Tony Dorsett was recently at the UPMC athletic facility to meet LeSean McCoy. The press conference was attended by several media and WTAE was one of the TV stations on hand to cover the event. The video is courtesy of the WTAETV Channel at YouTube.
By: Brian Strocko
Football Review Daily
Philly fans are certainly thrilled with the acquisition of much heralded defensive star Asante Samuel in the off-season, but many question if this brilliant move will be complimented by the offensive needs being adequately addressed as well.
Philadelphia’s abysmal redzone production in 07’ has many analysts and fans questioning if they have all the offensive pieces in place to make a run in the fiercely competitive NFC East this year. Has Donny Mac’s lobbying for another playmaker been answered this past draft weekend?
Surely acquiring young and flashy talent from the Miami Dolphins in Lorenzo Booker raises some questions how he can contribute and be utilized in the Eagles’ backfield. A great receiver like Westbrook, his new role in the offense is quite puzzling as he is quite similar rather than a complement to Westbrook’s style of play. Much of the buzz around Philly is also surrounding the 2nd round selection of DeSean Jackson from the University of California and the potential of his rookie impact as a return specialist and wide receiver. An explosive runner and speedster drawn to the likes of Devin Hester, Jackson has been docked at a diminutive 5’ 9 ¾” and 169lbs at the NFL combine.
However, his tutelage from Hall of Fame great, Jerry Rice, is producing expectations for a speedy NFL readiness to perform at a high level in 08’. Marty Mornhinweg, now the offensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, has coached the great Jerry Rice and has described the physical similarities with Jackson when he first encountered the Hall of Famer as a thin, but quick athlete many years ago in San Francisco. Mornhinweg speaks about Jackson ‘s potential impact and the general “State Of The Offense” on the Eagles’ official website, “DeSean gives us a little juice”, He may very well help us, real quick.” Mornhinweg describes the tremendous amount of speed and quickness gained and the overall new dimension of the offense with the additions of Booker and Jackson as well as retaining L.J. Smith and welcoming back a healthy McNabb. It will be interesting to see the personnel groupings this year in this offense which has been described as potentially “explosive”.
The idea to ponder is if Philly has the necessary skill players in place or just an increasing plethora of mediocre skill-player personnel. Unarguably Westbrook is a proven star but what about his supporting cast? Will the Eagles use offensive schemes to accentuate their strengths and create continual mismatches for opposing defenses on a week to week basis? Impatient fans want to see more than “a little juice” from the new acquisitions. Trading away the first round pick once again this year has received mixed reviews as evident by fan blogs and boards on the official team website. Many fans remain optimistic a ‘Lito trade’ will save the year and rejuvenate the team, bringing a bonafide and true #1 wideout to the Linc in 08’. These conjured thoughts of acquiring a proven and legitimate star such as the likes of Roy Williams, Chad Johnson, or Anquan Boldin still remain fantastical daydreams at this time. Only time will tell as we progress toward the new season.
By: Nick Kappel
Football Review Daily
You can go anywhere to read that Darren McFadden landed in a crowded Oakland backfield, or that Rashard Mendenhall’s fantasy value takes a hit sharing carries with Willie Parker in the Steel City.
Both of these situations are commonly known among average fans. I decided to dig a little deeper, to bring your attention to the fantasy diamonds in the rough of the 2008 NFL Draft.
After hours of searching, I have found one player drafted from each round that possesses an excellent skill set, and has landed in a favorable situation with their new team. You may not know it yet, but all seven of these players have a great chance to contribute to your fantasy team in 2008 and beyond…
Dustin Keller – TE – New York Jets
1ST ROUND (30TH OVERALL) – PURDUE
The Jets gave the Packers their 2nd and 4th round picks to move up into the 1st round to acquire Dustin Keller. Many people criticized the trade, saying the 30th pick was a reach for Keller. For this reason, Dustin Keller could soar under fantasy owners’ radar as the top rookie Tight End heading into the 2008 season. Keller is a converted WR, and at 6-2, 242 pounds, will create match-up problems for many linebackers and corners. He is very athletic and displays good hands. With Chris Baker and Bubba Franks already on the roster, Keller’s versatility could enable the Jets to line him up as a third receiver. He should fit well into offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s scheme.
Matt Forte – RB – Chicago Bears
2ND ROUND (44TH OVERALL) – TULANE
Cedric Benson has failed to live up to expectations, and the Bears plan on giving Matt Forte every chance to take his starting spot. Forte rushed for 2,127 yards and 23 touchdowns last season at Tulane. He is strong and runs well between the tackles. Forte has displayed the ability to break tackles and make defenders miss, and is also a solid receiver. He may or may not begin the season as the starter, but he landed in a great situation, and should get the chance to run behind a solid offensive line in Chicago. He will soon become a must-own player at the running back position.
Kevin Smith – RB – Detroit Lions
3RD ROUND (64TH OVERALL) – CENTRAL FLORIDA
After releasing Kevin Jones, the Lions were left with Tatum Bell, Brian Calhoun and Aveion Cason at the RB position. Based on this fact alone, Kevin Smith has immediate fantasy value as the likely starter in Detroit’s backfield. Last season at Central Florida, Smith rushed for 2,566 yards, the second highest total in NCAA history. Smith possesses good field vision, and is a tough runner who will fit into the Lions’ new zone running scheme. The running game is relevant again in Detroit now that Mike Martz is out of town, and Kevin Smith is a guy to keep your eye on.
Lavelle Hawkins – WR – Tennessee Titans
4TH ROUND (126TH OVERALL) - CALIFORNIA
Hawkins was the first and only receiver drafted by the Titans, even though the team is considered to be very weak at that position. For this reason, Hawkins has a good chance to gain some fantasy value. The former Cal standout lacks size, (5-11, 187) but is a solid pass-catcher and has displayed the ability to make tough catches over the middle. Hawkins’ speed allows him to gain separation, and he has experience as a kick returner as well. Hawkins could be a player to keep your eye on in deeper fantasy leagues.
John David Booty – QB – Minnesota Vikings
5TH ROUND (127TH OVERALL) – SOUTHERN CAL
I know what you’re thinking. How could a 5th round QB, who is likely to be a backup, have fantasy value? My reasoning is simple. Booty landed in a great situation with Minnesota, behind an inconsistent Tavaris Jackson. In 16 career games, Jackson has thrown 11 touchdowns to 16 interceptions at a 58.1 completion percentage, and sports an ugly 69.0 QB rating. Needless to say, I’m not sold on the guy. At 6-2, 218, John David Booty doesn’t have the size or strength of a typical QB, but his skills would fit very well into the Vikings’ west coast offense. Booty is a smart, hard working player. He is a good pocket passer, gets rid of the ball quickly, reads defenses well and makes good decisions. Minnesota is a very talented young team on the rise, but I believe Tavaris Jackson is holding them back. The Vikings may have found their future QB in Booty with the 127th pick in the 5th round. Keep your eye on the situation as it progresses, as Booty may have fantasy value in deeper leagues by the end of the season.
Paul Hubbard – WR – Cleveland Browns
6TH ROUND (191ST OVERALL) – WISCONSIN
Here’s a guy you’ve probably never heard of before. Paul Hubbard is track star turned football player, and possesses good size (6-2, 221) in addition to his natural speed and strength. He is still very raw, and will need time to gain experience. However, his rare size/speed combo gives him a chance to be a playmaker, especially if he is able to stay in Cleveland’s pass-happy offense. Hubbard is a raw project, but could have fantasy relevance down the road if he figures things out.
Chauncey Washington – RB – Jacksonville Jaguars
7TH ROUND (213TH OVERALL) – SOUTHERN CAL
Chauncey Washington was one of the most talented players selected in the later rounds of the draft. At USC, academic ineligibility and durability concerns forced him to miss several games during his college career. Despite this, his strength, size and toughness are undeniable. During his senior year at Southern Cal, Washington rushed for 969 yards (5.0 yards per) and ten touchdowns. He also added seven catches for 59 yards and two scores. In addition, he displayed the ability to return kicks. His style of play is very similar to new Jag teammate Maurice Jones-Drew. If Washington can keep his head together and continue to work hard, he will eventually become relevant in all fantasy leagues.
Now that the aisles and stage have been cleared at Radio City Music Hall, we thought it would be a good idea to take a look back at how ESPN ranked the college recruiting class. According to their rankings, Miami took the top bill this year by bolstering their defense with an outstanding class of linebackers and linemen. Rounding out the top five were a surprising Clemson, Alabama, Florida and Georgia. Check out the full list here.
Read more...New England lead the league with 393 first downs in 2007. San Francisco had the lowest first down total with 218.
Read more...By: Richard Oh
Football Review Daily
Football season is back. And that can only mean one thing: Fantasy football has returned.
Who could forget Adrian Peterson’s spectacular year? Marshawn Lynch’s solid rookie debut and Brady Quinn’s fade into fantasy oblivion were just some of the big storylines from last year’s rookie class. And while this year’s first round draft showcased a lot of defensive players as well as offensive linemen, everyone knows that the offensive skill players will make or break your 2008 fantasy season.
Here are some of my picks that will make or break your team.
Make
Matt Ryan, QB, ATL
Matt Ryan takes over as the face of the franchise. With only Joey Harrington standing in his way, Ryan might start in week 1. While the Falcons may not have any receiving threats, RB Michael Turner in his first starting season, may help the rookie open up the Atlanta passing game.
Jonathan Stewart, RB, CAR
Jonathan Stewart will take over RB duties after the Panthers cut DeShaun Foster. While incumbent DeAngelo Williams is still with Carolina, he is better suited as a change-of-pace RB, and is not the power rusher that Carolina needs. Stewart fills that role nicely and should play a major role in Carolina’s running game this year.
Darren McFadden, RB, OAK
Darren McFadden enters a horrible situation in Oakland with several RBs blocking his path to NFL stardom. But owner Al Davis did not draft McFadden to sit on the sidelines. McFadden will bring his blazing speed to the table, and I expect a decent season from him. QB Jamarcus Russell is still inexperienced, so expect Oakland to run the ball often.
Felix Jones, RB, DAL
With Julius Jones gone, Felix Jones will step in and be the speed back coexisting with RB Marion Barber. While he may have to split carries, Jones will utilize his speed and I expect decent numbers from the rookie RB.
James Hardy, WR, BUF
James Hardy should benefit from the double coverage that Lee Evans often receives. With his 6-5 frame, Hardy should be one of QB Trent Edwards’ favorite red zone targets.
Break
Joe Flacco, QB, BAL
Joe Flacco reminds me of former starter Kyle Boller. Strong arm, but without a QB’s mind to dissect an NFL defense. Expect a lot of turnovers and mental struggles from the young QB, as the Ravens will miss Steven McNair.
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, PIT
Rashard Mendenhall comes into a decent situation with RB Willie Parker still recovering from injuries. Although Mendenhall has plenty of talent, his style does not seem apt to fit into the Steelers offense, and I expect him to struggle with the team. The Steelers need a power runner, and Mendenhall isn’t it.
Chris Johnson, RB, TEN
After last year’s pick of Chris Henry, one would think GM Mike Reinfieldt wouldn’t want to mess with another RB, but he did it again with Chris Johnson. Johnson is just as overrated as Henry was, and I expect Johnson to struggle as much as Henry did last year.
Who made your rookie list of makes or breaks for the upcoming season? Feel free to leave a comment.
After 252 picks time finally expired on the 2008 NFL Draft. Now we get to sit back and put on our owners’ hat and critique the men who get paid to make these picks because obviously we know more then they do.
Draft winners:
Dallas Cowboys - The Cowboys may not have taken the best running back on the board at the time, Rashard Mendenhall, but they got the best running back for their system in Felix Jones. They also picked up another fine running back out of Georgia Tech in Tashard Choice. Mike Jenkins is just a tremendous athlete; he will need to be fine tuned in the NFL but will have no problem adjusting to the speed of the game. Martellus Bennett is a huge tight end who will be an ideal young player to develop.
Kansas City Chiefs – How can you not like their draft. They did an amazing job wheeling and dealing to acquire a wealth of draft picks, twelve to be exact. Their first three picks, Glenn Dorsey, Branden Albert, and Brandon Flowers could all be starters come September. Jamaal Charles, Brad Cottam and DeJuan Morgan might not be the flashiest picks but they all can become contributors on the roster. One of their Seventh Round picks, Brian Johnston, has the chance to be a sleeper out of Gardner Webb.
Baltimore Ravens – The Ravens are another team who got the most out of the draft by making draft day deals to accumulate picks. They made the most of their drafting experience by picking up the highly praised Joe Flacco from near by Delaware. Flacco reminds us at Football Review Daily as a Ben Roethlisberger type with his size and presence in the pocket. Ray Rice and Tom Zbikowski are great second and third round picks. Stock piling WR’s and OL won’t hurt either, the Ravens had an exceptional draft.
Draft Losers:
Tennessee Titans – The Titans did not draft one potential starter in the draft and yet again picked another running back early in the early rounds. Playing in the AFC South is tough enough; they can’t blow the draft and expect to compete in this division.
New York Giants – Yes they are the Super Bowl champs but they still need to have a good draft. Why they didn’t deal Shockey is anyone’s guess. Being that they didn’t do that, they are draft day losers in our mind.
Cincinnati Bengals – Who knows what’s going on in Cinci. This team was on the edge of surpassing the Steelers a few years ago, now they just keep back pedaling. This team fails again because of their lack of a draft day trade, how can you pass up two first round picks for 85???
Bowling Greens' Kory Lichtensteiger was drafted in the 4th Round (pick 108 overall) by the Devner Broncos. Lichtensteiger will join an organization that boosts one of the elite offensive lines in the NFL. Football Review Daily spoke with Lichtensteiger earlier this week in an interview about his move to the NFL.
Read more...By: Floyd Randolph
Football Review Daily
Al Davis and the Raiders continued their roster overhaul with the selection of physical specimen Darren McFadden. With players like Vernon Gholston and Glenn Dorsey still available the Raiders opted for the more flashy pick, staying true to their past history of taking players with jaw dropping physical skills.
As good as McFadden will be in the NFL, Glenn Dorsey could be that and a little better. Dorsey could have been the answer to a run defense that ranked second to last in the league, but instead the Raiders added another back to an already crowded backfield.
What’s even more harmful to the Raiders passing on Dorsey is division foe Kansas City nabbing him right after their selection at the number five slot.
The Chiefs were as surprised as anyone when Dorsey fell into their laps; before the draft started most analysts had Dorsey ranked upon the top of their mock board in terms of raw talent.
Now with Dorsey scheduled to be playing the Raiders twice a year the Raiders must hope their passing of him won’t further dampen their rebuilding process, rather Darren McFadden blossoming into the dual threat back they envisioned while selecting him at number four.
McFadden will add a strong presence to an abysmal Raiders offense, pairing him with former first round pick JaMarcus Russell in hopes of resurrecting what was once one of the best in the league.
With the first two rounds concluded and the dust starting to set, the Raiders now have their back of the future in Darren McFadden, but was the cost of passing on surefire future defensive stud Glenn Dorsey worth it?
(1) Miami Dolphins Long, Jake OT 6'7" 315 Michigan
(2) St. Louis Rams Long, Chris DE 6'4" 275 Virginia
(3) Atlanta Falcons Ryan, Matt QB 6'5" 224 Boston College
(4) Oakland Raiders McFadden, Darren RB 6'2" 210 Arkansas
(5) Kansas City Chiefs Dorsey, Glenn DT 6'2" 316 LSU
(6) New York Jets Gholston, Vernon DE 6'4" 258 Ohio State
(7) New Orleans Saints (From 49ers through Patriots) Ellis, Sedrick DT 6'1" 305 Southern Cal
(8) Jacksonville Jaguars (From Ravens) Harvey, Derrick DE 6'5" 252 Florida
(9) Cincinnati Bengals Rivers, Keith LB 6'3" 235 Southern Cal
(10) New England Patriots (From Saints) Mayo, Jerod OLB 6'1" 242 Tennessee
(11) Buffalo Bills McKelvin, Leodis CB 5'11" 190 Troy
(12) Denver Broncos Clady, Ryan OT 6'6" 316 Boise State
(13) Carolina Panthers Stewart, Jonathan RB 5'11" 235 Oregon
(14) Chicago Bears Williams, Chris OT 6'6" 315 Vanderbilt
(15) Kansas City Chiefs (From Lions) Albert, Branden OG 6'6" 309 Virginia
(16) Arizona Cardinals Rodgers-Cromartie, Dominique CB 6'2" 182 Tennessee State
(17) Detroit Lions (From Vikings through Chiefs) Cherilus, Gosder OT 6'7" 315 Boston College
(18) Baltimore Ravens (From Texans) Flacco, Joe QB 6'7" 236 Delaware
(19) Carolina Panthers (From Eagles) Otah, Jeff OT 6'6" 340 Pittsburgh
(20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers Talib, Aqib CB 6'1" 202 Kansas
(21) Atlanta Falcons (From Redskins) Baker, Sam OT 6'5" 312 Southern Cal
(22) Dallas Cowboys (From Browns) Jones, Felix RB 6'0" 200 Arkansas
(23) Pittsburgh Steelers Mendenhall, Rashard RB 5'11" 210 Illinois
(24) Tennessee Titans Johnson, Chris RB 5'11" 197 East Carolina
(25) Dallas Cowboys (From Seahawks) Jenkins, Mike CB 6'0" 200 South Florida
(26) Houston Texans (From Jaguars through Ravens) Brown, Duane OT 6'4" 315 Virginia Tech
(27) San Diego Chargers Cason, Antoine CB 6'0" 190 Arizona
(28) Seattle Seahawks (From Cowboys) Jackson, Lawrence DE 6'5" 268 Southern Cal
(29) San Francisco 49ers (From Colts) Balmer, Kentwan DE 6'5" 298 North Carolina
(30) New York Jets (From Packers) Keller, Dustin TE 6'3" 242 Purdue
(31) New York Giants Phillips, Kenny FS 6'2" 208 Miami
NFL teams are required to have 36 balls on hand for outdoor games and 24 balls on hand for indoor games. 12 balls will also be provided by the manufacturer that are sealed and opened by the officials before the game. These balls are then marked with the letter "K" and used solely for the kicking game.
Read more...It's never too late for draft talk. With roughly 24hrs before the 2008 NFL Draft, FRD's good friend Mike Smith provides his Mock Draft, and since we make the rules, we allow for trades.
Photo Courtesy of Doug SampsonDick "Night Train" Lane holds the NFL record for most interceptions in a season. He had 14 interceptions in 1952 while playing for Los Angeles.
Read more...Jason Taylor might not just be dancing with the stars, it looks like he might be dancing his way out of Miami as well. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel is reporting that NFL executives are looking to shop Taylor for another first round pick. As Football Review Daily reported earlier this week, the Dolphins have already secured their number one pick overall and are looking to bolster last years lack luster team with another number one pick this weekend. They are looking at four players who most likely won’t be around when round two comes rolling in. Possible players being sought after are Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco, Michigan quarterback Chad Henne, Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey, and Auburn defensive end Quentin Groves.
Read more...Adam "Pacman" Jones has a new team, the Dallas Cowboys. Now he just needs to worry about getting reinstated so he can join the team. The Dallas Cowboys and the Tennessee Titans have agreed on a deal to send Pacman to the Cowboys for fourth round pick in this years draft. There are other conditions with the deal revolving around Pacman getting reinstated and how much playing time Pacman gets this season. Also, Jones will have to "make it rain" as part of his contract settlement with the Titans - he must pay $500,000 to a charity chosen by the Titans sometime within the next two years.
Read more...
Photo Courtesy of Penn State University Athletics
Photo Courtesy of Penn State University AthleticsESPN.com reports that an agreement has been made today for a sit down between Matt Walsh and Commissioner Roger Goodell. The proposed date for this powwow is schedule for May 13th in New York. Who knows what this will do for spygate though - let’s just hope Commissioner Goodell will not inadvertently forget or obliterate any additional films or evidence Matt Walsh will supply for the good of the league. Football Review Daily thinks Sen. Arlen Specter should be on hand to make sure no funny business takes place.
For those of you who have lived under a rock for the better part of the last 10 months, Matt Walsh is the missing puzzle piece to spygate. He worked for the Patriots from 1996 through the 2002 season and has previously stated that he has potentially damaging information about the Patriots prior taping practices. Time will only tell….
Jared Allen was traded late Tuesday to the Minnesota Vikings after a turbulent off season in Kansas City. Allen was unhappy with Kansas City management and clearly stated to them he would not sign a long term deal with the team. The Chiefs franchise player, Allen was by far the best defensive player they had. In return for Allen, the Chiefs will receive the Vikings 1st round pick (17th overall), and two 3rd round picks (73 and 82 overall). They will also trade positions in the 6th round which will give the Vikings a higher pick in this round.
NFL.com reports the deal is a six-year $74 million deal including $34 million in guaranteed money.
The Seattle Seahawks parted ways with former league MVP Shaun Alexander Tuesday. The writing was on the wall for Alexander when the Seahawks signed running backs Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett in the off season.
Alexander passed his physical Tuesday showing teams that his tank is not empty and he still can make an impact in the league. In a letter Tuesday evening, Alexander assured his fans he will be playing in the NFL in 2008. During the 2007 season he played in 13 games rushing for 716 yards, a massive drop off from the 1,880 yards in 2005 when he was the NFL MVP.
As many of you are aware, the NFL owners meeting brought with it some rule changes for the upcoming season. There are five major changes that will impact play on the field, but that’s not all, they will actually impact the way you watch the game. Let me break them down and explain the impact they will have on your viewing pleasure.
Rule 1: All face mask penalties will now receive a 15 yard penalty with the lesser “touch of the face mask” not being penalized.
Viewer Impact: You will no longer have that annoying drunk in the bar yelling “this is bullsh@t, that’s a fifteen yarder!”
Rule 2: Defensive player(s) will be allowed to have a radio in their helmet.
Viewer Impact: We hopefully won’t have to go through another season hearing about Bill Belichick and his cronies stealing signals...well until he figures out how to “accidentally” intercept the radio frequencies into Tom Brady’s helmet.
Rule 3: Certain field goals are now reviewable by instant replay.
Viewer Impact: Absolutely none. With the criteria for instant replay on field goals, this rule will be used maybe once every 10 years when we have another Phil Dawson experience.
Rule 4: Teams can choose to defer their decision to the second half when winning the coin toss.
Viewer Impact: Now we will have two prop bets to choose from during the coin toss – heads or tails and receive or defer.
Rule 5: Receivers can no longer be ruled forced out of bounds.
Viewer Impact: You no longer have to explain to your girlfriend/wife why the Dolphin receiver (we know all girls love the Dolphins because of their “cute colors”) was out of bounds when he only had one foot in bounds but when that happened to the receiver on your favorite team the guy in the white hat said the catch was good.
Now you can sit back and enjoy the season knowing you no longer have to worry about these situations.
The Dolphins have announced their signing of OT Jake Long from Michigan as the number one pick of the 2008 NFL Draft. Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland stated "Jake has been on the top of our board since the beginning...He was the guy we were targeting all along." The Dolphins and Jake Long have agreed to a 5-year deal which was finalized this morning for $57.5 M (30M guaranteed) . Jeff Ireland made it clear there was never any other talks with other players agents about being the number one pick, Jake Long was always their man.
Long is the first Offensive Tackle selected number one over all since 1997 when Orlando Pace was selected by the St. Louis Rams.
© Blogger template Werd by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009
Back to TOP
