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Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Defense Department: Weekly IDP Briefing – Washington Redskins (Part 2 of 2)
While competing with Doughty for playing time at safety, Tenorio reports that Kareem Moore has made a good early impression during OTA's.
Third-year safety Kareem Moore has impressed on the defensive side of the ball, earning increased reps with LaRon Landry absent for many of the workouts and still coming back from a toe injury. A 2008 sixth-round selection out of Nicholls State, Moore is entering his third year in the league and could be in the mix for playing time, especially as the only true free safety on the roster.
"I feel like I'm more comfortable," Moore said. "One thing that helped me out was that Coach Jackson was just like, 'I know you got the ability to do it, just make plays and don't worry about nothing else.' So I've just been trying to carry that with me."
Tenorio writes that Washington's safeties will be playing it safe less often.
One of the major changes in the Redskins defense this season will be at the safety position, where players no longer will fall into the traditional roles of "free" or "strong" safety.
Instead, they will be expected to perform at both positions and likely will rotate between the two from play to play, even as the opposing team motions in and out of different formations. The hope is to counter with enough pre-snap movement and disguise that the offense is not sure which defense it is seeing, and prevent pre-snap reads on where to go with the ball.
"I think schematically it's not as hard," safety Chris Horton said. "You don't have to play so many coverages, but now it's all about the disguise."
Landry, meanwhile, continues to voice his excitement about playing closer to the line of scrimmage this season. The 2007 first round pick has bulked up this and said he was excited about playing for defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, whom he watched as head coach of the New Orleans Saints.
Reid blogs that Carlos Rogers is in no rush to sign his $1.542 million restricted free agent tender offer.
"Nah," Rogers responded to my text message Monday afternoon about whether he plans to sign soon.
After initially expressing frustration about not receiving a multi-year offer from the Redskins, Rogers has said all the right things for the past few months. He has praised Coach Mike Shanahan for bringing professionalism to the organization and expressed excitement about his role in defensive coordinator Jim Haslett's aggressive new 3-4 scheme.
Rogers even signed a waiver to participate in the voluntary off-season program, including minicamps and organized team activities.
Fitzgerald reports that the Redskins were awarded cornerback Ramzee Robinson off waivers from Cleveland, and they waived defensive end Greg Peterson. Robinson was 2007's "Mr. Irrelevant" draft pick, and has played for Detroit, Philadelphia and Cleveland the past three years. Peterson was drafted by Bruce Allen when he was with Tampa Bay in 2007, and had been signed by Washington just 9 weeks earlier.
Defense Department: Weekly IDP Briefing – Washington Redskins (Part 1 of 2)
Larry Weisman (redskins.com) reports that Albert Haynesworth's decision to skip Washington's voluntary workouts will put him behind at learning the new 3-4 defense.
No conversation about the Redskins seems complete without a mention of the high-profile defensive lineman who elected to take part in none of the club's voluntary but well-attended off-season workouts.
When off-season sessions began in March, Haynesworth informed Shanahan of his decision to work out elsewhere with his own staff. Shanahan told him he disagreed with that choice.
In the 3-4, Haynesworth will play a different role, probably at right end, though the Redskins stress versatility at all positions.
Having missed all of the work on the field and in the meeting rooms, he will find himself behind in every aspect.
"He'll definitely have some catching up to do," Shanahan said. "There will be a lot of work for him, to come in here and learn the system. We'll have to catch him up and utilize the three days to catch him up as best we can."
Making matters worse, ESPN reported that Haynesworth asked for a trade, while skipping the team's mandatory minicamp.
"The Redskins are trying to establish a new regime with new schemes at Redskins Park, and it is not an organization that Albert would have ever been attracted to just a short year ago -- regardless of the money," Haynesworth's agent, Chad Speck, told The Washington Post. "He has made it clear to me that he does not want to play for the Washington Redskins.
"This situation will be a distraction to the Redskins and to Albert and his teammates. I am certain [head coach] Mike [Shanahan] and [general manager] Bruce [Allen] want to get the most out of their first year, and it's probably in everyone's best interests for the Redskins to make a deal and trade Albert."
"When I signed here after meeting all day with the staff and top executives, and talked about the defense that we would run and what my role would be, I was assured I would have the freedom to play to my strengths and I was excited about the future," Haynesworth's statement said.
"It's also important at my position to help free my teammates to make plays, which I've done throughout my career when I've been allowed to play to my strengths."
Adam Schefter (ESPN) reports that the Redskins will try to recoup bonus money that was paid to Haynesworth.
Before Haynesworth made the decision not to report to the Redskins' mandatory minicamp that kicked off Wednesday, the NFL Players Association assured him that the bonus money on the contract he restructured March 12 would be his to keep, one source said.
But another knowledgeable NFL source who reviewed Haynesworth's contract and the collective bargaining agreement Wednesday morning said this issue is "open to interpretation," now that the defensive tackle has declined to report to a mandatory minicamp, and the Redskins are expected to pursue whatever money they can.
At issue is the bonus money paid to Haynesworth -- $26 million overall since the defensive tackle signed the first $100 million contract for a defensive player in NFL history in March 2009.
Rick Maese (Washington Post) reports that Shanahan confirmed that the Redskins were willing to part ways with Haynesworth earlier this offseason.
Shanahan said he spoke with Haynesworth in February and gave Haynesworth permission at that time to find another place of employment. The team was willing to release Haynesworth if he would forgo the $21 million bonus he was due. But Shanahan said Haynesworth was only given until April 1 to locate another potential team.
"But on April 1, when we owed him a check for $21 million, we said, if you do take that check, we expect you to be the best defensive end, best nose tackle and if we played you at free safety, we'd expect you to be the best free safety -- even though he'd have to lose a little weight -- whatever position we wanted to play him at, that he'd do the best job he possibly could that would make him the best football player," Shanahan said.
Though Shanahan seemed to imply they gave Haynesworth permission to seek a trade, team spokesman Zack Bolno later clarified that the Redskins would have released Haynesworth had he found another team, presumably one that would be willing to help with the large bonus Haynesworth was due.
"Am I disappointed that he's not here, yes, yes, I am," he said. "Because I thought when he did take that check, he was going to make a commitment to be a Washington Redskin and do the best thing he could possibly do to help our team win."
A week after he decided not to report to the Redskins' mandatory minicamp, Maese writes that Haynesworth released another statement making clear his intentions to participate in training camp at the end of July.
"Despite my current differences with the Redskins, I have always planned to attend training camp and honor my contract. As I have previously said, I am continuing to prepare for the season individually and will report on time, in shape and ready to play football."
The Associated Press reports that Haynesworth's troubles go well beyond the field.
A Tennessee bank is suing him for not paying a $2.38 million loan. His ex-wife, Stephanie, is back in court charging him with not paying her health insurance or their children's bills. A Tennessee man, Corey Edmonson, has his parents caring for him with his lawsuit pending charging Haynesworth with wrecking his car in 2008.
Then there's the exotic dancer, Silvia Mena, suing Haynesworth in New York saying he got her pregnant.
"He thinks he's above everything," his ex-wife said Wednesday. "He feels like he's entitled. He's narcissistic. It's very frustrating to go to someone constantly and ask them repetitively to do the things they're already supposed to be doing."
The way his legal cases are stacking up, he may need to hold onto a good chunk of his money to pay attorneys' fees.
Edmonson is asking for $7.5 million in compensatory damages and punitive damages that are no less than 25 percent of Haynesworth's guaranteed money from his Redskins' deal.
Jason Reid (Washington Post) writes that defensive coordinator Jim Haslett is pleased with how the Redskins have responded to his new hybrid 3-4 scheme.
"It's much further ahead than I would have ever guessed when you're putting a whole new system in," Haslett said Thursday after practice at Redskins Park. "You're taking a team that ran a 4-3 and [running a] 3-4. I love how the transition [is going]. First of all, they're smart players. They're willing players. They kind of fit the bill."
Regardless of what happens with the Haynesworth situation, Haslett is confident the Redskins have many capable players along their defensive line.
The Redskins envision Maake Kemoeatu, who is rehabbing an achilles injury, starting at nose tackle. Adam Carriker and Howard Green would provide depth behind Kemoeatu. Kedric Golston, who had a strong 2009 season, would begin training camp as the No. 1 right end with Vonnie Holliday behind him. The ageless Phillip Daniels heads the list at left end with Carriker at second string.
Paul Tenorio (Washington Post) writes that Kemoeatu has the most to gain from Haynesworth's absence.
Kemoeatu, who suffered an Achilles injury in August 2009, said he was about 90 percent recovered and that his main work now lies in getting into football shape. He said his weight is 358 pounds and he is hoping to get down to 345, which he feels is his best playing weight.
"I think he's coming back very quickly," Shanahan said. "I like his progress. He still has a lot of work to do. We have over a month for him to get back in football shape."
Kemoeatu said he understands that every day Haynesworth is not around gives him another opportunity for playing time.
"If he doesn't play any football that's more time for me to get on the field and do what I do best," Kemoeatu said. "It's a great opportunity for me if he doesn't come back, but if he does it'll be great too. I'll get to work with him."
Gary Fitzgerald (redskins.com) writes that Holliday has plenty left in the tank.
"A lot of my these guys have not played in a 3-4 before, so a part of my role on this team is to help them along, too," he said.
Holliday is a natural defensive end in a 3-4. He has good size at 6-5 and 279 pounds, he is a sound tackler, and he has good speed to rush the passer.
"Every place he has been, it has been impressive how he handled himself," head coach Mike Shanahan said. "I've followed him throughout his career. He has been a class act and a good football player. I think his skills fit in very well with our scheme and what we're doing defensively."
"I can accept whatever role I have," he said. "At the end of the day, I just want to win. If it's as a starter, so be it. If it's as a backup, a role player, doing more nickel and dime rushing, we'll see what happens."
Bill Barnwell (Football Outsiders) looks at the teams that spent the most/least at each position in 2009 and uses advanced stats to analyze their investment return. The Redskins were the lowest spenders for linebackers, expending $3,764,805.
Do owners that spend more at a given spot actually see a return on their investment, though? And do the relative cheapskates breeze through, saving money without sacrificing performance? It depends on the position.
Washington, meanwhile, only had London Fletcher to pay among a group of disappointing linebackers.
Maese reports that Rocky McIntosh, one of Washington's presumed starting inside linebackers, signed his tender offer of $1.759 million for 2010.
McIntosh was a restricted free agent and was outspoken about his disappointment when the team tendered him an offer rather than negotiating a multi-year extension. He even floated the possibility of a trade and skipped the team's first mini-camp as well as part of its voluntary off-season conditioning program.
Pro Football Weekly reports that the Redskins signed 4th round linebacker Perry Riley.
In PFW's 2010 Draft Preview, personnel analyst Nolan Nawrocki wrote that the 6-2, 245-pound Riley "brings the wood and is a physical enough run defender to be effective on first and second down."
Tenorio writes that Riley likes Washington's 3-4 defense.
"I like the 3-4 a little more, to be truthful with you," Riley said. "I think it allows me to roam around a little more. To have a big nose tackle in front of me, two big defensive ends to keep the o-line off me so I'm able to roam free. So I like it a little better than I did the 4-3."
Riley played weak side linebacker at LSU but is expected to play inside in the 3-4, which means he is learning behind the Redskins defensive leader, Pro Bowl linebacker London Fletcher.
Aaron Schatz (Football Outsiders) provides the results from their 2009 game-charting project with regards to broken tackles. The Redskins ranked 6th in the league last year in broken tackle percentage. In a separate article on ESPN.com, Schatz presents the resulting subjective individual player stats and the best/worst performances for linebackers and defensive backs.
Tackle totals don't do anything to look at opportunity -- they tell you only when a defender makes a play, not when he blows one.
Of course, a raw total of broken tackles needs to be understood in context.
So instead of just total broken tackles, let's look at broken tackle rate. For each defender we compared broken tackles with the total of broken tackles and solo tackles.
Football Outsiders defines a "broken tackle" as:
Either the ball carrier escapes from the grasp of the defender, or the defender is in good position for a tackle but the ball carrier jukes him out of his shoes. If the ball carrier sped by a slow defender who dived and missed, that didn't count as a broken tackle.
"Plays with Broken Tackle" is the number of plays with at least one broken tackle. However, it was possible for there to be multiple broken tackles on one play, which is why we have a second column for total broken tackles.
Plays | Plays w/ BT | Pct | Total BTkl |
968 | 49 | 5.0% | 58 |
Reed Doughty had the 7th lowest broken tackle rate for defensive backs (3 BTkl / 75 Tkl / 3.8% BT Rate).
Defense Department: Weekly IDP Briefing – Tennessee Titans (Part 2 of 2)
Wyatt and Glennon report that Rod Hood suffered a season-ending knee injury.
The Titans' cornerback, who missed practice time earlier this offseason because of a sports hernia procedure, suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament Friday.
"I just tried to plant and run,'' Hood said. "They say ACLs are normally six or seven months. It's tough, but I am going to work hard. I know God has a plan for me.''
Wyatt blogs that 4th round cornerback Alterraun Verner agreed to a four-year contract with the Titans, and reported to the team after missing May minicamps because of obligations at UCLA. Wyatt also blogs that Verner missed valuable time earlier this offseason but has impressed Fisher since returning to Tennessee.
"He is not behind mentally and it doesn't appear he is struggling at all physically," Fisher said. "He has worked very hard, and is a smart kid. He has a good understanding of what we are doing and he is making plays."
Wyatt writes that Cortland Finnegan has been moved to left cornerback as the Titans reposition him for big plays.
This offseason, Finnegan has switched from the right side of the defense to the left side, a move that should give him more opportunities to make plays. The Titans are also considering giving the fifth-year pro more flexibility to move around in the defense in an effort to match him up against the top receivers from other teams.
Finnegan, an All-Pro in 2008, has played primarily on the right side during his career.
After last season, however, Finnegan made a request to switch to the left side permanently. In his estimation, roughly 70 percent of the throws go to the left side of the defense because it's a right-handed quarterback's strong side. Although Finnegan said he didn't get frustrated when opportunities didn't come his way much last fall, he admitted his technique — and his play — suffered as a direct result of it.
Finnegan admits the switch has been a struggle, however, and he has a long way to go.
"I have to be more disciplined,'' Finnegan said. "(Expletive) is the best word I can use right now for how I have been in OTAs. If I don't get better, it is going to be a tough season. I have to prove I can do it on a consistent basis with these receivers, and I'm not there yet. I told coach by the first game of the season I will be OK, so we'll see how it goes.''
Defense Department: Weekly IDP Briefing – Tennessee Titans (Part 1 of 2)
Jim Wyatt (The Tennessean) blogs that 7th round defensive tackle David Howard agreed to a contract (believed to be for four years) with the Titans.
Wyatt reports that 1st rounder Derrick Morgan was arrested in Georgia on charges of speeding and driving with a suspended license. He has a court date scheduled on July 26th.
Gordon County police officer Raymond Holcomb said Morgan was traveling 91 mph in a 70 mph speed limit zone when he was pulled over by Resaca police just after 5 p.m.
Morgan has gotten off to a slow start with the Titans, limited in practices because of injuries to a hamstring and a calf.
John Glennon (The Tennessean) writes that Morgan has been slowed by injuries, but the Titans expect big things from their new defensive end.
He strained a hamstring on his first day of summer workouts and later injured his calf, leaving him unable to perform at top speed.
"I'm doing a lot of the individual things, but not being out there and building some chemistry with the rest of the guys on that defense is just killing me right now,'' Morgan said.
"Of all the defensive ends that came out, he was the toughest, most physical and played the hardest,'' defensive line coach Jim Washburn said.
Washburn said that as positions go, defensive end isn't necessarily the most difficult when it comes to making the adjustment from college to the pros. So the hope is that Morgan's inability to go full speed so far won't affect him too much down the line.
"It's more than people think, but we play (them on the) edge, so 99 percent of the time he's going to play outside of the tight end or tackle, whoever is the widest player. In theory, it's easy, but in application, it's hard.''
"I'm not saying he can't (win a starting position), but he's got to earn it. The best place to do that is in the preseason games.''
Glennon writes that Jason Jones is expected to be fully recovered from shoulder surgery by training camp.
"The most frustrating thing was going through the whole season being hurt and not out there," Jones said.
"Once training camp comes, I'll be 100 percent go and ready for everything,'' Jones said. "I'm ready. All the rehabbing and wating for next season, the opportunity is coming soon. The shoulder is healed. It's just about getting the strength back right now."
Glennon reports that Jason Babin is finding a good fit with Tennessee. Babin is definitely not a fan of Mike Holmgren and the staff in Seattle, when he was inactive ¾ of the time and never found a role.
He's 30 years old now and preparing to play for his fifth team in as many seasons, so Babin realizes there might not be too many opportunities left.
One reason Babin has had a difficult time finding a place to call home is that he hasn't necessarily found his niche on the field. A 6-foot-3, 267-pounder, Babin has played defensive end in some 4-3 systems, linebacker in some 3-4 systems.
"I think some teams couldn't make up their mind if he was a linebacker and a hybrid-type guy or what,'' Washburn said.
"He's a fit for us. He knows how to play real fast and he's really tough.''
Washburn's confidence is based in part on the system the Titans use, in which defensive ends often line up wide instead of going head-to-head with bigger offensive tackles.
"That's how we play with smaller guys, and we're just fine with it,'' Washburn said. "Actually, we prefer that way. Our ends are other peoples' linebackers.''
"I think the biggest thing here is just that I'm getting coached,'' Babin said. "In Seattle, they didn't want me, didn't coach me, didn't talk to me. Here, I'm wanted. I'm getting coached.''
Aaron Schatz (Football Outsiders) provides the results from their 2009 game-charting project with regards to broken tackles. The Titans ranked 23rd in the league last year in broken tackle percentage. In a separate article on ESPN.com, Schatz presents the resulting subjective individual player stats and the best/worst performances for linebackers and defensive backs.
Tackle totals don't do anything to look at opportunity -- they tell you only when a defender makes a play, not when he blows one.
Of course, a raw total of broken tackles needs to be understood in context.
So instead of just total broken tackles, let's look at broken tackle rate. For each defender we compared broken tackles with the total of broken tackles and solo tackles.
Football Outsiders defines a "broken tackle" as:
Either the ball carrier escapes from the grasp of the defender, or the defender is in good position for a tackle but the ball carrier jukes him out of his shoes. If the ball carrier sped by a slow defender who dived and missed, that didn't count as a broken tackle.
"Plays with Broken Tackle" is the number of plays with at least one broken tackle. However, it was possible for there to be multiple broken tackles on one play, which is why we have a second column for total broken tackles.
Plays | Plays w/ BT | Pct | Total BTkl |
1015 | 65 | 6.4% | 74 |
Unsigned free agent Keith Bulluck had the 9th highest broken tackle rate for linebackers (11 BTkl / 81 Tkl / 11.6% BT Rate).
Glennon writes that rookie Rennie Curran is listening to his mentor Jessie Tuggle and his position coach Dave McGinnis, who have experience playing as and coaching undersized linebackers.
"I've been compared to a lot of guys my size that have had good careers, and that lets me know I'm not the first person to do this and that I can be successful,'' said Curran, a third-round pick out of Georgia. "It's not about your size. It's about your technique, your want-to and your attitude.''
"I can remember the first games he started at Georgia, and I would tell him, 'Rennie, just go out there and do your thing. They're always going to talk about your height, but the name of the game is leverage,' '' Tuggle said. "Whoever has the most power and who has the most leverage is going to beat the opponent."
"I've been in this league for 25 years and I've seen the Jessie Tuggles and Sam Mills and Mike Singletarys play,'' McGinnis said. "If you've got a guy like that who hasn't been productive, then it doesn't matter whether you're 5-foot-11 or 6-foot-11. If you're not productive, you can't play."
David Climer (The Tennessean) writes that Gerald McRath has an opportunity to seize with Bulluck unlikely to return to the Titans.
But time marches on, and the depth chart must be rewritten. And that's where McRath comes in. He learned the ropes of the NFL as a rookie last season. Now he is projected as a starter at outside linebacker.
At 6-foot-3 and 231 pounds, he looks the part. In recent minicamp sessions, McRath appeared quick and explosive. Because of Bulluck's absence and questions about the availability of David Thornton because of ongoing shoulder issues, McRath's development is vital for a defense that is in transition.
"He just hasn't seen enough yet — alignments, run fits, pass drops, route recognition," McGinnis said. "But he'll work. He's smart. He takes coaching. He listens."
Unfortunately, that opportunity for McRath will be disrupted by a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances, according to a report by Glennon.
McRath said the NFL did not tell him what performance-enhancing substance caused him to violate the policy but that the league did tell him it was not a steroid. He said he never knowingly took anything that was on the NFL's banned list, so he believes the violation was caused by a tainted batch of supplements.
"We'll have a lot of time from now until the first game to figure out what the answer is going to be there,'' defensive coordinator Chuck Cecil said. "And we'll have a lot of guys that are going to be viable alternatives there.''
"I have to take responsibility,'' McRath said. "Whether I'm right or wrong, it's still my body. If they found something, I don't want to feel like I've cheated anybody.
"I'll take my four-game suspension and I'll look at this as being a stepping stone in my life. I look at this as being a little adversity to make myself come in here and work even harder.''
Don Banks (Sports Illustrated) writes that coach Jeff Fisher is not panicking because of the Titans' recent problems.
From the vantage point of mid-June, it's always tempting to connect the dots of a team's offseason and then plot that graph line to project the fate awaiting that franchise in the fall. Tempting, but not always accurate.
There's still almost two months until the Titans have to put a team on the field for the first time, and it remains to be seen how many of Tennessee's recent headlines will translate into real problems come the regular season.
Fisher didn't give me the ho-hum routine when I asked him Monday if he was concerned about the way things were trending in Tennessee, but he doesn't do the Chicken Little thing either.
The trick for Tennessee will be to continue getting McRath playing time in the preseason and not stunt his development as a starter, while getting someone else ready to fill his spot in the lineup in September.
"In Gerald's case, it's a temporary setback,'' Fisher said. "We're going to have to be smart. He's only started five games and he needs the playing experience in the preseason. But we're going to be without him in the first month, and someone else has to play enough to be ready.''
"We've got options,'' Fisher said. "I'm really pleased with Will Witherspoon and the great start he's off to, and obviously we're hopeful David Thornton is ready for training camp. [As for Bulluck], I don't think it changes anything for us. We've still got both issues to deal with, and they're different issues: He's unrestricted and he had a late-season ACL. The most important thing for Keith right now is to continue to rehab, and then he's going to be able to weigh his options. But as I have said, we'd like nothing more than for Keith Bulluck to finish his career in Tennessee.''
Wyatt writes that Thornton laughs off the circulating retirement rumors, and McRath's suspension could improve his status on the team.
David Thornton has heard the whispers about his job security. He knows there are concerns about his banged-up body and his age.
Thornton, 31, is coming off shoulder/pectoral surgery and has been dealing with a troublesome hip.
Linebackers coach Dave McGinnis remains a Thornton fan and pointed out that the regular season is still almost three months away.
"You can't ask for more of a professional guy, in the meeting room, in the locker room and in the huddle. He is as fine a professional as I have been around,'' McGinnis said.
Wyatt reports that Stephen Tulloch officially signed his one-year, $2.521 million tender.
Still, Tulloch remains absent from Baptist Sports Park. He wants a long-term contract, but he's not expected to get one right away. If he hadn't signed his tender by Tuesday, the Titans could've dropped their tender offer to $588,000, which is 110 percent of his base salary from last season.
"All I know is he has signed his tender and that is a good thing,'' Coach Jeff Fisher said. "I don't know how that affects whether he comes back or not.''
Wyatt also writes that Tennessee's linebacker problems (including McRath's suspension, Tulloch's absence, and Thornton's health) could open the door for Jamie Winborn.
"It's a numbers game, but that is part of the league," he said. "But my job is to go out and play the best of my ability and hopefully be one of the last men standing.''
Wyatt reports that Colin Allred has been working at middle linebacker with the starters while Tulloch is involved in his contract dispute.
"Tully will be here for training camp, I'm pretty confident about that,'' Allred said. "And when the bell rings, I think Tully is going to be the starter in the middle. Now if he's not for some reason, I'll be ready. But again, I am confident he'll be here and we'll be glad to have him on the team.''
"He has missed a lot,'' Fisher said of Tulloch. "I don't know what his (Tulloch's) intention is, but Colin is doing a great job. He is playing inside-outside, playing the nickel and he can play. And until (Tulloch) decides to come in, Colin will be the guy.''
Defense Department: Weekly IDP Briefing – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Part 2 of 2)
Jeremy Green (ESPN Scouts Inc.) looks at teams that have interesting situations at the safety position, including the Buccaneers.
Sabby Piscitelli versus Sean Jones will be another good strong safety battle to watch. Both players are more than capable of holding down the starting job, but each would bring different elements to the table in the starting role.
Piscitelli is more of a box safety. He is very good in the box against the run. He can key and diagnose, make quick reads and find the football. However, he is much better against the run in the box than he is in space. Though he takes very good angles off the line of scrimmage, he does not have great speed or range.
On the other hand, Jones has good overall speed and range. He can make up ground playing the run or pass with his foot quickness and speed. He is not as physical against the run. He will take some bad angles against both the run and the pass and be out of position more then Piscitelli would be. Ultimately, don't be surprised to see the players split time at the position based on situation and down and distance.
The official Tampa Bay Buccaneers twitter account posted that Piscitelli and Jones were alternating in the starting lineup, with each player getting an opportunity with the 1st team. Holder wonders if they are really in a battle for the strong safety job.
The Bucs have maintained that Sean Jones and Sabby Piscitelli are locked in a tight race to become the starting strong safety opposite free safety Tanard Jackson.
But the question remains: Should we buy it? In other words, is coach Raheem Morris really just giving us lip service when he says the two are neck and neck?
Here are the facts. Jones was one of just a handful of roster additions this offseason, and he just happens to play the same position as Piscitelli, who had a very long 2009 campaign in his first year as a starter. Jones has the better resume' and his strength is an area in which Piscitelli struggles (being physical and making tackles).
Piscitelli can still close the gap with a strong preseason. And the Bucs have repeatedly said they plan to play a three-safety rotation that includes Jackson, Jones and Piscitelli.
Still, because Piscitelli has been so consistently inconsistent, there is little reason to think that Jones won't be in the starting lineup on opening day -- even if the Bucs aren't prepared to say so.
Steve Wyche (NFL.com) writes that Cody Grimm is working to make his own name with the Buccaneers. The 7th round pick is the son of 2010 Hall of Fame inductee Russ Grimm, and is one of five players that NFL.com is following in their "on the fringe" series.
At 6-foot-1, 203 pounds Grimm is better suited to play safety in the NFL than outside linebacker, his position at Virginia Tech.
For most of his football life, Cody Grimm has been told he's too slow, too small, too this, and too that. Rarely was he told he was too good -- or even good enough, for that matter. Even now, when he lines up in the Buccaneers' secondary, he doesn't look like an NFL player, in part, because he has the face of a 15-year old.
Cody's last name certainly didn't mean much to recruiters out of high school. Had his name carried as much clout as people think, Cody would have been offered more than one scholarship. And that one scholarship offer came from Football Championship Subdivision school (formerly Division I-AA) William & Mary.
Grimm might come off as an over-achiever type, but make no mistake about his athletic ability. He routinely ran high 4.4, 4.5-second 40-yard dashes in pre-draft workouts and had very impressive showings in agility drills. The combination of that, his production, his vinegar and brine tenacity, and his history of out-working others is why Tampa Bay drafted him.
Defense Department: Weekly IDP Briefing – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Part 1 of 2)
Mel Kiper (ESPN) offers his choices for early-impact rookies, including Gerald McCoy.
I'm less certain that McCoy has the chance to be dominating immediately, because there's some nuance to his game. But he's such a natural pass-rusher that he's easy to recognize in that respect and even if he's not a dominant force against the run, he'll show up in the passing game because he's a devastating penetrator.
Pro Football Weekly reported that Tampa Bay signed 7th rounder Erik Lorig to a four-year contract.
Lorig, a defensive end from Stanford, likely will contribute mostly on special teams this season if he makes the 53-man roster.
In PFW's 2010 Draft Preview, personnel analyst Nolan Nawrocki wrote that Lorig is an "all-out, energetic base end who leaves everything on the field and has enough disruptive ability to hold down a roster spot and bring value in the locker room with his intangibles."
Stephen Holder (St. Petersburg Times) reports that the Bucs signed Dekoda Watson to a four-year contract and released Angelo Crowell.
Crowell was among the players who was being scrutinized this offseason as coaches sought to get a sense of his recovery from knee and biceps injuries during the past two seasons. Clearly, he wasn't making the kind of progress the club had hoped for.
Watson, meanwhile, is a player who could develop a specialty role for the Bucs this season. Coach Raheem Morris, also the defensive coordinator, has been exploring ways to use Watson as an edge rusher.
Buccaneers.com writes that Quincy Black is on the verge of a breakout season.
An impressive offseason of practices and workouts has Black brimming with confidence, and his coach is equally firm in his belief that the young, physical 'backer is ready to make a name for himself in the upcoming campaign.
"The young man came in and he was already a physical specimen," Morris said. "When he got here, he was also very athletic and had the potential to make big-time plays. What he's done this offseason is he's come in very confident. He's a razor-sharp guy when it comes to football and he always has questions. He always knows the reason when he's doing something different."
With Morris assuming control of the defensive play-calling and bringing back some familiar strategies in the later stages of the 2009 season, Black's comfort level is expanding at the same rate as his role on defense. That includes some potential new responsibilities as a stand-up rusher in some 3-4-like fronts the team has been trying out this offseason.
Matt Williamson (ESPN Scouts Inc.) writes that Tampa Bay's run defense is a weakness.
Only a few defenses were as poor as Tampa Bay in defending the run in 2009. But to their credit, the Bucs attacked the problem head on with the drafting of Gerald McCoy and Brian Price with their first two selections.
McCoy is a tremendous fit in this Tampa 2 scheme. He is extremely explosive and has the makings of a wonderful upfield disruptor. Price also is impressively physically, but is more suited for the one-technique role. He has more girth and should be able to handle the interior run a little better. But both players are very promising and you have to commend the Buccaneers for being so proactive in their approach to correcting this problem.
Stylez White is one of the more underrated players in this league and was excellent at one end spot in 2009. That level of play should continue, but he will soon be getting a reputation, and without anyone formidable at the other end spot, opposing offenses will concentrate more on slowing him down both as a run defender and especially as a pass-rusher.
This brings us to the combination of Tim Crowder and Kyle Moore. Like the tackles on the roster, these two have some upside and could improve, but overall, they are good-sized base ends who just do not have enough dynamic playmaking ability to make much of a difference.
In the Tampa 2 system, speed at linebacker is preferred over bulk. That makes the defensive line extremely important. As teams like Indianapolis have shown, you don't have to be massive up front to be potent, but there must be threatening defensive linemen to help free up the faster linebackers.
Aaron Schatz (Football Outsiders) provides the results from their 2009 game-charting project with regards to broken tackles. The Buccaneers ranked 30th in the league last year in broken tackle percentage. In a separate article on ESPN.com, Schatz presents the resulting subjective individual player stats and the best/worst performances for linebackers and defensive backs.
Tackle totals don't do anything to look at opportunity -- they tell you only when a defender makes a play, not when he blows one.
Of course, a raw total of broken tackles needs to be understood in context.
So instead of just total broken tackles, let's look at broken tackle rate. For each defender we compared broken tackles with the total of broken tackles and solo tackles.
Football Outsiders defines a "broken tackle" as:
Either the ball carrier escapes from the grasp of the defender, or the defender is in good position for a tackle but the ball carrier jukes him out of his shoes. If the ball carrier sped by a slow defender who dived and missed, that didn't count as a broken tackle.
"Plays with Broken Tackle" is the number of plays with at least one broken tackle. However, it was possible for there to be multiple broken tackles on one play, which is why we have a second column for total broken tackles.
Plays | Plays w/ BT | Pct | Total BTkl |
1017 | 76 | 7.5% | 94 |
Sabby Piscitelli had the 2nd highest broken tackle rate for defensive backs (19 BTkl / 66 Tkl / 22.4% BT Rate) and Ronde Barber had the 8th highest broken tackle rate for defensive backs (15 BTkl / 69 Tkl / 17.7% BT Rate).
Defense Department: Weekly IDP Briefing – St. Louis Rams
Aaron Schatz (Football Outsiders) provides the results from their 2009 game-charting project with regards to broken tackles. Unexpectedly, the Rams ranked 1st in the league last year in broken tackle percentage. In a separate article on ESPN.com, Schatz presents the resulting subjective individual player stats and the best/worst performances for linebackers and defensive backs.
Tackle totals don't do anything to look at opportunity -- they tell you only when a defender makes a play, not when he blows one.
Of course, a raw total of broken tackles needs to be understood in context.
So instead of just total broken tackles, let's look at broken tackle rate. For each defender we compared broken tackles with the total of broken tackles and solo tackles.
Football Outsiders defines a "broken tackle" as:
Either the ball carrier escapes from the grasp of the defender, or the defender is in good position for a tackle but the ball carrier jukes him out of his shoes. If the ball carrier sped by a slow defender who dived and missed, that didn't count as a broken tackle.
"Plays with Broken Tackle" is the number of plays with at least one broken tackle. However, it was possible for there to be multiple broken tackles on one play, which is why we have a second column for total broken tackles.
Plays | Plays w/ BT | Pct | Total BTkl |
990 | 46 | 4.7% | 58 |
Quite a surprise, as they were a terrible defense overall, but this data would seem to suggest that there is something to build on there.
Jim Thomas (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) writes that the Rams are expecting a better defense in 2010, primarily from returning players getting better. St. Louis took a thrifty approach with minor acquisitions on defense this offseason and added only one defensive player in the first four rounds of the draft (cornerback Jerome Murphy in the 3rd round).
The players know the system better, so there's less thinking and more reacting. And the coaches have a better idea of what the players can and can't do entering the second year of Steve Spagnuolo's tenure with the Rams.
Of course, "better" is a relative concept. Last season, the Rams finished 29th in total defense and 27th in rushing defense. Only Detroit (494) allowed more points than the Rams (436) in '09. Obviously, much better results were expected given Spagnuolo's defensive reputation when hired by the Rams.
Pro Football Weekly reports that the Rams signed Murphy to a four-year deal worth $2.7 million.
Considered very physical in the mold of Packers CB Al Harris, Murphy is a candidate for the Rams' nickel corner job and adds depth to what could be a decent CB corps, health permitting.
Bill Coats (St. Louis Post-Dispatch) reports that Chris Hovan signed a free-agent deal with the Rams. Hovan thinks that St. Louis' attacking defense suits him better than the two-gap defense he played in Tampa Bay last year.
Hovan joins a defensive line that now features a couple of more veterans to mix in with a group of youngsters.
"That has been a little bit by design," coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "I think on most of these successful teams in this league, usually at every position they have somebody with some experience, a leader, a good example. We've got that kind of filtered in now."
Coats writes that David Vobora was demoted from the starting strong-side linebacker spot after St. Louis signed Na'il Diggs.
On the field, Vobora wants to prove that he's still worthy of a starting role, regardless of the competition from Diggs or anyone else. "My approach stays the same: no matter who that guy is, beat him," he said.
He's been working mostly at middle linebacker this spring, behind James Laurinaitis.
"He's settled in and kind of concentrated just at 'mike' linebacker," coach Steve Spagnuolo noted. "But I think any of the so-called backup linebackers have to be able to play more than one (position). So somewhere along the way you'll see him play some outside linebacker, too."
Oshiomogho Atogwe was surprisingly unable to find an aggressive market to bid for his services during his three weeks as an unrestricted free agent, and ended up re-signing with St. Louis instead. Dan Arkush (Pro Football Weekly) had written that Atogwe was looking for a contract similar to the one Antrel Rolle got from the Giants, while St. Louis was focusing on a deal for $4-5 million annually. The Associated Press reports that Atogwe ultimately agreed to a five-year contract, though finanacial terms were not disclosed.
"We were always hopeful for this result," Spagnuolo said. "We look forward to having his leadership, character and talent back on our defense."
Atogwe hit the market after failing to reach a multiyear contract and the Rams declined to sign him to a one-year tender for $6.98 million, Atogwe's salary for last year plus 10 percent.
But in an uncapped year, with uncertainty about the future labor situation in the NFL, offers didn't pour in.
Atogwe said he spoke casually with other teams. But, he said, the possibility of a lockout in 2011 appeared to be a stumbling point for him and other players.
Pro Football Weekly reports that 5th round defensive end Hall Davis agreed to unannounced terms with the Rams.
Regarding Davis, Nawrocki wrote that the 6-4, 271-pounder "has the size, athletic ability and versatility to fit in a variety of schemes as a base end or potentially even as a rush linebacker."
Pro Football Weekly also reports that the Rams signed two 7th round picks, defensive end George Selvie and linebacker Josh Hull, to four-year deals.
In Pro Football Weekly's 2010 Draft Preview, PFW personnel analyst Nolan Nawrocki wrote that the 6-4, 252-pound Selvie "does play big for his size with enough leverage and grit to stick as a 4-3 base end despite his lack of bulk."
The 6-2, 237-pound Hull is expected to contribute primarily on special teams if he is able to make the final roster. Nawrocki wrote that Hull "gives consistent effort and does not quit on plays."
Gregg Rosenthal (profootballtalk.com) reports that the Rams also signed 6th round defensive end Eugene Sims and 7th round cornerback Marquis Johnson.
Defense Department: Weekly IDP Briefing – Seattle Seahawks (Part 2 of 2)
Gregg Bell (Associated Press) reports that Leroy Hill is closer to a trial on a domestic violence charge. The trial could start in the last week of July.
Seattle's four-year starter has a jury call scheduled for July 23. That's when the prosecutor will likely ask for a trial date.
The 27-year-old Hill was arrested in April for investigation of domestic violence following an incident with his girlfriend at his home. He has pleaded not guilty.
He hasn't practiced since the April 10 incident. The Seahawks say they have kept him away so he can deal with his legal issues, though contractual issues and a fear of Hill getting injured in practices while his playing status is in limbo are also factors.
"Practice is hugely important. There's a new system. There's a whole new approach to how we're doing things," Carroll said Tuesday. "It's certainly hindered his opportunity, without question. The other guys have just rocketed ahead with their chances and taking advantage of that."
Following a meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Hill returned to practice on June 15, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Hill said his meeting a couple of weeks ago with Goodell was "instructive."
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said the league gave the team reason to be "comfortable" with allowing Hill to return. The team had said it was keeping Hill away to deal with his legal problems.
Asked whether he expected Hill to be eligible for all 16 games this season, Carroll said: "We'll have to wait and see on that. I don't know that. I don't know how that's going to go."
John Clayton (ESPN) writes that Aaron Curry was overwhelmed last year, but hopes the new system will help him flourish.
The former Wake Forest star was arguably the best pure player in that draft. He's 6-foot-2, weighs 255 pounds and can do just about everything, including rushing the passer.
In a league in which linebackers usually win Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, Curry was the best linebacker in the draft and potentially the most likely candidate for that award.
His rookie season didn't come close to that.
Curry was lost in a monsoon of expectation and a downpour of misfortune. He was supposed to complete what was billed as the best linebacking corps in football. After the season opener, outside linebacker Leroy Hill was lost for two months because of injury. Three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Lofa Tatupu's season was over after six weeks because of injury.
"I was the first-rounder; I was supposed to be the so-called star," Curry said. "My biggest problem was that I got flustered. I was flooded with a lot of information [and] I tried so hard to do everything."
The Curry story appears to be much more positive this season. Expectations for the Seahawks may not be great, but Curry is entering the season on a more stable front. Carroll has plenty of great plans for Curry and the defensive scheme could allow him to be the star he was projected to be.
Curry will rush the quarterback as a linebacker in some 3-4 looks. He'll put his hand down and rush the quarterback in some passing situations. He'll be given the chance to make big plays.
Mel Kiper (ESPN) offers his choices for early-impact rookies, including Thomas.
I think Thomas might even have a chance to make a bigger impact early than Eric Berry, just because his pass-coverage skills are so advanced, and his instincts so good that it's hard to imagine that he won't quickly be stepping in front of some passes at the NFL level. Thomas just makes you a better pass-coverage unit, period.
Eric Williams (Tacoma News Tribune) blogs that one of the benefits of the selection of Thomas should be the ability of the defense to generate more turnovers.
Over the past two seasons, the Seahawks ranked among the worst teams in the league in collecting interceptions. Seattle corralled only 22 interceptions during that period, fourth-worst in the league behind St. Louis (20 interceptions), Dallas (19) and Detroit (13).
Seattle's fix for defending the pass is two-fold. The Seahawks have gotten leaner and more agile at the edge of the defense, and will devise more schemes to disguise what defenders will rush the quarterback to confuse the quarterback. This should help improve Seattle's third down percentage, an important statistic for defensive coordinator Gus Bradley. Seattle ranked 19th overall in third down percentage defensively last season at 39 percent.
Like several other defenses across the league, Seattle likely will play more single safety this season –or Cover 3, (Expertly explained by Matt Bowen of the National Football Post here) – counting on the corners to play more press coverage on the perimeter. This means the free safety, Thomas, will have to cover more ground in the back end of the defense to help the corners, something that his skill set suggests he can do.
Johns blogs that the Seahawks like Milloy's veteran savvy at safety, and he is currently practicing as the first-string strong safety.
"Having Pete come back was a big reason I decided to play again," Milloy said Tuesday after the team's latest minicamp practice. "I don't have to play if I don't want to. I play because I still have a passion for football and what I do and I can still do it at a high level."
"I have tremendous respect for Lawyer," Carroll said. "I saw him at a very early stage of his career, but he's always been the same. He's an aggressive, tough, competitive guy who always adds something to your team.
"And he still looks terrific. He's in great shape, he still is flying around the field and has every bit as much fire in him to make thing happen and be part of something. He's a big asset for us."
On June 22, one day after he was waived by San Diego, the Seahawks claimed Kevin Ellison, according to Johns. Ellison was a starter at USC for Carroll, and Seattle needs a big, physical, run defending strong safety to work with Thomas. Two days later, Johns reported that Ellison was waived by Seattle after failing his physical. In the "final" twist to the story, the team website announced that Ellison signed with Seattle again after clearing waivers.
"Coach Carroll and I are excited to add Kevin's intensity to the competition at the safety position," said General Manager John Schneider. "He has a feel for our system, and although he is a late addition, we believe he can step in and challenge for a roster spot."
Dan Arkush (Pro Football Weekly) writes that Marcus Trufant is ready for a major rebound in Seattle.
We hear nobody on the Seahawks is looking more forward to the 2010 campaign than former first-round draft pick CB Marcus Trufant, who couldn't be more determined to make amends for what he considered a lost season in '09. "That's a great way to put it," said one daily team observer of Trufant, who never was able to get his act together after spending the first six games in '09 on the physically-unable-to-perform list with a disc problem in his back similar to the one that previously sidelined QB Matt Hasselbeck.
"But he's feeling much better now and is relishing the team's decision to have the corners play a more aggressive bump-and-run style, which plays to his strengths."
"It really looks like he's back, both physically and mentally," the source said.
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