NFL PRESEASON JOURNAL
If you look past all the false start penalties, and the unfamiliarity of most of the names on the field, there’s a lot to like about preseason football. Sure, the games, in theory, are meaningless, but for many of the players participating in them, they are the most meaningful games of their lives. Careers that otherwise would never have taken place can be launched in the third and fourth quarters of these exhibitions, and every August it’s fun to see who will make their mark. As Bill Parcells once said, “People who think the preseason is meaningless don’t know anything about football.” Then he said, “Pass the Ding Dongs.”
As I will throughout the preseason, I’ll have a breakdown of each game. The summaries will tell you key numbers that teams are concerned with, a fantasy watch to see how the league’s top skill position players fared, and will also tell you which players trying to earn their spot in the league stood out in each game.
So all that should be super. But first, we’ve got some news items to address.
NFL NEWS
– The king is dead, or retiring, long live the new king. And that new king will be new NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell. Goodell slogged his way up thru the NFL ranks, starting as an intern at the league office. He’s also the son of a former US Senator, so I’m sure that helped too. Goodell becomes the 4th commish the league has had in the last 60 years.
– Every single 2006 first round draft pick is signed and in camp, except for one. The lone holdout is Arizona Cardinals QB Matt Leinart. Even though Leinart was the 10th player selected in the draft, his people don’t feel he should be payed like it. They feel he should be getting paid like the tippy top guys, or at least as much as #3 pick Vince Young is getting.
– First it was Chief lineman Willie Roaf, now a second slam dunk Hall of Famer has announced his retirement during this preseason. Dolphins, and longtime Chargers linebacker Junior Seau has announced he is hanging them up.
– Last week the Browns lost center LeCharles Bentley for the season with an injury. This week, they lost his replacement, Bob Hallen, who has left the team due to personal issues and a back injury. So, I guess the Browns are pretty much screwed at a position they spent lots and lots of money to upgrade in the offseason.
– Also on the injury tip, we have our first injury to a major star in a preseason game for 06. Redskins RB Clinton Portis suffered a partially dislocated shoulder making a tackle on a turnover in Sunday’s ex tilt against the Bengals. Portis is now out indefinitely, and had this to say, “For whoever’s watching: Let’s get rid of some of these (preseason) games. Four games is ridiculous. Then you play a 16-game season and the playoffs behind that.”
Uh, there’s two things wrong with that statement.
1. You got hurt in your first preseason game, not your fourth.
2. Why are you trying to Gore somebody on a fumble return if you don’t want to get hurt in the preseason? Next time, just let him score. I promise nobody will care.
– As I mentioned last week, the Bears are making a questionable decision to elevate Cedric Benson to starting running back, ahead of Thomas Jones, who rushed for 1300 yards last year (to put that number in perspective, it’s the most a Bears back has rushed for since some guy named Walter). Benson must have learned from Rex Grossman that the secret to having the Bears think you can play is to always be injured, preferably during training camp, so you can’t prove you can’t play. Benson injured his shoulder taking a hit in practice last week, and had to be carted off the field. Benson said it shouldn’t keep him out longer than 2-3 weeks, but it is an injury that will no doubt linger for at least the early part of the season.
– The puff of white smoke coming out of the chimney of Mike Shanahan’s office has signaled that the Broncos have named their starting running back. And it’s Bell. No, not Tatum Bell. It’s undrafted rookie free agent Mike Bell. Bell rushed for 952 yards and 5 TDs for the University of Arizona last year. Now that he’s the Broncos starting back, he’ll probably have matched those totals by week 7 this year if he can keep the job.
NFL PRESEASON JOURNAL
HALL OF FAME GAME, CANTON OH
RAIDERS 16, EAGLES 10 (HALFTIME- EAGLES 10-7)
KEY NUMBERS
-If I’m a Raiders fan, which I’m not, I have to be concerned that the Silver and Black rushed for only 76 yards on 34 carries, an average of 2.2 yards per. I’m also concerned that my quarterbacks as a whole completed 9 of 28 passes, and that the new starter, Aaron Brooks, threw 3 passes and one of them was an INT. I’m also not liking that the Raiders gave up 5 sacks.
-So if the Raiders played so poorly, how did they win? Philly turned the ball over 5 times, which will turn a game around every time.
FANTASY WATCH
-One positive to takeaway for Oakland was that Sebastian Janikowski, who was absolutely horrible last year, was 3 of 3 in this game, including 2 from 50+.
-I’m excited about the way Brian Westbrook ran coming off last year’s season ending injury; 32 yards on 6 carries, and a first quarter touchdown. If the Eagles can keep him healthy, he’s their best offensive player.
WHO STOOD OUT
– Last year’s first round pick, corner Fabian Washington, picked off a Jeff Garcia pass and returned it 40 yards.
-5th round linebacker Omar Gaither led the team with 6 tackles. Backup defensive end Juqua Thomas had 2 sacks.
Will Westbrook Lead Philly Out of the NFC East Cellar?
PRESEASON WEEK 1
AT EAGLES 20, BROWNS 7 (HALFTIME- EAGLES 3-0)
KEY NUMBERS
– Hey look it’s the Eagles again! 2 exhibition games in 5 days, what a great way to get someone injured for the real season.
– Neither team ran the ball effectively in this game. Both sides were held below 3 yards per carry. For Philly, this was due in large part to Brian Westbrook not suiting up. For the Browns, you can thank former first round pick William Green for somehow managing to rush for -3 yards on 6 carries. At least he’s not driving his car naked anymore, I think.
– Last year, the Browns ranked DFL in the league with 23 sacks. They made some moves to improve on that in the offseason, and hope to fare much better in year 2 of Romeo Crennel’s regime. Results in this game were encouraging, as they had 4 sacks.
FANTASY WATCH
-While the rest of his teammates didn’t fare so well running the ball, Browns back Reuben Droughns had success. He averaged 5.3 yards on 4 carries.
– The good news on Kellen Winslow, he didn’t get hurt. The bad news, he had 2 catches for 7 yards. Not exactly setting the world on fire.
-Donovan McNabb has had a nice preseason so far. In 2 games, he’s 10 for 12 for 107 yards.
WHO STOOD OUT
– If this first preseason test was any indication, the Browns may have a pretty good player in DE Kamerion Wimbley, the 13th player selected in this year’s draft. He had five tackles.
– Eagles’ backup QB Jeff Garcia looked good. He completed 8 of 11 for 125 yards and a TD pass to Darnerien McCants, a former Redskin who is trying to stick as the 5th wideout.
– Second year Cleveland linebacker David McMillan had a pair of sacks.
AT RAMS 19, COLTS 17 (HALFTIME RAMS 19-10)
KEY NUMBERS
– In all my years as an internet superstar, the Colts have never won a preseason game. This one makes them 0 for 6.
– You might see some good things happen in St. Louis this year now that Scott Linehan’s offense has replaced Mike Martz’s. The Rams are committed to running the ball, and in this game they carried for 202 yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. I’m ready to pick the Rams to go to the Super Bowl this year, just like I did last year. I’m just batshit insane.
– Yeah, I think the Colts will miss Edgerrin James. They rushed for 38 yards on 16 attempts in this one.
– The Colts’ offensive line looked suspect at the end of last season. They gave up 5 sacks in this game, including one that resulted in a safety. Is there really a problem?
FANTASY WATCH
– Peyton Manning, praise be his name, was in midseason form. He completed 3 of 5 for 50 yard, including a 31 yard hookup with Reggie Wayne, and a TD pass to backup tight end Ben Utecht.
– After 1 preseason game, the leader in the race to be the Colts’ new feature back is..nobody. Both Dominic Rhodes and rookie Joseph Addai were lackluster. Rhodes carried 4 times for 10 yards, Addai 3 times for 3 yards.
– Rams running back Stephen Jackson was all that and a bag of kettle chips. He carried 5 times for 41 yards.
– Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, and Shaun McDonald all had catches of over 15 yards.
– New Colts kicker Adam Vinatieiri’s first attempt with Indy was impressive, a successful 53 yard try.
Can Linehan Turn the Rams From Goats to Heroes?
WHO STOOD OUT
– Rookie free agent DE Matthew Rice (Penn St.) had 3 sacks for the Rams.
– Colts’ 7th round pick TJ Rushing (Stanford) had a 63 yard kickoff return.
– 2nd year wideout Levon Thomas caught a 40 yard TD pass from Shaun King for the Colts.
AT BUCS 16, JETS 3 (HALFTIME 3-3)
KEY NUMBERS
– The Jets offense looked really, really bad. Tampa controlled time of possession 36-24, and the Jets running game was held to 2.8 yards per carry.
– The defense wasn’t so hot either. The Bucs were able to convert 9 out of 13 3rd downs into 1st downs.
FANTASY WATCH
– Bucs’ sophomore RB Cadillac Williams did not play in this game.
– Neither did Jets’ 28th year RB, Curtis Martin.
– Jets’ WR Lavaerneus Coles somehow managed to get only 27 yards out of 5 receptions.
WHO STOOD OUT
– The NFL cognoscenti are raving about Jets’ rookie QB Kellen Clemens (Oregon), and he looked good in his game situation debut. Clemens completed 10 of 14 for 92 yards.
– 6th round rookie QB Brad Gradkowski (Toledo) threw 2 TD passes. And since he’s a QB from the MAC conference, you know he has to be awesome.
– The Bucs got good rushing performances from a pair of guys trying to make the team. Former Falcons’ practice squadder Carey Davis had 67 yards on 14 carries, and veteran Earnest Graham had 69 yards on 17 carries.
AT LIONS 20, BRONCOS 13 (HALFTIME LIONS 10-6)
KEY NUMBERS
– Mike Martz is the Lions’ new offensive coordinator, so many are predicting an improvement in that area for the team. In this game, the running attack looked real good, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
– The Lions also pressured the Broncos’ offense, sacking Denver QB’s 4 times.
– The Broncos reached the red zone (inside the 20) 4 times, and didn’t come away with a TD on any of those trips.
FANTASY WATCH
– Mike Shanahan says Mike Bell is his starting running back, but he didn’t do anything to strengthen his hold on the job in this game. He carried 7 times for 20 yards. Tatum Bell, perhaps motivated by the sleight, averaged over 5 yards on 5 carries.
– The Lions ran the ball well as a team, but starting RB Kevin Jones wasn’t in on the action. He carried 7 times for only 25 yards.
– Jon Kitna struggled in his Detroit debut, completing only 2 of 5 passes for 21 yards.
WHO STOOD OUT
– Jay Cutler was the 11th pick in this year’s draft, and if his first preseason game was any indication, he is going to press Jake Plummer hard this year. Cutler completed 16 of 22 for 192 yards and a TD.
– Lions’ 2nd round pick Daniel Bullocks led the team with 7 tackles.
– Rookie FA Claude Harriott (Pitt) had 2 sacks and a forced fumble.
Prime Cutler
GIANTS 17, AT RAVENS 16 (HALFTIME- RAVENS 13-7)
KEY NUMBERS
– Want to know what the Giants’ running game looks like when Tiki Barber doesn’t play? How’s about 68 yards on 30 carries? Yeesh.
– The Giants butter their bread by putting pressure on the opposing QB, and they did that in this game, sacking the Ravens 5 times.
– Baltimore averaged a very healthy 5.3 yards per carry on offense, an excellent sign for a team that struggled to run the ball effectively last year.
FANTASY WATCH
– Steve McNair looked very good in his first game as a Raven. He completed 4 of 5 passes for 45 yards.
– I know it’s only preseason, but I think Jamal Lewis is back yo. He had 34 yards on 6 carries. His competition, former Bronco Mike Anderson, had only 17 yards on 5 carries.
– Plaxico Burress had a 43 yard reception, and Ravens TE Todd Heap had a pair of 17 yard grabs.
WHO STOOD OUT
– 2nd year WR Michael Jennings had a 57 yard punt return TD for the Giants.
– Veteran RB Musa Smith broke a 37 yard run for the Ravens
– 4th round pick Demetrius Williams (Oregon) led all Baltimore receivers with 43 yards.
AT FALCONS 26, PATRIOTS 23 (HALFTIME- FALCONS 13-6)
KEY NUMBERS
– New England was an anemic 4-13 on 3rd down conversions.
– Both teams averaged over 5 yards a carry, which means that both defensive coordinators were ripping their hair out.
– Atlanta also struggled against the pass, surrendering 7.9 yards per attempt. They did stiffen in the red zone though, allowing New England only 1 TD in 4 trips inside their 20.
FANTASY WATCH
– Corey Dillon has a LOT of mileage on him, but he looked good in this game. He averaged over 5 yards per on 5 carries. Warrick Dunn broke a 17 yard run for Atlanta.
– The Falcons will be relying on WR Michael Jenkins to be a productive starter this year, and he looked up to the task on Saturday. He had 36 receiving yards and a TD.
– No clear leader yet in the Pats’ kicking competition. Both Martin Gramatica and Stephen Gostkowski made all of their attempts. Meanwhile, Atlanta’s Michael Koenen was 4 of 4 and hit a 50 yarder.
WHO STOOD OUT
– New England 1st round pick Laurence Maroney (Minnesota) is going to make an impact this year. He had 66 yards on 9 carries and sprung free for a 27 yard run.
– Patriots TE Garrett Mills (Tulsa), selected in the 4th round this spring, had 5 catches for 75 yards.
– Third round pick Jerious Norwood (Miss State) had a pair of big receptions out of the backfield, including a 34 yard TD reception.
AT 49ERS 28, BEARS 14 (HALFTIME- NINERS 17-7)
KEY NUMBERS
– The Bears have to be able to run the ball effectively to avoid looking terrible. In this game, they didn’t play either of their two headed tailback juggernaut, Thomas Jones or Cedric Benson, and averaged 1.8 yards per carry, and they looked terrible.
– SF went all West Coast Offense on the Bears, completing 25 of 32 passes, a success rate of 78%. The Bears, by contrast, completed less than 50% of their pass attempts.
– The Bears were 3 of 11 on third down conversions. That’ll happen when your receiving corps sucks big balls.
FANTASY WATCH
– If you plan on having anyone from either of these teams on your fantasy roster, with the exception of Thomas Jones, Cedric Benson or Frank Gore, you maybe shouldn’t be playing the fantasy football this year.
– Gore will be the Niners feature back this year, and he’ll be pretty good. He carried 10 times for 49 yards and a TD.
– Rex Grossman was 3 of 11 for 47 yards, and fumbled a snap that went back for a TD. He looks great in OTAs though. The ball explodes out of his hand like he’s Doug Henning making a tiger disappear. Now excuse me while I fracture my skull with a ball peen hammer. I’ll share an analysis by reader Dook!e with you:
“I’ll be the first to dub Ron Turner’s offense “the playground offense”. Where else can you find a fat QB throwing jump balls to the tallest WR, overthrown screen passes, catch-and-fumbles by the WRs after a 1st down.”
That about nails it.
WHO STOOD OUT
– Converted corner Rashied Davis had 91 receiving yards and a 41 yard TD reception.
– QB Brian Griese was 6 of 7 for 134 yards and 2 TDs. He, of course, remains the backup because Rex Grossman is soooo good.
– Former Browns taxi squad guy and current Bears DE Antonio Garay had 9 tackles, 3rd round D lineman Dusty Dvoracek (Oklahoma) had a nice debut with 4 stops.
The Niners Win the Super Bowl!! Er..Or a Preseason Game!!
THAT’S A WRAP
“Whaaaaa?” you say! “I didn’t see my team’s game here!”, you howl. Well, my therapist says I need to set boundaries, or else I may start killing people, so I’m setting mine at putting Thursday and Friday night’s games in this column
However, fear not. Now that it’s football season proper, I’m bi, weekly that is. Which means I’m here Monday and Friday. So on FRIDAY, I will return with all of the NFL news from this week, and a rundown of the Saturday, Sunday, and Monday games from Week 1 of the preseason, which will include:
– Vince Young and Reggie Bush making their pro debuts in the Titans/Saints skirmish.
– Phillip Rivers seeing his first action as the Chargers’ starting QB.
– Daunte Culpepper’s first game in the aqua and coral of the Miami Dolphins.
– Clinton Portis’ aforementioned ill-advised tribute to Junior Seau.
Until then, check out the rest of the IP Sports staff!
Daniels luuuuuvs the Chiefs.
Murtz has tennis. Lots and lots of tennis.
Patrick tells why he loves the teams you love to hate.
Okay then.
