SB Nation - Nate Clements

49ers-Eagles Wednesday Injury Report

Fooch — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:18 -0000

The 49ers actually gave the team an extra day off this week and did not practice today. The schedule is thrown a bit out of whack due to the Monday Night game, but part of the reason for the day off is the team is a bit banged up following the victory. Even though the 49ers didn't practice, they have provide a practice report, so we have basically a projection for what would have happened had they practiced. Tomorrow will probably give us a better idea of things when we get a real practice report after a full day of practice.

Also, we don't have any coach transcripts today, but Maiocco has posted some comments about his conference call earlier today with Eagles coach Andy Reid, and Eagles QB Donovan McNabb.

49ers
Out (Definitely Will Not Play)
CB Nate Clements (shoulder)

Did not Participate in Practice
WR Isaac Bruce (ankle)
S Dashon Goldson (chest)
TE Delanie Walker (ankle)
RB Michael Robinson (shoulder)
LB Takeo Spikes (hamstring)
T Barry Sims (knee)

Limited Participation in Practice
LB Ahmad Brooks (foot)
RB Frank Gore (toe)
FB Moran Norris (toe)

Full Participation in Practice
CB Marcus Hudson (back)
OT Joe Staley (knee)

Eagles
Did not Participate in Practice
TE Brent Celek (back, thumb)
WR Jeremy Maclin (foot)

Limited Participation in Practice
DE Trent Cole (hamstring)
RB Brian Westbrook (concussion)

Full Participation in Practice
DE Victor Abiamiri (knee)
WR Jason Avant (hamstring)
C Nick Cole (knee)
WR Kevin Curtis (knee)
LB Akeem Jordan (knee)
DT Mike Patterson (wrist)
RB Leonard Weaver (hamstring)
LB Tracy White (shoulder)

Grading The Offense: Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers

Andrew602 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:49:19 -0000

More photos » by Marcio Jose Sanchez - AP

Arizona Cardinals running back Tim Hightower (34) fumbles the ball for the 5th time this season.

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You can call it ugly, puzzling, embarrassing, or down right aweful - the Arizona Cardinals offense did everything they could to not win the game on Monday night. They gift wrapped 18 early Christmas presents for their division rival(7 turnovers + 11 penalties), only scored 9 points, and are now looking more like the 4th seed in the NFC playoff picture. This one is still fairly fresh in memory so in honor of the short week, we'll keep it brief.

Kurt Warner: As great as Kurt had been the previous 4 weeks(four 120+ QB rating games in a row), he managed to step on the Monday night stage and show just how much an injury effects a 38-year old quarterback. The hip pointer that Kurt Warner suffered the week before obviously bothered him for much of the game and getting Kurt at 100% should be priority #1 for the Cardinals.

Running backs: Bottom line - this unit had their worst performance of the season. Tim Hightower, Beanie Wells, and LaRod Stephens-Howling each had fumbles at crucial times throughout the game. As a result, the 49ers were given short field position and the defense rarely got a break. The running backs did muster 85 yards at 4.7 yards per carry against a good defense, but the fumbling issues are becoming tiresome.

Wide Receivers: Did any wide receivers even show up? Early Doucet had a team-high 41 yards on the night, which was a pleasant surprise, but the other three big receivers didn't have an impact against a defense without Nate Clements. To be fair, Larry Fitzgerald did miss a portion of the game with a knee injury and it looked like he had a big catch down at the 1-yard line early in the game, but the receivers are a huge part of the offense and need to be incorporated in every game.

Offensive Line: What offensive line? They were out-classed and man-handled by the 49ers defensive line. The 49ers defense had 4 sacks, 5 tackles for a loss, and 5 QB hits. The bizarre part is the Cardinals offensive line played the game of their lives only a week prior to a very good Minnesota Vikings defensive line.

My offensive grade: F-

If the scale went to a Z I'd give them that because this was one of the worst offensive performances we've seen them play in the last 3 years. To add salt to the wounds, it was on a national stage and was against a pesky division rival. What grade do you give the Cardinals offense and why?

Poll

How would you grade the Cardinals offensive effort on Monday?

All Eyes On The Arizona Cardinals Tonight

Andrew602 — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 18:24:52 -0000

More photos » by Nam Y. Huh - AP

The Cardinals defense has turned up the heat during national prime-time games.

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The Cardinals have been impressive in their last two prime-time games, and for the second week in a row the nation will be watching them in their match up with the San Francisco 49ers. Do they have something to prove? Maybe. After a gut-wrenching loss to the 49ers week 1, many players are ready for redemption. With the recent struggles in the NFC West tonight's game should be proof that the Cardinals are not just a product of the division.

A Cardinals win tonight would not only lock up a division title for the second year in a row, but it would also provide a sense of relief. Losing two games to a division rival in one year is hard enough, and if the Cardinals want to establish themselves as one of the Super Bowl contenders this year, this is a game they should win.

This is a team that has seemingly played better in front of the nation beginning with their improbable playoff run to the Super Bowl last season, and their last two Sunday night games this year. They did struggle in week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts in a Sunday night game, but the Colts are also 13-0 and 12 other teams have fallen at the hands of Peyton Manning. As you can see, the Cardinals have been more balanced in two of their wins on national TV, and also have a +3 turnover differential.

Prime-time Games	Tot Yds	Pass	Rush	Run Att	TO	Sacks	Opp TO
Loss vs Colts	323	299	24	12	3	0	1
Wins vs MIN/NYG(avg)	343	250.5	92.5	23.5	3	6	6

Winning three games when the nation is watching pads the recognition this team is striving for, but also sends a warning to the other top NFC - the Cardinals are for real.

Tonight however, is only the beginning.

Their next four games are certainly winnable with an opponents combined record of 17-34. With the Cowboys and Giants losing yesterday, securing the #3 seed is the goal and increasing the odds of a second home game in the post-season. We all saw what happened down the stretch last year when the Cardinals secured their division and Ken Whisenhunt will surely have his team prepared this time around to finish strong and confident.

Game notes: This is the 37th meeting between the two teams, with the 49ers holding a 20-16 advantage... Since they became division rivals, the 49ers hold an 8-7 advantage... This is the 3rd straight meeting against the 49ers on MNF (1-1)... With a win the Cardinals would secure the NFC West, have the first back to back post season appearances since 1975, and Ken Whisenhunt would get his 29th win (would be 4th all time! Already!?!)... Larry Fitzgerald needs 56 yards to get to 7,000 career receiving yards (would be the youngest to that mark all-time), needs 62 yards to pass Pat Tilley for 4th all-time in Cards franchise history, and needs 31 yards to reach 1,000 yards for the third straight season (franchise record)... With 3 TDs Kurt Warner would reach 100 with the Cardinals, only the 2nd player to throw 100 TDs for two teams... Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin have accounted for eight 100-yard receiving games against the 49ers, who are without Nate Clements tonight and are ranked 27th in pass defense in the league... Cards are favored by 3.5 points.

49ers-Cardinals: Friday Injury Report and Coordinator Transcripts

Fooch — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:46:31 -0000

As this is a MNF game, we'll have the final practice report tomorrow instead of today. No major changes in the practice reports for either team. After the jump, enjoy the meanderings of OC Jimmy Raye and DC Greg Manusky.

49ers
Out (Definitely Will Not Play)
CB Nate Clements (shoulder)

Did not Participate in Practice
WR Isaac Bruce (ankle)
DT Aubrayo Franklin (not injury related)
LB Takeo Spikes (hamstring)

Limited Participation in Practice
OT Joe Staley (knee)

Full Participation in Practice
SS Michael Lewis (quadricep)
WR Brandon Jones (thumb)

Cardinals
Out (Definitely Will Not Play
LB Will Davis (knee)

Did not Participate in Practice
LB Bert Berry (illness)

Limited Participation in Practice
DT Alan Branch (ankle)
P Ben Graham (left groin)
RB Tim Hightower (thumb)
DE Kenny Iwebema (thumb)
RB Dan Kreider (thigh)
K Neil Rackers (right groin)
RB Jason Wright (illness)
TE Stephen Spach (knee)

Full Participation in Practice
OT Mike Gandy (pelvis)

Jimmy Raye and Greg Manusky transcripts after the jump...

Defensive Coordinator Greg Manusky
Post Walk-Thru - December 11, 2009
San Francisco 49ers

On how he evaluates the play of the trio of LB Manny Lawson, LB Parys Haralson and LB Ahmad Brooks:

"I think it's going well. The last couple of weeks, it has been good with the rotation that we've had. You need a couple of pass rushers, and I think those three guys are doing a pretty good job of getting to the quarterback. It's always nice. The more you have, the better of you're going to be."

On whether it's harder to set up the opponent and get into a rhythm as a pass rusher when you're rotating in and out:

"It's not so much a harder situation. Trying to set them up, yes, I think at times you try to. But, you've got to take what the guy gives you, and that have lately. So, it's been good."

On how he intends to defend WR Larry Fitzgerald without CB Nate Clements:

"Yes, he's always played him well. We don't have him right now, but we'll make adjustments and we've got other guys who have got to step up their game and go out there and play to the best of their abilities and do the job."

On whether it will be one defender or different defenders guarding Fitzgerald:

"It will probably be a little mixed from what we've got going in."

On how Arizona's offense has changed from the first week to now:

"A little bit cleaner, a little bit smoother. I think the offense is playing together, with the quarterback the way he is, he brings them all together. They're healthier than they were the first game with the receivers and stuff. They're just getting used to one another like what normally happens in the 12^th or 13^th game of the year."

On whether he can ask a defender who is not normally physical to be physical with Arizona's receivers:

"I think you've got to do what - you know what to do, especially with the veteran players out there playing against them. We're teaching being physical on the receivers in your hands. Of course you always try to do that when you're playing man-to-man situations. Some of are give and take, depending upon who's playing and who they're matched up on."

On how CB Shawntae Spencer has been playing:

"He's been playing well the last couple of weeks. We're expecting him to do the same thing he's been doing."

On why there wasn't a lot of action going Spencer's way during the Seattle game:

"I don't know. Maybe he was playing lights out. I'm not on the offensive side of it."

On whether he was playing lights out last week:

"He was playing pretty well. He's had a couple of good games. Hopefully he'll continue doing that."

On the growth of Arizona's running game:

"Yes, they've got two hard runners, good sight lines, good vision. The offensive line is doing a good job with Russ Grimm coaching them. He's doing a pretty good job. He was a run-type guy when he was playing. So, they're doing well."

On the risk, reward factor in blitzing Cardinals QB Kurt Warner:

"I think with all those veteran quarterbacks who have played in the league a number of years, and the quality that he's played at, you've got to give and take at times. I think at times you should pressure him, and then other times lay back off. Just like I said, with all the good quarterbacks, they've seen all the looks. They know what they're looking at. Hopefully we'll get pressure on him as much as we can. That's the veteran quarterbacks that you face nowadays in the league. They know exactly what they're looking at. They watch tape and they understand the coverage that they have to beat. They know where they're going with the ball. You've got to play a little cat and mouse with them."

On whether he played with Russ Grimm:

"Yes."

On whether that was in Washington:

"Yes, in Washington."

On whether he's surprised that a Russ Grimm offense passes as much as the Cardinals do:

"It's not his offense. It's [Ken Whisenhunt's] offense. He's the head coach."

On how he would evaluate DT Kentwan Balmer's growth:

"There's always need for improvement across the board, whenever you play, especially for young players. I think he played adequately throughout the whole season. Can he get better? Yes. I think every day that you're out on the practice field, I think he did get better and kept on learning and kept on getting better each and every practice and each and every game. So, it was a disappointment to see that he went on IR because we could always use him, but in this business that happens. So, somebody else has got to pick up the slack."

On whether DT Baraka Atkins is likely to be active against the Cardinals:

"It does not look like it."

On where he envisions Atkins fitting in:

"Atkins? Somewhere inside. We're going to look at him. It's kind of hard around the 13^th or 12^th game of the season to see a guy without any pads on and actually going through practice. So, it's kind of a tough evaluation on trying to get the most out of a guy and see exactly what he is. He seemed pretty good yesterday, had some good movement. We'll see where it goes from there."

On whether he's more of a quick player:

"Yes. In a pass rush situation, what I've seen so far, he looked pretty good."

On whether anything changes in preparing for QB Kurt Waner:

"You've got to cat and mouse him, I think, is the most important thing. There's such a good veteran, wiley quarterbacks that they know where they're going with the ball, they know what coverage they're looking at. You've got to sometimes trick them a little bit and disguise a little bit better. We talk about that each and every week, about the disguise."

On whether he wants to see DT Ricky Jean-Francois on the field before the season ends:

"Yes, definitely. Rick has made improvement throughout the whole year. I always tell you, the hardest position to play, I think, is the defensive line because there's so much technique involved in a short space and time, but he's improved well. Hopefully he can get a couple of reps in there and see what he's got."

On whether he would be on the left side taking over for Balmer:

"Actually, he would be both."

On what kind of coach LB Jeff Ulbrich would make:

"A good coach. He's a student of the game. He understands defenses and his personality and his type are pretty dang good. He'll make a great coach in the league."

Offensive Coordinator Jimmy Raye
Post-Walk Thru - December 11, 2009
San Francisco 49ers

On whether he wants more balance in the offense:

"I look for a lot more balance. I will amend that by saying it does depend on the flow of the game, but balance will be necessary. It is a two-fold reason. One, we need it to create some momentum in the fourth quarter, and making first downs allows us to stay on the field and keep their offense on the sideline. We are evolving towards more balance as we go and hopefully we can get a good mix going in this game."

On whether TE Vernon Davis has been the most consistent player this season:

"Yeah, I would say if you look at it over the full body of work since we started and evolved and keep traveling toward wherever we are going right now, I would say he has been the one constant in the offense. But, as I said back in August and July when we started, we are tight end friendly so I would expect his level of play to keep escalating and his performance to keep going forward."

On whether it is easier for a quarterback to avoid sacks in the shotgun:

"Yes and no. Some of it, obviously, is by design, but he is quicker from the release standpoint. He is already set at five so he has an advantage in being able to see the rush, plus the types of things we are throwing out of the gun, it doesn't require the footwork coordination. That helps when the ball comes out. We have been better that way in terms of the amount of hits he has taken since he started playing and the number of sacks we have given up."

On whether sacks were a factor in going to the shotgun:

"Well to be honest with you, I never really planned to go to the gun. The gun was a part of our offense, the base part of our offense, and as things have evolved, and you can start with personnel first, injury and the addition of personnel and the change of quarterback, there has been a lot of water that has run under the bridge that has caused us to be where we are at this point. Where we are presently is a product of those things in our attempt to win football games and be a competitive offensive football team."

On whether he was referring to the offensive line's injuries:

"Yeah, it has been the line. It has been the back. It has been a number of things. But you do what you have to do and just keep on keeping on."

On whether the offensive line is playing better as a unit:

"Yeah, I think their coordination has gotten better. The other thing that you have to factor into that, since [T] Joe Staley has been hurt, that same five guys have played together since his injury. There hasn't been another change. The biggest thing with us has been continuity - a lack of continuity - and changing of people. The familiarity with the guy in front, or next to, or behind you, that has been since Staley's injury on the second play of the game up in Indianapolis, we have been okay in that unit. Then we lose [RB] Michael Robinson in Green Bay. That one unit has so far been a constant, and I think that has something to do with the players."

On whether he is concerned that Staley's return will disrupt that continuity:

"Yeah, if he comes back we are back again to change. The one thing I told them Wednesday was the only thing that is constant about the NFL is change. There is no other consistent factor in it. We have to adjust to the change and manage that. If he comes back we have to put on our hard hat and try to get our communication back to where it was when he was the left tackle for all those weeks and see if we can get him and [G] Dave [Baas] and [C] Eric [Heitmann] back and grooved as quickly as possible and go."

On how Smith's mechanics have improved:

"When I got here, it seems like a long time ago, he was coming off of an injury so we were monitoring the number of throws he had and we were careful to avoid a setback with him injury-wise. Basically what we worked on was his drops and footwork. We didn't do very much gun stuff because we weren't at that point. But the fundamental mechanics of playing the position were easier to do with him then because of the relative number of throws he was held to. It was more about footwork technique fundamentals as his shoulder mended. He seemed to grasp the teaching of the drops okay. We have tried, and we continue to try, to get him to play compact and he does a pretty good job of that."

On what he meant by playing compact:

"At the end of the drop, not feeling the rush and getting your feet spread out and anticipating the rush and not having a self-conscious tendency to flight or to run or to move. Just stay within the core, the pocket, and stay compact and play quarterback and still remain a passer. He has embraced that and he has done pretty well with it."

On whether making throws right before getting hit is part of staying compact:

"I think that is part of it, yes. I think that is part of maturity because a couple of those throws he made, I can remember one in particular, the color flashed and the instincts, where if you were watching the rush you would bolt, particularly if it is inside. Most guys can handle the edge-rush pressure if it is clean in the A gaps, but if it flashes inside, your natural tendency is to take your eyes from downfield. He has shown that he has no fear knowing he is going to get a full shot, like he did Sunday in Seattle, and staying compact and deliver the ball."

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers: Five Keys To Success

Andrew602 — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:44:13 -0000

More photos » by Paul Connors - AP

Expect to see a lot of Nine-O on Monday night. He's already twittered that he's fired up for the game.

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The Arizona Cardinals (8-4) take their 5-1 road record to San Francisco to take on the 49ers (5-7) on Monday night. Both teams regularly keep the games close when they play each other, with 7 of the last 8 games being decided within 7 points, and the only game more was the season opener last year (the Cardinals won by 10 but the game was decided at the end).

This year, after a 1-2 start , the Cardinals are 7-2 since and have shown an obvious improvement on offense since the Cardinals lost to the 49ers in the opening week. The Cardinals road success has been a surprise, as they've outscored opponents with an average score 26.8 - 15.1. At home, they're average score is 22.6 - 23.8.

The 49ers have experience the opposite season as the Cardinals. Since they began the season 3-1, they've dropped 6 of the last 8 games. They are currently 4-2 at home, outscoring opponents with an average score of 20.8 - 16.3. They also have had success against quarterbacks at home, holding them to an average rating of 75.24. Luckily, Kurt Warner's average QB rating on the road is 116.8. Let's take a look at five keys to Cardinals success on Monday night.

Protect Kurt Warner.This was what hurt the Cardinals chances at winning week 1 against the 49ers. The 49ers defensive line had the killer-instinct and was able to successfully rush four, while dropping 7-8 in coverage all game. As a result, Warner was sacked 3 times and threw 2 interceptions. The Cardinals may take the same approach they used against the Minnesota Vikings. They were able to contain the Vikings front four, and finally game the offensive line help with running back and tight end support. If Kurt Warner is given time, he can pick any defense apart, especially a 49er defense without top cornerback Nate Clements.
Contain Vernon Davis. That is obviously easier said then done but limiting the 4th year tight end is a huge step in the right direction on Sunday. He caught 5 passes for 40 yards the first time these teams met, but since then Davis has 58 catches for 741 yards and 10 touchdowns. Considering the Cardinals are one of the worst defenses at containing tight ends, they'll want to add an extra eye on number 85 throughout the game. It should also be worth noting that since Alex Smith took over at the midpoint against Houston, Vernon Davis has 40 catches for 513 yards and 7 touchdowns in only 6 1/2 games. Davis is the 49ers best option on offense and taking him out of the equation gives Smith one less threat to throw to.
Keep the defense rolling. The Cardinals defense surprised many when they were able to stifle a dangerous Minnesota Vikings team a week ago. They did so by getting pressure without taking away coverage. They also mixed up their scheme, something we haven't seen a lot of this year. The Cardinals should take the 49ers defensive gameplan and pressure Smith with a 3 or 4 man front. Since Alex Smith took over for the 49ers, in 4 losses Smith's been sacked 12 times. In the two wins, Smith was only sacked twice. If the Cardinals can at least register 4 sacks on the day and force any ill-advised throws, Smith and the 49ers will be in for a long day.
Wide receivers need to have a big game. The last time these teams met, Steve Breaston didn't play and Anquan Boldin was forced to limp into the game on an injured hamstring. Nate Clements, a defensive back for the 49ers that has regularly limited Cardinals receivers in the past - will not play on Monday. That means two of the three receivers will be healthy while Fitz and company don't have to worry about Clements. The offensive play calling is built around the receivers, and if Warner has the time to find them we should see a similar result as last week.
Play a well-rounded game and limit mental errors. In week 1, the Cardinals turned the ball over twice, 12 penalties for 82 yards, were 4-14 on 3rd down, and only rushed for 40 yards. Lately much of those problems have disappeared and the Cardinals should keep it that way against the 49ers. They're rushing has improved, and Beanie Wells is much more a part of the offense then he was in week 1. Kurt Warner hasn't turned the ball over in over a month and they've seemed to lower the penalty issues that plagued them at the start of the season. If the Cardinals can put together a well-balanced performance and keep mistakes to a minimum, they should have no problem hammering the last nail in the 49ers coffin.

If the Cardinals are able to stick to their game plan and not get ahead of themselves, a win shouldn't be too much of a problem in San Francisco. The 49ers usually give the Cardinals a challenge, but if they want to establish themselves as an elite team in the NFL and improve their playoff positioning, this is a must win game. What are your keys to the game and why?

Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers: Injury Report

Hawkwind — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:25:54 -0000

More photos » by Mel Evans - AP

Arizona Cardinals running back Jason Wright (31) missed practice on Wednesday with an undisclosed illness. (AP Photo/Mel Evans)

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The Arizona Cardinals released their first injury report of the week yesterday and it's still remarkable how healthy this team is this late in the season. Will Davis, who's already been ruled out, and Jason Wright (illness) are the only players who missed practice entirely. Alan Branch (ankle), Ben Graham (groin), Tim Hightower (thumb), Kenny Iwebema (thumb), Dan Kreider (thigh), Neil Rackers (groin), and Stephen Spach (knee) were all limited but no one's injuries are considered serious. Mike Gandy, who missed last week's win over the Vikings, is still listed on the report but he fully participated in practice and will be active for the game on Monday, although Ken Whisenhunt has not made a decision about who will start at left tackle yet. It's also noteable that neither Kurt Warner or Karlos Dansby, who been nursing injuries to both shoulders, are listed on the injury report.

Joe Staley, who has missed the previous five games, has returned to practice and is on track to retun to action this Monday but cornerback Nate Clements has already been ruled out. Considering how well Clements normally plays Larry Fitzgerald, that might be a huge injury for the 49ers. Issaac Bruce and Takeo Spikes also missed practice.

49ers-Cardinals: Thursday Injury Report

Fooch — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:35:19 -0000

Since the game is a day later than normal we're rolling out the injury reports a day later. Nothing huge here, other than Joe Staley getting back to some limited practice. He's still hoping to play on Monday, so we'll see how his practice reps play out. I've posted Mike Singletary and Alex Smith's post-practice press transcripts after the jump. In his intro, Singletary addressed Frank Gore's contributions to the offense going forward, and had several comments about the secondary given the Cardinals impressive receiver trio.

49ers
Out (Definitely Will Not Play)
CB Nate Clements (shoulder)

Did not Participate in Practice
WR Isaac Bruce (ankle)
DT Justin Smith (not injury related)
LB Takeo Spikes (hamstring)

Limited Participation in Practice
SS Michael Lewis (quadricep)
OT Joe Staley (knee)

Full Participation in Practice
WR Brandon Jones (thumb)

Cardinals
Out (Definitely Will Not Play
LB Will Davis (knee)

Did not Participate in Practice
RB Jason Wright (illness)

Full Participation in Practice
OT Mike Gandy (pelvis)

Coach Singletary and Alex Smith press conference transcripts after the jump...

Head Coach Mike Singletary
Post-Walk Thru - December 10, 2009
San Francisco 49ers

Opening statements:

"Good morning. I'll talk about injuries here, try to get that clear. Of course you know, [DT] Kentwan Balmer had surgery yesterday - just basically repaired a torn labrum. [CB Marcus] Hudson, back is a little sore. That will be day-to-day. [CB Nate] Clements, shoulder, is out. [LT Joe] Staley will practice today only in the individual period - just kind of bring him back slowly and see how it goes from day-to-day, and we'll go from there. The other day, just in case anybody asks a question about the officials and all that other stuff, in my mind, Seattle's done. I'm done with them. I'm done with the officials. I'm done with all that stuff. I've said what I said. I stand by what I said, but I move forward, on to Arizona, and that's what I'm going to talk about for the rest of the time.

When I look at our defense, the thing that we have to do this week in order to be successful is we have to be able to put pressure on [QB Kurt] Warner. We have to be able to make him move. He can't sit back there and just throw the ball to his receivers. On the other side of that, our DBs have to make sure that we're physical with their wide outs. We have to get our hands on those receivers to allow our guys time to get there. When they have great success, the quarterback is just able to drop back in 7-on-7, as we do out here, and just throw the ball to receivers. It's all timing, and Kurt Warner is a really bright guy, really smart. He knows where those receivers are going to be. He has the confidence in them. They have a good rapport, and those receivers do a good job of getting open, and he does a great job of throwing to them open. So, for us, we just really have to focus on making sure that we do those two things.

On the other side of it, some of the changes that I've seen in their offense since the last time we played them, they're really trying to focus more on a balanced attack. They're not there yet, but they're trying to focus more on a balanced attack. Both of those running backs are running hard. They're running downhill and they're doing a good job being physical, finishing their runs. I think that's where they are right now as an offense.

For us offensively, we continue to run the offense that we've been running the last couple of weeks and try to include [RB] Frank [Gore] going forward to create balance for us. Maybe that balance doesn't mean 50-50. Maybe it's 35-65, whatever it might be. 70-30 or whatever. But, we're going to go forward with it and continue to have [QB] Alex Smith do the things that he's been doing, trying to continue to get the timing of the receivers down, getting a rhythm for our offense, finding out what is the right balance, finding out - and we really won't know what that is until we get into the game and find out how Arizona plans to attack what we're doing. The first time we played them, their front really put a lot of pressure on our guys, particularly the three-technique, No. 90 [Darnell Dockett]. He got off the ball and really applied a lot of pressure. I think the rapport between [RG] Chilo [Rachal] and [RT Adam] Snyder is better. Hopefully, this time around we do a better job. I just think it's important for us across the board on the offensive line of scrimmage to really communicate well, and we're at home, so the noise will not be a factor. Let's get out there and do a better job and do the best we can to control their front."

On who has the role of stopping WR Larry Fitzgerald this week:

"It may be [CB] Dre' Bly. It may be [CB] Shawntae Spencer. We'll figure it out before game time, and, you're right, [CB] Nate [Clements] has done a great job anytime we've played Arizona. But, I think it's important to see our guys step up, whoever is on him, whether it's Fitzgerald, whether it's [WR Anquan] Boldin, and get our hands on them, do a good job and let's see if we can control what they do."

On whether he thinks the 49ers cornerbacks have the ability to play the press coverage and be physical:

"I think the last couple of weeks we've done more man coverage. I think we've done more in challenging the receivers since the Green Bay game. I don't think they've played off as much. Do you mean the last couple of weeks as well?"

On the press coverage in the Green Bay game:

"OK. I think our guys are better at pressing than they are at playing off. I think the last couple of weeks, I think have shown that. We'll continue to do the things that I think will help us be successful in the game, and really, we have to mix it up. You can't get up there and put your hands on them all the time. We just have to make sure that in the game, at those times we feel we can do it, we've got to get up there when we're up there and do a good job."

On whether Bly or Spencer can play that type of coverage:

"They have to. It's not a matter of can they do it. They have to because if we don't, we'll get run out of the stadium. We have to get up there. Any team that does not play physical on their receivers and not get their hands on the receivers will not be successful winning the football game. So, we have to."

On what he saw on film from Arizona last week disrupting Minnesota QB Brett Favre:

"I think for Arizona, I think they really did a good job scheming and blitzing Brett Favre. I think they did a good job at times of just really mixing up the coverage, being disciplined in their coverage and making Brett Favre work a little bit more, realizing he is a veteran-type guy. They just got after him. I think the other thing is they really controlled the running game pretty early and made Brett Favre a little more predictable."

On whether he has to redefine the goals for the team for the final quarter of the season:

"I think the goal that I had for our team at the very beginning of the season was to be the best team, at this time of year, that we could possibly be. I think, in terms of redefining the goal, in my mind it's not over until it's over. So, we're going to go out Monday night, and as far as the playoff hopes, yes, it's very frustrating where that is. It's nobody's fault but ours. For our guys, it's just a matter of going out there Monday night and let's just play the best game that we can play. We're not going to sit back and, ‘If we win, if we lose.' No. We're going to go out, and we're going to play. So, for me this time of year, the most important thing is we're playing our best football, and that's really what I want to strive to do before the season is over."

On whether he's close to doing that:

"I think we're better. I think the closest we came to it was the Jacksonville game, and I think last week we took a step backwards simply because of the penalties, simply because of the turnovers. That's something that we have to do a better job at. This time of year, really any time of the year, the thing that I really want to strive for our team to be, is a smart football team and a team that does not turn the ball over, and we didn't accomplish that last week. Hopefully, the next four games, starting this Monday night, we can reestablish that, what we came out of Jacksonville with, and go forward with that."

On how many of the drops from last week he holds the receivers responsible for:

"Because this is the professional level, I think any time that a ball is in the area of a receiver, he needs to catch it. Hopefully that answered your question."

On whether the Seahawks going away from CB Shawntae Spencer's side was a sign of respect:

"I don't really know. If it's respect, it's great. If they felt they could go at Dre' Bly more because of [WR T.J.] Houshmandzadeh, that matchup - if they felt they could get more over there. I thought Dre' held his own pretty well. I think Shawntae has done a pretty decent job all year, and, hopefully we can finish that way."

On whether the best defense against Arizona's offense is to keep them on the sidelines:

"I think the biggest thing for our offense is to go out and execute. I think if we just execute, whether we're passing the ball, whether we're running the ball, I think we'll be fine in this game. Certainly, we want to continue to move the chains. Certainly, we would like to keep their offense on the sideline. But, I just think the biggest word this week for us is execution, on both sides of the ball."

On whether the fact that Arizona can clinch the division with a win is a part of the talking points this week:

"No, the only thing I'm talking to our team about is winning. It's not about all the other stuff. They can clinch, they can - no. We're just going to go out and do the very best job we can of winning the football game."

QB Alex Smith
Post-Walk Thru - December 10, 2009
San Francisco 49ers

On the offense using more ball control as a game plan against Arizona:

"Absolutely, I think that ball control comes in many different forms. I don't think that it necessarily means grinding it in on the run. I think that ball control is about moving the chains, so whatever way you can get that done, getting first downs run or pass, that's what is going to keep the opposing offense off of the field."

On the teams poor third down completion percentage in last week's game at Seattle:

"There's probably not just one thing, it's probably a lot of things, lack of execution. We did put ourselves in some difficult third downs at times. In a few of those backed-up situations, you're kind of limited on third down as well. It was probably a number of things to why that statistic ended up coming out like that."

On whether the third down statistic got his attention when looking at the stat sheet at the end of the game:

"That jumped out at me, absolutely. In fact, I didn't even necessarily get that impression out there on the field. I guess I really had no idea. It felt like we were moving the ball well at times. I know that we struggled there a little bit in the third quarter, but didn't realize that it was that bad."

On looking to prove critics wrong from his last Monday night game at Seattle in 2007:

"To tell you the truth, I haven't really thought about it. Every week is such a big week in the NFL. The fact that, all of a sudden, this one is a little different in the sense that this one will be played on Monday, so the weeks change. But other than that, I haven't put much thought into it. We played a couple of weeks ago on Thursday night, and we already had a taste of the national TV spotlight so to speak. We're just trying to go out there and play good football."

On his past issues concerning his throwing fundamentals and how he has improved since then:

"I think that there were a lot of things going on at that time. I think that there was a lot of compensation going on throughout that whole process and the weeks leading up to that with me. So, absolutely, I guess that looking back, there probably was a lot fundamentally that wasn't right, but I didn't necessarily go back and study it or anything. I think moving on from there, it was a matter of getting healthy and getting right. I imagine looking back that it wasn't right, you start to compensate, so you start to adjust, and things change."

On working with different QB coaches throughout his career:

"You start there from building your fundamentals and when you take a chunk of time off from throwing and you come back in a controlled environment and come out here on the practice field and get to really start from scratch and you get to build those fundamentals and basically start over from there."

On whether his fundamentals are where he wants them to be at this point:

"I'm getting there. I think I've definitely improved in some areas. You're never finished with it. It's one of those things you're constantly working on. Either they're improving or they are getting worse. It's one of those types of things, you constantly have to work on and harp on it to keep those fundamentals where you want them."

On whether he considers himself a different player than before his injury:

"Yes, absolutely - I'm the same player but there's been a lot of growth and change since then. I've learned a lot, I've been through a lot. I think I see the game better. A lot of things that we've talked about, I feel like I react better. I have improved in a lot of areas out there."

On finally finding somewhat of a groove and tempo to his game:

"Yes, I think so. I really felt that I was heading in that direction a couple of years back and yes, got sidetracked and in a roundabout way to where I am now. I definitely am seeing things the best that I have ever seen them, reacting to them, understanding what I am getting, what it is that we're trying to do, all of those things that go into playing quarterback and decision making. This is probably the best that I've felt."

On whether production is what it really comes down to:

"Yes it is, and that's something that you want to look at, productivity and statistics, but at the same time, you're not living in the statistical world either. In the end, it's about going out there, playing football and trying to win a game. I think if you get caught up in the stats too much, it can actually be harmful."

On facing Arizona's defense for the second time this season and the concerns:

"They're pretty solid all the way around, I think. They have a lot of good players across the board. The thing I see on film is that they play tremendously fast. They give a lot of different looks in the secondary. They disguise well. I think they are very solid up front. They get off the ball and I think both corners are playing pretty well right now. I think they are a good test for us. I think they're going to challenge us and we'll have to challenge them as well."

On the team's concern of Arizona winning the NFC West with a win on Monday night:

"At this point, it's a must win anyway, so it doesn't really change anything. I guess that comes secondary to the fact that we've got to win the game."

On how a quarterback builds in a game when throws are dropped:

"I try not to get into it. I try not to think about it. Those are things outside of your control. That's one thing

you learn over the years. It does no good, especially during game situations, to really worry about things like that. Do your job to the best of your ability. Go out there and try to execute it. Give your team a chance to win, give us a chance to score some points. Those things are going to happen, dropped balls are going to happen just like errant passes are going to happen. You try to minimize them as much as possible."

On whether he is aware of how he reacts to a dropped pass:

"I guess sometimes you don't always realize what you might do, but as a quarterback, obviously, you are always trying to keep good body language out on the field."

On the offense scheme changing throughout the season and similarities to Arizona's offense:

"I don't know, I guess I haven't had time to really compare. I think that if you looked at the run-pass ratio the last couple of weeks, teams might say that. But I think we're striving to be unique in our own way. I think, and I go back to this it really needs to be balanced to do what it takes to win, do what it takes to score points, to be productive."

On saying anything to the WR on the sideline after dropping a pass:

"If I say anything at all, it's encouragement. Those guys have enough to think about. They make plays and catch balls sometimes that shouldn't be caught so, I know they're working at it and they don't need to hear anything from me, as far as catching the football. They know, we're all professionals, they know when they made a mistake or should have made a play."

On why TE Vernon Davis has become a more productive tight end this year and how vital he is to the offense:

"I think time is probably a good answer. He's had time to grow and understand and develop his game and he's worked hard at it. Over the course of that time, as he's made plays, you get more and more confident ok about what he can and can't do. I think right now, he's playing really well, playing fast, making a lot of plays for us. I think you gain that confidence by doing it, and that does take time."

On whether the only way the team can achieve balance is by forcing the defense to go into nickel:

"Potentially, it's the same the other way. If you're running the ball, and you're heavy run, you're running enough to get them to overload the box, you can throw the ball. It's either way, and it changes over the course of the game depending on the situation, third down, red zone - all of those types of things constantly change over the course of the game. It's a give and take, absolutely of what you're doing."

Who Would You Take From The San Francisco 49ers?

Andrew602 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:01:25 -0000

More photos » by Marcio Jose Sanchez - AP

Adding Patrick Willis to the Cardinals would bring more leadership and vastly improve the Cardinals run-defense.

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With the Monday night match up not far ahead, we can start preparing to face the San Francisco 49ers. It may sound difficult to want any players from a division rival on the Arizona Cardinals, but in all honesty, the 49ers are filled with talent. Their 5-7 record may not show it, but the 49ers have one of the best defenses in the league and are starting to gel on offense. Remember that who you pick can be a young or older player, a starter or a back up, etc. You can also take their current contract status into consideration, as if we were actually signing the player. Also look at who may be leaving our team after this season. Here are some of my picks.

Before you look over the list, head over to Niners Nation to check out who they have interest in taking from our very own Cardinals and make sure to voice your opinion if you feel they're overlooking some certain players.

Patrick Willis, LB: This had to be the easiest/most obvious pick from the 49ers. He's a tackling machine(123 tackles leads the league) and has really developed to be one of the best linebackers in the league. Willis is a smart defender that can play the run(as their 5th ranked 95.4 rushing yards per game shows), and he's improving in coverage(6 PD, 2 INT). The former rookie of the year is only 24 years old, and with the uncertainty of Karlos Dansby returning next season, adding Willis would fill a tremendous need.

Vernon Davis, TE: As much as it pains me to say, I would like to have Vernon Davis as a Cardinal. He seems to have turned a new leaf this season and it's showed on the field. Already being a dominant run-blocker, Davis has turned it up a notch at the receiving end and is currently tied with Larry Fitzgerald with a league-leading 10 receiving touchdowns on the year. Adding Davis would surely fix our tight end situation and give us a young receiving/blocking tight end for years. Doesn't it seem like most teams have better tight ends then the Cardinals?

Aubrayo Franklin, DT: Franklin has gradually developed into one of the best run-stuffing defensive tackles in the league. He's also one of the more underrated defenders on the 49ers. The 49ers have had much success stopping the run and much of that stems from Franklin's ability to fill the defensive gaps. He seems to be ever-improving all facets of his game, as he's recorded 2 sacks on the year and also has 1 interception. With Bryan Robinson's age becoming a liability, and the uncertainty of Alan Branch and Gabe Watson, adding Franklin would leave no Cardinals fans worried about the defensive tackle position.

Joe Staley, OT: Staley returns to action this upcoming Monday and the former 1st round pick has been missed by the 49ers. Although Barry Sims has filled in with solid play at tackle, he's not as well rounded as Staley has been the last two seasons. He's still developing but his pass-protection would be greatly welcomed in Arizona. In the seven games this year, Staley has only allowed 2 sacks and hasn't committed any penalties. With how Levi Brown and Mike Gandyhave fared this season, adding Staley would fill a large void.

Honorable mentions: Nate Clements, Justin Smith, Manny Lawson

Ok so that's my list for this week. Don't forget to see what the Niners fans are saying and who they'd pick over at Niners Nation. Who would you take from the 49ers and why?

Who would you take from the Arizona Cardinals?

Fooch — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 21:00:17 -0000

by Paul Connors - AP

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Fooch's Note: Head on over to Revenge of the Birds to see what 49ers they'd grab.

I'd like to thank Andrew over at Revenge of the Birds for passing along what I think is a great idea for a game-week post. We have plenty of discussion about who we like on the 49ers, and who we fear on the opposing team. However, this post allows us to go off into fantasy-land a bit and decide who we might like from an opposing team. In doing this, you can approach it from a variety of angles. You can take a player just because you like that player, no matter what the 49ers current situation is at that position. You can consider who the 49ers might lose in the offseason or positions they need to improve. If you want to take into account the player's contract and look for "realistic" additions, you're free to do that. You can be as realistic or as fantastical (if that's even a word) as you'd like. For this week, here are some of the guys I'd like. Also, at the end I thought I'd throw out some thoughts on the guy I did not choose that many of you might choose...

Larry Fitzgerald, WR: Ok, so this is certainly an obvious choice. But if you're going to take a player off this team, why not take the best? The 49ers have some solid talent at wide receiver, but it's still young and has a lot of room for growth. Imagine a team with Larry Fitzgerald as the #1 receiver, Michael Crabtree #2, and Josh Morgan #3? One reason I like this is the fact that Fitzgerald's contract expires after the 2011 season. Fitzgerald would still be in his prime, but you could conceivably let him walk as your young receivers would hopefully have grown into specific roles. Anyways, I think this is more of a flashy option.

The remaining three are after the jump...

Antrel Rolle, FS: One could say Antrel Rolle has been fire and ice all season long. After struggling a bit as a cornerback, Rolle has transitioned rather nicely over to the free safety position. The 49ers have been looking to Dashon Goldson for ball-hawking skills, but Rolle could be a nice replacement there at free safety. It's still early to completely judge Goldson, but in this instance Rolle could certainly work well.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB: I like some aspects of the 49ers secondary, but to have a young guy like DRC in the lineup would certainly provide some long term stability. Right now, the 49ers don't completely know what their long term plans are. Shawntae Spencer has one of the jobs right now, but he's not getting any younger, and is always an injury risk. Nate Clements was demoted before getting injured and might not even be a 49er next year. And Tarell Brown has shown some improvement, but also been inconsistent at times. DRC has his ups and downs, but has done enough in a season and a half to impress me.

Beanie Wells, RB: This was a tough one for me. At this point Tim Hightower actually has better rushing numbers, but Beanie has much more upside. I was hesitant on this one because of Frank Gore. Sure the 49ers want a complementary back to Gore, but I don't know if Wells would fit that role. He and Hightower have split the workload almost right down the middle (119 carries for Hightower, 121 for Wells), and Gore seems to work better as the primary back (when he's actually getting his numbers in). However, I couldn't pass up a talented running back at this point, so that's #4, giving us 2 defensive players and 2 offensive players.

So why didn't I take Kurt Warner? Obviously the 49ers were interested in him this past offseason and I'm sure plenty of you would like to have him on the 49ers roster. However, I chose to not include him for a couple reasons. First, is the development of Alex Smith. He's no Kurt Warner, but he's certainly shown some solid development this season. Second, and more importantly at this point, is the fact that the 49ers offensive line has been rather abysmal at times. Kurt Warner has never been an especially mobile quarterback, and if he was behind this 49ers offensive line, I can't even begin to imagine the type of damage he'd have incurred on sacks.

Ten worst Buffalo Bills draft picks of the decade

Brian Galliford — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:10:28 -0000

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Yesterday, we talked about the ten best draft picks that the Buffalo Bills have made over the past decade. In order to complete our "[descriptive adjective] of the decade" series here, we've got to knock off the worst picks, too. This list can also be known as "why the Bills have sucked for a decade," but we're also hoping that one last vent session over these missed picks will be therapeutic as the franchise turns a new leaf - and a new decade - next month.

On to the list. Hope you can stomach it.

10. Josh Reed, WR, LSU (2002, Round 2, No. 36 overall)
Tom Donahoe's first draft as GM of the Bills, in 2001, netted some really good players. Nate Clements, Aaron Schobel and Travis Henry all made our "best of" list yesterday, and the Bills even got quality years and production out of third-round pick Jonas Jennings. 2002, however, was an epic flop, and Reed, the Bills' second-round pick (fourth overall in that round), was part of the reason why.

Drafted well ahead of his talent level thanks to a huge bowl game as a senior, the converted running back had a solid rookie season playing between Eric Moulds and Peerless Price on a very prolific Bills offense led by Drew Bledsoe. Then Price was shipped out of town, Reed became the starter, and his career has been incredibly average since then. This was the first in a long line of high-round luxury picks made by Donahoe that did not pan out, and obviously eventually cost Donahoe his job.

9. Chris Ellis, DE, Virginia Tech (2008, Round 3, No. 72 overall)
It's tough to put a player in his second year on this list (and we'll do it again soon), but Ellis is the poster child of several "good idea, bad philosophy/wrong player" picks that the Bills have made this decade. Picked when the Bills had a need to boost their pass rush, Ellis has seen extremely minimal playing time and barely made the roster in his second season. Unlike former second-round picks Schobel, Ryan Denney and Chris Kelsay, Ellis has not found any way to contribute to the team - and though it might still be too early to write him off, the Bills picked a project player with attitude issues in a season when they needed their high-round picks to produce.

8. Donte Whitner, S, Ohio State (2006, Round 1, No. 8 overall)
I suspect that most of you will want to see Whitner higher on this list, simply because the Bills passed on a dominant defensive lineman (Haloti Ngata) to get him. Philosophically, the pick makes at least some degree of sense; look at most of today's elite NFL teams, and you'll find an elite safety on the back end of the defense. Whitner, however, has failed to produce to the standards of a No. 8 overall pick thanks to his being shuffled from position-to-position and his own lack of elite playmaking ability. Whitner is a good player, which is why this pick doesn't rank much higher on the list. Philosophically, however, Buffalo erred here, and thus got the Dick Jauron era off to a not-so-hot start.

7. James Hardy, WR, Indiana (2008, Round 2, No. 41 overall)
Much like Ellis, I'm hesitant to put a second-year player on this list, particularly at the wide receiver position. I still very much believe that Hardy has what it takes to be a poor man's Plaxico Burress-type threat in this league, particularly in the red zone. He won't get the reps to do it any time soon, however.

This pick makes the list because philosophically, it was perhaps the worst team-building move the Bills made in the last half of the decade. Buffalo knew entering the '08 off-season that they needed a threat to complement Lee Evans and help develop young quarterback Trent Edwards. They courted veteran free agents like Bryant Johnson, but that didn't pan out, so they went to the draft and came away with... a tall receiver in need of an incredible amount of polish. Everyone knows that the bigger a rookie receiver, the longer it'll take to develop them. (Unless their surname is Fitzgerald or Johnson.) Hardy couldn't nail down a starting job, Edwards went into a shell thanks to a lack of weapons that he'd never re-emerge from, and the rest is history. Buffalo fixed the situation a year too late with the Terrell Owens signing.

6. Travares Tillman, S, Georgia Tech (2000, Round 2, No. 58 overall)
Tillman played in the NFL for quite a while. He made a nice living as a journeyman safety with some range and athletic ability, and he even picked off 3 passes with Miami in 2005. But you generally would like your second-round picks to spend more than two seasons with your team, which is exactly what Tillman did. He did not survive the regime change from Wade Phillips to Gregg Williams, and that's an indictment on the efforts of former GM John Butler in his last Bills draft class.

5. Roscoe Parrish, WR, Miami, FL (2005, Round 2, No. 55 overall)
Yikes. Without a first-round pick thanks to an epic draft-day blunder of a trade that we'll discuss a bit higher on this list, Donahoe, in his last draft as a Bills GM, chose the gadget player to rule all gadget players with Parrish as his top selection on the season. Parrish has had his moments with this team, and for a while, he was the NFL's best punt returner, setting career average records and putting the Bills in position to win a few games thanks to timely big returns. But Parrish was drafted to be much more than a punt returner; unfortunately, that's all the Bills have gotten.

4. John McCargo, DT, North Carolina State (2006, Round 1, No. 26 overall)
It'd be difficult for most teams to find a bigger first-round flop than McCargo in the past decade; unfortunately for the Bills, they have three bigger flops. Again, this was a case of the Bills taking a player far higher than his talent level indicated; the Bills desperately needed a starting defensive tackle that season, and the fact that they lucked into Kyle Williams four rounds later doesn't make this pick any less of a reach. Since this pick, McCargo has dealt with several small injuries, one major injury (a bulging disc in his back), been traded, had the trade negated, and toiled at the bottom of the Bills' depth chart. Not exactly what you'd like out of a first-round pick.

3. Erik Flowers, DE, Arizona State (2000, Round 1, No. 26 overall)
Butler's last draft featured Flowers as its centerpiece. Bruce Smith had left the team, and the Bills were searching for their next great pass rusher. Flowers didn't stick in Buffalo because Gregg Williams brought in a 4-3 defense that Flowers, a 3-4 pass rusher, did not fit into. But the four sacks that Flowers picked up in two seasons with Buffalo represent 80% of his career total of five, which he picked up in five NFL seasons.

2. J.P. Losman, QB, Tulane (2004, Round 1, No. 22 overall)
This, my friends, was Epic Fail No. 2. Drew Bledsoe had something left in the tank, and the Bills were pushing toward a playoff berth. They did, however, need a quarterback of the future, and then-head coach Mike Mularkey fell in love with the deep ball of a cocky kid from Tulane. Mularkey loved that deep ball so much that the Bills traded multiple picks to Dallas to move back into the first round to get their cocky kid quarterback. Two years later, Mularkey was gone, Losman had a flash-in-the-pan season under Dick Jauron, and then a Losman knee injury began the memorable Trent Edwards era. Now, Losman is attempting to get back into the NFL after leading the Las Vegas Locomotives to a UFL championship.

1. Mike Williams, OT, Texas (2002, Round 1, No. 4 overall)
It's tough to top Losman, but Williams found a way to do it. Williams is the poster child for terrible Bills drafting, and the centerpiece of the plethora of issues that got Donahoe fired. At the time, Williams was given the richest contract in franchise history, but to say that he never lived up to his potential would be a severe understatement. He spent four highly mediocre seasons as Buffalo's right tackle before lazy-ing himself out of the sport entirely; one of the very first actions Marv Levy took on this roster as GM was to cut Williams. Big Mike made a not-so-dramatic return to NFL football this season with Washington, and is now toiling in anonymity on one of the league's worst units that features another former Bill, Derrick Dockery.

Just click his name and take a gander at his picture to see just how far Williams' star has fallen.