SB Nation - Ian Johnson

Pour Some Sugar On Me - Preseason Wrap-up: Can We Build a Team That Can Beat the Raiders? Yes We Can!

Sugar — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 10:00:22 -0000

I understand how important this last preseason game was for roughly 20-30 players per team. I do. For some it was the difference between making the 53-man roster or getting cut. For others who were relatively certain of their impending unemployment, it was a chance to get on tape for potential future employers. For coaches, it was one last look at a few players they may try to retain on the practice squad. But for just about everybody else (in the world) these games were simply painful to watch.

As a Redskins' fan, I of course watched the game against the Jaguars intently and hung on most every play. But as I watched the games around the league, I found myself losing interest quickly as penalty flags rained down on my living room as if Pacman Jones himself were throwing them.

To write a recap of each game would be worse than having to read Peter King rate every latte he has ever drank. So instead, this week I thought I would put my preseason watch-a-ton to the test. Every team has made their final cuts. I will attempt to build a 53-man roster from all the players released by the Saturday deadline. This may include some players who ended up on the practice squad, but you'll have to excuse that. After all, even though I did watch pretty much every preseason game played in the last month, my knowledge of certain teams' backups probably doesn't go much further than guys who should rightfully land on the practice squad. This already feels like a poor man's version of Madden fantasy draft. I get to decide who I am going to keep and at what position they will play. My ultimate goal: a 53-man roster capable of beating the Oakland Raiders final 53-man roster. Our team name: Sugartime Ballers. At the end, you'll get to vote on whether you think the Ballers can take down the Raiders. The first picks after the jump...

QB (3): Jeff Garcia, Joey Harrington, Chase Daniel

This team is going to have a questionable offensive line, so I am going to need a veteran quarterback capable of escaping pressure and getting rid of the ball. I watched as much of the Raiders' preseason as I could stomach and to me it seemed like Jeff Garcia was the quarterback that gave them the best chance to win now. My guess is that they sensed that too and decided that going with a guy staring down 40 years old would be the nail in the coffin for the JaMarcus Russell era, at least from a confidence perspective. Joey Harrington (cut by the Saints) is experienced in the art of art of hand signaling, which is what I want in my backup QB. Plus he is a great pianist so he can play getaway music on the piano as Jeff Garcia is running fro his life behind whatever offensive line I can put together. Chase Daniel gave it a good run in D.C., but failed to be named as the 3rd quarterback when the team decided to go with nobody instead (ouch).

RB (5): Dominic Rhodes, Anthony Alridge, Ian Johnson, Fui Vakapuna, Isaac Redman

It struck me as a little odd when the Bills jettisoned Rhodes. With Lynch out for the beginning frames of the season and Fred Jackson a little dinged this preseason, I figured a veteran like Rhodes would have value for that team. Alridge just barely missed being the last running back kept by the Redskins and adds speed out of my backfield. Ian Johnson is a young buck that got bounced by the Vikings. I have a soft spot in my heart for this guy after watching him have such a great career at Boise State, not to mention the now famous Statue of Liberty play against Oklahoma a couple seasons ago. Vakapuna is a guy I picked because I need a blocking fullback and I have been watching HBO's Hard Knocks this season featuring the Bengals. He is a big, athletic dude, and we are going to need a Samoan presence in the backfield on this team. Redman had a great preseason in Pittsburgh but the numbers game beat him. We are lucky to have him and Vakapuna muscling up in our backfield.

TE (4): Leonard Pope, Alex Smith, Bear Pascoe, Garrett Mills

The Cards cut Pope and the Pats cut Smith. Both are capable receivers that understand the position well. Bear Pascoe was on the 49ers squad and I remember hearing his name for the first time late in the game against the Raiders I think. He was described by his college coach at Fresno State as the "most devastating blocker" they had ever seen. He started out there as a quarterback. He blocked 6 kicks on special teams, and keeps his edge by participating in rodeos. He's an old-school kind of player and on my team he will play an old-school role: Iron Man. At 6'5", 250+ lbs, he will never leave the field. Our wildcat offense will be called the "Wild Bear" formation and we will direct snap it to him. He will rush the passer on defense and he will line up all over the field on offense. His importance on this roster almost necessitated adding a 4th tight end to help carry the load at the position, and Mills, fresh off the Vikings roster, will fit in nicely. The Raiders will not have a chance.

OL (9): Damien McIntosh, Tony Pashos, Andrew Crummey, Kynan Forney, Jeremy Bridges, Scott Burley,Justin Geisenger, Mike Butterworth, Mark Wilson

McIntosh (Chiefs), Pashos (Jaguars), Crummey (Bengals), Forney (Chargers), and Bridges (Redskins) are my starting five. Burley (Redskins), Geisinger (Panthers), and Butterworth (Falcons) are my backups. Burely went to University of Maryland and has been hanging around the league the last two years. Geisinger is a journeyman lineman who spent a season with the Redskins but has also been a member of the Bills and Titans. The Raiders gave Mark Wilson his walking papers, but he has had steady employment as a backup since 2004. Mike Butterworth made this team because I simply ran out of guys that I really knew much about...and I love maple syrup on pancakes.

All of my starters would likely be welcome on most squads in the league after a few weeks when teams are all of a sudden hit by injuries and become starved for guys who have played before. Forney was a huge shock getting cut by San Diego. He might be one of the two or three best players on the Ballers.

WR (6): Keary Colbert, Robert Ferguson, David Tyree, David Patten, Trent Shelton, Steve Sanders

Ferguson (Falcons), Colbert (Lions), and Patten (Browns) have all been unfortunate members of previous unfortunate fantasy teams of mine. So they owe me. Hard to argue against Tyree (Giants). He can start on special teams and catch balls with his helmet. With Bear Pascoe behind center, he might have to catch a few wild pitches. Shelton (Redskins) should make their practice squad and Steve Sanders (Cardinals) was great on Beverly Hills, 90210.

DL (8): Shaun Smith, Alex Buzbee, Ryan Boschetti, Darryl Richard, Rob Jackson, Tommie Hill, Matthias Askew, Terrance Taylor

The Patriots drafted Richard last April, and that is pretty much good enough for me. I recall Tommie Hill made a huge play late in the first Monday Night game against the Panthers, scoring a touchdown with no time left on the clock. Not being good enough for the Giants defensive line does not necessarily make you bad. Rob Jackson and Alex Buzbee both got cut from the Redskins so I have seen plenty of them and are comfortable with them as backups. Boschetti got dumped by the Raiders--can't remember anyone listing their personnel decisions as better than...well, anyone's. Shaun Smith was a shock to get sent home by the Lions. He is definitely good enough to anchor the Ballers' defensive line. And Terrance Taylor was a 4th round pick for the Colts. I am little surprised to see him gone from there, but we will not ask too many questions and scoop him up.

LB (8): Tim Crowder, Zach Thomas, Rocky Boiman, Khary Campbell, Bruce Davis, Jeremy Leman, Robert Thomas, Cody Glenn

Crowder should have cracked the Broncos' Final 53. Our squad will benefit from the veteran presence of Zach Thomas, who might not really have ever been realistically in the Chiefs' plans. Rocky Boiman has been around, most recently ending his second stint with the Titans. He has a ring from the Colts' Super Bowl victory and his experience will be put to good use for the Ballers. Khary Campbell is a special teams standout that did not make the last cuts in Houston. Bruce Davis was a huge underachiever for the Steelers. Here's hoping he can turn it around for the Ballers. Leman (Panthers) was a guy who I thought played well enough in the preseason to stick. I guess that is why my phone isn't ringing off the hook to become anybody's GM. Thomas and Glenn were both waived by the Skins. Thomas has plenty of experience in the league and Glenn (while still an odd draft choice by Vinny Cerrato--read: "wasted draft choice") is a raw player from the Nebraska Cornhuskers' program.

DB (8): Deltha O'Neal, Brian Russell, Brian Williams, Bernard Pollard, Corey Lynch , Deangelo Smith, Corey Ivy, Lendy Holmes

O'Neal (Texans), Williams (Jaguars), Russell (Seahawks), and Pollard (Chiefs) are my starting defensive backs (first two are CB's, second two will man the safety positions. Smith (Cowgirls), Lynch (Bengals), Ivy (Browns), and Holmes (Redskins) round out our scrappy secondary.

P: A.J. Trapasso - Any guy who takes aim for a $40 million video board in a preseason game, ESPECIALLY one bought by Jerry Jones, gets a spot on my team.

K: Brandon Coutu (Seahawks) - The 'Hawks kept this guy on their roster all season last year behind Olindo Mare in the hopes they could trade him. He has a hell of a leg and will get a shot from another team very soon.

Give Me the Numbers, Stat!

27-17, Ballers over the Raiders. Bear Pascoe has 78 yards rushing, 2 rushing touchdowns, 1 blocked field goal and 3 sacks. Jeff Garcia runs in for the other TD and throws the ball straight into the owner's box where Al Davis is sitting. Davis sues the NFL.

Next week at this time, we will be through the first weekend of meaningful football. Imagine...four quarters without any fourth-stringers (God willing). The season of excessive penalty-calling is over. Let the games begin. We'll see you back here on Tuesday--with nary a mention of any battles for the backup long snapper position.

Poll

Can this team I have constructed beat the Raiders today, on a neutral field, with a run-heavy offensive philosophy behind the Iron Man Bear Pascoe?

Yes, handily

164 votes

Maybe 51 times out of 100

142 votes

Maybe once in a 100 tries

51 votes

Not a chance

42 votes

399 votes | Poll has closed

Hogs Haven chats with Redskins LB Robert Henson

KevinE — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:45:08 -0000

Robert Henson with newlywed wife Sarah.

View full size photo »

Ken (Sugar) and I had the great opportunity to spend dinner with 6th round pick Robert Henson, his new wife Sarah, and her son Malichi last Wednesday at the Red, Hot, and Blue in Ashburn. We really appreciate the time they took to meet with us, and I would like to also thank Robert's agent, Pat Capra, for being so cooperative in helping set this up. We covered everything from his offseason progression, TCU, draft day, Jason Taylor, London Fletcher, Deion Sanders, Madden Football, Colt Brennan, tough guy Ethan Albright and how the Redskins are improving. When we first sat down, we learned that Robert was three hours away from receiving his degree at TCU in criminal justice. So congratulations to Robert. I of course mentioned that the Bengals could certainly use his knowledge once his playing days are over.

The first topic we touched on was draft day. Robert told us that only a few teams had really spoken to him seriously leading up to the draft (Texans, Colts, Chargers).

Sugar: How did you come to be drafted by the Skins? Was there a connection? A coach, or former teammate with ties to the Washington organization?

Sarah: Well, Vinny Cerrato's sister goes to the same church as our family. I happened to see her in the last week or two leading up to the draft, and of course was like, "Put in a good word for Robert!"

Robert: It ended up working out for us. Vinny was able to call his sister and get some background on me and some of the "supposed" character issues that I had. It was easy for him to figure out quickly that there was nothing to those stories.

Sugar: Did Vinny call you when we picked you? Who called you?

Robert: Dan Snyder called me. It was very cool.

Kevin: TCU plays a similar defense to the Redskins but they actually ran a 4-2-5. That will help you I'd imagine.

Robert: The TCU zone blitz. I had to cover receivers man-to-man. Vertical and out. It teaches you patience and the right angles and all of that.

Kevin: So it's settled. You and London can be the two.

Robert: [laughing] London is definitely up on all the plays. I've seen him make checks that even the coaches didn't notice. And the coaches will be like "that's a good idea" and write it down. London's the most under-rated LB I know. He's not flashy. He makes plays and then gets back up and goes into the huddle. He's not a Ray Lewis-type which is my type of football. I celebrate a lot. Emotional. I'm crazy on the field. I'm a different person. But from what I heard London is the same way. I'm learning a lot from him. He's not giving me too much though because at the end of the day this is a competition, and I respect that. KO [LB coach Kirk Olivadotti] though been helping me a lot.

Sugar: Seeing some of the the youtube tape of your skills, I think you'd be able to contribute to special teams right away. Do you think you'll be able to crack that lineup right away?

Robert: Oh yea. I feel like I can. Danny [Smith]'s been doing a great job working with me and helping me learn the concepts. What I like about him is he always puts us in a position to win.

If you look at my career at TCU, that's all I did. First 3 years I thought I'd jump into the starting role but it didn't happen. So the first 3 years I played with a vengeance on special teams, busting my ass there, so it'll probably be the same way here. Danny's been helping me learn the concepts and putting me in a position to win. Even in OTAs I was doing a good job in special teams. I can't wait. I'd give ANYTHING to be on the opening kickoff of the Super Bowl. I would have been screaming down the field! It'd be crazy.

Sugar: They outlawed the wedge you know?

Robert: Doesn't matter. I'll run down there and knock people out.

Sugar then brought up how Cooley's rookie year he had to play the wedge, getting cracked each time--just before they outlawed that formation. Too bad there's no video of this.

Robert: Man, the NFC East is tight. I know the press is going to give it to the Eagles or Cowboys, but that's alright, I like being the underdog.

Sugar: Come across any fans or players yet regarding the Cowboys rivalry?

Robert: Yea, it's one of the more storied rivalries. I used to think there was some respect there but there isn't. What game was it they didn't shake hands?

Kevin: I think that's every game. I know Smoot one year sat down all the rookies and brought them up to speed on what the Cowboys games mean to this city.

Robert: You know, I said I wasn't going to be star-struck coming here, but it's crazy going to be playing next to these guys.

Sugar: Who's the biggest name you saw that you were like "Wow."

KevinE: Hunter Smith?

Robert: Ethan Albright! [laughing]

Sugar: The Red Snapper!

Robert: I'll never forget the first day of punting meetings....Ethan walked up to me and said, "I see they got you at left guard. You better punch that damn A-gap or if you don't I'm gonna punch your ass. I'm a 16-year vet and I'm not going to be running down the field chasing somebody because you made a mistake." [laughing]

Robert: I see great players and I always want to know if they can take a hit.

Kevin: So you won't have any problems if Brandon Jacobs is coming at you full steam?

Robert: Anytime a RB that big makes into the secondary, it's not going to be good. I've see LaRon knock some people out. I got ran over by Garrett Wolfe in college. It was because he had better position. I was coming off a block and he just ran through me.

KevinE: Gary Wolfe was a punter, right?

Robert: [laughing] That game was crazy. LT came in the locker room at half and said 'Do not let this guy pass me in yards,' but in this defensive scheme, if you can run and tackle, playing mic, you're going to have a successful career.

...time to order. We both go with the ribs and iced tea. Robert went with the ribs and shrimp as well. I wish I knew Garrett Wolfe was a 5'7 RB...I wouldn't have let that slide so easily!!

Robert: So they just took off all the decals on the rookie helmets.

We then told him the story of Smoot getting hazed as a rookie...getting taped to the goal post.

Robert: It's really tamed down. I remember hearing Colt had to get up and sing but that was really it. It's mostly verbal. The same guy cuts all of our hair so I can be in the middle of a haircut and they'll be like 'get up' so I'm sitting there with half my hair.

Kevin: Doesn't Vinny Cerrato do the haircuts?

Robert: Haha. No.

Sugar: Did you meet Dan Snyder when you first got to DC?

Robert: Oh yea. Right away. He was making sure I was situated and everything ... Oh man! I was at Santana's birthday bash at the ESPN Zone and this lady gets up and says to me, "What's going on with Dan Snyder? I don't get the picks we made in this year's draft?" I was thinking to myself, "Ugh.... I'm just gonna let it go." [laughing] I heard a lot of people saying, "Why didn't we draft an offensive lineman in the 6th round?" I like making people eat words. Going from "Why the hell did we pick him" to..."I knew he was the man!"

Kevin: You have a nickname in college?

Robert: Hen-Dog. [laughing] When I was a freshman they all called me Hen-Pup. I hate it. [laughing] You gotta earn your nickname.

Sarah: That's what I still call him.

We then began started talking about Albert Haynesworth...

Robert: Little Albert is quite a character too. His son comes to practice. I look up he'll be on the turf field and I look up again and he's up by the bridge, and I'm like "How did he make it there that quick?"

KevinE: How old is he?

Robert: Probably 9. Albert's a monster. I would love to play behind him. The first 5 yards are on him. What you do with those first 5 yards is up to you. 5 yards just to run and in a game of inches it makes all the difference.

Yea. When I talked to Coach Olivadotti the day of the draft he said, "I like the way you tackle in open space and every LB I bring in has gotta be able to tackle." H.B. [Blades] is the same way.

Kevin: Did you guys do that at TCU too? Where your front four hold the line? Because that's where some fans get antsy...paying Albert all this money and not letting him drive forward.

Robert: Yea, we did that. I think people will be shocked with Albert this year. I know a lot of people said once he got that big contract he wasn't gonna play. But he's been working his ass off. And I'm not saying that just because I'm his teammate. I see it every day and he's working his ass off.

Sugar: Adding a guy like him on defense is big for us. It should help with getting sacks, turnovers...the big plays, you know?

Robert: You know what. No offense to Jason Taylor...he's a great player, great speed rusher, but he was getting knocked back on the run. He's more of a finesse player. He's not into the big hits and only got them when the quarterback had his back to him. I think age has caught up to him too. That first step used to be fast watching him with the Dolphins...it was like a blur. He's still got it, but not like he used to.

Kevin: Not for $8 mil! ha.

Re-fills of ice tea. We started talking about how the defense is called in and learning the play calls.

Robert: Man, all those hand signals coming from the sidelines [in college], that's no good. Now...what a blessing it is no more hand-signals. They call in the play. I'm glad we're mic'd up.

Kevin: You mic'd up?

Robert: Yeah, I have been practicing some with the mic.

Sugar: They'll move you all around on this squad...the coaches here do a good job of that.

Robert: Yea I was watching film on one game and HB played every position.

KevinE: It's funny to see that both HB and London are 5'10.

Robert: Yea [laughing]. Everyone's like 'you're bigger than all of the other LBs.'

KevinE: What do you think London's 40 is right now?

Robert: I'd give him a 4'6. It's crazy...his legs are moving!

Sugar: Who is the fastest man on the team?

Robert: Keith Eloi. 4.21 or 4.23. Alridge is another fast one. I like little guys that. They make a wrong cut and you can knock em out though. Marcus Mason is another fast one.

Sugar: So you've probably seen the schedule by now. You scoped it out?

Robert: I told myself I'm not going to look at the schedule until I make the 53.

Sugar: What about some other guys you played in college with the last year or two.

Robert: Our safety last year Stephen Hodge got drafted by the Cowboys. We were playing up the rivalry. Jason Phillips went to Baltimore. The last few years we haven't got much respect in the draft. Two guys made it last year. David Roach the Safety (Rams) and David Hawthorne to Seattle. We'll see each other game day.

Sarah Henson: They have a wager already.

Robert: If we win, he has to wear a Redskins jersey for the week and vice versa.

Kevin: Oh man...you should make him wear a Redskins' Deion Sanders jersey.

Robert: I was up here after mini-camp in the airport and I had all my Skins gear on and everyone was like 'Hey, congratulations!' and I forgot I was flying home to Dallas so I got off the plane and everyone was like "What the hell is wrong with you?" and I'm getting crazy looks. Man...the day after the draft. I could not find any Skins gear anywhere. Nothing. All I found was a draft cap.

Kevin: Did you ever look at your scout profiles online before the draft and how accurate they were?

Robert: Sarah told me not to read those things because she thinks it'll get me down, but my whole life has been proving people wrong. Everybody has this perception about me that I'm an average player. If you ask me, I step up every time and surpass expectations.

Sugar: And they're wrong more than they are right.

Robert: Yea, I mean these are the people that live in their mom's basement and blog. One guy said I was too aggressive or something like that and I'm bad on the play-action. I don't know.

KevinE: Well, it doesn't matter now because you're in the League. So I printed out one...I can read it to you and see what you think.

Robert: Haha, OK.

Kevin: "Henson is a natural athlete with great agility and speed (4.61). He moves fluidly and has excellent lateral range. He lacks upper the body strength to take on double teams, and also lacks pass rushing skills. Struggling to shed blockers."

Robert: That’s true [shedding blockers].

Kevin: Henson also tends to over pursue against the run.

Robert: No.

Kevin: He has also missed some tackles and he needs to work on his fundamentals.

Robert: Everyone misses tackles. That’s crazy. [laughing]

Kevin: I read that you worked with T.J. Slaughter on hand placement. When was that?

Robert: When I was at PrimeU...yeah, shedding tackles. And KO has done a great job with that. He makes me hit the bag everyday. So I’m learning proper hand placement. Not to say anything bad about my TCU coaches, we just didn’t do a lot of fundamental drills. Everything was so cerebral and fast-paced, you just had to be smart and make sure you were in the right position. And in college I never really had to take on blockers. I could just do hand-movements and run around people. At this level I’m gonna meet some offensive lineman, you know? This defense is built to run over the top. I’ve learned how critical the first 2 steps are and they can’t be wasted.

(There is video of Robert at Prime U with Deion)

Sugar: TCU jumps off the page defensively. Second in the nation last year?

Robert: We didn’t get respect because of the conference we played in. We have BYU and Utah, but we played some good RBs. We’ve only given up 100 yards twice in my career. One was to SMU which was a fluke and then Devin Moore. He earned EVERY yard. We were knocking him around. He’s a good RB. I was licking my chops to play Ian Johnson.

Kevin: How is Cody Glenn looking?

Robert: Cody’s looking good, man. We’re pushing each other in the weight room every day. We were doing 7 on 7 today and me and him were in the huddle talking getting everyone riled up. He’s going to be a good guy to have in the locker room. For real.

Sugar: And Orakpo?

Robert: Orakpo is crazy strong. I think a lot of people will be surprised at how well he’ll fit into this defense. KO is drilling him about his coverages and is getting him right-ready. He’s working hard in the weight room too. He’s doing everything to be successful. His pass rush is crazy. In OTA’s he did a good job of getting that inside hand on that blocker. Shedding em like crazy.

Kevin. Was he going against Chris Samuels?

Robert: No…he was going against Jeremy Bridges…maybe Heyer. I can’t remember. But we’re not in pads so…

Sugar: What do you see in Jason Campbell?

Robert: Man. Jason is working hard. He definitely throws the ball further than a lot of people think he can. He can launch. I think people underestimate him. It’s just my personal opinion from looking at last year, but after Santana, he didn’t really have a reliable second option for any length of time. Malcolm’s coming along. He’s looking real good. He’s making crazy catches.

I think when you see how big he is, you’re like "I can run with him." But he’s fast. Deceptively fast. And don’t sleep on Devin. Roydell made some good plays. Eloi is a good receiver.

Kevin: At TCU you were on the leadership council, were the verbal leader, and did a lot of off-field stuff with your teammates to build chemistry. You finding any of that here in DC? Hang out with players off the field?

Robert: Lately I’ve just been going home. Right now my best friend is the film room, KO and Danny Smith [laughing]. I’ve been hanging out with them more than anybody. All the rookies we try to go out and do stuff. They’re at a movie right now. Bowling and all that stuff.

Sugar: "The Hangover"?

Robert: Nah. "Transformers" I think. I saw "The Hangover" last week.

KevinE: So you're not hanging with Fred?

Robert: Haha. No. I’ve seen a lot of guys make mistakes. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I just go straight home and rarely go out.

Sugar: They spend a lot of time harping on that with you guys? Making sure the rookies be careful?

Robert: Coach Zorn mentioned it a couple times to keep your mind on your business and your business is football, but no, not really. It’s easy to make a mistake. Stallworth and all those guys. Everyone goes there separate way after practice. My first year at TCU was fun-fun-fun, but it gets old. I represent myself and my family. If I do something then it affects everyone not to mention it will get blown out of proportion.

Sugar: What’s the rest of your summer looking like?

Robert: Workouts. And I’ll meet up with Prime [Deion Sanders] and Omar [Stoutmire] again. Crazy that they both played here in DC too.

We started talking about Jeff George, which was quite comical…

Robert: You know who can still throw? TC. Todd Collins. He can THROW. I was dropping back in coverage thinking I was about to get him and that ball was there! I wouldn’t sleep on Colt Brennan either. Colt’s arm is crazy. You know what messes me up is his release. Most of the time you can time a quarterback’s release but that sidearm.

Sugar: The coaches get on him for that?

Robert: I haven’t been really paying attention to that. I’m mixed up in my own battles. I can’t touch the ball when he throws, but I’ll try to change that in training camp. I remember watching him in your pre-season game last year, and he did real good. Chase Daniel is faster than I thought he was. He was scrambling on one way and I had to get on my horse to go and get him. Haha. He’s smart. VERY smart. We were doing 7 on 7 today, and actually they only had 5 players. He was drawing up routes telling them what to run to get around certain players.

Kevin: So you’re #58…do you know of Wilbur Marshall?

Robert: Yea, I've heard of him. Well, one name I’ve heard a lot is Sam Huff. I got in trouble for not knowing the famous TCU guy that came to the Redskins. Sammy Baugh. I got in trouble for that one. But I know now.

(Quick note on Sammy Baugh at TCU: Sammy led TCU to two bowl game wins, a 3-2 victory over Louisiana State in the 1936 Sugar Bowl, and a 16-6 victory over Marquette in the first annual Cotton Bowl in 1937 after which he was named MVP. He finished fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy in 1936.)

We wrapped up our dinner spending ten minutes talking about Madden. Robert claims he can beat anyone on any system. He openly challenged a few Skins but had no takers. I reminded him to ask Devin Thomas since he recently won a Madden tournament. Who you got your money on for that game? I'm taking Robert.

Out in the parking lot he had a brand new Mercedes S550 he was trying out, with an Easterns Motors sticker on the window. I asked him if we would ever be seeing him sing the "Your job's your credit!" song but he has no desire to sing it. Ever.

I can't say enough at how impressed I was by #58's motivation. You couldn't ask any more from a player when you see someone working this hard both on and off the field. If you still question his desire to compete, he knocked TWO Quarterbacks out of one game versus Wyoming. Here are some great video highlights of his TCU days from our draft-day write-up. It's equally impressive to see how much film time these guys are already putting in. With Robert's physical frame and speed, and everything he is absorbing from London, this kid's going to go real far. He reminded me of a quote that Deion Sanders pushes in his PrimeU camp, which motivates him:

"It's your physical ability that gets you to the NFL, it's your mind that keeps you here."

Quick-hit thoughts on the last four months of Boise State football

Kevan Lee — Wed, 06 May 2009 14:13:16 -0000

A lot can happen in four months. Just ask Chase Holbrook's NFL Draft stock. Bam! Roasted!

For me, my last four months were spent huddled in a ball on the floor, rocking back and forth, reading through old OBNUG posts to remember the good times. Oh wait. Did I say that was me? I meant to say that was Graham Watson.

I was busy following the Broncos from afar, keeping my BSU opinions to myself, and watching more ESPNnews than any man should be allowed to watch.

But no more. I'm back, and I have four months of BSU opinion to get off my chest. Let the venting begin.

Gene Bleymaier has something he would like to get off his chest.

The BSU athletic director took to Capitol Hill to fight the good fight for the little guy. Did he succeed? Of course not. No one wins when politics are involved. But Bleymaier did about as well as he could have done, and seeing him go toe-to-toe with heavy-hitting politicians made me proud to say that he was athletic director of my favorite team.

This was the exact opposite of the feeling I had when I discovered that UC Davis was on the schedule in October.

David Augusto turns his attention to hobbit casting in Lord of the Rings 4.

The KTVB news director is out? Then how will I be able to learn about in-game player injuries? I need confirmation that the player on crutches, in street clothes, and wearing an ankle cast is not going to return to the game.

Whatever back-office politics are going on at KTVB, they need to stop before someone else (namely, Justin Corr) gets canned. Augusto, while uninformative, lecherous, and hobbit-like, was a tried and true Bronco fan, and for all the grief we gave him over the past several months, we only meant about three-quarters of it. Here's hoping Augusto lands on his feet.

Is Boise State football recession-proof? According to the BSU ticket office, yes.

The Broncos jacked up ticket prices in the spirit of ... Scrooge-like greed? Really, I don't know why they jacked up prices considering that the economy is in worse shape than Nathan Enderle and that there's a giant, gleaming money stream of a stadium addition resting parasitically on the inflated seats of the masses. Raising the ticket price for the everyman? If anyone should be paying more money, it is those freeloaders sitting pretty in the Corey Barton end zone house.

Instead, we the people get stuck footing the bill. The Bronco ticket office maintains that 78 percent of season ticket holders have renewed, which basically means that rich Bronco fans can keep coming to games to hobnob and sit on their personalized seat cushions. And what of the rest of us? If you're going to raise prices, at least show us plans for the stadium horseshoe.

I guess the rest of us will just have to find other ways of participating on game day. Now might be a good time to point out that OBNUG's game day comment threads will remain the same free price that they've always been.

Ian Johnson runs a 4.4 at the combine and doesn't get drafted.

First off, a 4.4?! Are you serious?! Was he given a thirty yard running head start? I had no idea that Ian Johnson had 4.4 in him, mostly because I spent the past two years watching him run 4.9 with a hand on the back of an offensive lineman.

And the surprises keep coming. Johnson's biggest knock was that he didn't have elite NFL speed, so he goes out and runs faster than almost any other running back at the Combine. And how does the NFL reward him? By not drafting him and letting him sign a free agent contract with the Vikings and Brad Childress' backwards offense. Note to Brad Childress: give Ian Johnson a fullback

Doug Martin is playing defense because he is too violent for offense.

Quite honestly, I am disappointed. When I heard the news, an entire year of Martin pining went out the window. I wanted him to be the feature running back and a real BSU legend. Now that he's switching sides of the ball, I can see that isn't going to happen.

It was probably for the better. Boise State is stacked at the running back position (Avery, Martin, new guys), and Martin is too multi-dimensional to ride pine waiting his turn. Still though, it will take some time for me to change my fanciful daydreams of Martin bowling his way through San Jose State's defense and then going with me to see Fast & Furious to fanciful daydreams of Martin de-cleating Fresno State receivers and then going with me to see Fast & Furious.

Michael Atkinson and Winston Venable are the new business.

It's not as if Boise State needed more insanely talented defensive players, but they got them anyway with the spring breakouts of Atkinson and Venable.

Let's start with Venable, who nearest I can tell is the Terminator clone of Ellis Powers. The big nickel safety is a key to Boise State's defense, especially when it comes to defending the spread offense or, as Nevada calls it, give Kaepernick the ball and pray he does something good with it. From the looks of spring practice, Venable will be able to fill that role nicely.

Thanks to a stirring cameo as a fullback in the spring game, Atkinson's star is perhaps brighter than any other fresh face headed into fall camp. The defensive tackle will be a key part to a stellar D-line rotation that includes folks like Ryan Winterswyk, Billy Winn, and Byron Hout. Even better, Atkinson is nicknamed Canadian Bacon for both being Canadian and presumably being a fan of John Candy comedies co-starring Rhea Perlman. I prefer to call him Harry Crumb.

Dustin Lapray has a Twitter page.

I would say more but you really just need to see it.

Discuss:

Need to get anything off your chest about these topics?
If Michael Atkinson were a John Candy movie, which John Candy movie do you think he would be?
Did you renew your season tickets?

April 28th Sooner Sports Notebook

dishingoutdimes — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 16:33:46 -0000

It's a pretty quiet time in OU sports, so we'll take a look at lots of different sports headlines first. Track 'Em Tigers, the Auburn blog, has come up with an interesting list of things that should make a comeback in college football. What do you think?

The big play that everyone's been talking about lately is Jacoby Ellsbury's (Red Sox) straight steal of home. Here's the video, pretty amazing stuff.

Everyone's also been talking about the NFL Draft. Here's a recap that I put together yesterday regarding where various Sooners were drafted, and which ones have signed free agent contracts.

The Tulsa World blog makes a point about the 2007 Fiesta Bowl Reunion that is going on in Minnesota right now:

The Minnesota Vikings already had two would-be heroes from that epic night in Glendale, Ariz.: Adrian Peterson, who scored the overtime touchdown to temporarily put the Sooners ahead, and Marcus Walker, whose pick 6 also temporarily put OU ahead with a minute left in regulation.

Then came Sunday night, when the Vikes added undrafted rookie free agents Ian Johnson and Vinny Perretta from Boise State. Johnson, remember, scored the Statue of Liberty game-winner in OT, one play after Perretta's halfback touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal pulled the Broncos within 42-41.

Asked if he would talk any smack, Johnson replied:

"I don’t think I’m going to do that," Johnson told the Statesman. "(Peterson) is a little well-respected and he’s a little bit bigger than me now."

Smart guy. And now, on to all the notes...

In The News

Sports Illustrated offers some reasons why Duke Robinson fell to the 5th round in the draft, but still comes away as a steal.
Jay Cutler is already texting buddies with his new target, Juaquin Iglesias.
Speaking of Iglesias, he's pretty excited to be a Chicago Bear.
Lendy Holmes signed a free agent contract with the Redskins and feels like he got slighted by not being drafted. He'll be playing with a chip on his shoulder while he competes for a roster spot.
Oklahoma has added quite a few names recently to Tim Griffin's top 40 players in the Big 12 list. Gerald McCoy checks in at number 7. Travis Lewis is at number 9. DeMarco Murray is at number 11. Trent Williams is at number 14.
The Big 12 was the conference with the second most number of draft picks (7) in the first round. This broke the record of Big 12 conference first round selections. The previous record was 6 in 2003.
Meanwhile, the 2010 draft class from Oklahoma has the potential to be even better than this year's.
Spring football review from the Tulsa World.
Blake Griffin starts looking forward to his future in the NBA.

Around The Big 12

Enter Mike Leach, who is never afraid to speak his mind, has said all sorts of things related to the NFL Draft that make you wonder if he's just in a grumpy mood. Exhibit A: Saying that the A&M coaches didn't like Stephen McGee very much. Coach Leach better watch out or A&M will pass Tech in the standings this year. Exhibit B: Saying that Michael Crabtree has been more successful than Eric Mangini because the Browns soured on taking Crabtree with the 5th pick. He then floated the idea that the Browns will still finish with a bad record. Ironically enough, the Browns then wound up picking up Graham Harrell in free agency.
Speaking on non-drafted Big 12 quarterbacks, Chase Daniel signed a free agent contract with the Washington Redskins.
Baylor left tackle Jason Smith was drafted 2nd overall, the highest such mark for a Baylor player. He'll be playing for the Rams.
Iowa State didn't have a draft choice for the first time since 2004.
Quan Cosby hasn't caught on with a team yet. Pretty surprising given how much trouble he gave the Sooners. I would expect him to get invited to a camp.
Clone Chronicles discusses the impact of Craig Brackins' return.
Bring on the Cats discusses divisional realignment in the Big 12. It's an interesting article, and right now they seem opposed to the idea. This was one of the things I was planning on looking at in a football preview piece.
I am The 12th Man discusses Stephen McGee and other draft day thoughts.
Double T Nation gives a good recap of the ongoing Mike Leach saga.

Arizona Cardinals Post Draft Coverage: Best Undrafted Free Agents

Hawkwind — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:19:30 -0000

Well the fire from the NFL draft weekend is still smoldering but today, and possibly the next couple of days, will center around the guys who did not get drafted. The Arizona Cardinals signed thirteen undrafted free agents and four of those guys are on the team right now including Ali Highsmith who was a prominent special teams player before hurting his knee midway through the season. The Cardinals could find some very useful pieces on this scrap heap but they'll have to work quickly because they're bidding against every other team in the league. We'll take a look at some of the notable names as well as update when any signings happen:

Here are some names that might ring a bell and will certainly be on the top of quite a few teams' wish list:

Linebackers: The Cardinals didn't draft an ILB for the second consecutive year but there are some notable names still available and with any luck, these guys might turn out even better than Ali Highsmith did last year. There are couple of outside backers at the bottom who might interest the Cardinals considering that they probably stash them on the practice squad and see how they look in a year once they learn the position.

Darry Beckwith (6'0, 234), LSU: Beckwith was thought be a third or fourth round pick at worse but his injury history and lack of great size or athleticism must have hurt him more than scouts thought.
Dannell Ellerbe (6'1 236) Georgia: Teams obviously thought that Ellerbe's breakout season in 2007 was overshadowed by three mediocre seasons. He'll have an uphill battle to make any team but he's got some athleticism and could be a factor on special teams.
Antonio Appleby (6'3 245) Virginia: He's nothing special in terms of production or athletic ability but a 3-4 team will pick him up for depth and his potential as a two down thumper.
Worrell Williams (5'11, 240) California: Williams is undersized but he's got experience in a 3-4 and the athleticism to be an NFL player.
Orion Martin (6'3, 262) Virginia Tech: Another former college DE who is probably best served switching to OLB, he's totaled 14 sacks over the past two seasons but ran a disappointing 4.89 at the combine.

Defensive Line: The Cardinals completely ignored the defensive line in the draft despite some concerns about the depth at defensive end and nose tackle. I'd be surprised if a couple of UDFA's aren't some wide bodied defenders.

Chris Baker (6'2 326) Hampton: Off the field problems forced him to leave Penn State and most likely are the biggest reason that's he field phone calls today instead of packing for an NFL team already. He's got the talent (16.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks) to play in this league but will need soem guidance.
Mitch King (6'1, 280) Iowa: King played defensive end, tackle and even linebacker while at Iowa and could project at either end or linebacker in the NFL. His tweener status probably kept him from being drafted by he's a versatile defender who carried a mid-round grade from some scouts.
Everette Pedescleaux (6'5, 305) Northern Iowa: The Cardinals were rumored to have brought Pedescleaux in for a visit before the draft and he'd offer some depth and athleticism at the defensive end spot.

Offensive skill positions: While the Cardinals might be stacked at running back after the selections of Wells and LSH, it wouldn't hurt to add another body to man the practice squad. Any receiver with some return potential might also be intriguing as should any balanced tight end.

Jeremiah Johnson (5'9 209) Oregon: He was never really a featured runner but he totalled over 2,000 yards at Oregon and averaged over six yards per carry. He's also got experience returning kicks.
Ian Johnson (5'11, 212) Boise State: Johnson ran surprisingly fast at the combine (4.46) but his long list of injury is concerning.
Devin Moore (5'9, 191) Wyoming: Moore's size hurts his stock but his athleticism is amazing and he could help a team as a third down back and kick returner.
Kory Sheets (5'11, 208) Purdue: Another smallish back with outstanding speed (4.47) who doubles as a back and return man.
Marlon Lucky and Arian Foster (5'11, 216 & 6'1, 215): Both Lucky and Foster were starting backs who ran disappointing 40's and failed to establish themselves as NFL material but seven rounds of waiting might just be the motivation that they needed.
Quan Cosby (5'9, 196) Texas: He's small and old for an NFL rookie (26) but he is faster than he timed (4.57) and was a successful punt and kick returner at Texas.
Jeremy Gilchrist (5'9 176) Hampton: Gilchrist is tiny and was neutralized by double teams after totaling over a 1,000 yards in 2007 but his six punt return touchdowns in the past two years is hard to ignore.
Ryan Purvis (6'3, 254) Boston College: A physically limited tight end whose senior production drastically dropped off with Matt Ryan gone, but he's physical, willing blocker who had over 50 reception in 2007.
Jared Bronson (6'4, 254) Central Washington: Bronson's a decent in-line blocker who has also shown the ability to stretch the field (17.9 yards per catch in 2008).

-----------------------------------------------------------------

There are countless other guys we could mention but that's a small taste. Who else would you like to see the Cardinals take a look at? What positions still need the most help?

Being Billy Devaney - RB

Tackle Box — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:40:14 -0000

Continuing our search for depth and possible future assets, BBD turns to the position of Running Back. You can't have enough good viable running backs and if Spags and company are truely committed to focusing on the run, then we're probably going to have to beef up that position a bit.

Unfortunately, Runnning Back is actually a position that has gotten it's fair share of attention for a long time. I say "unfortunately" because for all the draft picks spent on the position, there's not a whole lot to show for it because it's not like the team has totally neglected to draft or acquire running backs. Now, one could easily make an argument against a lot of the guys they've brought in (Trung Candidate, I'm kinda looking in your direction......oh, and could you please take a seat next to Brian Leonard? Thanks) but there have also been a couple of true stars. And by "a couple" I mean "exactly two".

We all remember the Marshall Faulk trade and how could anyone forget Steven Jackson. For some reason (and this completely baffles me), there are people who doubt that Steven Jackson is an elite running back in the NFL. Personally, I have no idea how you could miss it, but I digress.

Some may point to Jackson's injuries like that's a legitimate knock on the guy. If you haven't noticed, running backs get hurt all the time in today's game. I suppose it's because the defensive players are bigger, stronger, and faster than ever before. Whatever the reason, you can't go into a season any more with one viable running back. Your guy WILL get injured at some point and then you're in big trouble. Plus, having a viable backup allows you to have a change of pace and someone who can give opportunities of rest to Jackson that might actually help keep him healthy.

(btw, did anyone notice Jackson got hurt this past season during garbage time? The game was in hand for the Rams and he was out there getting handoffs. I blame that one on the coaching staff and the fact they didn't have another running back on the roster who was any good. However, even if they didn't have anyone viable, Jackson shouldn't have been out there.)

So, with that being said, we'll take a look at the running back position and some possible upgrades to that number 2 slot which is becoming more and more important.

Let's take a look at the roster.

Steven Jackson - 6'2" 231 - Signed through 2013 (if he averages 1,200 yards rushing and 400 yards receiving over the first 4 years of his contract he voids the final two years) - Jackson counts $7.4M against this year's cap. Oh, and he's a stud.
Kenneth Darby - 5'10" 211 - Signed through 2009 (RFA in 2010) - Darby emerged as the number 2 running back for the Rams last year, the question is...is he the guy to hold that spot going forward? Personally, I'm not sure. He's definitely a change of pace back for the Rams and he didn't seem to let the two fumbles in his first game affect his play the rest of the season, so maybe he's a diamond in the rough.
Antonio Pittman - 5'11" 195 - Signed through 2009 (RFA in 2010) - When the Rams claimed Pittman after the Saints let him walk last year, I thought they had really made a coup. Well, Pittman hasn't exactly shined in his backup role and now finds himself behind Darby on the depth chart while being pretty much the same exact type of runner. I wouldn't be surprised to see Pittman cut lose at some point this offseason especially if the team drafts a running back.
Brian Leonard - 6'1" 226 - Signed through 2010 - After a really good career at Rutgers, Leonard has failed to do anything in the NFL. He's got great size and has good speed and athleticism, but for whatever reason, he just hasn't (can't?) gotten it done as a pro. He's probably safe for this season, but he'll be gone before the 2010 season.

So, there's our running backs. I suppose your opinion of this unit falls squarely upon how you feel about Kenneth Darby and his ability to be a valuable part of the offense. If the Rams are going to focus on the run as much as they say they are this season, then Darby (or whoever becomes the number 2 RB) will have to be able to log valuable and productive minutes on the field. Can Darby do it? Honestly, I'm not convinced but I feel much better about him than I do about Pittman and Leonard.

But, let's say Darby isn't the answer we all seek. So what now? Do we target a Free Agent or do we look to the draft? Well, there are positives and negatives to each of those options. A draft pick would probably be cheaper since we'd be drafting this position later in the draft and that draft pick could possibly develop into a legit running back but then again with a free agent RB, you pretty much know what you're getting but with less upside. Many RBs fail making the transition to the NFL. Can the Rams afford to lose a draft pick on a guy who fails?

Of course I realize this could be said about any of our draft picks, but with so many needs is it smarter to see if there's a good backup on the market now who has a proven track record? I think it's worth a look.

Warrick Dunn - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 5'9" 180 - Could you imagine a backfield of Jackson and Dunn? Wow.......I just got a tingly feeling inside. As of right now, there is no news out there about Dunn. He had a great season last year and would be a great addition to a team as a third down/change of pace back.
Deuce McAllister - New Orleans Saints - 6'1" 232 - Here's a guy that can do the dirty work........if healthy. He's had both knees operated on but he's been working out at Duke University and says he feels "fine". He also claims he's spoken to "10-12 teams". About what, I'm not sure. But apparently there's some interest in him.
Ahman Green - Houston Texans - 6'0" 218 - At this point, he's probably too old (32) and too injured to be a legit option here. He had some really good years but has played more than 8 games in only one of his last four seasons.
Tatum Bell - Denver Broncos - 5'11" 213 - Bell is still a pretty good RB, but his off the field troubles kinda overshadow him and make him a risky signing.
Dominic Rhodes - Indianpolis Colts - 5'9" 203 - Rhodes probably isn't a great fit for the Rams future run-happy offense. If all the Rams needed was a guy who could get a couple of yards and catch some passes, that'd be fine, but that's not really what they need. They need someone durable who can do some dirty work (so Jackson doesn't have to do it all) and Rhodes probably isn't that guy.

After Rhodes, there really isn't anyone who instills any interest in me. So, what do you think? I really like Dunn and wonder what it would take to get him. Granted, I know I just said in the Dominic Rhodes piece that the Rams need someone who can do some dirty work, but Dunn is just a special talent. He gets things done. Period. And would be a deadly combination in the backfield with SJ.

But, I understand there are people out there who are committed to finding a backup in the draft. There's some guys available, but with this piece I'm not going to be looking at the first 4 rounds. I decided long ago the Rams need to focus on OT, MLB, CB, WR and DT and if they draft anything other than one of those 5 guys in the first four rounds, it'll feel to me as if they've missed out on something.

So, looking at rounds 5 through 7, let's take a look at the Running Backs.

(Remember, if the name is highlighted, click it to read Mocking Dan's scouting report)

Javon Ringer - Michigan State - 5'8" 205 - Ringer has improved his stock (possibly too much for the Rams to get in the front of the 5th round) since having his knee scoped in January by running a 4.42 40-yard at he combine and by posting a three-cone time that was 0.07 seconds faster than any other running back at the combine. Ringer also had an impressive Pro Day by running the short-shuttle drill in 3.89 seconds. By the way, the fastest running back at the combine (Branden Ore and Bernard Scott) was 4.08 seconds and the best time posted by any player at the combine (Kevin Barnes) was 3.96 seconds. Needless to say, Javon Ringer is healthy, and while his 40-times could improve, having straightaway speed for a running back is less important than the cone and shuttle drills.
James Davis - Clemson - 5'11" 210 - Davis is not a very good receiver and is just an average runner. He ran a 4.45 40-yard at his Pro Day but many are suspect of the time since it was run on a rubber track and at the Combine he ran a 4.60 40-yard. That's a pretty drastic improvement.
Mike Goodson - Texas A&M - 6'0" 212 - I like Goodson better than Davis but I'm not in love with him. He's bigger and probably faster than Davis (4.43 Pro Day and 4.54 Combine) but right now, Ringer looks like the pick of this bunch.
Kory Sheets - Purdue - 6'0" 206 - Had a very good year for Purdue and has possibly been a little over-looked. Probably has a future as a backup/3rd down back and return man in the NFL. Catches the ball well.
Antone Smith - Florida State - 5'9" 190 - Has vaulted himself on to many a team's radar by posting a 4.32 40-yard, 31 reps on the bench, a 32-inch vertical, and a 10-2 broad jump at his Pro Day (he wasn't invited to the Combine). Typically, I don't advocate drafting Running Backs of this size (Warrick Dunn is a freak of nature). They typically get hurt or are simply unable to make an impact no matter how fast or shifty they may be (Garrett Wolfe).
Glen Coffee - Alabama - 6'1" 198 - Needs to bulk up a little to make a successful transition to the NFL. Had really only one good year at Alabama and probably should have stayed there for his senior year. If he had, he might have been able to get into the 3rd or 2nd round, but at this point he's at best a 4th rounder and probably a little lower.
Tavarris Williams - Tennessee State - 5'11" 215 - He's short but powerful. He also shows good quickness and change of direction.
Ian Johnson - Boise State - 5'11" 212 - Somehow, Ian Johnson put on almost 20 pounds before the Combine and still wowed many scouts. He ran an "un-official" 40 time of 4.30 (his official was 4.46) and has convinced some scouts he's more than just a third-down back in the NFL. Has drawn comparisons to Steve Slaton.
Arian Foster - Tennessee - 6'1" 215 - I guess we now know where Ian Johnson found that extra weight since it's apparent the "former" power back at Tennessee lost about 20 pounds before the Combine. Ran a 4.73 and a 4.69 40-yard at his pro day. Probably needs to get the weight back to have value in the NFL.

(Check out Mocking Dan's Running Back Rankings)

After Foster, you're probably looking at guys like Jeremiah Johnson...here's his pic (Oregon), Devin Moore (Wyoming), Gartrell Johnson (Colorado State), and Josh Vaughn (Richmond) although any of these guys and a handful of others could be picked up as un-drafted free agents at a later date but they probably aren't what the Rams are looking for anyway.

Of this group, I probably only like Javon Ringer but there's a possibility he could be gone by the time the Rams get to their 5th pick and I don't think I'd like to pick him ahead of any of the other (more important positions) in the draft. Ian Johnson might be one to keep an eye on and you could probably get him in the 5th round (maybe high 6th which would be ideal).

So, at this point, I really want the Rams to take a strong and long look at Warrick Dunn. I think with him in the fold, the Rams offense becomes absoltuely powerful. Plus, adding him takes away from our lack of experience at the WR postion since you'd have the possibitliy of Steven Jackson, Warrick Dunn, and Randy McMichael running routes which would definitely keep defeneses honest and should free up Donnie Avery deep.

NFL Combine Update: Running Backs

Andrew602 — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:03:51 -0000

The NFL Combine ends today and the last of the bunch will be performing their drills. Running backs have already went and there is a general consensus that the Cardinals will draft one of them. But who will the Cardinals take?

Knowshon Moreno: Georgia, 5'11 - 207 lbs.

He is a realistic option for the Cardinals and his stock may have slipped in the draft. Moreno isn't know for having elite speed, and that may have showed at the combine as he only ran the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds. In two seasons at Georgia, he gained 2,734 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also caught 53 passes for 704 yards and 2 TDs. Moreno is still set to be a first round pick and it wouldn't be bad if he fell to the Cardinals. He is a play maker and can improve the running game for any team immediately.

Combine Results:

Knowshon Moreno	40-Yard Dash	Bench Press	Vertical Jump	3-Cone Drill	20-Yard Shuttle	40-Yard Shuttle
Running Back	4.60	25	35.5	6.84	4.27	11.63

LeSean McCoy: Pittsburgh, 5'10 - 198 lbs.

Most mock drafts have the Cardinals taking running back LeSean McCoy out of Pittsburgh. McCoy was unable to perform any drills at the combine due to the flu virus, and actually lost 10 pounds as a result. McCoy spent two seasons at Pittsburgh and ran for 2,816 yards with 35 touchdowns. He was also on the end of several catches as he received 65 of them for 549 yards. McCoy doesn't have one specific quality but he is versatile because of his overall speed and strength. He wouldn't be the first McCoy drafted by the Cardinals because his older brother LeRon McCoy, was drafted by them a few years back.

2008 Stats:

		Rushing					Receiving
	G	Rush	Yds	Y/G	Avg	TD	Rec	Yds	Y/G	Avg	TD
2008 - LeSean McCoy	13	308	1488	114.5	4.8	21	32	305	23.5	9.5	0

Beanie Wells: Ohio State, 6'1 - 235 lbs.

Another top running back prospect, Beanie Wells, was falling to the Cardinals in a lot of earlier mock drafts, before they had the 31st pick. At this point, he may be out of reach for the Cardinals as he probably won't fall that far in the first round. Like Moreno, he didn't perform his best during the combine. Wells possesses many elements of being a great back, but doesn't necessarily excel at a certain one. He has tremendous size but with quality speed. Wells only started 1 whole season at Ohio State but when he did, he gained 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Combine Results:

Beanie Wells	40-Yard Dash	Bench Press	Vertical Jump	Broad Jump
Running Back	4.59	25	33.5	10'8

Here are some other running backs to keep an eye out for when the draft starts in April. They may not be first round material but could be late round steals.

Player	Ian Johnson - Boise St. 5'10 - 199 lbs.	Cedric Peerman - Virginia 5'10 - 216 lbs.	Donald Brown - Connecticut 5'10 - 210 lbs.	Rashad Jennings - Liberty 6'1 - 232 lbs.	Gartrell Johnson - Colorado St. 5'10 - 219 lbs.
Analysis	Most remembered for proposing to his cheerleader girlfriend after a Fiesta Bowl win in '07. Johnson plays with a lot of heart, who is a speed runner that has nice hands.	Peerman didn't have great numbers in college but was a threat on kick return. He had an impressive combine leading all RBs at the 40, and being near the top at the vertical jump and bench press.	Brown is a dependable back that is capable threat of running up the middle or taking it to the outside. Brown is simply a workhorse and can carry the load for any team.	Jennings is a big downhill back. He is another workhorse that won't hesitate to run up the middle. He's fast for his size, and is very tough to bring down.	Johnson is a mammoth runner and is built like a truck. Even though Johnson will probably end up as a late round draft pick, he will be an effective running back in the NFL.
40-Yard Dash	4.46	4.45	4.51	4.64	4.71
Bench Press	26	27	----------------------	29	20
Vertical	---------------------	40.0	41.5	------------------------	---------------------
3-Cone Drill	6.93	-----------------------	6.93	6.86	---------------------
20-Yard Shuttle	4.18	4.29	4.10	4.20	---------------------
60-Yard Shuttle	11.63	-----------------------	11.30	11.46	---------------------
Broad Jump	---------------------	-----------------------	10'5	10'0	---------------------

Bowl Preview: San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

cocknfire — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 04:27:22 -0000

8 p.m. Tuesday, ESPN

Every year, a lower-tier or mid-tier bowl seems to get a matchup of Top 12 teams that you would normally imagine being played on New Year's Day or in the BCS. The usual suspects are the Holiday Bowl and the Peach Bowl. (And, no, no amount of compensation will ever convince me to call it the Chick-fil-A Bowl.) This year, it's the SDCCUPB, which pairs TCU with Boise State -- the first BCS Buster to defeat a non-Big East BCS-league champion.

Of course, this better not happen again, or Mrs. Ian Johnson will presumably be upset.

What it is: An attempt to come up with the longest bowl name possible.

The Teams: No. 10 Boise State, No. 12 TCU (all rankings from the CBS BlogPoll)

How Boise State got here: Most expected the Broncos to have another rebuilding year after last season's team became the first not to win the WAC title since Boise entered the league. So much for that. Led by freshman QB Kellen Moore and senior RB Ian Johnson, the Broncos charged to an undefeated season in the shadow of the Mountain West cage match that produced undefeated Utah. They defeated preseason WAC favorite Fresno State 61-10 in the last regular-season game.

How TCU got here: The Horned Frogs' first loss of the season came in a 35-10 waxing against Oklahoma -- which would be held to 35 points by just one other team all season (Texas). The second loss came against the previously mentioned Utah; the Utes scored with less than a minute left in the game to win 13-10. The key in the run has been TCU's powerful defenses, which has limited opponents to 10.9 points per game.

College football fans care because: It's the best game of the bowl season so far.

SEC fans care because: If Boise wins, prepare for a winter and spring of whining about how it's so terribly unfair that one/both of them didn't get a shot at the supposed national champion, etc., etc. If it's Florida, most of that invective will be directed at the SEC in addition to the BCS.

Watch this game if ... : You believe football is about more than the six conferences you're told are important.

The result: Boise State 32, TCU 27