
depth chart. Considered a safe bet to be the team's third receiver,
Curtis will not be available until the team's fifth game at the
earliest. His loss has given Troy Edwards an opportunity to get
back into the mix although his roster spot is still not considered
secure. Look for Shaun MacDonald, the team's 4th round pick, to
open the season as the third receiver.
· With Pro Bowl guard Marco Rivera injured and expected to
miss a number of games, look for the Packers to move starting right
tackle Mark Tauscher to guard and insert Kevin Barry at tackle.
Backup guard Bill Ferrario has not looked good this preseason and
unless Mike Wahle shows enough in the team's final preseason game,
they will instead move Tauscher to guard.
· Keeping with the Packers, fullback William Henderson held
onto his roster spot although it wouldn't have been a surprise if
he wasn't on the opening day roster. The nine-year veteran has not
been outplayed by Nicholas Luchey, signed from the Bengals during
the offseason, but the team prefers Luchey because of his ability
to also play halfback. The Texans, who recently rescinded their
trade with the Dolphins for Deon Dyer, and the Rams would likely
be interested in Henderson.
· Not surprisingly Chargers tight end Stephen Alexander has
missed most of training camp with a groin injury. The team would
do well to give up on this chronic underachiever and install Justin
Peelle as their starting tight end. At least he's a willing blocker
with some potential upside.
· The Lions probably had the worst secondary in the league
last season and the prognosis for 2003 looks bleak. Chris Cash,
expected to start opposite Dre Bly, will go on the injured reserve
list after damaging his ACL and MCL of this left knee and Andre
Goodman is now expected to start. Bly has been banged up for much
of the preseason but should be ready by opening day and backup Chris
Watson is not expected back soon because he just underwent back
surgery. With all the injuries, unheralded Jimmy Wyrick is likely
to be the nickel back.
· Keeping with the Lions, the team has been giving starting
weakside linebacker Barrett Green some time at middle linebacker.
This shouldn't be construed as a challenge to Earl Holmes, who will
open the season as the starter in the middle. Rather, it is likely
a signal the team isn't pleased with the play of Wali Rainer.
· The Raiders made it clear to center Barrett Robbins that
he had to accept a substantial paycut from his scheduled $3.2-million
salary if he expected to remain with the team. It's doubtful he
will open the season in the starting lineup.
· Patriots running back Antowain Smith has finally gotten
into shape and displayed some of the ability that was missing from
his game last season in the team's most recent preseason game. He's
not yet assured himself of the starting position, but it appears
he will start with Kevin Faulk coming off the bench.
· The Raiders signed former Eagle Cecil Martin to be their
starting fullback this year, but he failed to make the roster spot
because Chris Hetherington played well in the preseason. With Charlie
Garner, Tyrone Wheatley and Zack Crockett assured of roster spots,
rookie running back Justin Fargas looking like the steal of the
draft and Ronney Jenkins in line for a job as a returner, the team
only had room for one fullback.
· Recently signed Ki-Jana Carter appeared to have won a job
as the Saints backup running back with his performance in the team's
final preseason game but didn't make the roster. The team apparently
is more interested in signing a young waiver wire pickup to backup
Deuce McAllister.
· Future proclamations from Ravens head coach Brian Billick
that rookies who don't get to camp on time won't be afforded an
opportunity to win a starting job should be ignored. Billick, the
so-called offensive genius, has more or less fallen in love with
rookie Kyle Boller, despite Billick's threats he wouldn't start
him on week one unless he was signed by the start of training camp.
It will be interesting to watch Billick justify his move for two
reasons: he went against what he said and Boller really has done
very little to remove Chris Redman from the top of the depth chart.
He might have a brighter future than Redman, but this team is better
starting Redman and letting Boller watch for a little while. The
Ravens aren't good enough to give up turnovers on offense if they
expect to win.
· Rohan Davey has beaten out Damon Huard for the Patriots
backup quarterback position.
· Keeping with the Giants, rookie 6th round pick wide receiver
David Tyree, selected almost exclusively because of his special
teams ability, recovered a fumbled punt in the team's final preseason
game. The team decided against keeping six receivers so the Daryl
Jones was the victim of Tyree's special teams prowess.
|
