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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

Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Preview - Offensive Tackle

JasonB — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:58:43 -0000

More photos » by Bradley C Bower - AP

7 months ago: Philadelphia Eagles guard Shawn Andrews, right, and his brother Stacy Andrews, left, participate in football minicamp at the team's Nova-Care Complex Friday, May 1, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)

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This is the next installment in our series of 12 positions in 12 days previewing the upcoming Eagles training camp. Rookie and selected vets report to Lehigh July 26th and each day leading up to that date we will bring you a preview of a different position battle.

Considering the amount of money and first round picks the Eagles have spent at this one position, it really had better be one of the best in the NFL. Is it? We take on the offensive tackles next.

The Bodies

Shawn Andrews, King Dunlap, Jason Peters, Winston Justice, Chris Patrick, Fenuki Tupou.

Presumed Starters

After what they gave up in terms of cash and picks for Jason Peters, he will be the starting LT for this team. As long as Shawn Andrews is able to play, he'll be the starting RT after Andy Reid announced he would be moving from the RG spot he's played since he came into the NFL.

Andrews & Peters give the Eagles arguably the most talented pair of starting OTs in the NFL, however both come with questions. For Andrews, it's his mental state. When he's on the field, Andrews has been dominant and multiple time pro bowler... but he missed all of last season after being diagnosed with depression and having back surgery. While his back is healed and he says he's feeling much better mentally, his head will likely always be a cause for concern. The fact is, when a guy's knee is hurt we see him limp and it shows up on the injury report... when his mental state is a problem, we don't know until he mysteriously doesn't show up for camp... So while all appears well with Andrews right now, we can never be entirely certain how he really feels. The hope is now that he's in treatment and his brother is in town his mental state will never regress to the point it did before last season.

As for Jason Peters, two years ago he looked like the most dominant LT in football and was a deserving All Pro & Pro Bowler. While he also made the pro bowl last year, he wasn't quite as dominant after holding out of training camp in a contract dispute. While Peters didn't struggle nearly as much a certain "stat" would have you believe, he certainly didn't play up to his 2007 form. Now that he's been paid handsomely and he'll be in training camp, he'll hopefully be back to his dominant self.

New Additions

Jason Peters was acquired in a trade from the Buffalo Bills.

Fenuki Tupou was drafted in the 5th round. He'll probably play OG for the Eagles, but he's listed as an OT for now...

What to watch for

Despite the fact that the starting positions aren't much of a mystery, this should actually be an interesting position to watch in camp. The two main storylines will be how Jason Peters fits into the Eagles' system and how Shawn Andrews handles his move from RG to RT. RT isn't a new position for Andrews since he played there in college, but it's new for him in the NFL having only played a few times at the position.

The fight for backup spots should be intruiging to watch as well. This year surely has to be Winston Justice's last shot. Can he finally play anywhere near the potential he had as a second round pick? King Dunlap is a giant and his sheer size was enough to make the Eagles store him on IR last season to see if he continues to progress. It will be interesting to see the progress he's made.

Previous position previews

Interior Offensive Line

Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp Preview - Interior offensive line

JasonB — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 10:00:13 -0000

The big uglies. The trenches... That's where we look to today as we take on the interior of the Eagles offensive line. Center and Guard.

The Bodies

Stacy Andrews, Nick Cole, Mike Gibson, Paul Fanaika, Todd Herremans, Jamaal Jackson, Max Jean-Gilles, Mike McGlynn, Fenuki Tupou, Chris Patrick. (Tupou & Patrick are listed as OTs, but they'll probably compete at several spots on the line)

Presumed starters

Stacy Andrews(RG), Jamaal Jackson(C), Todd Herremans(LG). Assuming all are healthy, it's pretty unlikely that any of these three won't be starting this year. The only real question is the knee of Stacy Andrews. He tore his ACL last year and had surgery in early January. Whether he'll be 100% ready to go by the time the season starts is not sure.

New additions

Stacy Andrews signed as a free agent from the Cincinnati Bengals.

Paul Fanaika was drafted in the 7th round & Fenuki Tupou was drafted in the 5th this year.

What to watch for

There's a lot of capable players and new draft picks fighting for a precious few spots on the interior of the Eagles offensive line. Nick Cole, being able to play C or G is probably a shoe in to make it... Max Jean-Gilles is the most senior member of the group fighting for backup jobs. However, Gilles broke his fibula last year in the Thanksgiving game against Arizona and it will be interesting to see how he's recovered and whether the injury will bother him in camp.

A guy I'll have my eye on is second year man Mike McGlynn. McGlynn was a 4th round pick last year and his nasty demeanor on the field drew comparisons to Jon Runyan. Having spent a year in the system with offensive line coach Juan Castillo, I'm excited to see how how McGlynn's development is progressing.

Another second year man to keep an eye on is Mike Gibson, who was spending time learning both guard and center last year. Jamaal Jackson and Nick Cole have generally been the only centers in camp in recent years and it will nice to see some more competition in there.

All that said, the #1 storyline is going to be the health of Stacy Andrews. If he's not going ot be ready to start the season, the likes of Jean-Gilles & McGlynn will be fighting for starting jobs... not backup positions.

Previous position previews

When will the Rams start signing draft picks?

VanRam — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:15:40 -0000

It's been a busy spring for lawyers in the NFL. Teams have signed draft picks at a blistering, even record pace. This piece at ESPN explains some of the reasons behind the accelerated work to get rookies under contract. Whatever the reasons for speed this offseason, the Rams are one of six teams yet to sign any of their draft picks. Why?

Last year the Rams made 3rd round pick OT John Greco their first rookie from the '08 draft with a contract. That happened on June 12. This year, I suspect the front office overhaul has created some delay in contracts, as well as conversations with OJ Atogwe, who's contract issues need to be resolved soon. Another question surrounding the Rams draft pick deals, particularly the guys drafted in rounds 3 through 7, is whether or not the team will shift from the Shaw/Zygmunt three-year rookie contracts to the more standard four-year contracts for late picks. Rams new contract man Kevin Demoff has always been a four-year guy, and uncertainty about the CBA makes four-year deals more attractive for their extra year of security. With that, I think it's safe to assume the Rams will start offering four-year deals to late round picks this year, but we won't know for sure until they actually sign one.

I thought it might be interesting to see whether or not the players drafted around the Rams picks' have signed deals, since that information reveals much about the slotting system used in the late rounds and offers a guide as to what kind of contracts the Rams rookies will receive. I went back and forth about whether or not to include a contract prediction. Notoriously waffly when it comes to gambling (DO NOT sit at a black jack table with me), I hesitated, but then thought, "To hell with it...I've got nothing to lose." So here's the late round pick predictions. I'm also going to assume the Rams embrace the four-year contract.

Round Three, Iowa CB Bradley Fletcher, 66th pick

An odd numbered round, the Rams had the second pick (66th overall) pick, shocking almost everyone by taking the under-the-radar Fletcher. Jets RB Shonn Greene, another Iowa player, was the first pick of the round, and he signed a four-year deal worth $2.655 million with a $905,000 signing bonus. The Chiefs have yet to sign the third pick from that round, but the Bears signed the fourth pick, DT Jarron Gilbert, to a four-year, $2.49 million deal with a $740,000 signing bonus.

Greco, the second pick of the third round in 2008, signed a three-year, $1.794 million contract with a $644,000 singing bonus.

Prediction: Fletcher signs a four-year deal worth $2.59 million with an $800,000 signing bonus. Reports from spring practices speak well of Fletcher, and few would be surprised if he doesn't see playing time in the nickel this year.

Round Four, Clemson DT Darell Scott, 103rd pick

The third pick of the fourth round, neither of Scott's immediate draft slot neighbors (with the Chiefs and Browns) have signed. The closest player in the draft order to Scott that has signed a deal is Bears DE Henry Melton, who inked a four-year, $2.261 million deal with a $511,230 signing bonus. The last pick of the third round, Giants TE Travis Beckum, signed a four-year, $2.363 million deal with a $611,000 bonus.

Last year, the Rams signed CB Justin King, the second pick in the fourth round, to a three-year, $1.526 million deal with a $376,000 signing bonus. King signed on July 23, 2008. Keenan Burton, another, later fourth round pick, signed on July 4, 2008.

Prediction: Scott signs a four-year, $2.29 million deal with a $570,000 bonus.

Round Five, North Carolina WR Brooks Foster, 160th pick

After swapping picks with the Falcons in the Laurent Robinson trade, the Rams had the 160th pick, the 24th selection of the round. Eagles OT Fenuki Tupou signed a four-year deal, but details have yet to be disclosed. The Dolphins signed 25th pick TE John Nalbone, to a four-year, $1.923 million contract with a $173K signing bonus. The 22nd pick, Redskins LB Cody Glenn, signed a four-year, $1.925 deal with a $175K bonus.

In 2008, the Rams signed G Roy Scheuning, the 157th pick, to a three-year, $1.278 million deal with a $!28K bonus. He signed on June 11, 2008.

Prediction: Foster signs a four-year, $1.9236 million deal with a $173,600 bonus.

Round Six, West Texas A&M QB Keithh Null, 196th pick

No player within two draft slots of Null has singed, except for Eagles WR Brandon Gibson, 194th pick, but his contract has yet to be disclosed. The closest pick with accessible contract info to sign from the sixth round is Giants DB DeAndre Wright, the 200th pick. He signed a four-year, $1.842 million deal with a $92K bonus.

The Rams did not have a sixth round pick in 2008, traded away.

Prediction: Null signs a four-year, $1.848 deal with a $93K bonus.

Round Seven, Texas RB Chris Ogbonnaya, 211th pick

The Falcons signed DT Vance Walker, the first pick of the round, to a four-year, $1.817 million deal with a $66,730 bonus. The Chiefs have yet to sign the third selection from the last round, and the Eagles have yet to disclose details for the fourth selection. The fifth selection, Dolphins LB J.D. Folsom, signed a four-year, $1.8132 million deal with a $62K bonus.

Rams seventh round pick LB Chris Chamberlain to a three-year, $1.186 million deal with a $36K bonus on July 20, 2008. I'm leaving out Vorbora's deal since it's irrelevant (ha! get it?) to this prediction.

Prediction: Four years, $1.816 million with a $66,000 bonus.

Eagles Notes: Sean McDermott, NCAA violations, winning attitudes, & a Macho man

JasonB — Fri, 22 May 2009 15:02:02 -0000

More photos » by Bradley C Bower - AP

7 months ago: Philadelphia Eagles rookie corner back Macho Harris, left, gets some direction from defensive secondary coach Seam McDermott, right, at the team's the first mini-camp of the season for all rookies and veterans at the team's Nova-Care Complex Friday, May 1, 2009, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)

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Interim Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott's high school coach talked about the qualities that make Sean an effective leader.

"For him to be able to lead professional athletes his age and maybe a little older says a lot about him," said Colistra, who retired as La Salle's football coach in 2005. "When Sean was on the field, you had players who raised their level of play to compete with him and match him. He invited you to raise your level of play. I'm sure thatâ€™s the way he is as a coach.

"It's not what he does. It's who he is. There's no doubt in my mind that he's become a student of game. I could see that when he was playing with us. More importantly, it's the way he dealt with people, and I think that translates now. To be a good leader, you need good followers, and that means you need to be able to motivate people to pay attention to what you have to say, and that's Sean."

Rookie OL Fenuki Tupou spoke this week about how he was illegally paid by a man who worked for an agent when he was in college, and what he did to fix the situation.

King Dunlap talked about his reaction to the Eagles spending nearly a hundred million bucks on other offensive tackles this offseason...

"I just come out and compete everyday,” said Dunlop, who was drafted in the seventh round in 2008 out of Auburn. "I have the same mentality as before they came in. I come out and work hard and get better. It’s the only thing you can do. You can’t control what goes on, who they bring in, who they pay money to … you work hard and get better.”

Safety Sean Jones that there's a different attitude in Philadelphia than there was in Cleveland.

"I've been on winning teams my whole life," said the 27-year-old Jones, who was also a star quarterback in high school. "In Cleveland, we struggled while I was there. This organization has a different mind-set. It's nice to be with a team that wants to get to the playoffs, to the Super Bowl, and anything less is unacceptable."

Eagles rookie CB/S Victor Harris is now officially named "Macho" Harris.