SB Nation - Donovan Raiola

Bears Sign 7 to Practice Squad

Adam T — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 15:02:29 -0000

The Bears have begun to fill out their practice squad.

Those signed are Brett Basanez, Johan Asiata, Ervin Baldwin, Joe Clermond, Donovan Raiola, Will Ta'ufo'ou and Woodny Turenne.

One spot still remains, and the Bears could add tackle Cody Balogh or look for a running back to provide more depth. Another likely candidate is rookie linebacker Marcus Freeman, a fifth-round pick out of Ohio State.

Sunday NewsLinks

Dane Noble — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:29:35 -0000

The site numbers suggest a lot of you are poking around today, so I thought I'd bring you a little bit of fresh news links to discuss.

The Bears have signed seven players on the Practice Squad-

The group includes quarterback Brett Basanez, defensive end Ervin Baldwin, defensive end Joe Clermond, guard Johan Asiata, fullback Will Ta’ufo’ou, cornerback Woodny Turenne and center Donovan Raiola.

Garrett Wolfe expects to contribute significantly this year.

"A lot of people forget the fastest way to the end zone is straight up the field," Wolfe said. "People make a big deal about running to the perimeter. It's always good to stretch the defense, but no matter which way you go, those same 11 defensive guys are going to be there."

And, if any of you are interested in tedious slideshows, here is one called "Meet your 2009 Chicago Bears".

Bears Make 53

Dane Noble — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:20:43 -0000

A few surprises, but not too many. Today, the Bears whittled their roster down to the league mandated 53 players by terminating 3 contracts, waiving 16 players, and placing 3 on Injured Reserve.

Players who were waived included guard Johan Asiata, defensive ends Ervin Baldwin and Joe Clermond, offensive tackle Cody Balogh, quarterback Brett Basanez, cornerbacks Rudy Burgess, Marcus Hamilton and Woodny Turenne, fullbacks Jason Davis and Will Ta’ufo’ou, linebackers Marcus Freeman, Kevin Malast and Mike Rivera, receiver Eric Peterman, and center Donovan Raiola.

The Bears can establish an eight-man practice squad on Sunday and also can claim players who’ve been waived by other NFL teams. In past seasons, the Bears have typically stocked their practice squad primarily with players they released a day earlier during final cuts.

Here’s a breakdown of the 53-man roster as it stands now (in alphabetical order):

Quarterbacks (2): Jay Cutler, Caleb Hanie.

Running backs (3): Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson, Garrett Wolfe.

Fullbacks (1): Jason McKie:

Wide receivers (6): Devin Aromashodu, Earl Bennett, Rashied Davis, Devin Hester, Juaquin Iglesias, Johnny Knox.

Tight ends (4): Desmond Clark, Kellen Davis, Michael Gaines, Greg Olsen.

Offensive linemen (8): Josh Beekman, Roberto Garza, Olin Kreutz, Lance Louis, Frank Omiyale, Orlando

Pace, Kevin Shaffer, Chris Williams.

Defensive linemen (9): Anthony Adams, Mark Anderson, Alex Brown, Jarron Gilbert, Tommie Harris, Marcus Harrison, Israel Idonije, Adewale Ogunleye, Matt Toeaina.

Linebackers (6): Lance Briggs, Hunter Hillenmeyer, Nick Roach, Pisa Tinoisamoa, Brian Urlacher, Jamar Williams.

Cornerbacks (6): Zackary Bowman, Corey Graham, Trumaine McBride, D.J. Moore, Charles Tillman, Nate Vasher.

Safeties (5): Al Afalava, Josh Bullocks, Danieal Manning, Kevin Payne, Craig Steltz.

Specialists (3): Robbie Gould, Patrick Mannelly, Brad Maynard.

Arizona Cardinals Training Camp Coverage: Melvin Fowler Signed and Justin Green to IR

Hawkwind — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:41:44 -0000

The Arizona Cardinals made a habit of making small roster moves over the off season in order to tweak the depth chart and infuse some competition at certain positions (namely tight end). They continued that trend today when they cut Donovan Raiola (currently the third team center) and signed Melvin Fowler. Now chances are you've never heard of Fowler but he's not just another spare part, in fact he's now one of the most experienced played on the Cardinals offensive line. Fowler is a 30 year center who started five games for the Bills in 2008 and every game during the previous two seasons. In all he's started 60 NFL games and appeared in 87, although the Bills weren't overly excited about his performance. Fowler may not be a future star in the waiting but he instantly becomes the best backup at center.

The Cardinals also placed fullback Justin Green on Injured Reserve, ending his season. Green was injured his knee very early in camp. The interesting thing is that with the three moves the Cardinals now have an open roster spot and the first official 'cut down' day isn't until September 1st. The Cardinals will certainly make a move at some point and it'll be interesting to see which position gets another warm body.

Arizona Cardinals Pre-Training Camp Roster Projections: Center

Hawkwind — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:55:05 -0000

With the defensive side of the ball wrapped up, we're going offensive and today the centers of the Arizona Cardinals will be under the microscope. Going into last year the Red birds felt like they had a solid veteran starter and the starter of the future in place but things quickly changed. Al Johnson's knee didn't improve after off season knee surgery and the team was forced to remove the "of the future" label from Lyle Sendlein's title. The results were mixed, at best, but quite a bit was asked from Sendlein, a second year player who wasn't even drafted a year before. We learned of a shoulder injury that he sustained early during the 2008 season and hopes are high that he'll improve greatly during his second season in the starting lineup. Ken Whisenhunt proclaimed his trust in Sendlein shortly before April's draft and he backed up his word by not selecting a possible backup candidate until the 254th overall pick. With Sendlein in place as the present and future starter the center position looks solid at the top but who else will win a roster spot?

Locks

Lyle Sendlein

On the Bubble

Ben Claxton, Donovan Raiola

Bubble Poppped

Pat Ross

Our three 'bubble' candidates are basically fighting for one job on the 53 man roster and one might find his way onto the practice squad. This years seventh round pick, Trevor Canfield, could also get into the mix but he's got very little experience at the position given that he played guard in college. It might be a total shock to the see the Cardinals pick up a veteran backup center considering that Ross, Claxton, Railoa and Canfield have a combined two games of NFL experience.

Ben Claxton: Claxton spent most of last season on the Detriot Lions practice squad and was signed to the future's contract a couple of days after the Super Bowl. He (6'2 301) was originally drafted by the Broncos in the 5th round of the 2003 draft but he's since bounced all over the league, including Browns, Dolphins, Bucs, Steelers, Falcons, Raiders, Seahawks and Lions. He's played in just two NFL games back in 2005, with the Falcons. Just about the only bullet point on his pro resume is that he spent two seasons with the Berlin Thunder in 2004 & 2005 (NFL Europe) where he earned All-League honors both seasons. His biggest advantage would be actual game experience, if you count the NFL Europe, but his age (28) has to be a factor as well.

Donovan Raiola: Raiola was signed in March after finishing the season on the practice squad of the Seahawks, although he was also a Ram for part of the season. He was undrafted in 2006 and has never appeared in an NFL game. Railoa (6'2 293) was a three year starter at Wisconsin where scouts described him as nasty, mobile blocker who didn't play with the power that he displayed in the weight room. His biggest advantage would have to be that Ross and Claxton haven't done anything to seperate themselves from the pack.

Pat Ross: Ross would be the front runner to win the backup job considering that he won the job last year...except he isn't on the roster anymore! Doh! The 26 year old has never appeared in an NFL game since being undrafted in 2006 despite spending time with the Colts, Seahawks, Patriots and Panthers. He has decent size (6'3 305) and is considered a smart player but a marginal athlete. Ross' biggest advantage is that's he's the incumbent backup.

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

The Arizona Cardinals' starting center spot is solidified but the battle for backup center could be an interesting competition that comes down to the final week of camp. One of the spots we'll have to keep an eye on during training camp and preseason is which center is running with the second team. Who should make the cut and would you keep another center on the practice squad? Would you be interested in a veteran backup if one is cut during camp?

NFC West Position-by-Position: Centers

Hawkwind — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 01:00:17 -0000

We're still plowing through our weekly installments of position by position breakdowns of the NFC West (check out previous stories here) and today we start looking at the big uglies, specifically the only player who touches the ball more than the quarterback. Yes the big men in the center of every offensive line get little fanfare but today we put them in the spotlight. Lyle Sendlien headlines the center of the Arizona Cardinals offensive line but how does the rest of the division stand and how would the teams rank?

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals opened training camp last year with what most assumed to be a decent veteran starter at center and the 'center of the future' as his primary backup. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, the veteran starting center, Al Johnson, never recovered from off season surgery and was placed on IR in early September. That move pushed young Lyle Sendlein, an undrafted second year player, into the starting lineup and left virtually no one to back him up. Luckily for the Cardinals, Sendlein stayed healthy, at least enough to play, all season long although most would say that his play was average at best. As with most undersized centers, Sendlein excelled at getting to the next level and picking up linebackers but he struggled with facing larger nose tackles either in the running game or passing game. Of course we know now that he played most of the season with a bum shoulder that required surgery in the off season but questions still remained about his future as a starter.

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt gave Sendlein a vote of confidence shortly before the draft, saying that he had the potential to be a great center in the league, and he backed it up by not addressing the position in the draft until late in the seventh round. Sendlein enters this season as the unquestioned starter and with a surgically repaired shoulder and more strength than he's had in years, there are hopes that he'll take the next step in his third season.

The depth behind Sendlein is still shaky, at best. There are three other 'true centers' on the current roster (Ben Claxton, Donovan Raiola and Patt Ross) and their respective careers have consisted of two games during the 2005 season. Trevor Canfield, the 254th overall selection this April is capable of playing guard and he's got a chance to be the primary backup if he performs well in camp. There's a good possibility though that if Sendlein were to go down for any length of time the interior of the line would get shuffled around with right guard, Reggie Wells, sliding over to center and someone stepping into his guard spot. Basically, the Cardinals need to have Sendlein healthy if they want anything close to average performance from the center position. Overall grade: C

San Francisco 49ers - Niners Nation

Center is a tough position to grade when it comes to the 49ers. They've got a very solid guy starting in Eric Heitmann (underrated in the league), but their depth is questionable at best.

Heitmann is still on the right side of 30 and quietly has been a very impressive center for the 49ers. Last season, Mike Martz actually referred to Heitmann as the best center he's ever coached by far. That can certainly be taken with a grain of salt, but it goes to show what some folks think of him. While the team is developing young talent around him, Heitmann has been the anchor of the line. Heitmann had fallen off the radar a bit due to a broken leg late in 2006. He struggled in 2007 while recovering, but seemed to be completely recovered in 2008. While he's not the most athletic of centers, he is able to stand his ground and anchor the line.

Behind Heitmann, question marks abound. Cody Wallace is listed as the backup center but it's hard to tell if he'll amount to anything in the coming years. He's entering his second year in the league and saw no playing time his rookies season so it's hard to tell what he can provide the 49ers. As a 4th round pick, there's just not a whole lot to work with looking ahead. The 49ers signed Heitmann to an extension through 2011 and if he stays healthy, Wallace might never see more than some backup time. This preseason could be big for determining Wallace's future role.

Although not listed as a center on most depth charts at this point, guard Tony Wragge filled in for Heitmann back in late 2006 after Heitmann broke his leg. If Heitmann went down again, Wallace might get a crack at the lineup, but it wouldn't exactly surprise me to see Wragge moved back over to center. Wragge is not great by any means, but he's a serviceable backup.

Given the lack of backup options, I'm probably grading this a little high, but I am really this happy with Eric Heitmann as the 49ers center this year. Grade: B

St. Louis Rams - Turf Show Times

The Rams have struggled to find a center since age caught up to Andy McCollum during the 2006 season, and the team parted ways with the then-37-year-old center after an injury riddled 2007 campaign. Heading into 2008, Mark Setterstrom looked like an odds on favorite for the job, but injuries got to him early in camp. The undersized, overmatched duo of Nick Leckey and Brett Romberg started at center for the Rams last season, making the middle of the offensive line by far the weakest link on an already troubled offense. Half of the numerous sacks endured by Rams passers last year came through the middle, which is to say nothing about how much the run game suffered.

Under new management and coaches, the Rams made a huge splash in the free agent market, signing Ravens C Jason Brown, the most coveted offensive lineman to reach free agency this year, to a lucrative five-year, $37 million deal. Whether or not they paid too much is beside the point. The Rams desperately needed to do something at center or risk losing the investments they've made in Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger. Brown, just 26, will be a cornerstone of an up and coming offensive line that could be the best in the division, if not this year, then very soon. Not bad for a unit that was the team's biggest liability just a few months ago.

Depth is a concern, but the Rams have a good situation in regards to their middle linemen. Should Brown not be available, they can plug in the capable Mark Setterstrom, who they would have killed to have at center last year. They also have the option of sliding RG Richie Incognito over to center and replacing him with either Setterstrom or John Greco (more on those names in the guard write-up) and be just fine in the middle. Grade: A

Seattle Seahawks - Field Gulls

Seattle gets a "B". Chris Spencer is decent to average but has good potential and the team drafted Max Unger, so there's further good potential and exceptional depth.

Seattle selected Chris Spencer with the 26th overall pick in the 2005 draft. He was just the thirteenth center selected in the first round since the merger. Spencer was a great athlete and considered a safe pick. Fans envisioned a future star. Upon further inspection, that was an unreasonable expectation. Of the sixteen centers since 1970 selected in the first round, only three were ever elected to a Pro Bowl and only one was elected to multiple Pro Bowls: Don Mosebar.

Instead, investing in a first round center is investing in a starting center. Only one of the thirteen was a true bust, Robert Shaw, and Shaw blew out his knee and was forced into retirement. That's what Chris Spencer is, a starting center. He started 29 games in 2006 and 2007 after apprenticing under Robbie Tobeck, and was shut down in 2008 only after the season was lost. He's a steady center that shows flashes of great athleticism and physical dominance, but hasn't developed into a consistent or technically sound blocker. His footwork is unrefined, though he's improved enough to not trip over himself. Spencer is derided for a few reasons. Mike Holmgren was critical of his play. He reportedly was slow to pick up line calls. He is wont to the big gaffe. Finally, he's not Robbie Tobeck, and the memory of Tobeck has grown well beyond the man. Spencer is physically gifted. He's a former record setting power-lifter and rare- quick and agile for a center. So there's still chance of breakout in a big way.

Max Unger is not the opposite of Chris Spencer; he's more like the negative. Unger is not nearly as powerful and might struggle against stronger nose tackles. He's not unrefined and full of potential, but skilled and NFL-ready. He's a good athlete, but a better offensive lineman. Unger could overtake Spencer or settle in at guard. He's a natural center and has expressed his desire to play the position.

Between the two, the polished rookie and the veteran full of potential, Seattle should have an above average starting center and the best center depth in the NFL. The grade is tilted towards the starter, but accounting for Spencer's potential, Unger's potential, Spencer's standing level of play, Unger's polish and Seattle's depth at the position, this is a solid B with a chance to be better.

The only real sticking point in the rankings were between second and third so basically it's a clear cut top and bottom with a very close second and third:

St. Louis Rams
San Francisco 49ers
Seattle Seahawks
Arizona Cardinals

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For the record, I think these ranking might look very different next year if Sendlien is healthy and his strength has improved as much as they're implying right now. He might very well be the key to the Cardinals offensive line being borderline average again this season or being well above average. Thoughts? How would you rank the division?

NFC West Position-by-Position: Center

Fooch — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:47:38 -0000

Up to this point we've discussed quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends. For the offensive line, we decided to break it up as centers, tackles and guards. At some point we may put together a single unit grade, but for now we're mixing it up a little more. And I'm not one to complain for additional posting material.

The center position is a tough one to grade for anybody, although I'm quite pleased with Eric Heitmann at the helm. The difficulty is in comparing with the rest of the division. We came up with the following rankings:

1. St. Louis Rams
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. Arizona Cardinals

St. Louis Rams

Blogger: VanRam
The Rams have struggled to find a center since age caught up to Andy McCollum during the 2006 season, and the team parted ways with the then-37-year-old center after an injury riddled 2007 campaign. Heading into 2008, Mark Setterstrom looked like an odds on favorite for the job, but injuries got to him early in camp. The undersized, overmatched dup of Nick Leckey and Brett Romberg started at center for the Rams last season, making the middle of the offensive line by far the weakest link on an already troubled offense. Half of the numerous sacks endured by Rams passers last year came through the middle, which is to say nothing about how much the run game suffered.

Under new management and coaches, the Rams made a huge splash in the free agent market, signing Ravens C Jason Brown, the most coveted offensive lineman to reach free agency this year, to a lucractive five-year, $37 million deal. Whether or not they paid too much is beside the point. The Rams desperately needed to do something at center or risk losing the investments they've made in Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger. Brown, just 26, will be a cornerstone of an up and coming offensive line that could be the best in the division, if not this year, then vey soon. Not bad for a unit that was the team's biggest liability just a few months ago.

Depth is a concern, but the Rams have a good situation in regards to their middle linemen. Should Brown not be available, they can plug in the capable Mark Setterstrom, who they would have killed to have at center last year. They also have the option of sliding RG Richie Incognito over to center and replacing him with either Setterstrom or John Greco (more on those names in the guard write-up) and be just fine in the middle. Grade: A

San Francisco 49ers
Blogger: Fooch
Center is a tough position to grade when it comes to the 49ers. They've got a very solid guy starting in Eric Heitmann (underrated in the league), but their depth is questionable at best.

Heitmann is still on the right side of 30 and quietly has been a very impressive center for the 49ers. Last season, Mike Martz actually referred to Heitmann as the best center he's ever coached by far. That can certainly be taken with a grain of salt, but it goes to show what some folks think of him. While the team is developing young talent around him, Heitmann has been the anchor of the line. Heitmann had fallen off the radar a bit due to a broken leg late in 2006. He struggled in 2007 while recovering, but seemed to be completely recovered in 2008. While he's not the most athletic of centers, he is able to stand his ground and anchor the line.

Behind Heitmann, question marks abound. Cody Wallace is listed as the backup center but it's hard to tell if he'll amount to anything in the coming years. He's entering his second year in the league and saw no playing time his rookies season so it's hard to tell what he can provide the 49ers. As a 4th round pick, there's just not a whole lot to work with looking ahead. The 49ers signed Heitmann to an extension through 2011 and if he stays healthy, Wallace might never see more than some backup time. This preseason could be big for determining Wallace's future role.

Although not listed as a center on most depth charts at this point, guard Tony Wragge filled in for Heitmann back in late 2006 after Heitmann broke his leg. If Heitmann went down again, Wallace might get a crack at the lineup, but it wouldn't exactly surprise me to see Wragge moved back over to center. Wragge is not great by any means, but he's a serviceable backup.

Given the lack of backup options, I'm probably grading this a little high, but I am really this happy with Eric Heitmann as the 49ers center this year. Grade: B

Seattle Seahawks
Blogger: John Morgan
Seattle selected Chris Spencer with the 26th overall pick in the 2005 draft. He was just the thirteenth center selected in the first round since the merger. Spencer was a great athlete and considered a safe pick. Fans envisioned a future star. Upon further inspection, that was an unreasonable expectation. Of the sixteen centers since 1970 selected in the first round, only three were ever elected to a Pro Bowl and only one was elected to multiple Pro Bowls: Don Mosebar.

Instead, investing in a first round center is investing in a starting center. Only one of the thirteen was a true bust, Robert Shaw, and Shaw blew out his knee and was forced into retirement. That’s what Chris Spencer is, a starting center. He started 29 games in 2006 and 2007 after apprenticing under Robbie Tobeck, and was shut down in 2008 only after the season was lost. He’s a steady center that shows flashes of great athleticism and physical dominance, but hasn’t developed into a consistent or technically sound blocker. His footwork is unrefined, though he’s improved enough to not trip over himself. Spencer is derided for a few reasons. Mike Holmgren was critical of his play. He reportedly was slow to pick up line calls. He is wont to the big gaffe. Finally, he’s not Robbie Tobeck, and the memory of Tobeck has grown well beyond the man. Spencer is physically gifted. He’s a former record setting power-lifter and rare- quick and agile for a center. So there’s still chance of breakout in a big way.

Max Unger is not the opposite of Chris Spencer; he’s more like the negative. Unger is not nearly as powerful and might struggle against stronger nose tackles. He’s not unrefined and full of potential, but skilled and NFL-ready. He’s a good athlete, but a better offensive lineman. Unger could overtake Spencer or settle in at guard. He’s a natural center and has expressed his desire to play the position.

Between the two, the polished rookie and the veteran full of potential, Seattle should have an above average starting center and the best center depth in the NFL. The grade is tilted towards the starter, but accounting for Spencer’s potential, Unger’s potential, Spencer’s standing level of play, Unger's polish and Seattle’s depth at the position, this is a solid B with a chance to be better.

Arizona Cardinals
Blogger: cgolden
The Cardinals opened training camp last year with what most assumed to be a decent veteran starter at center and the 'center of the future' as his primary backup. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, the veteran starting center, Al Johnson, never recovered from off season surgery and was placed on IR in early September. That move pushed young Lyle Sendlein, an undrafted second year player, into the starting lineup and left virtually no one to back him up. Luckily for the Cardinals, Sendlein stayed healthy, at least enough to play, all season long although most would say that his play was average at best. As with most undersized centers, Sendlein excelled at getting to the next level and picking up linebackers but he struggled with facing larger nose tackles either in the running game or passing game. Of course we know now that he played most of the season with a bum shoulder that required surgery in the off season but questions still remained about his future as a starter.

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt gave Sendlein a vote of confidence shortly before the draft, saying that he had the potential to be a great center in the league, and he backed it up by not addressing the position in the draft until late in the seventh round. Sendlein enters this season as the unquestioned starter and with a surgically repaired shoulder and more strength than he's had in years, there are hopes that he'll take the next step in his third season.

The depth behind Sendlein is still shaky, at best. There are three other 'true centers' on the current roster (Ben Claxton, Donovan Raiola and Patt Ross) and their respective careers have consisted of two games during the 2005 season. Trevor Canfield, the 254th overall selection this April is capable of playing guard and he's got a chance to be the primary backup if he performs well in camp. There's a good possibility though that if Sendlein were to go down for any length of time the interior of the line would get shuffled around with right guard, Reggie Wells, sliding over to center and someone stepping into his guard spot. Basically, the Cardinals need to have Sendlein healthy if they want anything close to average performance from the center position. Overall grade: C

Poll

Who has the best starting center in the NFC West?

St. Louis Rams

84 votes

San Francisco 49ers

350 votes

Seattle Seahawks

15 votes

Arizona Cardinals

11 votes

460 votes | Poll has closed

NFC West Roundtable: Center

John Morgan — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:19:00 -0000

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

Steve Vallos and John Owens are merely exchanging long protein strings.

Browse more photos »

Turf Show Times
Blogger: VanRam

The Rams have struggled to find a center since age caught up to Andy McCollum during the 2006 season, and the team parted ways with the then-37-year-old center after an injury riddled 2007 campaign. Heading into 2008, Mark Setterstrom looked like an odds on favorite for the job, but injuries got to him early in camp. The undersized, overmatched duo of Nick Leckey and Brett Romberg started at center for the Rams last season, making the middle of the offensive line by far the weakest link on an already troubled offense. Half of the numerous sacks endured by Rams passers last year came through the middle, which is to say nothing about how much the run game suffered.

Under new management and coaches, the Rams made a huge splash in the free agent market, signing Ravens C Jason Brown, the most coveted offensive lineman to reach free agency this year, to a lucrative five-year, $37 million deal. Whether or not they paid too much is beside the point. The Rams desperately needed to do something at center or risk losing the investments they've made in Steven Jackson and Marc Bulger. Brown, just 26, will be a cornerstone of an up and coming offensive line that could be the best in the division, if not this year, then very soon. Not bad for a unit that was the team's biggest liability just a few months ago.

Depth is a concern, but the Rams have a good situation in regards to their middle linemen. Should Brown not be available, they can plug in the capable Mark Setterstrom, who they would have killed to have at center last year. They also have the option of sliding RG Richie Incognito over to center and replacing him with either Setterstrom or John Greco (more on those names in the guard write-up) and be just fine in the middle. Grade: A

San Francisco 49ers
Blogger: Fooch

Center is a tough position to grade when it comes to the 49ers. They've got a very solid guy starting in Eric Heitmann (underrated in the league), but their depth is questionable at best.

Given the lack of backup options, I'm probably grading this a little high, but I am really this happy with Eric Heitmann as the 49ers center this year. Grade: B

Seattle Seahawks
Blogger: John Morgan

Seattle selected Chris Spencer with the 26th overall pick in the 2005 draft. He was just the thirteenth center selected in the first round since the merger. Spencer was a great athlete and considered a safe pick. Fans envisioned a future star. Upon further inspection, that was an unreasonable expectation. Of the sixteen centers since 1970 selected in the first round, only three were ever elected to a Pro Bowl and only one was elected to multiple Pro Bowls: Don Mosebar.

Instead, investing in a first round center is investing in a starting center. Only one of the thirteen was a true bust, Robert Shaw, and Shaw blew out his knee and was forced into retirement. That’s what Chris Spencer is, a starting center. He started 29 games in 2006 and 2007 after apprenticing under Robbie Tobeck, and was shut down in 2008 only after the season was lost. He’s a steady center that shows flashes of great athleticism and physical dominance, but hasn’t developed into a consistent or technically sound blocker. His footwork is unrefined, though he’s improved enough to not trip over himself. Spencer is derided for a few reasons. Mike Holmgren was critical of his play. He reportedly was slow to pick up line calls. He is wont to the big gaffe. Finally, he’s not Robbie Tobeck, and the memory of Tobeck has grown well beyond the man. Spencer is physically gifted. He’s a former record setting power-lifter and rare- quick and agile for a center. So there’s still chance of breakout in a big way.

Max Unger is not the opposite of Chris Spencer; he’s more like the negative. Unger is not nearly as powerful and might struggle against stronger nose tackles. He’s not unrefined and full of potential, but skilled and NFL-ready. He’s a good athlete, but a better offensive lineman. Unger could overtake Spencer or settle in at guard. He’s a natural center and has expressed his desire to play the position.

Between the two, the polished rookie and the veteran full of potential, Seattle should have an above average starting center and the best center depth in the NFL. The grade is tilted towards the starter, but accounting for Spencer’s potential, Unger’s potential, Spencer’s standing level of play, Unger's polish and Seattle’s depth at the position, this is a solid B with a chance to be better.

Arizona Cardinals
Blogger: cgolden

The Cardinals opened training camp last year with what most assumed to be a decent veteran starter at center and the 'center of the future' as his primary backup. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, the veteran starting center, Al Johnson, never recovered from off season surgery and was placed on IR in early September. That move pushed young Lyle Sendlein, an undrafted second year player, into the starting lineup and left virtually no one to back him up. Luckily for the Cardinals, Sendlein stayed healthy, at least enough to play, all season long although most would say that his play was average at best. As with most undersized centers, Sendlein excelled at getting to the next level and picking up linebackers but he struggled with facing larger nose tackles either in the running game or passing game. Of course we know now that he played most of the season with a bum shoulder that required surgery in the off season but questions still remained about his future as a starter.

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt gave Sendlein a vote of confidence shortly before the draft, saying that he had the potential to be a great center in the league, and he backed it up by not addressing the position in the draft until late in the seventh round. Sendlein enters this season as the unquestioned starter and with a surgically repaired shoulder and more strength than he's had in years, there are hopes that he'll take the next step in his third season.

The depth behind Sendlein is still shaky, at best. There are three other 'true centers' on the current roster (Ben Claxton, Donovan Raiola and Patt Ross) and their respective careers have consisted of two games during the 2005 season. Trevor Canfield, the 254th overall selection this April is capable of playing guard and he's got a chance to be the primary backup if he performs well in camp. There's a good possibility though that if Sendlein were to go down for any length of time the interior of the line would get shuffled around with right guard, Reggie Wells, sliding over to center and someone stepping into his guard spot. Basically, the Cardinals need to have Sendlein healthy if they want anything close to average performance from the center position. Overall grade: C

Arizona Cardinals News: Looking Ahead to the 2010 Off Season (Part II)

Hawkwind — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 15:12:05 -0000

More photos » by Matt York - AP

6 months ago: Arizona Cardinals' Leonard Pope, left, and Alex Shor, right, run blocking drills during the Cardinals mini-camp Monday, June 1, 2009 at the Cardinals' training facility in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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We took a look at the defensive free agents for the Arizona Cardinals last week and today we bring you the 2010 offensive free agents. The list is headlined by starting left tackle, Mike Gandy but is also includes some other important starters, as well as numerous guys who provide quality depth.

As we said last week, we should also mention that some of the younger guys will be effected by the status of the CBA next summer. One of the stipulations of the uncapped year will be a change in unrestricted status: currently players can be unrestricted free agents after their fouth season; next year players cannot achieve that unless they've accrued six years. For guys like Gabe Watson, Leonard Pope and Duece Lutui, that could be the difference between free agent freedom or another year under the control of the Cardinals. With that being said, lets take a look at the possible free agents on the offensive side of the ball for next summer......

Mike Gandy: I think the Cardinals got much more out of Gandy than they ever expected when they signed him three years ago. He was primarily a guard who had some experience playing tackle but the Cardinals needed a left tackle. In the past two seasons he's stepped in and performed admirably, outside of the Super Bowl, while facing the best pass rushers that the league had to offer. Gandy will be 31 years old next summer and if Whiz learned anything from his days in Pittsburgh, we will probably be watching the last season of Gandy in a Cardinals uniform this fall.

Brian St. Pierre: I imagine that St. Pierre signed a one year deal this off season with one thought in mind: second string QB or bust. He's been buried on a depth chart for his entire career and has never really put up a fight for a backup job but he's looking to change that during training camp. According to multiple reports, St. Pierre re-signed with the Cardinals under the stipulation that he'd be given an honest chance at winning the backup job from Matt Leinart. I'm sure his interest in returning to the Cardinals next summer will depend a great deal on how that battle turns out.
Sean Morey: Morey made one of the most memorable plays in Cardinals' history when he blocked a punt in overtime win a game over the hated Cowboys. That play and his stellar work throughout the rest of the season earned him his first Pro Bowl nod. Morey's the definition of a 'Whisenhunt guy' but his age (will turn 34 next February) and a solid group of young special team standouts, will likely keep the Cardinals from retaining him.
Anthony Becht: Becht was signed this summer in an effort to find a tight end who could stay healthy and somewhat productive this season. He's huge tight end (6'5 280) who basically serves as a third offensive tackle, but if he can stay healthy he could establish himself as the team's best tight end. His age (soon to be 32), might ensure that his one year deal is the only year that he wears a Cardinals' uniform, but at this position you just never konw.
Dan Kreider: Kreider's another former Steeler that Whiz brought in and he should serve as the traditional, bull-dozing full back this season. If he can stay healthy, he should be as productive as Terrelle Smith was last season, but he's probably a one year stop-gap considering that he'll turn 33 next March.
Jerheme Urban: Urban had a career year in 2008 and he should be in store for another similar season, if he can hold off Early Doucet for the fourth receiver's job. Urban will likely be looking for more money and a more playing time than the Cardinals are willing to offer, but his chances of re-signing could increase if Boldin is traded next off season. In all likelihood though, Urban will get much better offers on the open market.

Restricted Free Agents and/or Guys who will be Effected by the CBA:

Deuce Lutui: Lutui should be entering his first year as an unrestricted free agent but unless something changes in the next 10 months, he'll fall into the 'restricted' class for another two seasons. He's been a 'hot-button' starter over the past couple of seasons and plenty of fans are still calling for his job and it's likely that he'll have to fight for the job during camp. Given that he's under the control of the team, he'll be back whether or not he's the starter in 2009.
Leonard Pope: Pope went through his season of 'restricted' free agency this off season but unless the CBA changes, he'll be restricted for one more season next summer. Pope's upcoming season is a completely unknown though as reasonable expectations range anywhere from winning the starting job to being cut. He'll likely have to prove that he can stay healthy and reasonably productive this season or the club could let him walk, regardless of his status.
Elton Brown: Brown is pretty much in the same boat as Pope considering that he went through his first year of unrestricted status this off season, but he'll most likely be a restricted free agent next off season. Given his versatility, starting experience and how cheap he'll be, I'd imagine the Cardinals tender him next summer.
Stephen Spach: We all know Spach's story by now and the good news for the Cardinals is that he'll likely be a restricted free agent next off season. Whether or not he ends up laying claim to the starting job, he should be back next season considering it won't take much to bring him back.
Steve Breaston: Breaston might be in store for a new contract next off season but if the Cardinals don't feel like spending big money, they won't necessarily need to either. Breaston will be restricted, so he'll be cheap, but either way he'll be a Cardinal in 2010.
Ben Patrick: Patrick will be restricted whether the CBA get's extended or not and given his talent level, that's a good thing. Patrick's got starting potential and he'll likely be given the chance to prove it during training camp.

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There are also handful of other youngster who will be either restricted or exclusive rights free agents, including Lyle Sendlein, Tim Castille, Elliot Vallejo, Ben Claxton, Tyler Palko, Donovan Raiola, Lance Long and Alex Shor among others, but the club won't have a problem retaining any of them, if they so choose. Overall Gandy looks like the biggest name on the list and it'll be interesting how his spot is filled if they choose to let him walk. Who would you keep and what are your predictions?

Herman Johnson and His Future with the Arizona Cardinals

Hawkwind — Fri, 22 May 2009 18:07:33 -0000

The Arizona Cardinals have struggled mightily to move the ball on the ground for several years and as you might expect, it's not the fault of any single player or position group. The running backs certainly haven't ripped up the combination but the offensive line hasn't exactly set the world afire either. Since Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm came to Arizona, they've made a conscious effort to rebuild the offensive line. In two years (three drafts) they've drafted four lineman, signed two free agents and that's not even counting all of the undrafted free agents brought in (which includes starting center Lyle Sendlien). The newest addition to a crowded position group needs all the room that they can give him. In the fifth round the Cardinals called the name of Herman Johnson, a massive lineman (6'7 364) from LSU who figures to have the size and strength to help any running game. The Cardinals 'starting five' appears to be set, but what can we expect from Johnson in 2009 and beyond?

It's incredibly early in Johnson's career but the Cardinals have already made a surprising move in initially lining him up at right tackle, even though most scouts thought he was much better suited as a guard. Big Herm did play both guard and tackle while at LSU, but most of his experience came at left guard. The Cardinals coaching staff isn't making any definitive statements about his eventual home but simply said that he'll work at tackle and guard throughout training camp. Wherever he ends up playing though, he'll certainly be a physical presense.

What we can expect in 2009: Johnson's role in 2009 will depend greatly on the health and performance of the starting five. If Gandy, Wells, Sendlein, Lutui and Brown stay healthy for the entire season, Johnson's contributions will be severely limited and given the experienced depth around him (Vallejo, Keith and Brown), Johnson might not even be active on game days. Unless the line gets ravaged by injuries, Johnson's 2009 could be very much like Brandon Keith's 2008.

What we can expect in the future: Depsite his fifth round status, Johnson could realistically push for playing time in 2010, whether it be at guard or tackle. Mike Gandy, Deuce Lutui and Elton Brown will all be unrestricted free agents next off season and Lyle Sendlein, Elliot Vallejo, Ben Claxton and Donovan Raiola will all be restricted free agents, so the opportunity will be there to make an impression. It'll be up to Johnson to prove to can maintain his weight and learn as much as he can this season.

In order to get a better picture of the man that they call "House," we contacted the Richard Pittman from And The Valley Shook (SBNation's LSU blog) with questions about Johnson's strengths, weaknesses and future in the NFL:

Herman Johnson was a good player for LSU, but weight is not his only issue. He does not have great feet, though it is possible that if he kept his weight under control his feet would improve. I don't know much about the Cardinals or how they play, but I think his strength would be a big asset if he's put in a position where he does not have to do a lot of zone blocking. He's pretty good at point-of-attack run blocking, because he's so much bigger and stronger than anyone you usually see at the guard position.

One of the reasons he slipped is because NFL teams are wary of putting someone so big on the interior of the line. I guess his size could disrupt passing lanes. We never seemed to have any trouble with that, as we had effective passing games every year he was with us except for his senior year, which was certainly not his fault.

Mainly, I think what Herman Johnson needs to do is keep up his desire. He's a guy who if he's not motivated could get really out of shape. He showed up out of shape at LSU this year, which I actually think was a problem for many players on the team, as we had won the national championship the year before, and I think players thought it would be easy for us to keep winning. If he stays motivated and is put in the right position, I think he can be a fifth round steal. He's got the potential to be solid starter for a long time. I don't know if he's going to any pro bowls or anything, but I think he can be solid for you. Even if he doesn't develop as I would hope, I think his versatility would make him a valuable backup. I know enough to know that NFL teams only carry 7 or so offensive linemen, so their backups need to be able to play multiple positions. He's best-suited to guard, but he has played tackle. I doubt he can ever be quick enough to be a starting-caliber player at tackle, but he will be a nice emergency backup.

I was surprised that he lasted to the 5th, as I was surprised about all of LSU's players outside of Tyson Jackson and Curtis Taylor (surprised TJ went so high and surprised CT went at all) and how low they went. The day Curtis Taylor is a better football player than Darry Beckwith is a day I think black is white and dogs and cats live together in harmony.

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Herman Johnson is certainly an intriguing prospect and we'll see if he can live up to the fifth round stature that Breaston and Hightower have established. What do you guys think about Johnson's future? Where will he end up playing?