Tony Dorsett Meets LeSean McCoy

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.

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Are the Eagles' Offensive Questions Answered?

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.

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Rookie Sleepers Can Be Found in Every Round

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.

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Alexis Serna Focused On Kicking

Kickers are measured and remembered by their stats. Longest field goal, most consecutive extra points, and career points are just a few of the stats used. Alexis Serna assembled an impressive set of stats during his four years at Oregon State (9-4). For the good of the team, he also added punting duties to his resume this past season after the punter left in preseason camp. For someone who last punted in high school, his punting stats were fairly solid. He punted 81 times on the season with 19 landing inside the twenty-yard line. It was a task that the team-first player gladly accepted. Serna commented on the experience.

“I had to take on punting this year. I decided to step into this role because I felt that I was the best option for the team. Coach Riley and Coach Ungerer allowed me to be the starting punter. I took on that task as well as kicking. It was my first time really punting since high school. I had to learn how to punt; it took a month coming into September. I started picking it up better towards the end of the season. I wouldn’t take it back because I did it for my team.”

With his punting internship completed, Serna was once again free to focus solely on his kicking game as he awaited an opportunity to compete for an NFL kicking job. Serna spent the spring fine tuning his kicking mechanics and preparing for both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. He spoke about his preparation.

"I kept everything going. I lifted four times a week and kicked about four times a week as well. My preparation was the same as in season except I only focused on kicking."

Serna’s collegiate career concluded with a host of awards, accolades, and records. In 2005, he was the Lou Groza Award winner and was named to Pac-10 Conference First Team. He was also an American Football Coaches Association All-American and an Associated Press Second Team All-American in 2005. At Oregon State, Serna ended with a record 144 consecutive extra point attempts made. He also owns the OSU record for field goals with 80 converted. His 384 career points are the benchmark at Oregon State. His career points are also good for second all-time in the Pac-10 and eighth all-time in the NCAA for a kicker.

Impressive and historic stats defined Alexis Serna’s collegiate career; hopefully, he will get an opportunity for his stats to define his professional one.

Photo Credit: Gregory McKie

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Top College Recruiting Classes

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.

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Stat of the Day

New England lead the league with 393 first downs in 2007. San Francisco had the lowest first down total with 218.

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NFL Draft's Make or Break Fantasy Picks

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.

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FRD's Draft Day Winners and Losers

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???

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Kory Lichtensteiger Drafted in 4th Round

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.

• Kory Lichtensteiger Interview

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Raiders will regret passing on Dorsey; select McFadden

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?

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NFL Draft 1st Round Picks

(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

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Ogemdi Nwagbuo Interview

In 2007, Michigan State’s Ogemdi Nwagbuo (oh-GIM-dee new-WOW-bo) enjoyed a solid senior campaign. At season’s end, the Spartans nose tackle was named to 2008 Hula Bowl's East team. Several pundits have Ogemdi listed as a second-day selection or priority free agent. The San Diego native kindly spoke with Football Review Daily on the eve of the NFL Draft about the his final collegiate season, the emergence of Oren Wilson, and Barry Sanders’ touchdown celebrations.

Q. How has your time at Michigan State prepared you for playing at the next level?

Playing at Michigan State prepared me because it has allowed me to play against some of the top competition in the country. That’s what you get in the Big Ten.

Q. Favorite game from 2007?

Penn State because we came from behind and finally closed out a game. It enabled us to go to a bowl.

Q. Favorite play from 2007?

When defensive tackle Oren Wilson knocked down the pass against Michigan, it showed his emergence as a future star in the Big Ten Conference.

Q. Toughest away game last season?

Definitely Ohio State but every road game in the Big Ten is tough.

Q. Oddest thing an offensive player has said to you on the field?

One player asked me, “How do you pronounce your name?” That was kind of funny.

Q. How have you prepared for the draft?

I trained mostly at school because I was taking classes.

Q. Will you be watching the draft with friends and family?

I still have finals so I will just be watching the draft up at school in Cherry Lane with DE Colin Neely and DT Oren Wilson.

Q. You scored a TD in junior college. How did your celebration go?

I just tossed the ball to the referee, kind of like Barry Sanders.

Q. Have you gotten used to the cold weather up in Michigan?

You can’t really get used to the cold weather. I just try to stay out the cold in the winter. I remember me and Dave Stanton who was also from junior college in California used to put stuff outside to see what happened when it would freeze.

Q. Favorite NFL player growing up?

My favorite team was the Patriots so I always liked Drew Bledsoe and Willie McGinest.

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