SB Nation - Khalif Barnes

Winning with Seneca Wallace Part 2: Idiot Proofing

John Morgan — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:04:40 -0000

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Building a roster around Seneca Wallace is a kind of idiot proofing. Instead of adding the quarterback and building around his talent, Seattle will add the talent and hope it can find a quarterback that can fit.

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Why Seneca? Does Seattle have a choice?

Matt Hasselbeck has entered that agonizing phase of his career where injuries are around every hit. Seattle could sign Jason Campbell, but maybe they can't. Campbell is a restricted free agent in an uncapped season. If the NFL hashes out that problem and Campbell becomes an unrestricted free agent, there's still no certainty he signs with Seattle or Seattle signs him. Seattle could draft a quarterback, but developing a quarterback is a lengthy process. One reason Detroit selected Matthew Stafford is that should Stafford develop, he will be entering his prime just as the Lions are finishing their rebuild.

Wallace, for all his flaws, is learning the Greg Knapp system, has game experience in the Knapp system, is developed or as developed as he'll be (and a good bit better than Stafford or Mark Sanchez) and has a certain floor. Wallace has a certain expected minimum performance.

Why Seneca? Because like it or lump it, Seneca Wallace might be the best quarterback available in 2010.

A player like C.J. Spiller adds new dimensions to the offense and reduces Wallace's burden. It won't work if Spiller is regularly fighting his way out of the backfield. That means Seattle needs to add primetime talent to their line. It doesn't need a full rebuild of its line, but it does need better, healthier depth and another premium talent to play alongside Chris Spencer. Adding a left tackle improves depth, improves the right tackle position, where Sean Locklear can play, and actually saves the team some scratch.

It's a lucky coincidence that what Seattle needs to run the ball is exactly what Wallace needs to protect himself from himself. The infinity drops won't stop, but a long limbed, natural left tackle that can mirror his man and continue to control the edge all the way through the back end can help shield Wallace's abysmal pocket presence. We're not talking a road grader. Seattle will be in the market for a Charles Brown, Selvish Capers type. Someone that can kick out, cut and has the foot speed to keep up with our loony tunes signal caller.

Adding a tackle is a start, but Seattle needs to improve its depth and specifically, depth that can excel in Knapp's system. The Seahawks should pursue Daryn Colledge, Marshal Yanda, Chris Kuper or even someone like Khalif Barnes and Alex Barron, two players that have flunked out at tackle but could improve as guards.

The idea is to turn Seneca Wallace into a David Garrard by improving the talent around him and creating a system that is run first, strict, and powered by play action. You do not create the Wallace system because it's ideal, but because it satisfies basic needs and deemphasizes the quarterback. Ideally, the system that can work with Wallace can work with Mike Teel, Zac Robinson, Case Keenum or Tim Tebow, allowing Wallace to be the crash test dummy, and the kid Seattle drafts, the driver. Wallace keeps the team competitive enough to add free agent talent and avoid the high stakes pit of perennial top ten picks. Teams do not win Super Bowls with Seneca Wallace, but Wallace could be Seattle's Jim Harbaugh or Drew Bledsoe.

Know Thy Enemy 2009: Jacksonville Jaguars - November 29

Fooch — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:00:10 -0000

The 49ers wrap up November and their AFC South opponents with what looks like a winnable game, but could prove tricky against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Depending on the 49ers are performing at this point, one could argue this has trap game written all over it. It is sandwiched between the tough road game at Green Bay and then a stretch of 3 divisional games in 5 weeks. Given how some folks think the 49ers will do this year, I'm guessing they do not view this as a trap game, but as just another potential loss. I like to look on the bright side of things (even the fact that I'm turning 30 today...how's that for a little nugget for you? That and a test to see if you've already given up reading this article).

The Jacksonville Jaguars are represented here at SB Nation by my boy River City Rage over at Big Cat Country.

2008 Overview
Although the Jaguars continued their pattern of alternating very solid and not so very solid years, 2008 was quite a stumble for them as they fell to 5-11. It certainly didn't help that they were playing in a tremendously strong AFC South with the other three teams finishing 33-15. The Jaguars did manage a fairly balanced, although not wildly strong offensive attack, finishing the season 12th in passing and 13th in rushing. The bowling ball with legs, Maurice Jones-Drew finally surpassed Fred Taylor in carries, but saw the rushing attack become significantly less potent. Given the offseason moves it will be very interesting to see how that holds up.

On defense, the Jaguars finished 29th against the pass and 10th against the rush. Definitely a big disparity there. I watched pretty much no Jaguars football games last season so any thoughts on this are based on what I can scour around for on the Internet. One thing that jumps out at me: They finished the season with 1 less sack than the 49ers. Not exactly the kind of stat that screams pass defense success.

After the jump we look at the Jaguars offseason additions and subtractions, 2009 Questions and Answers and a quick preview of the matchup...

Additions
Tell me if this situation sounds familiar. Team signs a veteran at a position of some need before the draft. On draft day, a player they weren't expecting to fall to them lands squarely in their loops and they'd be foolish to pass on him, leaving them with potentially one too many guys at the position. Subsequently, that first round pick holds out from training camp. You'd argue that's the 49ers story with Brandon Jones and Michael Crabtree, only it's also the story of the Jaguars with Tra Thomas and Eugene Monroe. While Jones has not done as much at WR as Thomas has at OT, it's still sufficiently similar to be a little eery.

At the same time used the draft, and free agency a bit to try and beef up the offense around MJD and David Garrard. They drafted OT Eben Britton and very intriguing wide receivers Jarrett Dillard and Mike Thomas. Oh, and don't forget their 7th round pick, Rashad Jennings out of I-AA Liberty, who rushed for over 1,500 yards his senior season. In free agency, they added an aging Torry Holt who might still have a little bit left in the tank. So, while they didn't do much to upgrade their defense (Terrance Knighton appears likely to start as a backup DT and Derek Cox getting time in nickel situations), the offense could be building towards something solid (eventually).

Subtractions
The Jaguars saw quite a free agents leave town this offseason. The most notable two were probably Fred Taylor and Khalif Barnes. Taylor (the NFL's injury answer to Ken Griffey Jr.) had a resurgence in his last few years in Jacksonville before being surpassed by Maurice Jones-Drew. He was released this offseason and the full time job was handed to MJD. Barnes left to become the Raiders starting left tackle, although Jaguars fans don't exactly seem broken up about it.

One of the more interesting, but not surprising releases was that of wide receiver Matt Jones. The former Arkansas QB seemed to be building himself into a pretty solid wide receiver before things went to crap last year. Aside from that they seemed to clean out a whole lot of veteran bodies that brought something to the table but were nothing spectacular as of late (Reggie Williams, Mike Peterson). My favorite subtraction of theirs had to be this guy. I had forgotten he was still in the league (he's in New Orleans now).

2009 Questions and Answers
I'm really quite curious where this team is going in 2009. Most folks seem to view this as a rebuilding year for the Jaguars. Anybody think they could be one of those teams that comes out of nowhere to shock folks? It would take a lot of things going right, but I suppose anything is possible after what the Dolphins did last year.

I guess my biggest question at this point is whether Maurice Jones-Drew will be able to handle the load by himself. They've got bodies behind him and I think Rashad Jennings could be an interesting backup, but this is still a big step for the Jaguars. Of course, given that this appears to be a bit of a rebuilding year, maybe it's the perfect time to figure this out. Then they can decide whether they need to invest a fairly high pick in a decent handcuff option without blowing a year of high expectations.

Aside from that I'm curious who, if anybody, steps up as a wide receiver and as a pass rusher. Matt Jones was their leading receiver and they've got a whole bunch of youngsters around an aging ex-Ram (hmmmm...sounds like the 49ers receiver corps!)

@ San Francisco
Both Bigelow and I predicted a win in this matchup. At the time I mentioned Monroe and the fact that the offensive line could be gelling by week 12. At this point who knows what will happen. I do stick by the win prediction as even a 7 win team should be able to pull this kind of game out at home. As I mentioned up at the top, I see this as a big time potential trap game (assuming the Jaguars aren't all that good). There are so many question marks that I think a few answers make this quite the tough team. I think the 49ers defense can contain this offense, but we'll see how the Jags pass defense has improved (or not) by week 12.

2008 Season Retrospective: Did injuries "Neg Out" the Jaguars?

River City Rage — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:22:22 -0000

What explains the late season meltdown of the Jacksonville Jaguars?

With training camp so close you can almost smell the sweat on the blocking sleds, It's time for a (hopefully) final look back at the 2008 season, and what it means for the 2009 team. Two articles popped on my radar recently, each offering a "scientific" examination of the Jacksonville Jaguars, but with differing conclusions. K.C. Joyner, writing for the New York Times, looks at the injuries to the Jaguars offensive line and how it offers little excuse for the late season meltdown that sent the team on a rocketship toward rebuilding. On the other side, Football Outsiders, the statistics guru's of the NFL, determined that no team missed more time for injuries than the Jaguars, and that they should be ripe for a comeback in 2009.

Going back to Joyner's article, he uses a system that tracks how many time an offensive lineman was the key player in a run play, and the success rate of said lineman to come up with a percentage.

LT - Khalif Barnes - 88 POA runs, 66 POA wins, 75.0% POA win rate

LG - Uche Nwaneri - 134 POA runs, 111 POA wins, 82.8% POA win rate

C - Brad Meester - 72 POA runs, 62 POA wins, 86.1% POA win rate

RG - Dennis Norman - 147 POA runs, 125 POA wins, 85.0% POA win rate

RT - Tony Pashos - 143 POA runs, 123 POA wins, 86.0% POA win rate

Per his metrics, having three blockers with a POA win rate of over 85% is good, especially considering the injuries on the line. He correctly calls out Barnes as the "weakest link", though he distinguishes that his performance was not injury related. I would argue that having the players on the inside replaced would probably have a detrimental effect on his numbers, but that's for another post.

What I find problematic about these numbers is that they simply do not match the product that we saw on the field. Sure, these measurements show that the Jaguars offensive line was effective, but when statistics are vastly different than the "gut impression", it draws into question the very validity of the numbers. Statistics driven analysis is fantastic and something that the NFL has lacked, but there are some elements that require some work. One is in tracking the offensive line. Without game film like the coaches see, it's very difficult to follow the offensive line play. The camera follows the ball and the quarterback, and often hides the nuances of offensive line play. The end zone camera position gives us the best view of holes and cut back lanes, but the general broadcast camera position is horrible at showing who did what in a particular play. Until the NFL decides that fans and the media can have regular access to the end zone camera, it's going to be hard to create an accurate measurement.

But I'm seriously digressing from my point. David Garrard went from one of the least sacked and least mistake prone quarterbacks in 2007, to one of the most sacked in 2008. The Jaguars running game went from being an iconic factor in games to an afterthought, as David was forced into 3rd and long over and over and over again. We watched the games, we saw the line play, we saw the holes close, we saw Fred and Jones-Drew struggle, and yet we are supposed to believe that the statistics say that the offensive line was good, and that the Jaguars had a case of the funk and fell off the grid?

That's exactly what Joyner argues:

A. Management and/or the coaches were feeding this line of thinking to the announcers to take the heat off a team that had badly underachieved, and
B. This mind-set eventually made its way through to the team itself

Thought A came to mind because Jack Del Rio strikes me as a media-savvy coach who is good at helping to steer story lines in a direction of his choosing. The sense my scouting eye got is that the announcers bought into the injury story, but, unfortunately for Del Rio, so did his players. They kept hearing the press say that their injuries were the reason for the downfall and they might have ended up believing it. Deep down, I think the team knew that injuries weren’t killing the offense, but when the players heard the excuse being used elsewhere, they were free to jump on that bandwagon.

What he argues, in my opinion, is absurd. If, and that's a strong word, but if it's true that the team attempted to score a PR "win" by blaming the season on the injuries and that Del Rio let that mindset change the team from a "next man up" to a "quit and lay down", than Del Rio should have joined James Harris and left the team. But I don't buy it. Did the Jaguars have a boat-load of problems in the locker room? Absolutely. Was it because the team bought into it's own negitive hype? I just don't think so.

Statistics, as we know, can tell the same story with different conclusions: Take Football Outsiders, for example:

Jacksonville had a 1.9% DVOA, and their expected win total was 8.9 -- shocking, perhaps, but a function of their underlying performance. A 1.9% DVOA is pretty good: 26 other teams since 1994 (the earliest year we've calculated DVOA for) have had a DVOA between 1% and 3%. Of those 26 teams, exactly one won as few as five games: The 2003 Jaguars, who promptly won nine games the next season. The average team in that range won 8.5 games.

Furthermore, the Jaguars had a lot of injuries last year. By our injury metric, Adjusted Games Lost (which takes into account historical injury rates for a given role/position on the injury report and the player's role as a starter or reserve on the team), the Jaguars were the tenth-most injured team in the league last year. Injuries tend to regress to league average, which is another positive indicator for the Jaguars; a team's AGL has a .26 correlation with the change in wins in subsequent seasons.

So, which is it? Injuries or being psyched out?

I'd like to see what ya'll think of this. Why do you think the Jaguars fell apart last season?

Weekly Raider: Issue #7

KA1Z3R — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 15:42:32 -0000

via i221.photobucket.com

Greetings all, Weekly Raider Issue #7 is here. Today we feature none other than the Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell. You'll also get my thoughts on the upcoming position battle at safety for the Raiders, and of course the featured fan. So kick back, relax, and enjoy some Raiders goodness.

-Weekly Raider: QB #2 JaMarcus Russell-

via i116.photobucket.com

The Raiders 6-6 260 lbs man beast of a QB, JaMarcus Russell will be looking to capitalize on the success of his last two games of the 08 season. But in order to do this, he has fix his greatest weakness, inconsistency.

Russell is like any other QB, he has his good games and he has his bad games, but for him it's either a great game or terrible game. No middle, no median. To me, this season for Russell will be about solidifying a consistency point. Where instead of great game, terrible game, great, terrible, so on and so forth; he'll have good game, okay game, good game, bad game, okay game, great game, good game, etc. I mean just look at his game log last year.

Week 1 vs. Broncos: 17 for 26, 180 yards. 2 TD's, 0 INT. 3 sacks. 111.1 rating

Week 2 vs. Chiefs: 6 for 17. 55 yards. 0 TD's, 0 INT. 0 sacks. 45.0 rating

Week 3 vs. Bills: 9 for 19. 156 yards. 1 TD, 0 INT. 1 sack. 93.3 rating

Week 4 vs. Chargers: 22 for 37. 277 yards. 1 TD, 1 INT. 6 sacks. 80.6 rating

Week 6 vs. Saints: 13 for 35. 159 yards. 0 TD, 1 INT. 2 sacks. 40.1 rating

Week 7 vs. Jets: 17 for 30. 203 yards. 1 TD, 0 INT. 2 sacks. 88.6 rating

Week 8 vs. Ravens: 15 for 33. 228 yards. 1 TD, 1 INT. 4 sacks. 66.2 rating

Week 9 vs. Falcons: 6 for 19. 31 yards. 0 TD, 1 INT. 4 sacks. 19.0 rating

Week 10 vs. Panthers: n/a

Week 11 vs. Dolphins: 15 for 22. 156 yards. 0 TD, 0 INT. 4 sacks. 88.5 rating

Week 12 vs. Broncos: 10 for 11. 152 yards. 1 TD, 0 INT. 0 sacks. 149.1 rating

Week 13 vs. Chiefs: 10 for 28. 132 yards. 0 TD, 0 INT. 0 sacks. 51.5 rating

Week 14 vs. Chargers: 9 for 13. 68 yards. 0 TD, 2 INT. 1 sack. 42.0 rating

Week 15 vs. Patriots: 17 for 32. 242 yards. 2 TD, 1 INT. 2 sacks. 85.7 rating

Week 16 vs. Texans: 18 for 25. 236 yards. 2 TD, 0 INT. 1 sack. 128.1 rating

Week 17 vs. Bucs: 14 for 21. 148 yards. 2 TD, 1 INT. 1 sack. 98.9 rating

One big reason for this inconsistency is the enormous amount of sacks (31) with as much as 4-6 in one game. However, the O-Line looks much improved thus year. For one, Harris is out and Henderson is in. Harris was terrible guarding Russell's blindside. Whether it was allowing a sack, getting a penalty, or letting the pressure get to Russell, harris was a flat-out failure. But now we have Mario Henderson, who gave up 0 sacks and committed 0 penalties when he was guarding Russell those last couple of good games. There's also Khalif Barnes who should be the starter at right tackle, creating what should be a very solid tackle duo. And with the great guards and centers in the middle, Russell shouldn't have to worry about defensive tackles very often.

He also had some low pass completion and pass attempt numbers. Mainly due to the fact of an abysmal receiving corps which didn't get the proper lineup in until about Week 15. This year we should have the right receivers starting from the get-go with Schilens and Higgins coming off great finishes to the season. There's also the new additions of rookies Heyward-Bey and Murphy to give Russell even more downfield and big play threats. Also, I look for Walker to have a good year now that he's back and healthy thanks to surgery on his knee. Then of course there's the receiving talents of Miller and backs like Bush and McFadden will se more play time and more time in the passing game.

My expectations for Russell aren't major since this is still a run heavy team. But I definitely expect a lot of improvement when passing situations come up. Expect around 18 to maybe 20 touchdowns, 7-10 interceptions, 2800 passing yards, and probably about 25 sacks if not fewer.

-Random Thoughts: Safety Position Battle-

The battle for the starting safety spots will probably be the fiercest position battle in this year's training camp, and arguably the most important. With the cornerbacks very solid this year, the safeties have to step it up big time to keep that Raiders passing defense in it's usual top-10 spot. So let's look at who competing for the spot.

With Eugene, you get a good cover safety who showed some good tackling late in the year when he started. I doubt this will change and I think he'll be the starting FS because he's the best cover man of the group.

Huff has one more year before solidifying that bust status. I'm far from waht you'd call a Huff fan, but I think he'll get every possible chance to prove himself. However, I don't think it'll be good enough. He's a good cover SS, but a miserable tackler; and as a FS he can do neither. Everyone says it was ryan's scheme, but I don't buy it. Schemes don't affect your ability to tackle. He'll be a good backup SS option

Branch is the picture of what being a Raiders safety means. Branch is fast, so fast he's probably the backup kick returner. He's also a sure tackler, something Oakalnd has lacked at safety since Rod Woodson. I like what he can bring to the table this year, we just have to hope injuries won't be a problem for him, though I doubt they will be. Branch to me should be the starting SS.

Then there's the second round pick, Mike Mitchell. To summarize him, he's Tyvon branch, but a harder hitter. He has that amazing speed that Branch possesses, but man can he lay a wallop. Which could prove to be very useful in the future for popping the ball out of a receiver's hands. To me, Mitchell is a young LaRon Landry. However I think his hammy issues will keep as a backup at the start of the season. Though he may very well be starting alongside Branch later in the season.

My projected safety depth chart:

Free safety- Starter: Hiram Eugene/Backup: Mike Mitchel

Strong Safety- Starter: Tyvon Branch/Backup: Michael Huff

-Featured Fan: Laoren-

via carbonblu.com

Poll

Next Weekly Raider (defense only, no rookies)

Tommy Kelly

128 votes

Gerrard Warren

22 votes

Trevor Scott

152 votes

Ricky Brown

18 votes

Chris Johnson

198 votes

Greg Ellis

209 votes

Derrick Burgess

133 votes

other (please specify)

12 votes

872 votes | Poll has closed

Shallow Thoughts & Nearsighted Observations

Ted Bartlett — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:30:12 -0000

Happy Tuesday to all MHR community members. I've been absent for a few weeks, mostly due to craziness in my day job, but at least partially due to a lack of awe-inspiring topics to write about. This is the worst part of the football year, where nothing is going on.

Today, we'll talk about the other teams the Broncos play this season, including AFC second-place teams and the AFC West, and time permitting, I kind of feel like beating up on some MSM writing. We shall see how far I am able to get, and for now, I am going to get right to it. Ready.... BEGIN!!!

1. As promised, let's continue the around-the-league offseason evaluations...

a. Indianapolis Colts (2008 Record 12-4, Lost in Wild Card Round of Playoffs)

Smart Personnel Moves - I really liked the selection of Donald Brown, the RB from UConn. Joseph Addai is a nice player when you keep his carries down, but Brown is a workhorse kind of back. I expect that he will ultimately get 2/3 of the carries for the Colts, with Addai getting the other 1/3. Running the ball effectively is crucial for the Colts, because when the defense has to play the run, Peyton Manning just shreds secondaries. He is very good against dedicated pass coverage, but he is great against 8 in the box. I also liked the pick of Austin Collie, a WR from BYU. He has a really good feel for the passing game, and can be a good slot player in the NFL.

Questionable Personnel Moves - I get that the Colts have a minimalist strategy in free agency, but I think that they are going to regret not doing more to replace Marvin Harrison. Reggie Wayne has really been the #1 guy the past few years, but Anthony Gonzalez is below average for a #2, and should be playing in the slot. If any team should have signed Terrell Owens, it's the Colts. Peyton Manning is one QB he couldn't ever throw under the bus, and the Colts have the kind of program he would have a hard time poisoning.

ST&NO Outlook - I have some reason to think that the Colts are going to decline a little bit this season. There has been a lot of turnover on the coaching staff, and I don't see how you could have a lot of faith in Jim Caldwell, given his underwhelming tenure as a head coach at Wake Forest. I also think #2 WR and the right side of the O-Line are going to be weaknesses, and that the defense will continue to be vulnerable to the run. Despite this, the Colts will be in the playoff mix, as usual. They'll be good, but not elite.

b. New England Patriots (2008 Record 11-5, Missed Playoffs)

Smart Personnel Decisions - I really liked their first three second-round picks, Patrick Chung, Ron Brace, and Darius Butler. Chung and Butler have a chance to start as rookies, and Brace should play a lot in the D-Line rotation. I also loved the Fred Taylor signing. I expect him to lead the team in carries this season, and play well. He still has some good football in him. Joey Galloway was also worth a look, and according to PFW, he has looked good so far. It was a pretty nice offseason for the Pats, if you overlook their obviously huge errors in valuing cheaper second-round picks over more expensive first-rounders.

Questionable Personnel Decisions - It's a somewhat small complaint, but they could have done more to improve their highly overrated and underwhelming offensive line. You may not remember it amid the 41-7 shellacking the Broncos took from the Pats last season, but the Broncos sacked Matt Cassell 6 times in the game, by far their best performance of the season.

ST&NO Outlook - I've been saying since Tom Brady got hurt that it's no sure thing that he comes back as good as new. I definitely stand by that, and I could care less what they say about it in Foxboro. Carson Palmer looked great in practice once too, but he has never been the same player since his catastrophic knee injury, and Brady's was comparable. Assuming Brady is healthy, and can play at 90% of his old level (or better), the Patriots are a championship contender once again. If not, they could be a .500 team, because they really got lucky that Matt Cassel played so well last season.

c. San Diego Chargers - (2008 Record 8-8, Lost in Divisional Playoffs)

Smart Personnel Decisions - I somewhat liked the Larry English pick in the first round of the draft. He is another pass rusher, and you can never have too many of them. Picking Dominique Byrd in the 7th round has some potential upside too.

Questionable Personnel Decisions - A lot of their draft picks are really obscure, and they seemed to like them better than most other teams. The right side of the Chargers offensive line isn't very good, and they could have stood to improve quite a bit there. Also, their average IQ is pretty low, according to the screenshot below from the super-reliable ESPN.com. Really, 83 is shockingly low, when you think about it.

ST&NO Outlook - The Chargers are the favorite to win the AFC West, but they won't necessarily get it done. I can't put my finger on what it exactly is, but they have a real underachiever streak. Their talent is also downgraded a bit from last season, and for the second year in a row, they didn't do a lot to improve in the draft. The Chargers will be formidable, but they are flawed, and can be beaten.

d. Kansas City Chiefs - (2008 Record 2-14, Missed Playoffs)

Smart Personnel Decisions - I like Tyson Jackson a lot as a player, and I am not one of these guys who worries too much about draft slot. The Chiefs got a very good player for their defensive line, and that's a smart decision. I also liked the choices of Donald Washington and Ryan Succop, and the acquisition by trade of Mike Vrabel.

Questionable Personnel Decisions - I'm not too big on the Matt Cassel trade. Josh McDaniels obviously thought highly of him, but I just wonder if he can be as effective without all the playmakers around him. I am not saying it was a bad move, but it's no slam dunk as a good one either. I also think Larry Johnson should have been traded, and Tony Gonzalez shouldn't have been.

ST&NO Outlook - If Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson play well on the defensive line, and Tamba Hali can get some pressure this year, the Chiefs have a 7-win ceiling. I expect their defense will still be terrible, though, and that they'll win 4 or 5 games instead.

e. Oakland Raiders - (2008 Record 5-11, Missed Playoffs)

Smart Personnel Decisions - This is the most difficult task of any team review, because even when the Raiders do something semi-smart (like sign a solid backup QB, as a hedge against a JaMarcus Russell regression or stagnation), it's always kind of dumb if you look at it a different way (Jeff Garcia is a well-known me-first guy, who isn't too interested in actually being a backup). I will give them credit for drafting Matt Shaugnessy, who I like as a player, and not just because he went to my alma mater, Norwich Free Academy of Norwich, CT. I think Shaughnessy fits the Raiders' 4-3 scheme very well, and that he will overperform his draft slot.

Questionable Personnel Decisions - The Raiders will regret taking Darrius Heyward-Bey seventh overall. I said before I am not such a draft slot guy, but when you pass up Michael Crabtree (or Percy Harvin, or Jeremy Maclin) for a guy, he'd better be a star - and DHB isn't going to be one. Also, counting on Khalif Barnes at LT is a mistake. He's a below-average starter there, even if he is a marginal upgrade over Kwame Harris.

ST&NO Outlook - The Raiders have some talent, especially at RB, LB, and LCB. If they commit to pounding the ball in the running game, and they get their defense patched up a bit, and playing sounder, this can actually be an 8-8 team. I think Garcia ends up starting by mid-season, which would be disastrous for the Raiders, (hence the reason I think it will happen). In short, I would hate to be a Raiders fan, and have to secretly hope for Al Davis's death and/or retirement.

2. Did you see this nonsense foxsports.com did around the 10 best "franchise players" under 30? Len Pasquarelli made it worse here with the continued omission of Ryan Clady, and the inclusion of Jordan Gross instead. Gross is good, but he isn't one of the 5 best LTs in the game (Clady, Thomas, Roos, W. Jones, Peters), let alone the best. All of those 5 are under 30, except for Walter Jones, too. I am not a Len Pasquarelli fan, so I don't expect any better, but come on!!! You don't have to be a stats producer to be a franchise player.

3. I think that Ed Thompson is kind of stupid, from what I have read of his 7 Points column. NYC originally made this point, but it bears repeating how asinine it is to say that the Broncos are paying Dre' Bly anything this season, since they're not. Many people don't know this, but in the NFL, unlike all the other major sports, there are no guaranteed annual contracts. The Broncos paid Dre' some bonus money in the past, but they'll pay him nothing this season. The dead money is merely an acceleration of the prorated bonus, so anything Dre' does this year is not "literally at Denver's expense." Next time you see this sort of (il)logical construct, you'll be able to spot it for what it is right away. This is not at all like the Tigers paying Gary Sheffield to play well for the Mets.

4. Here's an asinine comment from John Clayton. It seems that the Texans were lucky that their owner Bob McNair was afraid Reggie Bush received extra benefits at USC, and that stroke of luck led them to draft Mario Williams, because, nobody knew he'd be this good, right?

I mean, hell, he might have been declared ineligible by the NCAA to play in the NFL, right? What Clayton means is, he and his brethren all had that one wrong, and Charley Casserly and Gary Kubiak got it right. They all eviscerated the pick at the time, and said it was just Houston being cheap. Right....because paying $30 million in guarantees for a part-time scat-back, who is banged-up a lot, is brilliant. Even after one season, Houston was getting ripped, as if the jury was in.

The Texans drafted the player they thought was the best, and the one who filled their biggest need. It turns out, Williams seems to have actually been the best player, and it's important to remember, it was more good evaluation than good luck.

Have a great week, and I think this Tuesday debut will be the start of a total shift to Tuesday mornings for ST&NO, since I was planning to make that move anyway once the season starts. As always, thanks for reading, and for your contributions in the comments.

Poll

Which is the tougher set of incremental games: San Diego's first-place schedule, or Denver's second-place schedule?

San Diego (Tennessee, Miami)

31 votes

Denver (Indianapolis, New England)

766 votes

797 votes | Poll has closed

AFC West Offseason Progress Reports by Position: RB

John (obviousman) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:05:22 -0000

Considering the overwhelming lack of response to the first installment of this series, I considered stopping it altogether. Then I re-read it and liked it. Seriously, what's not to like? Even if you don't agree with all of my opinions, it stands as another reminder of the turmoil this division has faced outside of San Diego. Two of the three teams have new starting quarterbacks that have question-marks attached to them. The other one has a new veteran breathing down his neck for the starting job and a new offensive coordinator. What's not to love as a Chargers fan?

So I'm going to try this again. I hope there's a better response this time as we analyze the backfields of AFC West teams and rate the offseason changes that have (or haven't) been made.

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San Diego Chargers: Change by addition and possibly by approach. Going into 2008, the consensus was that LaDainian Tomlinson was the #1 back and would return to form after his injury in late 2007. Jacob Hester had been drafted to be his backup and to replace Michael Turner. Well, very quickly we learned that Hester could be an effective player but the coaching staff obviously thought he didn't have what it took to be a backup and Darren Sproles came in to do the job.

Sproles actually wound up outperforming Turner's 2007 performance. Take a look:

	RushAtt	RushYds	RushTDs	RushYPC	Rec	RecYds	RecTDs
Turner (2007)	71	316	1	4.5	4	16	0
Sproles (2008)	61	330	1	5.4	29	342	5

What drop-off? After looking at these numbers, I almost went back on my idea that Sproles should be the 3rd string RB. Actually, that phrase isn't right. I believe the Chargers should have a RB by committee. There's so many reasons for it. One, it'll extend LT's career. Two, LT and Sproles would be healthier and more rested for the playoffs. Three, it gives Gartrell Johnson a chance to grow on the field without much pressure. I could go on and on. Anyways, I almost went back on that after seeing how successful Sproles was last season. I almost said "Ah, the hell with it, give Sproles more carries and keep Gartrell on the bench." Then I remembered last year's running game. It was poor because LT was hurt, true, but the thing that stood out the most was how it lacked versatility. Every time the ball was handed off the defense knew that the RB wanted to go outside. They knew the RB would try and win the battle with speed instead of power and there was nobody on the team to change their mind.

Jacob Hester was drafted to be that power back that gives the offense versatility. It's who he was in college. Although he was small, he was a bit of a bruiser but also had speed and soft hands. Other NFL teams were worried that he wouldn't be able to be a bruiser in the NFL and they may be right (when it comes to his running, anyway). Gartrell Johnson, to me, equals all the reasons I mentioned above. Because of their size, Sproles is just as big a risk as Tomlinson to get worn down and injured. I don't really care if either of those guys see the field in the first 5 games of the season. I want them late in the season and in the playoffs to be at the top of their game. So, what did the Chargers do to their running game over the offseason? They had their FB beef up and created some versatility in the backfield by drafting a power back.

Offseason Grade: B+. My grade at the end of the season will be more telling. I'm still worried that these three guys are not going to be used the right way. I'm concerned we're going to get to Week 17 and Gartrell, with less than 20 carries under his belt, will have to start a game because LT is hurt and Sproles isn't trusted to be a starter. I don't want playoff weeks centered around LT's injuries anymore. I'm hopefuly we're past that and this pick gives me hope, but we'll see...

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Kansas City Chiefs: Larry Johnson is a bum. There, I said it. My definition of a "bum" when it comes to sports is somebody who is so talented that their team keeps relying on them, even though year after year the guy lets them down. Is it LJ's fault? Well, the off-the-field problems certainly are, but the on-the-field problems may not be.

In 2006, Larry Johnson carried the rock 416 times. That seems like a lot, doesn't it? Well, it's the most amount of carries by one running back in one season in the history of professional football. Some other guys right behind him on that list? Eddie George and Jamal Anderson. Two guys that physically broke down after being overworked. Not only that, LJ turns 30 in November. So his body's working against him already. Since that 2006 season, in which Johnson went to the Pro Bowl and carried the Chiefs to a 9-7 record, Larry has had a hard time staying healthy. Yet, the Chiefs keep looking for him to return to form.

In 2007, Johnson managed to get into 8 games. In 2008, it was 12. Want a picture of how his performance, when healthy, has gone down? Lets look at how efficient he's been over the course of his career.

	RushAtt	RushYPC	TDs	Fumbles
2004	120	4.8	11	0
2005	336	5.2	21	5
2006	416	4.3	19	2
2007	158	3.5	4	1
2008	193	4.5	5	5

Every team wants a guy that can score 20 times and fumble less than 5 times each season, but fumbling as many times as you're getting in the end zone should not make you the centerpiece of an offense. Plain and simple, LJ doesn't have anything left. I'm actually surprised he had those big seasons in 2005 and 2006 considering how he was run into the ground at Penn State, but basically have the first-half of 2004 off probably helped that.

So in 2008 the Chiefs drafted Jamaal Charles. He was effective when he played (5.3 Yards Per Carry), but the coaching staff seemed to prefer Johnson. Going into 2009, LJ is again the starter. He's been a two-time Pro Bowler, a player with off-the-field issues, injury-prone and someone who is not afraid to speak out against his coach to the media. Why is KC still pinning their hopes on him? Because he's a bum, and they're getting suckered in. It happens to the best of us (I'm looking at you, David Boston).

Offseason Grade: D. Okay, so Charles is a year older and wiser. That's the only reason they don't get an F (LJ is another year older as well). Jamaal is also probably a better fit for Haley's offense because he's a great receiver coming out of the backfield. He should be given the starter's role and Johnson should be shopped, but that's not happening this year. Maybe next year. The Chiefs drafted little-known Javarris Williams out of Tennessee State this year, but if he sees the field it'll be as a FB only.

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Denver Broncos: Okay, let's see if I can cover it all without my head exploding.

2008 backfield: Michael Pittman, Peyton Hillis, Selvin Young, Tatum Bell, Andre Hall, P.J. Pope, Ryan Torain

Before I get to the 2009 backfield, a crazy statistic. The Broncos didn't have a single running back with more than 76 carries last season. LT can get to that number in 3 games and they didn't have a single guy get to it in an entire season. Peyton Hillis started the most games for them last season, with 6, and even some of those he started as the fullback. What an unbelievable season for the Broncos backfield.

2009 backfield: Knowshon Moreno, Correll Buckhalter, ~~J.J. Arrington~~, Peyton Hillis, LaMont Jordan, Ryan Torain, Darius Walker

Arrington is crossed out because he was signed by the Broncos and later released, I believe because he failed a physical. Is Moreno an improvement over Pittman? Sure. I could see that. Is Buckhalter better than Selvin Young and Tatum Bell? Hmmmmm. I don't know. I'd say he's about equal, but he's older and a bigger injury risk. If it would've been cheaper I would've stuck with Selvin Young. Torain has potential but will probably never see the field now and I'm unsure why they even grabbed Darius Walker. Four new RBs for a coach that's known for his passing game. Odd, isn't it?

Offseason Grade: C+. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt and assuming that Moreno is good. Not great, but good. I'm a little concerned with a change in the run-blocking philosophy because those guys are too small to do anything else but cut-block. The Jordan and Walker signings just seem like the team is planning for their RBs to start dropping like flies again. This grade is very dependant on how Moreno performs and if Buckhalter can contribute anything without getting injured.

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Oakland Raiders: I gave the Raiders a good grade when I was doing the progress reports for QBs and I immediately noticed traffic coming in from Raiders sites and forums. They liked what I said. They said "Even Chargers fans can see that this has been a great offseason for the Raiders!" I want to answer that by saying I do think that the Raiders have had a better offseason than KC and Denver, in terms of players that were brought in, but that doesn't mean I'm picking them for second in the division. Nor do I think they'll beat the Chargers this year. With that being said, get ready for another good grade for the Raiders....

The Raiders have a three-headed running game. Justin Fargas carries the bulk of the load (because he's the most consistent, in terms of performance and health), Darren McFadden is the big play guy who needs to stay fresh and healthy and Michael Bush is a bruiser who can put away games when Oakland has the lead. All three of those guys were good last season and there was no need to replace them. So the Raiders did the smartest thing you could possibly do for a backfield of young, talented running backs. They signed Lorenzo "get behind me for 1000 yards" Neal to be their starting fullback. Then they started filling holes on their offensive line with good free agent players, like Khalif Barnes.

Are you one of those people that think the signing of Lorenzo Neal doesn't mean that much? Let's look at the RBs that Neal has lead to 1,000 yards seasons:

Adrian Murrell
Warrick Dunn
Eddie George (twice)
Corey Dillion (twice)
LaDainian Tomlinson (five times)

...and the only reason he's had any seasons without a 1,000 yard rusher behind him is because he's played for some teams that split carries (like the Raiders). Coming up on 40 years of age, Neal isn't what he once was but he's certainly good enough to improve the Raiders run-blocking. He'll get the most out of those three talented backs.

Offseason Grade: A. Any time you can sign a future Hall of Famer to be in on every running play, that's going to get you a good grade in my book. With signings like Garcia and Neal, the Raiders are trying to add some greatly-needed veteran leadership to the locker room and in film study. I don't know that it'll turn into more than two or three more wins in 2009 from 2008, but it should help all of their young players in the long run. The Chargers used the same philosophy years ago by bringing in players Neal, Roman Oben, Chris Chambers, Marlon McCree and Randall Godfrey.

Previewing the Kansas City Chiefs 2009 Schedule: Week 2

Chris Thorman — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:49:32 -0000

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Larry Johnson #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL game on November 30, 2008 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

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On September 20th, the Oakland Raiders (5-11) will travel to Arrowhead Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs (2-14). This will be the Chiefs first AFC West opponent of the year, while Oakland will be in the middle of three straight divisional games to start off the season. They play San Diego in Week 1 and Denver in Week 3.

Last season, when the Kansas City Chiefs played the Oakland Raiders in Week 2, the fans got their first indication that something was seriously wrong with our football team. On 47 rushing attempts that day, the Raiders ran for 300 yards and 14 first downs. QB Jamarcus Russell only completed six passes on seventeen attempts. The Chiefs didn't even score until there was four minutes left in the game. And we gave up a Raider touchdown after that, making the final score 23 to 8.

Needless to say, it was a rough day to be a Chiefs fan.

But as a consolation, the Oakland Raiders 2009 off season has made it tough to be an Oakland Raider fan. It hasn't been the comedy of errors that we've seen play on in Denver but we're talking about Al Davis here. We're talking about the league's second worst run defense and an owner who has done virtually nothing to address the problem.

After the jump, we take a look at what the Raiders have done this off season to improve their team and then we'll examine how this Week 2 match up in Kansas City may go down.

2008 Season Snapshot

The 2008 Oakland Raiders finished the season ranked 29th in both points and yards gained per game, 32nd in passing yards and 10th in rushing yards per game. Their defense didn't fare much better over the long haul. Oakland finished 2008 24th in points allowed; 27th in yards allowed; 10th in passing yards allowed; and finally 31st in rushing yards allowed.

Where the Raiders excelled was rushing the football. They rushed for more than 150 yards in five contests and went over 100 yards rushing in nine games total last year. The rushing combo of Michael Bush, Darren McFadden and Justin Fargas was a potent one, as the team split carries mainly between those three players and amassed nearly 2,000 yards rushing for the season.

With Jamarcus Russell throwing the football last year, the Raiders were absolutely terrible in the passing game. Russell passed for over 200 yards only three times and passed under 150 yards a game nine times.

Much like the Chiefs did, the Raiders got killed in the running game last year on defense. The Raiders gave up over 2,500 yards rushing on the ground and had a middle of the season stretch where nearly every team destroyed Oakland on the ground.

2009 Off Season Roster Moves

Veteran Signings: QB Jeff Garcia, RB Gary Russell, FB Lorenzo Neal, OT Khalif Barnes, OT Erik Pears, G Marcus Johnson, C Samson Satele, DE Greg Ellis, DT Ryan Boschetti, S Keith Davis.

Draft Picks: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, SS Michael Mitchell, DE Matt Shaughnessy, WR Louis Murphy, OLB Slade Norris, DE Stryker Sulak, TE Brandon Myers.

Offseason Losses: FB Justin Griffith, WR Ronald Curry, WR Drew Carter, WR Ashley Lelie, OT Kwame Harris, C Jake Grove, DE Kalimba Edwards, OLB Robert Thomas, SS Gibril Wilson, S Rashad Baker.

While Al Davis continues this off season to sign guys with serious knee problems, let's go straight to the source of Raiders fandom over at Silver and Black Pride to get their thoughts on the team's first round pick, WR Darrius Heyward-Bey:

40 YARD DASH TIMES ARE NOT EVERYTHING

This is why we will never win until al davis goes away. if you want fast guys there’s plenty of skiny sprinters in the olympics. WE ARE THE WORST RUN ORG IN THE NFL.

Even if he turns out to be descent picking him at 7 is terrible imo. We could have grabbed a 4th rounder and traded down a dozen spots to snag him. Bah being a Raiders fan on draft day is rough.

So, without going into too much more detail, Raiders fans are quite upset with Al Davis not properly addressing the team's needs through the draft. Through the draft, Oakland did bolster what is quickly becoming one of the best secondaries in the NFL. Despite being a reach, second round pick S Michael Mitchell is highly talented. Top corner Nnamdi Asomugha makes #2 CB Chris Johnson's job that much easier as well.

The team did address part of their offensive line needs through free agency by adding OT Khalif Barnes. As you can see though, the Raiders did pretty much nothing to address that terrible defensive line. Al Davis, at it again.

Darren McFadden #20 of the Oakland Raiders carries the ball as Derrick Johnson #56 of the Kansas City Chiefs defends during the first half of the game on September 14, 2008 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Why the Chiefs Will Win

It was clear last season that teams knew what to do against the Raiders - run the football. And with Al Davis doing virtually nothing to fix that problem this off season, the Chiefs' best chance to beat the Raiders in Week 2 is to pound, pound the football. Larry Johnson and Jamaal Charles are going to have to combine for at least thirty rushing attempts this game to ensure a Chiefs win. It would make no sense not to attack the Raiders biggest weak point.

Couple that terrible run defense with what will hopefully be an improved and more efficient passing game with Matt Cassel leading the way and the Chiefs should definitley have the Raiders' number on defense. If the team can't produce yards and points against this Raider defense in Week 2, it's going to feel a lot like last season's Week 2 loss in Oakland - demoralizing, depressing and a sad indication of things to come in KC.

The lack of a decent Oakland passing attack will also help the Chiefs win this game. Jamarcus Russell still hasn't impressed really anyone and the addition of WR Darrius Heyward-Bey hasn't exactly put the Raiders over the top in the receiving talent category. If you take a look at the Raiders roster, tell me who exactly besides Heyward-Bey is Russell going to throw to? Javon Walker? TE Zach Miller should see an increase in his production this year. He may end up being Oakland's most reliable target.

Why the Raiders Will Win

By far the biggest reason the Oakland Raiders were able to win one of their two games against the Chiefs last year was their ability to run the football. The Raiders may have been 31st in the NFL in rushing yards allowed but the Chiefs were 30th (and not far behind Oakland's average). The Raiders will be looking to do what the Chiefs will be looking to do against them - run the football all day long.

Quarterback Tyler Thigpen #4 of the Kansas City Chiefs is sacked by Derrick Burgess #56 of the Oakland Raiders during the first half of the game on Saptember 14, 2008 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

I'll admit it. A new defensive scheme with hopeful but unproven younger guys makes me scared against Darren McFadden, Michael Bush and Justin Fargas. Those three destroyed the Chiefs last year in Week 2 and there really isn't a whole lot, besides the addition of Tyson Jackson, that makes me think the Chiefs will have solved their rushing problems by Week 2.

Also, I know I'm not in the minority when I emphasize how much different this offense is going to look without Tony Gonzalez. I really have no idea what to expect without TG lining up for the Chiefs. I suspect that the loss of TG is going to hurt much more than any of us really want to admit right now. We'll be finding out very early in the season, and especially during Week 2, just how well the Chiefs are going to function without the Hall of Fame tight end.

Finally, the Raiders have a big edge on special teams. Sebastian Janikowski will continue to be a top notch kicker, even if the last few seasons haven't reflected that. Shane Lechler is the NFL's best punter. Plus, Oakland has two great return men in Justin Miller and Johnnie Lee Higgins. Miller returned two kickoffs for TDs last year and Higgins took three punt returns all the way back for scores. One big return by either one of those guys, resulting in a field goal or a touchdown, could be the difference in what I predict is going to be a close game.

My Prediction

I hate admitting this but the Chiefs and Raiders are pretty close in talent level right now. Things could easily change if say our rush defense gels quickly in 2009 but for right now, these two teams are pretty even.

I don't believe that either one of these team's defenses are going to be markedly improved by Week 2. With that said, I'm not predicting a shootout either. Both secondaries could be considered team strengths, which will limit both team's relatively weak passing games. I predict a sloppy game that is decided by one or two defensive breakdowns that result in points for the opposing offense. Looking at last year's Chiefs/Raiders point totals, I predict a 20 to 17 Chiefs win. The Arrowhead Advantage pulls the Chiefs through in a close divisional game.

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Previewing Week 1: Baltimore Ravens

The Bears Den - Cutler, Idonije & St. Clair

Adam T — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 12:57:12 -0000

There are still some spaces left for the WCG Mock Draft, get your spot now!

In the Den

Not content to talk about Jay Cutler or Anquan Boldin like everybody else, Mr. Negativity is now going after the offensive line. Come on! We beat that one to death a month ago.

Getting back to Cutler, Broncos owner has said publicly that he is disappointed that they may lose their QB.

Cutler has formally asked to be traded.

David Haugh runs down the importance of the mini camp. He expects the
new assistant coaches to shine. Need a translation? 2009 season is
over before it starts.

Somebody has decided that if Cutler was to get his wish to be traded it would be to either Tennessee or Chicago thus ensuring that until Cutler gets into camp we will not hear the end of it for another 2 months.

Nick Roach will be back in a Bears uniform.

Looks like Idonije is moving back to the outside.

John St. Clair is visiting Cleveland today.

In the Vicinity of the Den

Not much today, but this should do...

2008 Maxim Hometown Hottie, April Rose is a Bears fan.

Nowhere Near the Den

Donte Stallworth is expected to be charged.

Khalif Barnes has signed with the Oakland Raiders.

Free Agency Update - Offensive Line

Adam T — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 21:52:05 -0000

The St. Louis Rams have released 9-time Pro Bowl tackle, Orlando Pace. The Bears may have need for blind side help depending on the development of Chris Williams, but it should not be expected the Bears have interest.

Brad Biggs believes that there will be some resolution with John St. Clair and the Bears by the end of the week. He believes it makes too much sense for both parties for this deal not to go through.

The Vikings' Marcus Johnson, who can play both right tackle and right guard is still looking for a new team. He is scheduled to visit the Tennessee Titans.

Despite reports stating otherwise, the agent for Khalif Barnes says his client will not sign with the Oakland Raiders.

Catching up with the Chiefs in Free Agency

Joel Thorman — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:59:57 -0000

Will the Chiefs make a run at Igor Olshansky?

via www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com

Here's a quick update on the free agents at positions of need for the Chiefs.

Defense

Chris Canty (DE - 6'7", 286 lbs - 26 years old) - Originally scheduled to visit with the Redskins but was later canceled because the Redskins were "running out of money" according to Executive VP of Football Operations Vinny Cerrato. Is still in New York following a visit with the Giants even though they recently signed defensive lineman Rocky Bernard from the Seahawks. Although no deal is imminent, Canty's agent said talks are continuing and the Giants do want to sign him. He's supposedly seeking $18 million guaranteed and $8 million per year. **SI.com says it's either the Giants or the Packers. ***Signs 6 year, $42 million deal with $17.5 million guaranteed with the New York Giants.
Antonio Smith (DE - 6'3", 274 lbs - 27 years old ) - Signed 5 year deal with the Texans.
Bart Scott (LB - 6'2", 235 lbs - 27 years old) - Signed 6 year, $48 million deal with the Jets.
Ray Lewis (LB - 6'1", 245 lbs - 33 years old) - Apparently the Cowboys aren't after him anymore. The Ravens are still trying to sign him after he reportedly turned down a 3 year, $24 million offer before free agency started. **The offer apparently remains on the table. It appears more and more likely he'll stay in Baltimore.
Angelo Crowell (LB - 6'1", 243 lbs - 27 years old) - The Redskins were interested in him but not after their spending spree. No visits scheduled.
Rosevelt Colvin (LB - 6'3", 250 lbs - 31 years old) - No sniffs from anyone after the Pats released him. He knows the 3-4 defense and represents a need but he's missed 17 games in two years.
Igor Olshansky (DE - 6'6", 309 lbs - 26 years old) - Haven't heard a word about him. No visits reported.

Offense

Laveranues Coles (WR - 5'11", 193 lbs - 31 years old) - Whittled his choices down to the Buffalo Bills or the Miami Dolphins and the New York Daily News speculates the smart money is on the Dolphins. Who doesn't want to sign in Miami this year it seems? **Dolphins aren't likely to pursue Coles.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh (WR - 6'1", 197 lbs - 31 years old) - After a visit with the Seahawks and the Vikings, he is still in Minnesota. It's believed that they're talking money at this point. However, ESPN's Michael Smith reports that he will also make visits to the Bucs (who just re-signed WR Michael Clayton) and the Eagles.
Stacy Andrews (RT/RG - 6'7", 342 lbs - 28 years old) - Signed 6 year deal with the Eagles.
Jeff Saturday (C - 6'2", 292 lbs - 33 years old) - Signed 3 year deal with the Colts.
Khalif Barnes (LT - 6'6", 305 lbs - 26 years old) - The Raiders have "toyed" with the idea of taking a harder look at him. Meanwhile, Barnes canceled a visit with the Saints after they resigned Jon Stinchcomb.

Chiefs Unrestricted Free Agents

Jason Babin, Oliver Celestin, Jon McGraw, Adrian Jones, Rocky Boiman and Pat Thomas - Haven't heard a peep about any of these guys.

Chiefs Restricted Free Agents

Jarrad Page, Jeff Webb and Rudy Niswanger - They were all tendered so I don't expect any team to be willing to part ways with the compensation packages assigned to each of them.

With the exception of a couple of names, these players are beginning to represent the second wave of free agency. The signing bonuses are dwindling so the Chiefs should take a hard look at a few of these value players.

As always, post any updates to free agency signings in the comments or the FanShots (Free agency is an important time to install the FanShot bookmark so you can post to AP from any webpage).

Any other possible free agent signings out there?