SB Nation - Melvin Fowler

Wednesday Notes: Drew Stanton to Start on Sunday

Sean Yuille — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:08:01 -0000

Based on who took the first-team reps in practice today, it looks like Drew Stanton finally is going to get his shot at being the starting quarterback. Matthew Stafford will be out for the third week in a row, and it appears the coaching staff has finally realized that playing Daunte Culpepper is just pointless, especially based on what happened on Sunday.

UPDATE: Stanton has now been named the starter for Sunday.
The Lions added Terrance Taylor, who was released to make room for Dan Gronkowski, back to their practice squad today. A spot opened up because Dan Gerberry was signed to the 53-man roster after Melvin Fowler was waived.
While Don Muhlbach practiced today , Phillip Buchanon, Larry Foote, and Vinny Ciurciu did not.
Schwartz benched Gosder Cherilus on Sunday and said that "he's still a work in progress [with technique]."
Jason Hanson thinks he is struggling so much because he is over-kicking the ball on some field goal attempts.
Louis Delmas is a candidate for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week. You can vote for him over at NFL.com.
Grady Jackson's brother was sentenced to 20-50 years in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder.

Web Rumblings: Buffalo Bills Links, 12/23

MattRichWarren — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 12:41:44 -0000

Wilson: Bills work out Cato June | National Football Post
"The Buffalo Bills tried out veteran linebacker Cato June on Tuesday, according to a league source. June was recently cut by the Chicago Bears following a brief stint."

POLLOCK: So what’s next as Bills’ season winds to finish? | Olean Times Herald
"There was an unmistakable downcast mood in the lockerroom following Sunday’s 17-10 loss to New England at "The Ralph." It started with interim coach Perry Fewell. Normally, a bundle of enthusiasm and humor, he seemed very much a beaten man in the interview room. He spoke uncharacteristically softly and seemed both frustrated and discouraged. Most of all, it appeared the reality of his situation had finally sunk in."

Byrd has good shot at Pro Bowl - BuffaloBills.com
"It’d be a blessing and a cool thing, but I don’t know," said Byrd of possibly being an AFC rep for Pro Bowl. "I hear a lot of the vets tell me that it’s hard to go if you’re not on a winning team and I understand that. I’m just going to take it for what it is. It’d be a blessing and an honor."

QB Carousel
WGR 550 SportsRadio - Report: Edwards and McGee to the IR
"Trent Edwards will finish the year with 1,167 yards passing, six touchdowns, seven interceptions and 22 sacks in parts of eight games [if he is indeed done for the season]. For his career, he's thrown one more interception (25) than touchdown (24)."

Hamdan or Brohm? – Inside The Bills
"If it comes down to a decision between Hamdan or Brohm because Fitzpatrick and Edwards are not available, I’d expect to see Brohm start. After all this coaching staff waived Hamdan to acquire Brohm. But if the staff is concerned about having to water down the offense too much to accommodate Brohm, I wouldn’t rule out Hamdan."

NFL.com Blogs " Bills likely will turn to Brohm to start vs. Falcons
"Brian Brohm likely will be the Bills’ starting quarterback in Sunday’s game against the Falcons, according to a league source," reports Jason La Canfora.

Other Bills News
Long, Faneca, Wilfork win Pro Bowl vote - AFC East Blog - ESPN
Jairus Byrd finished 5th in Pro Bowl voting at free safety in the AFC despite being on the ballot for all of a month. He's the only Bills player in the top 5 at any position.Other Pro Bowl candidates besides Byrd – Inside The Bills
"While Jairus Byrd is absolutely a prime candidate for AFC Pro Bowl honors, there are a few other Bills players with some statistics that put them in the Pro Bowl conversation as well." Chris Brown mentions and rationalizes Brian Moorman, Aaron Schobel, Marcus Stroud, and Kyle Williams.

With McGee out, Corner’s role increases – Inside The Bills
"Corner is expected to replace McGee at left cornerback, in the team’s base defense. It’s believed in nickel packages that Corner will move inside to the slot and Ashton Youboty will come on the field to play on the outside. Still another option is to have Donte Whitner play in the slot and leave Corner outside."

McGee to I-R; Bills re-sign Hamdan - BuffaloBills.com
"McGee became the 17th player to go on Buffalo’s injured reserve list tying the team high set in 2007."

A Very Falcoholic Discussion: Beating The Buffalo Bills - The Falcoholic
The Falcoholic asks readers readers to brainstorm ways to beat the Buffalo Bills, who are heading to the Georgia Dome Sunday for a game against the 7-7 Atlanta Falcons.

Dolphins susceptible to backbreakers - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Buffalo Bills are tied for 22nd in big plays recorded and are tied for 21st in big plays allowed. A big play is defined as a run of at least 20 yards or a reception of at least 30 yards.

Week 16 power rankings: AFC East - AFC East Blog - ESPN
The Bills have dropped one spot to 26. Every voter ranked them 25 or 26.

How I See It: AFC East Stock Watch - AFC East Blog - ESPN
"Stock Rising - Fred Jackson, Bills running back: Jackson, the supposed backup to Pro Bowler Marshawn Lynch, is 189 yards from the coveted 1,000-yard milestone. Not bad for an undrafted Division III player who came up through the arena bush leagues. Jackson rushed 15 times for 80 yards against the Patriots. He also caught four passes for 32 yards and returned four kickoffs for 108 yards."

Troopers make 7 arrests following Bills game : The Buffalo News
"A State Police saturation detail following the Buffalo Bills home game Sunday afternoon netted seven arrests, including four for driving while intoxicated, one for driving while ability impaired and two for marijuana possession."

Monday Morning Quarterback - Peter King - SI.com
- I know this about the Bills: If there's not a new quarterback under center in 2010, the locals are going to tear the stadium down.
- Clay Matthews ... Brian Cushing, Brian Orakpo ... Jairus Byrd ... James Laurinaitis ... I mean, how do you pick a defensive rookie of the year this season?

Monday Morning Quarterback, Tuesday Edition - Peter King - SI.com
"The game with the most compelling playoff implications, or the game with the most compelling story (for instance, the Colts going for a 16-0 season) would be the [flex] choice of the league."

AFC East Huddle - ESPN Video - ESPN
John Clayton gives you the latest news around the AFC East

Letters to the editor | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle
I see where the Buffalo Bills have signed a new player, "Richie Incognito." This sounds like the new version of Abbott and Costello's Who's on First? I can hear it now:
"Who's playing right guard?"
"He's Incognito."
"Why, is he wanted for something?"

2010 NFL Draft
Bills in line for top 10 draft pick : Buffalo Bills : The Buffalo News
"The Buffalo Bills are in position for a rare "reward" when the NFL Draft comes in April. The team is in line for a top 10 pick, something that has come along just twice in the past 10 years, despite the team failing to reach the postseason in the same time frame."

ESPN’s McShay on the QB class – Inside The Bills
Here's what Todd McShay had to say about the top quarterbacks in the draft.

ESPN’s McShay likes OT class – Inside The Bills
Here's what Todd McShay had to say about the top tackles in the draft.

Bills Tweets
Twitter / Adam Caplan
Hamdan has a broadcasting career ahead of him when he's done playing, speaks very well.

Twitter / Sal Maiorana
Phew! The Bills re-signed Gibran Hamdan. All is well. Wouldn't it be so Bills-like if they started him instead of Brohm if Fitz can't play?

Twitter / Adam Caplan
Lions waived veteran C Melvin Fowler.

Bills' battered O-Line takes another big blow

Brian Galliford — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:05:47 -0000

More photos » by Stephen Morton - AP

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We knew, as the Buffalo Bills entered the 2009 regular season, that the team's top-to-bottom re-structure of the offensive line was a huge question mark. Jason Peters had been traded. Derrick Dockery and Langston Walker had been released. Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston were unceremoniously allowed to test the free-agent waters. Demetrius Bell made a seemingly miraculous leap from 16-game healthy scratch to starting NFL left tackle, Geoff Hangartner was signed from Carolina, Eric Wood and Andy Levitre were drafted early, and Brad Butler moved to the position he manned in college.

Presto change-o! Buffalo had the NFL's most inexperienced offensive line. It was painfully clear that bumps in the road were expected - and they came in the form of drive-killing penalties and inconsistent blocking. But through it all, we decided by and large that it would be entertaining and interesting to watch these young guys develop as individuals and come together as one cohesive unit.

So much for that pipe dream. Through the first ten games of the season, Buffalo has been absolutely ravaged by injuries up front. They've been forced to field eight different line combinations during that time frame. The tackle position has been hit so hard by the injury bug that it's now affecting the guards; add in the latest and most brutal injury, a double fracture to Wood's lower left leg, and the verdict is simple. Buffalo can no longer hope to see tangible development from this offensive line. It is in complete disarray.

By the way, folks - Wood's surgery was successful. Seth McKinney, meanwhile, was lost for the season on Sunday as well. Buffalo now has one healthy guard - Levitre.

The line combinations
Look, I tried to comb through each of the Bills' ten games to chart each and every line combination the Bills have used this season. I went through each game twice to fleece out every minor injury that forced a player in for even a snap or two. I'm fairly confident I still missed something, so keep an eye on Ron From NM's comments in this post, if he has any. He's the line guru, after all.

The original starting five didn't even get through two full games. Four opening-day reserves - Seth McKinney, Jonathan Scott, Kirk Chambers and Jamon Meredith - have seen significant playing time.

1. Bell - Levitre - Hangartner - Wood - Butler
2. Bell - Levitre - Hangartner - Wood - Scott
3. Chambers - Levitre - Hangartner - Wood - Scott
4. Scott - Levitre - Hangartner - Wood - Chambers
5. Bell - Levitre - Hangartner - Wood - Meredith
6. Bell - Levitre - Hangartner - Wood - Chambers
7. Levitre - McKinney - Hangartner - Wood - Chambers
8. Scott - Levitre - Hangartner - Chambers - Meredith

Where the Bills once had continuity - in the interior - that's gone by the wayside. Only Geoff Hangartner has been the constant, and even he has been battered, dealing with a back injury earlier in the season.

Not much more development to be had
If you've seen the replay of Wood's injury, you're painfully aware of just how over his rookie season is. He suffered fractures to both his tibia and his fibula - word is one or both were compound fractures - and stayed in Jacksonville last night to have metal rods inserted to stabilize the leg. He'll end up on IR, and will have played a little under ten games. He got some development and played reasonably well this season, but there's no more development to be had for Wood this season - hopefully, just a lot of healing.

Bell might get a little development time if he ever gets healthy, but he's been in and out of the lineup so much this season that any development he's made has been negligible. Levitre might continue to develop, so long as he isn't forced to play two different positions each and every game. The guy is a guard, and while he's to be commended for capably manning both spots, it's best if he sticks to left guard.

Hangartner is what he is. There's no development to be had there, though the guy deserves a steak or something for finding a way to make it through ten games. That's a rarity in Buffalo. The rest of the players that have seen field time aren't worth considering, as they're not the types of players around which championship-caliber offenses can be built. For the young players that really matter - Wood, Levitre and Bell - hopes for further development this season are minimal at best.

Buffalo needs a franchise quarterback. It is, without doubt, the organization's biggest issue from a personnel standpoint. Given the sheer amount of upheaval along the offensive line, that unit rates a very close second.

Lions Sign Two, Place Jack Williams, Marquand Manuel on Injured Reserve

Sean Yuille — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:25:36 -0000

More photos » by Carlos Osorio - AP

3 months ago: Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is stopped by Detroit Lions safety Marquand Manuel (40) during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

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The repercussions from Sunday's injury-filled game are now being felt, because at least two players are out for the season and have been placed on injured reserve. Cornerback Jack Williams and safety Marquand Manuel have already been placed on IR, and it's possible that Stephen Peterman could end up joining them at some point.

Williams was just claimed off waivers by Detroit a week ago and tore his left ACL on his first play with the Lions. The injury is disappointing not only because of how soon it happened, but also because Williams has a lot of potential that will go unseen until 2010. The hope was for Williams to come in and continue to develop as a pro cornerback, but the knee injury will be putting that development on hold.

Manuel hurt his shoulder against the Vikings and is being shut down for the rest of the season as well. It seemed like Manuel had hurt something in every game this season, but up until now, none of his ailments had been serious. That is no longer the case, and the Lions have lost another defensive back because of an injury.

To replace the two open spots on the roster created by the injuries to Williams and Manuel, the Lions signed safety DeAngelo Smith and offensive lineman Melvin Fowler. Smith was a fifth-round pick by the Cowboys this year and was most recently on the Bears' practice squad. Fowler is a veteran that most recently was on the Cardinals. He spent exactly a month in Arizona right before the start of the season and was cut loose on September 4. He actually took Donovan Raiola's spot on Arizona's roster when he was originally signed. Donovan is Dominic Raiola's brother, and at some point Fowler could be lining up next to him in Detroit. (Another odd coincidence is that Donovan Raiola is currently on the Bears' practice squad, which is where the Lions got Smith from. It's definitely a small world.)

Right now there is no specific word on just how serious Stephen Peterman's ankle injury is, but considering he was carted to the locker room after it happened, I wouldn't expect him to be back anytime soon. To steal Jim Schwartz's favorite word when describing injuries, Peterman's ankle problem seems significant. The Lions haven't placed him on IR, but it doesn't look like he will be returning in the immediate future.

Bills vs. Panthers: Blogger Q&A

Jaxon — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:15:11 -0000

Welcome to our next installment of Blogger Q&A as this week we have Brian Galliford from Buffalo Rumblings. Things have been rumbling in Bills territory as they face a number of significant injuries including the loss of QB Trent Edwards.

Question 1: I'm most curious how former Panther Geoff Hangartner is doing? I realize it can be hard to evaluate a center but is he starting? Performing well?

BG: Right now, he's grading out as one of our weakest performers up front - but that's not completely unexpected, given the importance of the center position against NFL teams who use three-man fronts far more often than they have in recent past. There is no question that Hangartner has been a significant improvement over the Bills' two centers from 2008, Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston. The difference, really, is night and day. Hangartner has had some minor back issues and has had some issues snapping in shotgun sets, but he's been a steady performer to this point.

His importance skyrocketed when the Bills lost RT Brad Butler for the season; when the Bills take on Carolina, Hangartner will be centering an offensive line that features four players that may as well be rookies. LT Demetrius Bell is a second-year player, but he was not active for a single game in 2008. Andy Levitre and Eric Wood have started just six games apiece as our rookie guards. With Butler (drafted in 2006) gone, we're starting another rookie, Jamon Meredith (drafted by GB in the fifth round this season), at right tackle. Hangartner's leadership qualities are being put to a severe test, as he's now by far our most experienced starting lineman.

Hangartner is the elder statesman on the Bills o-line? The Panthers should be able to contain the Bills running game with their new DT additions. Who knows, they might actually be able to get pressure on the QB without blitzing. What a novel concept!

Question 2. Fred Jackson or Marshawn Lynch? Who's the better RB for the Bills and why?

BG: If you're asking which runner needs to carry the bulk of the workload, the answer is clearly Lynch. He's the more talented of the two backs. The fact that he can carry the load, however, only highlights the versatility and importance of Jackson. With Roscoe Parrish falling out of favor in Buffalo, Jackson is now our full-time kick and punt returner. He also lines up in the slot as a receiver on occasion, and has perhaps the softest pair of hands on the team. He is Buffalo's leading rusher and receiver. Getting both of these players playing at a high level is absolutely essential however much success the Bills are able to milk from this 2009 season. The better running back for the Bills is Lynch, but the more important player is certainly Jackson.

How did I miss Jackson in my FFL draft?

Question 3. If Ryan Fitzpatrick starts at QB for the Bills what does that mean for your offense? Is there anything different the Panthers should be worried about concerning Fitz versus re-injured starter Trent Edwards?

BG: First thing's first: Edwards was not present at team facilities either Wednesday or Thursday, so we can just go ahead and strike that "if" from the question - Fitzpatrick is going to start for Buffalo on Sunday.

Not much will change offensively as the Bills make the temporary transition from Edwards to Fitzpatrick. They're slightly different players - Edwards is a better pure passer, but Fitzpatrick is a better runner and probably a more savvy decision-maker at this point - but they're executing the same scheme. We'll run, we'll screen, we'll take the occasional shot down the field - and, as it's par for the course, we probably won't score a lot of points, either.

The fact he is more mobile does change things for the Panthers a tad. The Panthers will need to make sure they don't lose containment straight up the middle.

Question 4: Let's see, the Bills got 6 INT's last week against the Jets and statistically they rank last against the run. Seems pretty obvious the Panthers will run the heck out of the ball Sunday. What do you think the Bills will do on defense to stop the Panthers running game?

BG: Sell out. Seven, eight in the box at all times. DT Kyle Williams has been one of our better run defenders for the last 2-3 years, but he'll miss this contest with a shoulder injury. Spencer Johnson, a former Viking, will replace him in the lineup, starting next to Marcus Stroud. Paul Posluszny returned to the lineup last week, but the Jets still ran for 318 yards. Our best back seven run defender might be Donte Whitner, but he hasn't practiced at all this week as he deals with an ankle injury. We're depleted of our best run defenders, so it'll take numbers to contain the run. Buffalo will be content to sell out a bit to stop the run, but they won't let the deep pass happen, either - so Delhomme should have backs, tight ends and Muhsin Muhammed at his disposal early and often on Sunday.

We are used to teams stacking the box for sure with Delhomme handing out INT's like Halloween candy. He's bound to try and force a few balls at Smith to keep him happy.

Question 5. After 6 games who is your offensive and defensive MVP so far? I don't suppose on offense its Terrell Owens?

BG: On offense, it's obviously Fred Jackson. He's the team's leading rusher. He leads the team in receptions. He's far and away been the Bills' most consistent threat offensively. It's really no contest - and if you add in his new special teams responsibilities, he's probably the Team MVP, too.

Defensively, I'm going with Terrence McGee. He's not a big-name NFL corner because he's not a loud-mouth nor is he arrogant, but he routinely lines up across a team's best receiver, and he routinely shuts them down. He's solid against the run, he plays through minor bumps and bruises, and most importantly (considering he's lining up to a lot of new guys in the defensive backfield), he knows the system back to front. He's an effort defender. The fact that he's been in the lineup and performed at a high level - minus the statistical acclaim - speaks volumes about the importance of his presence to this banged-up defense.

So Smith will draw McGee as his cover guy? Let's see if the kid holds up because I'm betting they take some shots down field early in this game.

A big thanks to Brian Galliford over at SBN site Buffalo Rumblings.

Wednesday Notes: Lions Sign Demarcus Faggins, Re-Sign John Standeford

Sean Yuille — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:46:56 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

Detroit Lions wide receiver John Standeford catches a two-point conversion from quarterback Drew Stanton during the fourth quarter against the Indianapolis Colts, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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The reason teams hold mass tryouts every once in a while was exemplified today, as the Lions signed free agent cornerback Demarcus Faggins. The Lions needed to add another corner to the team after Eric King was placed on injured reserve, and Faggins tried out with the team earlier this season. He was obviously at the top of their list of free agent corners, and he is now a member of the team. (John Niyo thinks Kevin Hobbs will become the Lions' nickel corner and Faggins will be inactive on game days for now.)
At the top of the Lions' list of free agent wide receivers must have been John Standeford, as he was re-signed by the team on Tuesday. Standeford was released during the final round of cuts before the season, but he has been brought back to add depth to the wide receiver position. What that means for the health of Calvin Johnson is beyond me, but I'm hoping the Lions just want to have depth going forward so they are never again left with only three healthy receivers during a game like they were last Sunday.
On a more positive note, Sammie Hill must be healthy again based on the fact that the Lions released Chuck Darby to make room on the roster for Standeford. Darby was brought back after Hill got banged up a few weeks ago, but the rookie must be ready to return if the Lions are willing to part with Darby.
The Lions not only signed a couple players on Tuesday, but they also held another tryout. This one only included three players: offensive tackle Levi Jones, center Melvin Fowler, and defensive back Jahi Word-Daniels.
When Ernie Sims returns to full health, he will be one of the Lions' starting linebackers.

(More after the jump)

The Lions have agreed to a deal with 97.1 The Ticket that will keep it as the team's flagship radio station for at least three more years.
Bidding on the Silverdome begins next month, and remember how I joked about how Pride of Detroit should buy it? Well...

"The Silverdome is a marquee property and in good condition, but the city can't run it properly, and it should be turned over to someone who can return it to a vibrant asset," Leeb said. "We're told there has already been considerable interest, but if the high bid is only $1, well, then that's it."
If the auctioneers happen to stumble across this post, I am officially bidding $1 (and whatever else POD readers want to throw in) for the former home of the Lions. The yearly costs of maintaining it would be a pain in the ass, but how sweet would it be to own the Silverdome? I can see it now... "Hi, my name is Sean, I own the Silverdome, err, the Seandome." Talk about a great conversation-starter.
Remember how Tom Lewand said a good way to sell tickets is by winning games? I have an even better strategy: Hope and pray that the Steelers come to Ford Field more often. At least half (probably more) of the fans at Sunday's game were waving terrible towels, and it was probably the most friendly game for an away team in the history of the NFL. I know the Steelers travel well, but as Larry Foote pointed out, quite a few of those fans didn't even come from Pittsburgh.

"I'm a little disappointed," Foote said. "On my way home on the freeway, I seen a lot of Michigan plates with a lot of Terrible Towels in the car. The people who live here and are Steeler fans, shame on you guys. You will be on our bandwagon sooner than later."

Foote smiled as he spoke. He expects the Lions to turn themselves around and win over those fans.

"These Detroiters that love Pittsburgh, they're going to have Honolulu blue on," Foote said. "People like to support a winner. I understand that. But I wanted to run some cars off the road yesterday."
He couldn't have summed up my feelings on this any better.
Quite a few players were fined because of plays that happened in the Bears-Lions game earlier this month, including Adewale Ogunleye, who got docked $7,500 for the sack that injured Matthew Stafford.
The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation is going to pay for two new police dogs for the city of Detroit.
Dre' Bly is not very intelligent.
I knew Owen Schmitt was crazy, but I didn't know he was quite this crazy.
How's this for a stat: All of the Redskins' first six games will end up being played against winless teams. Here's an even better stat: Not counting the Giants (the Redskins' Week 1 opponent), Washington's opponents have a combined record of 2-22, and both of those wins came against the 'Skins.

Bills taking the (massively) youthful route up front

Brian Galliford — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 01:00:29 -0000

To say that the Buffalo Bills have forced a transformation along their offensive line over the past several months is, perhaps, one of the largest understatements a fan can make about the current team. Gone from 2008 are four veteran starters, the latest, obviously, being OT Langston Walker, who was released on Tuesday. Replacing the veterans are two rookies, another player who is essentially a rookie, and a veteran free agent center that has never been a full-time starter.

The transformation is not only broad, it leaves the Bills vastly inexperienced in an area that used to be one of the team's most veteran units. Some quick perspective: Brad Butler, making the transition from right guard to right tackle, was the Bills' least experienced starting lineman in 2008. One year later, he's this line's senior member.

2008 starting offensive line
LT: Jason Peters (42 starts)
LG: Derrick Dockery (77 starts)
C: Melvin Fowler (55 starts)
RG: Brad Butler (16 starts)
RT: Langston Walker (49 starters)
Total: 239 starts (48 per lineman)

2009 starting offensive line
LT: Demetrius Bell (0 starts)
LG: Andy Levitre (0 starts)
C: Geoff Hangartner (27 starts)
RG: Eric Wood (0 starts)
RT: Brad Butler (29 starts)
Total: 56 starts (11 per lineman)

The difference is vast. Clearly, the line is far less experienced this season, but the most disconcerting change is, obviously, starting three players that are essentially rookies.

That's not to say that Buffalo's new-look offensive line isn't talented. Wood and Levitre were highly-touted prospects entering April's NFL Draft. Bell has been touted as a potential diamond in the rough for over a year since entering the league as a seventh-round project out of Northwestern State. Hangartner, though never a full-time starter, proved effective in fill-in duty for four seasons in Carolina. Butler is moving back to the position he played in colege after playing out of position at guard for most of his three seasons in Buffalo. All of these players, with the possible exception of the unknown commodity (Bell), play the game with a nasty disposition, they finish blocks, and they have the ability to get better (which, obviously, Bell does as well).

Someday, perhaps sooner than most think, this line could be quite good. The idea that they'll magically gel over the next six days to keep Trent Edwards upright for four quarters in New England is absurd. Like everything else with this team at the moment, this line is now vastly inexperienced and very much a work in progress. Just like they're doing at offensive coordinator, they're now relying on vastly inexperienced personnel at arguably the offense's most important group. It's a gamble. With every gamble the team makes, the chances of success dwindle.

Arizona Cardinals Top Ten Irreplaceable Players

Hawkwind — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:03:04 -0000

More photos » by David Zalubowski - AP

Kurt Warner and Tim Hightower are both among the top ten irreplaceable Arizona Cardinals but who else makes the cut? (AP Photo/ David Zalubowski )

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The Arizona Cardinals are on the door step of the most important season in franchise history. Just nine months removed from the their first ever Super Bowl berth the team must deal with unprecedented pressure from expectations and the pressure that comes with playing as the hunted instead of the hunter. The Cardinals will no longer fly under the radar or be an overlooked opponent. Every week the opposing team will know that the reigning NFC Champion will be on the opposite sideline and every week that opponent will bring their 'A' game because of that fact. Another major challenge for the Cardinals will be staying healthy. The Red Birds were one of the healthier teams in the league in 2008 and the "law of averages" will tell you that they'll have a hard time repeating that for a second consecutive season. With all of that in mind, we'll take a look at the most irreplaceable players on the Arizona Cardinals roster. Factoring in depth and the dropoff in performance from starter to backup will help us put them in order from ten to one.

#10 - Lyle Sendlein: Sendlein struggled mightily at times during his first year as a starter but the third year player has looked quite impressive during the preseason despite facing three dominating nose tackles in Casey Hampton, Jamal Williams and B.J. Raji. Sendlein's value not only lies in his improved play but also in the value of the depth at center. Ben Claxton is expected to be his backup but Claxton is a 29 year old player with a grand total of two games worth of experience.

#9 -Tim Hightower or Chris Wells: Hightower and Wells are 'one in the same' for this exercise because losing either one for a significant period of time would put too much pressure on the other to shoulder the load by himself. The Cardinals want to run the ball more this year and they'll need both backs healthy and productive in order for them to accomplish their goal. Jason Wright and LaRod Stephens-Howling may find their way onto the field in third down situations but either one of them getting a significant number of carries will not a be a good sign.

#8 -Gerald Hayes - Hayes doesn't get the attention or praise that he should but when he's on the field all he does it make play after play. He won't lead Sportcenter's Top 10 on Sunday nights or earn a trip to the Pro Bowl but he's one of the quiet, dedicated, reliable 'worker ants' that every winning team needs. Over the past three seasons he hasn't missed a game and has averaged 93 tackles per year. His veteran leadership combined with the fact that the Cardinals have very little depth at inside linebacker make his presence irreplaceable.

#7 -Steve Breaston - You might be wondering why a third wide receiver is irreplaceable but it's Breaston's total package that the Cards would miss. First, Breaston the only receiver who can simply run by a corner on any given play and beat a defense with the deep ball. Second and more importantly is Breaston's role on special teams. As the primary punt returner and most likely the primary kick returner, his value to the team can not be measured. If he were to go down you'd have to bump up Jerheme Urban, who's a talented receiver but not near the threat that Breaston is, to the slot receiver and you'd probably see Antrel Rolle get the first crack at punt returner.

#6 -Kurt Warner - It goes without saying that Warner is vitally important to what the Cardinals do offensively and they simply wouldn't be the same team if he were to go down. He'd be higher on this list though if Matt Leinart hadn't have had such an impressive preseason. Still though Leinart is a different type of quarterback and the offense would have to become more ground-oriented if he was the starting quarterback. Simply put, the way this team is currently constructed Kurt Warner is the guy that we need under center.

#5 -Darnell Dockett - Nine-0, as he prefers to be called now, is not only the team's best defensive lineman but he's the only one capable of shooting through the offensive line and wreaking havoc in an opponents backfield on any given play. If he were to go down, Kenny Iwebema would have to step in and they are completely different types of players. Dockett is essential to what the Cardinals hope to accomplish up front and the Cardinals need him to not only pressure the quarterback and penetrate the line of scrimmage but also to stay healthy.

#4 - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie or Bryant McFadden - The combo of DRC and McFadden are essential not so much because of their talents, although neither of them is too shabby, but instead because of the lack of quality depth behind them. If either of the Cards starting corners were to go down they'd be forced to push Ralph Brown into the starting lineup and talented but extremely raw rookie Greg Toler into the nickel slot. Brown has plenty of veteran savvy that's allowed him to survive in the NFL for nine seasons but he's not starting material at this point and Toler has proven that he's not ready for significant snaps yet either.

#3 - Mike Gandy - By now you've probably looked down this list and you're wondering (or maybe screaming) how Gandy can make the list but Larry Fitzgerald's name is no where to be found. Gandy's status as an irreplaceable player has more to do with the lack of depth behind him than the actual quality of his play. His primary backup, Elliot Vallejo, has already be injured and subsequently cut. As a result the Cards are left with shuffling their offensive line completely if Gandy goes down. Coach Whiz has said that Levi Brown would move to left tackle and either Brandon Keith or Herman Johnson would step in at RT. Either way that plays out you'd have one player taking his first ever NFL snap at LT and one guy taking his first ever starting NFL snap. Any way that you slice it, the loss of Gandy would constitute a significant drop (at two positions) off from an already not spectacular quality of play.

#2 -Adrian Wilson - This one is pretty self explanatory, no one on this roster can do what Adrian Wilson does when he's on the football field. Against the pass he's capable of covering tight ends, backs and most receivers and also know for making game changing picks. Against the run he's basically another linebacker and his speed and instincts allow him to diagnose plays in a instant. Oh and he's quite possibly the most devastating blitzer on the team as well. If A-dub went down there would be some scrambling to fill his shoes and there are several possibilities. The Cards could move Matt Ware into the starting lineup or they could move Antrel Rolle over to strong safety and insert rookie Rashad Johnson in at free safety. Neither of those scenarios is particularly favorable.

#1 - Karlos Dansby - With the lack of depth at linebacker, Dansby had to headline this list. He's the leading tackler, the defensive signal caller and he's capable of punishing an offense in every way imaginable. He's strong enough to stuff a run up the middle, quick enough to shut down an outside sweep, fluid enough to drop into coverage and explosive enough to blow by opposing offensive lineman and pressure the quarterback. If Dansby were to go down the Cards would probably move Hayes into his spot and try to fill Hayes' spot with either Ali Highsmith or undrafted rookie Reggie Walker. Needless to say the Red Birds need Dansby to be healthy and productive in 2009.

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Ok, now it's your turn. Am I crazy for not listing Fitz or Anquan Boldin? Who else did I leave off?

53 Man Roster Predictions After the Arizona Cardinals Shutout Loss to the Broncos

Hawkwind — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:49:49 -0000

by David Zalubowski - AP

Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt will have harder time cutting 22 players today than he did finding an offensive play that would work this preseason. (AP Photo/ David Zalubowski)

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Truth be told we won't dwell on another lackluster effort in the preseason. The Arizona Cardinals finished the preseason without a win but that doesn't even begin to tell the story of how ugly the past three and a half weeks have been. To give you a quick taste of how the past four games have gone, the Cardinals have been outscored 71-16 in the first half, Cardinals' quarterbacks have combined to throw twice as many interceptions as touchdowns (9 to 4) and the Cardinals' defenders have forced just one turnover. In conclusion this Cardinals team has looked like the one that played in December of 2008 instead of the team that took the field in January of 2009. Just for the record, historically teams that finish the preseason winless, also struggle in the regular season. Going back to 1989, 35 teams have finished the preseason without a win and 31 of those teams failed to make the playoff. To make matters worse, 21 of them finished with a losing record.

But we said we weren't going to dwell so we're moving on to the news that should come down today. Tomorrow is the deadline to cut down the rosters to 53 players, but most expect Ken Whisenhunt to break the news in an afternoon press conference. With that in mind, here's ROTB's last shot at nailing down the 53 man roster.

QB (3): Kurt Warner, Matt Leinart, Brian St. Pierre - Tyler Palko played his way out of any shot of making the roster with a poor performance last night. BSP hasn't shown much this preseason but Whiz is familiar enough with his abilities for him to stick.
RB (4): Tim Hightower, Chris Wells, Jason Wright, LaRod Stephens-Howling - No one did much to either help or hurt their case for a roster spot last night.
FB (1): Dan Kreider - After the recent discussion about Kreider vs. Tim Castille, I kept a close eye on both players last night. To be honest neither did much to impress me and at this point I think Whiz would chose a veteran that he's familiar with over a younger player.
WR (6): Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, Jerheme Urban, Early Doucet and Sean Morey - I, like most Cardinals fans I suspect, have been pulling for Lance Long but he's played a great deal in the past two preseason games and he hasn't done much with his opportunity (2 catches for 21 yards). I think it's fair to say that he's not ready and I'd be wiling to risk cutting him. The Chiefs may or may not claim him before we can stash him on the practice squad but he can't help this team right now.

TE (3): Stephen Spach, Anthony Becht and Dominique Byrd - Truth to be told, I still don't know what we have at this position but I'm confident that Leonard Pope will be cut. He was the last tight end to take the field last night and that says enough about his future. I went back and forth on Byrd but his versatility in the H-back role won me over. The interesting thing about this spot is who gets released after week four when Ben Patrick comes back.

OL (9): Mike Gandy, Reggie Wells, Lyle Sendlein, Deuce Lutui, Levi Brown, Herman Johnson, Brandon Keith and Elton Brown and Melvin Fowler - It's overkill keeping so many offensive lineman and I went back and forth on Elton Brown but his ability to play LT made the difference. Oliver Ross is a possibility but he just didn't impress me during the preseason. Elton Brown wasn't all that impressive either but at least this coaching staff has seen him step in at LT and play decently.

DL (6): Darnell Dockett, Calais Campbell, Bryan Robinson, Kenny Iwebema, Gabe Watson and Alan Branch - No real surprises here. Branch hasn't done much to warrant a spot but neither has anyone behind him. At least he can line up at DE now as well as DT, although his effectiveness remains about the same. Keilen Dykes doesn't make the cut but hopefully they can keep him on the practice squad thanks to another leg injury that cost him nearly the entire preseason.
LB (8): Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, Clark Haggans, Chike Okeafor, Will Davis, Victor Hobson, Reggie Walker and Ali Highsmith - Bertrand Berry is the surprise cut on the roster after pulling a disappearing act during the preseason that would make David Copperfield jealous. Considering that the backups consist of two rookies, one sophomore UDFA and a guy that was signed off the streets before the regular season finale last year, I fully expect the Cardinals to scour the waiver wire for a veteran linebacker (inside or out).
CB (5): Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Bryant McFadden, Ralph Brown, Greg Toler and Michael Adams - I don't know what to make of this unit but these are the top five guys. DRC has struggled mightily the past two games, McFadden can't even get on the field and Brown is looking awful old and slow. Toler and Adams are two guys that we should all hope spend much more time on special teams than the regular defense.
S (5): Adrian Wilson, Antrel Rolle, Rashad Johnson, Aaron Francisco and Matt Ware - Basically this is the same unit as last year, plus a third round pick. Francisco is still Francisco although Ware has caught my eye several times this preseason.
Specialists (3): Neil Rackers, Ben Graham and Mike Leach - No surprises.

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To be honest, when I first wrote all this down I ended up with 54 players and after scouring the two deep I ended up cutting a veteran, Bertrand Berry. I'm not sure why but I keep getting the feeling that some of the veterans who've been around this team throughout all of the bad times cause some apathy in the locker room sometimes that lead to performances like we've seen the past couple of weeks. Berry's absence over the course of OTA's and his indifferent excuse once training camp started is just a microcosm of how this team has played over the course of the preseason. Maybe it's a knee jerk reaction on my part for thinking that someone's head has to roll but so be it. Thoughts? Who makes your 53?

Arizona Cardinals Fight For 53: Examining the Bubble Players by Position

Hawkwind — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:52:26 -0000

More photos » by Ross D. Franklin - AP

3 months ago: Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson, right, picks up an eight-yard gain as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Ralph Brown pulls him down during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Friday, Aug. 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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It's simply the nature of the NFL that 22 players who currently call themselves Arizona Cardinals, will be unemployed by the end of this coming weekend. The bad news will be given to hundreds of players across the NFL within the next week and many will be left hoping for a place on some team's practice squad or maybe the newly formed UFL. Before anyone has to worry about their new football home though, the bubble players will have one last shot to impress the coaching staff this Thursday when the Cardinals travel to Denver to take on the Broncos. Here's a quick list at the battles at various positions.

Kreider vs. Castille: With four running backs expected to make the final roster, thanks to LaRod Stephens-Howling's impressive play over the past month, the Cardinals are expected to carry just one fullback. That leaves three guys, Dan Kreider, Tim Castille and Reagan Maui'a, fighting for one spot, although truth be told it's really just a battle between Krieder and Castille. No one has really established themselves and each guy brings something different to the table. Krieder is hands down the better blocker and he's a "Whiz-guy" but Castille's versatility out of the backfield and prowess on special teams gives him a shot.

Long versus the Unknown: The only real question for the Cardinals to answer at wide receiver is how many they want to carry. Assuming that Early Doucet's recent rib injury won't effect his roster status, the teams top six wide outs are virtually set in stone (Fitz, Q, Breaston, Urban, Doucet and Morey). That leaves fan favorite Lance Long fighting for a spot that simply might not be there, but the team has carried seven wide receivers before. The injury risk of a couple of those guys and Long's ability to contribute on special teams leaves the door open. At this point Orea Jones, who's been impressive during the preseason, is simply showcasing himself to other teams or hoping for a practice squad job.

Brown vs. Ross: The offensive line is sort of the in the same predicament as the wide receiver spot considering that they've got quite a few semi-capable bodies but not enough roster spots for everyone. What we know is that Gandy, Wells, Sendlein, Lutui, Levi Brown, Keith and Johnson are all locks make the final 53. If you're counting that's seven bodies and most squads carry eight or nine (although the Cards have kept ten before). That leaves two or maybe three spots up for grabs. One of the spots will undoubtedly be filled by a center and that battle seems to have boiled down to Ben Claxton versus Melvin Fowler. Fowler has a huge edge in experience and would seem to be the front runner but don't count out Claxton's familiarity with the offense. Assuming that the backup center spot is filled by one of these two (but not both), that leaves eight guys with Elton Brown, Trevor Canfield, Carlton Medder and Oliver Ross on the outside looking with one or two spots to fill. Of these remaining four, I'd have to say the top two are Brown and Ross and they'd be battling for the final spot or could be the final two in, if the team decides to keep 10 offensive lineman.

Unknown at Tight End: As we stated yesterday the only thing we really know about the tight end spot is that we really don't know anything. The best bet right now is that Ben Patrick is essentially assured of the roster spot to start the season but that's only because he won't count against the 53 until his four game suspension is over. With that in mind, we'll set him aside and just look at the remainder. The Cardinals in the past have carried as few as two tight ends and as many as four so it's possible that Stephen Spach, Leonard Pope, Anthony Becht and Dominique Byrd could all make the opening day roster, but that's probably a stretch considering how little the tight end is used in the passing game. Our best bet is that three with make the opening day 53 (not counting Patrick remember) with either Pope or Byrd getting cut.

Branch vs. Dykes: This much we know on the defensive line, Darnell Dockett, Calais Campbell, Bryan Robinson, Kenny Iwebema and Gabe Watson are all locks, even though Watson looked terrible against the Packers. It's tough to look at the Caridnals historically to see how many defensive lineman they kept because the 3-4 defense requires less lineman and more linebackers, but we can be sure that Keilen Dykes, Alan Branch, Alex Field, Rodney Leisle are all at the very least on the bubble. I don't think there would be any debate to say that Dykes and Branch are the best of those four but it could come down to whether the Cardinals want to keep six or seven defensive lineman. If they chose to go with six DL, I think Branch would be the choice considering that Dykes has had serious problems stay healthy over the past two training camps. His inability to stay on the field probably means that the Cards could stash him on the practice squad for an eventful call up when someone gets hurt.

Linebackers Help: Outside of the starters at linebacker, Dansby, Hayes, Haggans and Okeafor, I'm not sure that anyone is assured of a roster spot. Bertrand Berry would seem like a lock but he's done a complete disappearing act so far during the preseason. Victor Hobson, Will Davis and perhaps even Reggie Walker would seem like the next closest thing to locks. Hobson has experience in a 3-4 and can play inside and out while Davis and Walker have been impressive over the past couple of games. There's also Ali Highsmith who's failed to produce the same kind of buzz that he did last year. Chase Bullock and David Holloway round out the rest of the roster but neither of them have done much to warrant a roster spot. If the Cards had to decide today, I'm thinking that they'd keep the starters plus Berry, Hobson, Davis and Walker although this could be one position that gets an upgrade once other teams make their cuts.

Ware vs. Adams: There will be some tough decisions made in the secondary where it would seem that Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Bryant McFadden, Adrian Wilson, Antrel Rolle, Rashad Johnson and Ralph Brown are all locks to make the squad. Brown has struggled in the preseason but so has the depth behind him so it's highly doubtful that his spot is in jeopardy. With six locks that leaves Aaron Francisco, Greg Toler, Matt Ware, Michael Adams, Jameel Dowling and Wilrey Fontenot fighting for what will probably end up being eight or nine spots. Francisco and Toler are certainly the front-runners of the bubble group so the real battle comes down to Ware versus Adams. It's possible that the team could keep all ten members of the secondary, they've done it before, but nine is a more manageable number. Ware has much more experience with the regular defense and is probably the more talented player but Adams' standout performances on special teams give him a shot.

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Thoughts? Who wins these battles and who makes your final 53?