SB Nation - Jon Alston

Jets Flight Connections 03-13-10

dvdvil — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 17:28:41 -0000

NFL FanHouse outlines Gang Green's itinerary yesterday for RB LaDainian Tomlinson.

GM Mike Tannenbaum said that "everything needs to line up" in order to sign Tomlinson.

LaDainian spent extra time with the team because he arrived late.

Jets Confidential says the Jets have the edge in signing Tomliinson.

Vikings HC Brad Childress thinks he is only keeping his word by visiting New York.

But Dave Hutchinson says the Jets are close to signing him.

Rich Cimini says the Jets really want him.

Dan Graziano says it was a good idea to meet with LaDainian.

Sports Illustrated weighs the options for Tomlinson.

More connections after the jump.

TurnOnTheJets.com thinks about LaDainian and FS Brodney Pool.

TheJetsBlog.com has the scouting report on Pool.

NewYorkJets.com assesses the depth charts at the secondary.

CBS Sports thinks the Jets need to find a wideout and a running back.

WR David Clowney and LB Vernon Gholston talk about new Jets CB Antonio Cromartie.

Tanny talks about Cro, RB Thomas Jones, FS Kerry Rhodes, QB Mark Sanchez and RB Leon Washington.

SNY.tv wonders whether the Final Eight rules are hurting the Jets.

CB Donald Strickland signs on with San Diego.

LB Jon Alston goes with Tampa Bay.

LB Jason Trusnik stays in Cleveland.

OL Will Montgomery will stay in Washington.

In addition to his knee injury, WR Wes Welker had a torn rotator cuff.

NFL.com wants to know which drafted player gave the most value to his team.

Mike Freeman says "Wonderlic my butt."

Hollywood on NFL Network:

I will definitely miss TJ:

Heck, I already miss him:

TJ a few years ago:

TJ a few weeks ago:

Jon Alston Signs With Tampa Bay

John B — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:51:47 -0000

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The Jets took a look at former Raiders linebacker Jon Alston earlier in the week, but he signed with the Bucs.

Bucs signed LB Jon Alston, the former Raider.

Not a huge loss. I'm not really sure where Alston would have fit in as a defensive backup. He was probably going to play a special teams role exclusively.

One of the interesting things to watch that nobody will speak of is how the Jets will replace special teamers like Marques Murrell and Wallace Wright.

Horse Tracks - 3/13/10 - Champ collects his bonus

John Bena — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 14:23:50 -0000

Good Morning Broncos Country! One week into the new NFL calendar year - which means several players received a nice check in the mail. For the Broncos, that meant Champ Bailey got a crisp $3 million roster bonus. He wasn't the only one. Running back Knowshon Moreno ($3.775 million), linebacker D.J. Williams ($3 million) and receiver Brandon Stokley ($500,000) were other Broncos players whose bonuses were exercised this week. Mike Klis gave a list of Broncos in the 'Millionaire's Club' and the list was quite shocking to me. The Top-5 Broncos in terms of 2010 salary - Champ($13.5 mil), Knowson Moreno ($8.44 mil), Justin Bannan ($7 mil), Jamal William ($6 mil), D.J. Williams ($6 mil). A 2nd year running back, 2 free agent signees and D.J. Williams round out the Top-5 after Champ. How about the 'lowest' paid millionaires on the Broncos? Here's the list - Brandon Lloyd($1.26 mil), Tony Scheffler($1.18 mil), Russ Hochstein($1.13 mil), Ryan Clady($1.02 mil), Mario Haggan($1 mil). Yes, you read that right, Ryan Clady, perhaps the best LT in football, will make $1.02 million this season. In these economic times it is hard to feel bad for anyone making $1 million, but in the world of the NFL Clady is obviously underpaid. We haven't heard Clady complain, however, haven't heard any threats of holding out of mini-camp, or OTAs. It's refreshing to know some people focus on going about their business - knowing that the reward for that effort will come in time. On to the Tracks!

American Football in London
Both Broncos and 49ers head coaches and players talk about playing at London's Wembley Stadium next season.

Champ Bailey still on top of Broncos' salary pile - The Denver Post
As Champ Bailey's once-record, seven-year contract with the Broncos enters its final months, the left cornerback on Tuesday collected one more $3 million roster bonus. Running back Knowshon Moreno ($3.775 million), linebacker D.J. Williams ($3 million) and receiver Brandon Stokley ($500,000) were other Broncos players whose bonuses were exercised this week.

Champ, Lynch to help Darrent Williams Teen Center | All Things Broncos
Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey and former Broncos safety John Lynch will co-chair a fundraiser for the Darrent Williams Teen Center in September.

Broncos' millionaire club: who makes at least $1 million for Denver | All Things Broncos
With the Broncos giving cornerback Champ Bailey a $3 million signing bonus this week, Mike Klis on Saturday will breakdown the roster by salary. Look for it overnight.

Chiefs sign former Broncos center Wiegmann - The Denver Post
Veteran center Casey Wiegmann is returning to Kansas City.

The disconnect in scouting | National Football Post
NFL scouting is not a perfect science. Tony Mandarich and Ryan Leaf were high first-round draft picks. Defensive tackles John Randle and La’Roi Glover went undrafted. Tom Brady was a sixth-rounder. So why is the scouting system only about 60- to 70-percent accurate? I have some theories.

Behind the times: MLB short-shuttle | National Football Post
With college pro days now taking center stage in the draft process, terms such as "40 times," "straight-line speed" and "workout warriors" are becoming familiar in scouting communities across the country.

The meaning behind the words | National Football Post
Welcome to our third edition of "What They Say, What They Mean." Today, we deal with the comings and goings of the early NFL free agency period:

Could LT's New York visit affect Washington's Jets future? | National Football Post
I am curious about the Jets’ interest in former Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson, because I just don’t see what the plan is by swapping out one RB in his thirties in Thomas Jones — who was very productive as a Jet — for LT.

Bradford bumps back pro day | National Football Post
Quarterback Sam Bradford has pushed back his pro day workout to March 29 due to the annual NFL owners meeting, according to Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network.

Welker also recovering from torn rotator cuff | National Football Post
New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker underwent surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, an offseason procedure that's less serious than the torn anterior cruciate ligament he shredded in the final game of the season.

Cleveland Browns cut Steve Heiden | National Football Post
The Cleveland Browns cut tight end Steve Heiden, a transaction executed after signing tight end Ben Watson to a free agent deal.

Buccaneers land Jon Alston | National Football Post
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed unrestriced free agent linebacker Jon Alston today, a move that follows his recent visit with the New York Jets.

Packers sign Pickett, Collins | National Football Post
They signed defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, the team's franchise player, to a four-year, $28 million deal that includes $10 million in the first year and also agreed to terms on a three-year, $24.3 million deal with safety Nick Collins.

Larry Johnson is a Redskin | National Football Post
The Washington Redskins signed running back Larry Johnson to a three-year deal with a maximum value of $12 million.

Tomlinson leaning toward the Jets? | National Football Post
Veteran running back LaDainian Tomlinson might make his decision tonight, and there are signs pointing toward him potentially signing with the New York Jets.

Big day for Vuna Tuihalamaka | National Football Post
University of Arizona linebacker Vuna Tuihalamaka had a strong Pro Day workout with a 4.61 time in the 40-yard dash.

Adam Terry signs with the Colts | National Football Post
Former Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Adam Terry has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts, a league source confirmed.

Holmgren: Quinn’s future ‘depends’ on Browns’ moves - NFL.com
It appears Brady Quinn is nothing more than the Browns’ last resort at quarterback.

Walker healthy, hungry for another chance after release by Raiders
Multiple injuries and incomparable tragedy have derailed Walker's career since he caught 69 passes for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns with the Denver Broncos in 2006. However, Walker professed Friday on NFL Network that after several surgeries — including an experimental procedure on his right knee — he's 100 percent healthy and ready to play for whatever team is willing to give him a chance.

Roethlisberger's attorney hires private investigator for assistance
An attorney for Ben Roethlisberger has hired a private investigator to look into a 20-year-old Georgia college student's sexual-assault allegation against the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback.

Panthers lack of free-agent aggression makes task ahead tough
With the vast majority of top free agents off the market, the big spending is just about over. Although unsigned players aren't necessarily on the verge of panic, you can rest assured that they're calling their agents about getting a deal done now.

Need for playmakers has receivers going fast this offseason
In the week since teams began their shopping spree for proven talent, one clear trend is that wide receivers are in high demand.

Alston signing should maintain Bucs high standards in Special teams

Niko Houllis — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 13:56:22 -0000

Alston impressed well at the 2006 combine.

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At one point the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the 4th ranked offense in the NFL. Then we blinked.

Reality set in, and a few Quarterbacks later, the Bucs settled back down to their normal spot towards the back of the theater! The unusual part was watching Tampa Bay Defense and Last Place have a synonymous relationship in 2009. Once Jim Bates defensive duties were replaced by Head Coach Raheem Morris, that unit started marching towards their normal front seats they've been comfortable in for several years.

The one thriving unit that most Bucs fans were unaware of, has been Special Teams. Tampa Bay had the best special teams in several categories last year, giving up the least amount of real estate on Punt returns or Kick Off returns, and that usually is a sign of good quality backups on the roster. Players like Maurice Stovall, Will Allen, and Matt McCoy may not have been good enough to crack the teams starting roster, but their contributions are missed when they are injured, not able to play, or in these cases, traded away or released.

While it may seem to be a move to immediatly replace the depth at linebacker, signing former Raider LB Jon Alston gives Special Teams Coach Rich Bisaccia another speedster to replace the loss of McCoy and Will Allen who was signed by the Steelers last week.

Alston is a former Stanford Cardinal who ran a 4.5 second 40 yard dash at the 2006 combine, and was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the 3rd round. As a Cardinal, Alston saved his best for last: accumulating 113 tackles, 16 sacks, 23 tackles for a loss and causing 6 fumbles, all in his last two years in school.

Being only 26, he fits in well with the overall youth movement and will back up Geno Hayes at least initially, with placement in a depth chart likely not to happen until OTAs or camp. During his rise up mock drafts due to his combine performance, several teams expressed an interest in switching him to Safety. Its possible the Bucs were one of those teams and may be considering that move now.

Bucs are still interested in signing Sean Jones of the Eagles to compete at Safety. Jones concluded his visit last Friday, and normally teams that work deals for players are done before they leave a teams complex.

CLAYTON UPDATE: Michael Clayton will be going to the bank again, as he is due a $1,000,000 deferred bonus on March 15th. This is money the team owes their receiver as part of the contract he signed in 2009, but there is no roster bonus or new money that would force the Bucs to make a quick decision on him. With a career low 16 catches for only 230 yards last year, it is increasingly uncertain whether we will see #80 catching footballs for the Bucs after August.

Jets Host Jon Alston (And Other Bits)

David_Wyatt — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:18:07 -0000

More photos » Ben Margot - AP

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Courtesy of Star Ledger:

The Jets brought in Raiders linebacker Jon Alston for a visit on Thursday, The Star-Ledger has learned and the team confirmed.

Alston, a four-year veteran, wasn't tendered by the Raiders, making him an unrestricted free agent who can sign with any NFL team. A former third-round pick out of Stanford by the Rams, he had 23 tackles last season in nine games, four starts, before going on injured reserve following a pair of concussions.

The Jets likely view him as a back-up outside linebacker and special teams performer.

I guess they are trying to give Westhoff some toys after letting Murrell and Wright go. Nothing to get too excited about.

Manish confirmed what we all suspected, Taylor Mays twitter is 100% fake

SI's Jim Trotter says LT has left Vikings, will take visit with the Jets

Abe Elam tweeted about Brodney Pool:

Shoutout to my boy Brodney Pool he in NY visiting the Jets. They holding him hostage til they get contract worked out. If not Tampa Bay ...

2010 NFL Free Agency Preview: Oakland Raiders

Josh Branco — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 20:00:47 -0000

Paul Sakuma - AP

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To the casual observer 2009 was just like any other year. The days came and went, the seasons changed, and the Raiders were still terrible. However, there is hope for the future. While it didn't necessarily show up in their win-loss record, Oakland managed to be pretty competitive this season.

Their biggest move so far this off-season was using their franchise tag on Richard Seymour. He recorded four sacks and a forced fumble in his first year with the team, after the Raiders traded away their first round pick to get him. It would have been a big blow their run defense, which is already ranked near the bottom of the league, if they had lost him to free agency.

Aside from locking up Seymour for another year, most of the headlines regarding Oakland have to do with JaMarcus Russell. While it is believed that he and Bruce Gradkowski will compete for the starting job in 2010, the Raiders would do well to bring in another player to add into the mix. After all of Russell's struggles we will find out just how loyal Al Davis is to him this year. If JaMarcus doesn't improve his work ethic and his production on the field, his days in Oakland could be numbered.

Let's take a look at the Raiders free agents after the jump...

Free Agents

LB Jon Alston (RFA) - Alston got an opportunity to start in 2009 due to Ricky Brown's injury. He is best suited for a special-teams role.

LB Ricky Brown (RFA) - Brown is not expected to be tendered an offer, and should hit the market as an unrestricted free agent. He has the ability to play both strong-side and middle linebacker.

LS Jon Condo (RFA) - Condo served as the Raiders long snapper this season.

FS Hiram Eugene (RFA) - Eugene battled with Michael Huff at free safety. He only managed one interception.

QB Charlie Frye (RFA) - Frye was brought in as the third string quarterback but got some time as a starter at the end of the season due to Bruce Gradkowski's knee injury and JaMarcus Russell's ineffectiveness.

QB Bruce Gradkowski (RFA) - Gradkowski is expected to re-sign with Oakland and compete with JaMarcus Russell for the starting quarterback job. His stats are nothing to write home about, but the Raiders' offense improved with him under center.

LB Thomas Howard (RFA) - Howard has been solid as an outside linebacker for the Raiders, but he has not made many impact plays during his tenure.

FB Luke Lawton (RFA) - Lawton was the starting fullback in Oakland this season. He was suspended four games at the end of the year for violating the league's performance enhancing drugs policy.

C Chris Morris (RFA) - Morris provided depth for the Raiders offensive line.

LB Kirk Morrison (RFA) - Morrison is not a prototypical middle linebacker, but he has performed admirably in that role for Oakland. He compiled 123 tackles in 2009.

CB Stanford Routt (RFA) - Routt challenged for the starting left cornerback job before the season, but was eventually relegated to a backup role for the silver and black.

RB Gary Russell (ERFA) - Russell is a versatile player who spent time at fullback, tailback, and on special teams.

WR Todd Watkins (RFA) - Watkins made 12 appearances in 2009, but only managed to record 8 receptions during those games.

Needs

Nose Tackle - The Raiders' defense struggled mightily against the run this season. Finding a big nose tackle to plug up the running lanes would be a step towards improving that aspect of the team.

Tackle - Mario Henderson is serviceable at left tackle, but he is not among the league's elite at the position. If they can find a more athletic player to take over the left side of the line he could move over to the right side and solidify that position.

Right Guard - Oakland must upgrade at the right guard spot. Cooper Carlisle has proven to be ineffective as a starter, and is better suited to a backup role. Look for the Raiders to target a downhill/run-blocking type of a player for this spot.

Cornerback - While Chris Johnson just signed a contract extension before last season, by some accounts he regressed in 2009. He may be able to bounce back to his 2008 form, but Oakland should still try and add depth at this position. This will become an even bigger need if they lose Stanford Routt to free agency.

Quarterback - JaMarcus Russell has been terrible at the quarterback position and while Gradkowski is a step up, he is still better suited for a backup job. Despite their record, the Raiders were actually fairly competitive in 2009. If they can find a legit starting quarterback, Oakland could see a dramatic improvement in 2010.

Linebacker - The Raiders need to look for depth at the linebacker position to improve their run defense. If Thomas Howard leaves in free agency, they will also need to replace his production at the starting outside linebacker position. They are expected to resign Kirk Morrison so they should be fine at the middle linebacker spot.

Summary

It has been a long time coming, but the Raiders have the makings of a competitive team. Their first order of business should be upgrading their offensive line. While it is true that their quarterback play has been horrible, it is hard for any player to have success when he's constantly running for his life. It is especially important that they find a more effective player to take over for Carlisle at right guard.

Once the line is taken care of, look for Oakland to add another quarterback. Currently they have a stable of backups, but nobody on their depth chart seems capable of being even an average starting quarterback. Whether or not they decide to acquire a quarterback through free agency, the draft, or via a trade, they need to find someone who can make an immediate impact at the position.

On defense, the main concern is improving their ability to stop the run. Upgrades on the interior of their line should help alleviate their struggles. The rest of their defensive needs are mainly depth issues.

Football in the Bay Area has been excruciating to watch over the last decade. While I am no fan of the Raiders, I think it would be great if Oakland could turn their luck around next season. With some smart moves this offseason, perhaps the teams on both sides of the bay can put the area back on top of the football world where it belongs.

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Strengths and Weaknesses: A Look Ahead to 2010

KA1Z3R — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 20:42:37 -0000

Well Raiders fans, 2009 is drawing to a close and what a bizarre season it was.

A dismal start with a great stretch of impressive wins to provide hope for what appeared to be a step back in the rebuilding process for the Raiders. Instead, there were many things that happened that could affect the Raiders future greatly.

So let's delve into what we can look forward to next year in what I think will be a good year for the Raiders.

First off, I think we've found our solution to our long-standing QB troubles. Mr. Bruce "Almighty" Gradkowski.

via cache.daylife.com

With a young and very inconsistent receiving corps around him, Grad was able to make some truly fantastic plays; with either his arm or his feet. Mobile both in and out of the pocket, he's the perfect QB to play behind a struggling O-Line because of how amazing he is at evading pressure. Dare I say it's on par with Roethlisberger, except we actually have a better line.

He brought two things Russell never could and I doubt ever will, leadership and hard work. He led his men on the field, and he led them off the field. He told them where to be, what to do, and what not to do. He commanded respect and he sure got it. I've never heard such high praise from Raiders players about a Raiders QB.

Grad also has one distinct feature to his game that makes this offense work. Great short-to-mid range accuracy. Davis wants to go deep, but when the deep routes aren't open you can trust Bruce to hit a receiver underneath.

But one has to wonder, will Davis make Russell the starter once more? If Cable is fired (which I honestly think he won't be if he beats Cleveland and/or Baltimore), then that answer is yes. If Russell once again is the starter and Grad for some reason does not return next year, then the Raiders will be starting all over again.

If Grad stays and competes for the starting job and earns it (keyword is earns), then the Raiders are on their way.

Now what of the pieces around Gradkowski, the inconsistency at receiver, the misshapen right side of the O-Line, a suddenly mediocre ground attack?

Receiver

While this is definitely our biggest weakness, I hold out a lot of hope for the position. In the final weeks of the year we've seen players like Louis Murphy, Chaz Schillens, and Johnnie Lee Higgins making some good plays. And then there's more youth with Nick Miller and Heyward-Bey.

Bey was needless to say a disappointment this year, but i think that his struggles this year will only inspire him more. Bey has the attitude of a guy who won't take his ineptitude lying down. We often forget that Darrius was regarded as a hard-worker. If Grad stays we can expect him to make sure DHB works his problems out and that they get their timing down.

We can't really add anything to receiver other than maybe a veteran presence. We need to remember that this is an extremely raw unit that needs to develop and I think will develop with a leader at QB.

I think it's no secret though that Murphy and Schilens are well on their way to becoming legitimate threats at receiver. Murphy has really caught on late this year and Schillens is picking up where he left off last year despite missing most of the year due to injury.

As for Higgins, I'm not sure what to make of him. Several injuries have limited his playing time and seem to have thrown him off his game. If he can manage a healthy offseason and be healthy early on next year, I think he could refind his ability and become a good slot option.

There's a lot of what-if's with this group, and their success is directly tied to who will be our QB next year.

Right Side of O-Line

Cornell Green and an aging Cooper Carlisle......not exactly the makings of a sturdy right side of the line. Or a disciplined one as they frequently are called for penalties. No doubt there time is up in Oakland. But who is there to replace them?

While I'm sure many of you would like early draft choices to remedy the O-Line, I think rounding off the defense is a more pressing matter while this inconsistent offense grows. There are though some good free agent possibilities.

But before we get there, why not consider Langston Walker for RG? Filling in for Gallery, he's been great in the run game at LG and isn't horrible in pass protection. And I've heard no complaints about penalties about him. I think Walker could be a good option at RG if we can't get anyone else. At the very least he should be kept for competition/backup.

Now then, as for RT, I'd like to see us bring in Willie Colon as a FA from Pittsburgh. He's been a good pass protector (or as good as one can be in Pittsburgh) and it's conceivable that may not resign him if they're looking for a better run blocker for Mendenhall. Colon isn't great in the running game, but he's not bad either. He's just average. But for pass protection, I think there's few better that we could get. An added bonus, he's not as penalty-prone as Green.

Another option at RG is Logan Mankins from New England who seems to be a popular choice for future RG. I'm not sure how he would fare with the ZBS but he's a great all-around offensive lineman on par with, if not better than, Gallery. And with so many FA in New England, there might not be room for them to resign him. If there's one problem I have with him it's that he probably will not only command a ton of money, but I see him struggling in our scheme.

However we go about it, fixing up the RG and RT positions are key to improving the run game and pass attack.

As for the strange dropoff in the running game, you can blame the misuse of a great back in Michael Bush along with the defense stacking the box and inconsistent run blocking. If the rest of the offense gets built up and Bush is actually used then this ground attack will get back to normal.

Despite all the weaknesses of the offense, comes the shining future of the Raiders. The defense. I bring you an image montage of the greatest moments of the defense of 09.

via imgs.sfgate.com

via media.sacbee.com

via prod.static.raiders.clubs.nfl.com

via s2.hubimg.com

via www.sbreport.net

via cdn.bleacherreport.com

via justblogbaby.com

When this defense really played motivated football, they were a fantastic unit. Creating turnovers, making stops in the redzone, forcing critical field goals, so on and so forth. There are definitely a few pieces missing here and there, but as an overall unit this a good D.

So what's lacking? (other than offense to give these guys a break) Well the team is still getting gouged on big runs up the middle. But you have to expect that when all three of your DT's (Kelly, Warren, and Bryant) are all pass rushers. There's nobody who commands two blockers, nobody who eats up gaps in the like he eats up breakfast, we need a NT desperately.

This is where the draft comes in. Though we're out of position for Suh, I like our chances to land Gerald McCoy or Terrance Cody. Either one is a big guy who not only takes up blockers and closes gaps, but also has some ability to penetrate into the backfield. My preference here is McCoy because he also has good pass rush. Either way I think this is a key weakness that needs to be addressed.

But there also needs to be a certain degree of blame put on the linebackers. While we all clamor for Morrison to start at OLB instead of MLB, I can't see it happening after so many years at MLB. He has actually looked better in the middle the past couple games. The real problem though now is SLB. Whether it be Ricky Brown, Jon Alston, Sam Williams, it doesn't matter. Nobody on roster is competent enough to man the spot.

Options for improvement? Well I have an interesting theory that i think could work. If we were to not draft a DT in the first and instead draft a Brandon Spikes or Rolando McClain, we could do as Cincy did with Maualuga and move them to OLB. Both are great run stoppers and would be a nice fit to play the strongside. If it worked with Maualuga, I could foresee it being a huge success with Spikes or McClain.

And the secondary? Well the long-time weakness of safety appears to be cured. Huff is finally becoming a decent safety, maybe better than decent. His coverage skills are better than ever and he's finally a pretty sure tackler.

Though I wonder if Mitchell might be able to usurp Huff from the starting FS spot if he can put together a full training camp and preseason. Mitchell has shown some promise in his very limited time this year and I wonder how good he could be.

One spot that is locked down though is SS where Branch has shined. Branch is incredibly aggressive in the running game, plays tight coverage, and if he ever slips he can pop the receiver for an incompletion.

The rest of the secondary outside the obvious Nnamdi is sketchy. Chris Johnson is very inconsistent, great one play, horrible the next. And Routt is much the same. The point here is that we either need another corner to move CJ to nickel and Routt to dime, or one to play behind CJ and push Routt to dime.

I'd like to see a good free agent corner like a Marlin Jackson (unlikely but I can dream) or an Anthony Henry come in but this would probably best be solved with a late draft pick where Al can flash his sleeper pick magic.

So after getting this all together here is our strengths and weaknesses, and needs in order of priority:

Strengths:

Running back as long as Bush starts
Tight End
Left Tackle
Left Guard
Defensive End
Weakside Linebacker
Safety

Weaknesses:

QB if Russell stays or Grad goes
Wide Receiver until development kicks in
Right Guard
Right Tackle
Strongside Linebacker

Needs:

Nose Tackle
Strongside Linebacker
Right Tackle
Corner Depth
Right Guard
Linebacker Depth

Overall, if we get about 4 of our 6 needs taken care of, this team could be a 10-6 team (if we keep Grad and Cable) But if you account for injuries and the improvement and decline of other teams I'd say 7-9 is more realistic.

Finally I'd like to say I hope all my fellow Silver and Black Priders had a very Merry Christmas, a happy Hanukah, and a crazy Kwanza.

State of the AFC West Week 9

Sam (sdsuaztec4) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:15:45 -0000

Well well well, here we are after week 9, a week I'd been looking forward to for awhile. I had a crazy day on Sunday which of course had a perfect ending. Last night's game was the proverbial "icing on the cake". The Chargers are now 1 game back at the halfway point of the season with 8 games to go. The Broncos still have the advantage with the 1 game lead and a win over the Chargers as a potential tiebreaker. As far as the schedules, of the 8 games remaining, 3 are easy division games (2 KC 1 OAK), but 4 are against tough teams (SD, NYG, INDY, PHI) and their game this week at Washington. On the other hand, the Chargers get the Browns and Titans, don't have to play Indy, but they only play the Chiefs one more time. As far as momentum, it is clearly on the side of the Chargers who have capped their three game winning streak with an emotional win at the Meadowlands. The Broncos on the other hand are riding a two-game losing streak that included two disappointing second halves. Oakland and KC are still out of the picture.

Jump the break for individual teams.

AFC West Standings

	W	L	PF	PA
Denver	6	2	150	124
San Diego	5	3	206	179
Oakland	2	6	78	201
Kansas City	1	7	126	205

(updated 11.10.2009 at 1:30 AM PST)

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders had a quiet bye week getting healthy and trying not to lose any football games. Running back Darren McFadden, wide receiver Chaz Schilens, left guard Robert Gallery and right tackle Cornell Green returned to practice Monday and are expected to play against the Kansas City Chiefs this week. So that's good news. Although Tom Cable won't be charged criminally, the NFL is evaluating the situation and sending out people to determine if Cable should attend anger management classes. The National League of Women (NOW) and other women's rights groups are calling for Cable's job. The Raiders next division match-up is this week's pillow-fight of the week in Oakland. Let the battle to determine the most dysfunctional team begin, too bad nobody will see it because it will likely be blacked out.

Oakland Raiders Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Cornell Green	calf	11/09/2009
Tony Stewart	chest	11/09/2009
Gerard Warren	toe	11/09/2009
Jon Alston	shoulder	11/09/2009
Ricky Brown	ankle	11/09/2009
Robert Gallery	fibula	11/09/2009
Tommy Kelly	elbow	11/09/2009
Chris Johnson	groin	11/09/2009
Chaz Schilens	foot	11/09/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
John Bowie	knee	09/30/2009
Oren O'Neal	ankle	10/14/2009

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs played a close game against the Jaguars which inevitably ended in another loss. As the Chiefs march toward another top 5 draft pick, the big story is still the rapid fall of Larry Johnson which ended in his release from the Chiefs. Although they will probably end up paying him a lot of money since I doubt anyone will pick him up, this gives Jamaal Charles more opportunity to play and gets rid of a clubhouse cancer. Chris Chambers seem to have rejuvenated their offense, at least for the moment, with two TD passes. The addition seems to have helped the Chiefs and the Chargers at the same time, and Chris will probably be happier too. As already mentioned, the Chiefs next division game is at Oakland which I'm sure will be terribly exciting.

Kansas City Chiefs Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Jon McGraw	thigh	11/09/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Devard Darling	knee	09/01/2009
Jarrad Page	calf	11/04/2009
Jackie Battle	shoulder	10/14/2009
Colin Brown	undisclosed	09/05/2009

Denver Broncos: Will the real Broncos please stand up? Are they the 6-0 team or the 0-2 team? Are they the second-half juggernaut or the second-half duds? Is Kyle Orton the QB who threw one INT in 7 games or 3 INT's in one game? Are they a punishing opponents on the lines or the team that didn't get ONE rushing first-down against the Steelers? The answer is probably somewhere close to the middle. Teams are starting to key on the Broncos weakness and adjusting their game-plans as such. Kyle Orton looks nervous as opposed to the pillar of strength he looked like earlier in the season. Either way, the Broncos are much better than everyone thought but they still aren't an elite team. The Steelers were clearly the superior team last night, even at Mile High. The Broncos have lost some momentum going forward but they are still healthy and still have the advantage over the Chargers. Now is the time for Josh McDaniels to adjust to the adjustments that other teams are making. Going forward, we will see if the Broncos and McDaniels are studs or duds. The game at Washington this weekend may tell us a lot about the Broncos. Their next division match-up looks to be a huge game with playoff implications at Mile High against the Chargers.

Denver Broncos Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Ryan McBean	knee	11/10/2009
Peyton Hillis	other-excused	11/10/2009
David Bruton	groin	11/10/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Nick Greisen	knee	08/05/2009
J'Vonne Parker	knee	08/08/2009

San Diego Super Chargers: The Bolts are flying high after an emotional victory at the Meadowlands and gaining the momentum in the AFC West race if not the advantage. They are finally getting healthy, emotionally and physically, as well and it looks like All-Pro center Nick Hardwick will make his return to Qualcomm Stadium this weekend against the Eagles. The Chargers are still a little banged up at the linebacker position; SP95 was injured in the Giants game and Kevin Burnett and Tim Dobbins are still ailing. It looks like Phillips and Burnett will play this weekend while Dobbins will sit. LB Jyles Tucker is also most likely out this weekend. It looks like the Eagles are having the same problem the Chargers were earlier in the season: inability to keep anyone healthy. If Westbrook is out and the Eagles must depend on the passing game, the Chargers could win big with improved pass rush from Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips. The Chargers are also only 2-2 this season and they need to improve their play at home. The game is already sold out so we know it will be loud this weekend. Our next division match-up is Week 11 at Mile High Stadium.

San Diego Chargers Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Tim Dobbins	knee	11/09/2009
Nick Hardwick	ankle	11/09/2009
Kevin Burnett	ankle	11/09/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Ryon Bingham	arm	09/05/2009
Jamal Williams	triceps	09/19/2009
Antwan Applewhite	hamstring	10/20/2009
Brandon Hughes	knee	09/02/2009

Philadelphia Eagles Injuries

Probable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Max Jean-Gilles	shoulder	11/09/2009

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Victor Abiamiri	knee	11/09/2009
Chris Gocong	other-excused	11/09/2009
Akeem Jordan	knee	11/10/2009
Brian Westbrook	ankle	11/09/2009
Quintin Demps	ankle	11/09/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Shawn Andrews	back	09/15/2009
Stewart Bradley	knee	09/01/2009
Omar Gaither	foot	10/22/2009
Cornelius Ingram	knee	09/01/2009
Fenuki Tupou	chest	09/05/2009

State of the AFC West Week 8

Sam (sdsuaztec4) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:59:14 -0000

Good afternoon BFTBers, it's your old pal 'tec. We have 3 of the 4 AFC West teams in action during week 8, including the one inter-division game between the Raiders and our Chargers. The Chiefs had their bye this week, and the Broncos traveled to the east coast to take on Joe Flacco and the Ravens. Of course, we beat the Raiders 24-16, the Chiefs managed not to lose during their bye, and the Broncos are undefeated no more as the Ravens solved the Broncos enigma with a 30-7 beat-down. Let's take a look at the current standings.

AFC West Standings

	W	L	PF	PA
Denver	6	1	140	96
San Diego	4	3	185	159
Oakland	2	6	78	201
Kansas City	1	6	105	181

(updated 11.3.2009 at 1:44 AM PST)

The Chargers are now 2 games back of the Broncos with 9 game to go. As we know, the remaining schedules for both teams favors the Chargers in terms of difficulty. The Chargers are 3-1 in division games (the one loss vs. Broncos) with 2 division games left (vs. Chiefs and @ Broncos). We travel to New York this week to face the Giants. The Broncos are 2-0 in division games with 4 left (vs. Chargers, @ Chiefs, vs. Chiefs, vs. Oakland). The Broncos stay at home to face the Steelers.

Read the rest after the hop!

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs spent the week on their bye after a beat-down by the hands of the Bolts. Of course, it was a pretty eventful week after all thanks to Larry Johnsongate. This has to be a huge distraction for a team that has already had a tough year. The good thing is that there is nowhere to go but up and perhaps suspending Johnson might bring him to his senses and allow the team to come together. (I doubt it). He will be suspended one week. In former Chargers news, it appears that WR Chris Chambers, cut by the Chargers on Monday, was claimed by the Chiefs today. It looks like Chris will play one more game at Qualcomm Stadium this season. The Chiefs travel to face the Jaguars this week. Their next division game is week 10 at the Raiders.

Kansas City Chiefs Injuries

Probable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Branden Albert	ankle	11/02/2009

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Jon McGraw	undisclosed	11/02/2009
Lance Long	concussion	11/02/2009

Doubtful

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Rudy Niswanger	knee	11/02/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Devard Darling	knee	09/01/2009
Jackie Battle	shoulder	10/14/2009
Colin Brown	undisclosed	09/05/2009

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders are another terrible team with additional off the field issues, with ESPN's OTL reporting Head Coach Tom Cable's past nefarious exploits with his lady friends. It is up to the emperor of the Raiders Al Davis, whether he stays or goes, but the Raiders say they will be investigating the allegations. We will have to wait and see how much longer Cable lasts and continue the coaching carousel by the bay. Meanwhile, the actual football team (and I use the term lightly), is taking their bye this week. It is a good time for the team to rest up, as we saw last week they had major injuries, including Robert Gallery who is a big part of their offensive line. WR Chaz Schilens also remains out. It's not like it matters much, since nobody is watching the games; mostly because the poor attendance at the games are creating local blackouts. The Raiders next division game is week 10 vs. the Chiefs. Look at that injury list! Who do they think they are, the Chargers?

Oakland Raiders Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Cornell Green	calf	11/02/2009
Tony Stewart	chest	11/02/2009
Gerard Warren	toe	11/02/2009
Jon Alston	shoulder	11/02/2009
Ricky Brown	ankle	11/02/2009
Robert Gallery	fibula	11/02/2009
Tommy Kelly	elbow	11/02/2009
Chris Johnson	groin	11/02/2009
Chaz Schilens	foot	11/02/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
John Bowie	knee	09/30/2009
Oren O'Neal	ankle	10/14/2009

Denver Broncos: After a 6-0 start, the Broncos are undefeated no more after a 30-7 road loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The Broncos will face another tough team this week, a MNF meeting with the Steelers at home. The Ravens seemed to solve the mystery of beating the Broncos, so we should look at this game in preparing for our second match-up with the Broncos. The Broncos special teams continued to struggle, allowing another kick-off for a touchdown, but we already knew that was a weakness. The Ravens were able to pressure Kyle Orton early, and apparently that threw him off of his game, which spread to the rest of the team. The Broncos seemed to be off all day, not executing like they had been in the rest of their games. The Broncos crossed over into Baltimore territory only 3 times all game, and got into the red-zone only once. The Denver defense is good, but not that good, and eventually they are going to get scored on. The key seems to be being able to disrupt the offense which starts with pressuring the QB. Orton isn't going to make many mistakes, but he's not a world beater either. With the Broncos D giving up 30 points on Sunday, the Colts take over as the best defense in football. The Broncos next division game is week 11 at home vs. the Chargers. The Broncos remain ridiculously healthy.

Denver Broncos Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Renaldo Hill	leg	11/03/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Nick Greisen	knee	08/05/2009
J'Vonne Parker	knee	08/08/2009

San Diego Chargers: First of all, apparently LB James Holt has been promoted from the practice squad. Now, you're going to have to find out from someone else who that is, because I have no idea. Maybe that Sliderockmpc guy, he seems to be pretty sharp. Anyhow, we all know that the Chargers front office pulled off yet another team shakeup, releasing Chis Chambers, who has already been picked up within the division by the Chiefs. These shakeups seem to be working, notwithstanding a closer than expected victory over the Raiders. Like Coach Hoke says, there are no good losses and there are no bad wins. Let's focus on our game this weekend in New Jersey. I bet there's probably at least one person that didn't know we were playing in New Jersey on Sunday. Over their three losses in a row, I've seen two big things about the Giants. First, Eli is still being bothered by his foot, in which he has plantar fasciitis. From what I know, this is not an injury that one gets over easily. Padre fans know that Kyle Blanks got it and was forced to sit out the last part of the season. Eli has been more inaccurate than usual because of the injury, which has been compounded by the fact that the Giants have been unable to get a running game going during the losing streak. Second, the Giants running defense has struggled, especially with runners up the middle. I posted a stat earlier in the week, but during the losing streak the Giants have allowed something like 7.6 YPC up the middle. Unfortunately, both of these weaknesses don't exactly translate to the Chargers strengths. We also have struggled this year with running offense and defense. On the bright side, at least I think LT has shown some substantial progress lately, and Shawne and Shaun also seem to be about to step up their game in a serious way. The Chargers next division game is week 10 at the Broncos. Tim Dobbins is going to be out a few weeks, maybe he'll come back the same time as Nick Hardwick. I'm hoping Kevin Burnett is healthy enough to play on Sunday, but I haven't heard anything.

San Diego Chargers Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Tim Dobbins	knee	11/02/2009
Nick Hardwick	ankle	11/02/2009

Doubtful

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Kevin Burnett	ankle	11/02/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Ryon Bingham	arm	09/05/2009
Jamal Williams	triceps	09/19/2009
Antwan Applewhite	hamstring	10/20/2009
Brandon Hughes	knee	09/02/2009

GO CHARGERS!

Poll

Can the Chargers come back and win the division?

Yes

482 votes

No

155 votes

637 votes | Poll has closed

New York Jets Run Offense vs. Oakland Raiders Run Defense

John B — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:00:42 -0000

It looks like the Jets finally got their run game working last week. A potential matchup between Richard Seymour and Robert Turner if Damien Woody can't go is troublesome. On the other hand, undersized Jon Alston lining up on the right side is good for the Jets in their run game. So is the matchup between Tommy Kelly and Brandon Moore/Nick Mangold. Seymour is only one player. The Jets should be able to pound it on the right side and will pull Alan Faneca plenty. In a game where they'll likely treat Mark Sanchez with kid gloves, Ben Hartsock will replace Dustin Keller in the lineup perhaps more often than usual. The Raiders are not strong against the run. They give up 145 yards per game.

They'll surely pull their safeties up, but the Jets need to be able to run it effectively anyway. There's too much talent up front and in the backfield. Thomas Jones finally got on track a week ago. Leon Washington looks as dyanmic as ever. This is not a well coached defense. There should be plenty of opportunities to earn yardage after missed tackles. Against an undisciplined unit, I would throw a lot of the Seminole formation at them. That requires guys to stay patient and not overpursue. Washington can make them pay for not doing so.

I'm not sure whether the Jets will be able to execute. I know they should be able to execute. If they can't, it will be a major red flag for when the schedule gets tougher.