Cardinals’ Levi Brown could be done for the year

August 21, 2012 stevenlourie Cardinals, News

The Cardinals allowed the 2^nd most sacks in the league last year, allowing 54, and now they have been dealt a huge blow to their offensive line as Levi Brown could be out for the year after tearing his triceps. Brown has been described as “right on the margin” to return this season after undergoing surgery and if the Cardinals are out of the playoff race late in the season, very possible, they won’t bring him back. With no guaranteed money left on his recently restructured 5 year, 30 million dollar contract after the season, it’s very likely that the 2007 5^th overall pick has played his last snap for the Cardinals.

However, this may end up being a blessing in disguise for the Cardinals. Their backup offensive tackles might not be any better, but it would be hard for them to be worse. Brown has been horrendous since taking over a full time starter in 2008, allowing 41 sacks, 45 quarterback hits, and 150 quarterback pressures in 4 seasons. A solid run blocker yes, but this is a passing league and Brown has the league’s 2^nd worst pass blocking efficiency over the last 3 seasons (sacks allowed + .75 hits allowed + .75 pressures allowed/passing snaps played).

In his absence, the Cardinals will either play DJ Young, a 2011 undrafted free agent who has never played a snap, or Jeremy Bridges, who recently lost the right tackle battle to 4^th round rookie Bobby Massie. Bridges, the veteran, has allowed 8 sacks, 13 quarterback hits, and 26 quarterback pressures in 17 regular and postseason starts over the last 3 starts, both on the right side and the left side, as the Cardinals’ primary swing tackle. Massie, who has won the right tackle job, could also be a candidate to move to the left side this season as he’s probably their most talented offensive tackle. Even though he was a 4^th round rookie, he was widely regarded as a steal. Their offensive tackle play probably won’t be quite as bad it was last season.

Another thing that will help out the Cardinals’ offensive line is the presumed decision to start John Skelton over Kevin Kolb. Kolb’s awful pocket presence was part of the reason why the Cardinals allowed so many sacks last season as Kolb took a sack on 26.1% of pressured snaps last season, tied for 2^nd worst in the league. Skelton, meanwhile, took a sack on 19.2% of pressured snaps last season. While Kolb took 30 sacks, Skelton took “only” 23 in roughly as many pressured dropbacks. The Cardinals’ offensive line should be one of the worst in the league again this year, but they probably won’t be as bad as they were last year and Brown’s injury is not that serious because he’s atrocious in pass protection.

If you’re interested in doing a fantasy football league with me, here’s the link (no draft date set yet, currently standard, with the option to become PPR with group vote). http://msn.foxsports.com/fantasy/football/commissioner/Registration/Private.aspx?league=55086&password=FanSpot2

[switch_ad_hub]

Steelers activate Rashard Mendenhall off PUP

August 21, 2012 stevenlourie News, Steelers

In a surprising move, the Steelers have activated Rashard Mendenhall off the PUP list. This move is surprising because everyone, including Steelers GM Kevin Colbert himself, believed that Mendenhall would begin the season on the PUP and have to miss at least 6 games after tearing his ACL last December.

Mendenhall is doubtful for week 1 and, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, “could miss most” of September. The Steelers play 3 times in September before a week 4 bye. GM Kevin Colbert also seconds this report by saying that Mendenhall should be ready by “week 5 or week 6.” Obviously, they think he can go in the first 6 weeks of the season or they wouldn’t have made this move. Schefter also said that they made this move to “get him back into football shape” for October.

This obviously puts a damper on Isaac Redman’s fantasy value as he’ll have half, at most, of the games he would have originally had to prove he is in the superior back, which his play last season suggests he is. He’ll be the lead back for about 3 weeks and then will probably split carries, at most, with Mendenhall, even though he is more talented and Mendenhall is in a contract year coming off a torn ACL.

Expect about 15 carries per game for 3-4 games and then 8-10 carries per game for 12-13, which puts him right at about 160-180 carries. Mendenhall, meanwhile, will probably carry the ball 120-140 times and is now back on the fantasy radar. Unless someone gets hurt or a clear starter emerges, Pittsburgh’s backfield will be one to avoid in fantasy circles after the first few weeks of the season. Redman is being overdrafted with a 7th round ADP, while Mendenhall is being overdrafted with a 10th round ADP.

[switch_ad_hub]

Steelers’ Mike Wallace expected to report this weekend

August 21, 2012 stevenlourie News, Steelers

On a day where one high profile holdout got worse, with Maurice Jones-Drew expressing his anger with Jaguars ownership and saying he’d be open to a trade, the other remaining high profile holdout seemingly got better. According to separate reports by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Wallace is expected to join the Steelers this weekend, after their preseason game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday.

The Steelers refusal to move Wallace in a trade appears to have paid off as Wallace will be a big contributor for a team built to win now. His long term future with the team remains murky as they would appear to lack the cap space needed to give Wallace the type of money he wants and deserves, especially after extending Antonio Brown.

They had to restructure several contracts this offseason just to get under the cap and next offseason they figure to be very backed up against the cap, if not over it, as all of the recently restructured deals will hurt them more next offseason and because Brown’s extension will kick in. However, for a team built to win now, 1 year of Wallace was probably worth more to them than any type of 2013 draft pick (or picks) they could have gotten in a trade for him.

Wallace should still have a down year statistically after his extended holdout. By holding out, he risked getting out of shape. It’s very tough to stay in top football shape on your own. Even more likely, he also missed valuable Training Camp and preseason time with a new offensive coordinator, Todd Haley, coming in. Antonio Brown likely has a much stronger grasp of the playbook than Wallace and he should lead the team in receiving this year. Wallace caught 72 passes for 1193 yards and 8 touchdowns last season, while Brown caught 69 passes for 1108 yards and 2 touchdowns.

[switch_ad_hub]

Terrell Owens no lock to make Seahawks’ roster

August 21, 2012 stevenlourie News, Seahawks

When the Seahawks signed Terrell Owens, it was certainly a very high profile signing. However, seemingly contrary to popular belief, TO is no lock to make the Seahawks’ roster, especially after a terrible showing in his 1^st preseason game, where he didn’t catch a ball on 5 targets and dropped a sure 46 yard touchdown. Sidney Rice has begun doing contact drills and seems like he’ll be ready to go week 1, while ESPN’s Mike Sando is reporting that Owens and Braylon Edwards are competing for one roster spot. NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora seconds this report by saying that Owens is “hardly assured” of a roster spot, according to team sources.

Owens is one of the greatest receivers of all time, but future time is undefeated. Of the top 30 leading receivers of all time, only 3 others have played into their age 39 season or later: Jerry Rice, Charlie Joiner, Joey Galloway. Only Rice (83/1139/9) was productive in his age 39 season. Joiner caught 34 passes for 440 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Galloway caught 12 passes for 173 yards and didn’t score. Owens is heading into his age 39 season this year.

He was done in 2010. Though he did catch 72 passes for 983 yards and 9 touchdowns, but he did that on 132 targets (54.5%) and 10 balls targeted for him ended up getting intercepted. Carson Palmer was just forcing him the football, which is why he led the league in interceptions that year and the Bengals went 4-12. He also dropped 8 passes. 2 years and one torn ACL later, he’s certainly not any better and didn’t look it in their first preseason game. My money is on Edwards winning that battle and Owens, who is owed no guaranteed money, being a final cut and eventually retiring.

[switch_ad_hub]

Many different receivers competing for spots in Rams’ receiving corps

August 21, 2012 stevenlourie News, Rams

The Rams are known for having one of the thinnest receiving corps in the NFL. While they lack obvious #1 and #2 receivers, one thing they don’t lack is depth, as you would expect from a team that has used 5 picks in rounds 2-4 on receivers in the last 3 seasons. The Rams are hoping that their quantity over quality approach produces two legitimate starters on what has been one of the weakest receiving corps in the league really since the days of Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce.

They essentially have 8 wide receivers competing for positioning on the depth chart. Brandon Gibson and Danario Alexander are their leading returning receivers, producing mediocre lines of 36/431/1 and 26/431/2 respectively. Gibson, a 2009 6^th round pick acquired in a trade from the Eagles, has caught 123 passes for 1399 yards and 4 touchdowns in 3 seasons. Alexander, meanwhile, was an undrafted free agent in 2010. He’s dealt with several injuries so far in his career, catching 46 passes for 737 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2 seasons. He’s currently battling a hamstring problem which has cost him all of Training Camp, which will definitely hurt him as he tries to make the roster in a crowded receiving corps.

Austin Pettis and Greg Salas were 3^rd and 4^th round picks in the 2011 NFL Draft. Neither really did much as rookies, as Salas caught 27 passes for 264 yards and 0 touchdowns, while Pettis caught 27 passes for 256 yards and 0 touchdowns. While Pettis was the higher draft pick, Salas has been the more impressive receiver this offseason. Pettis is also suspended for the first 2 games of the season for violating the league’s performance enhancing drugs policy.

Brian Quick and Chris Givens were 2^nd and 4^th round picks in the 2012 NFL Draft. Givens was never expected to make much of an impact as a rookie, but Quick was expected to be a starter and possibly the #1 receiver, even if only by default. However, he hasn’t quite lived up to his billing yet and has yet to beat out Brandon Gibson for a starting job. Several reports actually say that Givens is impressing more than Quick this offseason, no surprise to me since I had Givens rated higher on my wide receiver board this draft season than Quick.

Danny Amendola was their leading receiver in 2010, catching 85 passes for 689 yards and 3 touchdowns, but missed most of last season with injury. He’s had a strong offseason in his return and has been Bradford’s favorite target once again in the preseason. Bradford’s favorite security blanket, Amendola is the only receiver whose role is pretty much locked in at this point, as he will continue to serve as the slot receiver, as he did in 2010.

Another player coming off injury is Steve Smith. Steve Smith caught 107 passes for 1220 yards and 7 touchdowns with the Giants in 2009, but knee problems have limited him to 59 catches for 655 yards and 4 touchdowns over the last 2 seasons with the Giants and Eagles. Now as healthy as he’s been since 2009, Smith is impressing in Training Camp and the preseason and looks to be locked in as a starter. He won’t find his old 100 catch form or anything, but he’ll probably be the Rams’ #1 receiver, assuming he can stay healthy.

Either Gibson or Quick will likely start opposite him, depending almost solely on whether or not Quick can step up his game and beat out the veteran in the next few weeks. Amendola will remain the slot receiver, while Salas and Givens probably won’t have much impact this season as purely depth receivers. Alexander, unable to shake the injury bug, will probably be a final cut, while Pettis will miss the first 2 games of the season with suspension.

That will allow the Rams to carry just 6 receivers into the season despite making just 1 cut, but when he returns, they’ll have a decision to make, unless injuries strike. Pettis could find himself the odd man out, as could Salas, even though they were mid round picks just over a year ago. Givens, being a rookie, will probably be safe for this season, especially after an impressive offseason. 2nd year tight end Lance Kendricks, a 2011 2nd round pick, has also been having a strong offseason and could be a big part of the offense as well. This receiving corps might end up being passable.

[switch_ad_hub]

Rams’ Sam Bradford could need surgery on his ankle after season

August 21, 2012 stevenlourie News, Rams

Sam Bradford missed 6 games and was limited in several other games with a high ankle sprain last season and now, almost a year after the initial injury, it is still giving him problems. According to NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora, Bradford could need surgery on the ankle after the season. Bradford, however, doesn’t seem too worried calling it a “non-issue.” He also said “I think it’s as good as it’s going to feel. It’s something that we’re managing right now. I’ve been able to take every snap so far without any setbacks and I think that’s a positive sign.”

Guys get routine surgeries in the offseason all the time and it sounds like this will be the kind of surgery that Bradford would require, if he does in fact need surgery. He’s not a mobile quarterback to begin with so this won’t be a huge issue. He’s walking without a limp and has had a solid preseason, completing 13 of 18 for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns. He won’t be running for his life as much this season in the Rams’ new quick throw west coast offense, which he excelled in as a rookie, leading this team to 7-9. Right tackle and left guard are weak points for the Rams up front, but other than that, they should have an overall decent line, certainly upgraded over the one that allowed 55 sacks last season.

[switch_ad_hub]

Rams bench Jason Smith for Barry Richardson

August 21, 2012 stevenlourie News, Rams

The Rams allowed the most sacks in the league last year, 55, in large part because of injuries to both of their starting tackles, Rodger Saffold and Jason Smith. The Rams didn’t add another starter in the offseason because they were hoping that Smith and Saffold, both young, would bounce back. However, the Rams may be regretting that as Smith has struggled this offseason.

Smith has been benched for Barry Richardson, an offseason acquisition. Richardson was only signed to be a backup, however, after he struggled mightily with the Chiefs as their starting right tackle last season. He graded out as ProFootballFocus’ 2^nd worst rated offensive tackle, allowing 8 sacks, 6 quarterback hits, and 36 quarterback pressures, while committing 9 penalties. He also was ProFootballFocus’ worst rated offensive tackle in run blocking, as the Chiefs averaged just 2.6 YPC running off right tackle last season.

Even if Richardson wins the starting job, the 2009 2^nd overall pick won’t be cut because he’s owed a guaranteed 4 million dollars this season, after restructuring his contract down from 10 million earlier this offseason. Either way, right tackle figures to be a liability for the Rams. Rodger Saffold should be able to bounce back on the left side because, before his injury plagued 2011 season, he allowed just 3 sacks, 10 quarterback hits, and 27 quarterback pressures as a mere 2^nd round rookie in 2010, when they ranked 18th in pass blocking efficiency as a team.

They also have proven veterans at right guard and center in Harvey Dahl and Scott Wells. Left guard and right tackle will be liabilities, but with a new quicker throw offense being implemented, the Rams should give up significantly fewer sacks than they did last season. They actually ranked 24^th in pass blocking efficiency, which takes into account quarterback hits and quarterback pressures, last season, so they weren’t quite as bad as their 55 sacks would have suggested.

[switch_ad_hub]

St. Louis Rams trade CB Josh Gordy to Indianapolis Colts

August 21, 2012 stevenlourie 2012 NFL Off-Season, Colts, Offseason Moves 2012, Rams

Trade for Colts: Needing cornerback depth having only Jerraud Powers, Justin King, and Cassius Vaughn at cornerback, the Colts sent an undisclosed late round pick to St. Louis for Josh Gordy. Gordy played 12 games, including 9 starts, for an injury plagued Rams secondary last season, but struggled, grading out as ProFootballFocus’ 96^th ranked cornerback out of 109, allowing 27 completions on 42 attempts (64.3%) for 387 yards (9.2 YPA), 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions, while deflecting 2 passes and committing 1 penalty. He was their worst rated cornerback against the run. However, they almost had to make some sort of move because of how much they lack depth at cornerback.

Grade: B

Trade for Rams: Gordy played a big role for the Rams last season, but he didn’t play well and with Bradley Fletcher coming back from injury and Cortland Finnegan and Janoris Jenkins coming in, Gordy would have been their 4^th cornerback at best this season. It’s surprising they were able to get anything for him.

Grade: A

[switch_ad_hub]

Jaguars’ Maurice Jones-Drew open to a trade

August 21, 2012 stevenlourie Jaguars, News

Though it seemed like earlier today that Maurice Jones-Drew’s holdout would be coming to a close, with less than 3 weeks before the regular season opener and a report by CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco that the feeling in the Jaguars’ locker room was that Maurice Jones-Drew would report soon, it now appears that the holdout has gone from bad to worse. New Jaguars owner Shahid Khan angered MJD, the league’s leading rusher in 2011, by calling him out publicly and saying “train’s leaving the station. run, get on it.” MJD responded by saying that he would welcome a trade.

Jones-Drew is obviously angered that Khan has been taking this so public when MJD has been trying to keep this a private matter all along. He also feels disrespected that the team won’t even discuss a new contract with him after he accounted for 47.7% of the team’s yards from scrimmage last season, by far most of any non-quarterback. Unlike last offseason, when Chris Johnson was holding out from the Titans, the Jaguars have not made MJD a reasonable offer. They haven’t even had talks with him about any offer, reasonable or unreasonable.

Last offseason, I took the Titans’ side and bashed Chris Johnson for being greedy. This offseason, I think MJD is being completely reasonable. He’s one of the best, if not the best, at his position in the league and will make just 9.4 million over the next 2 seasons. He’ll make about half of what guys like Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, Ray Rice, DeAngelo Williams, Arian Foster, LeSean McCoy, and Marshawn Lynch have gotten from their respective teams in the past calender year. The Jaguars, meanwhile, have the league’s most cap space at an estimated 25.11 million. It’s not even so much an issue of money here as it is about respect and the Jaguars are completely disrespecting arguably the most valuable non-quarterback playmaker in the league.

The Jaguars have called for Maurice Jones-Drew to fulfill his obligation, which is so hypocritical given that they, just like every other team in the league, frequently fail to fulfill their obligation and cut underperforming players. If MJD was underperforming his contract, they could cut him easily and probably would, given that he has no more guaranteed money left on his contract. MJD is underpaid on a terrible team at a position with a short shelf life. He has every right to hold out.

The Jaguars are currently taking the position that they will not be trading Maurice Jones-Drew, which is not surprising. Trading him would essentially mean caving and they don’t seem the least bit willing to do that. For this reason, it’s definitely possible that Maurice Jones-Drew could hold out into the season. His backup, Rashad Jennings, all of a sudden becomes an especially intriguing sleeper option in the mid rounds in fantasy leagues, while Maurice Jones-Drew’s stock plummets. I would take him anywhere in the first 5 rounds at least and I wouldn’t draft him without using a later pick on Jennings.

Though the Jaguars are very unlikely to trade him, at least now, it’s still fun to float out trade ideas. The Lions would be an obvious destination because their running back trio of Jahvid Best, Kevin Smith, and Mikel Leshoure is about as injury prone as they come. The Bengals, who only have BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Bernard Scott at running back, also make sense, albeit to a lesser extent.

To me, the most intriguing trade scenario would send him to the Atlanta Falcons. Meanwhile, Michael Turner and picks would go back to Jacksonville. Those two teams essentially swapped offensive coordinators this offseason, as former Jacksonville offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter went to Atlanta to replace Mike Mularkey, who left to become the new Head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Michael Turner is not a good fit in Koetter’s offense, but MJD would be. In addition to being a better fit, he’s also 3 years younger and more talented and alright knows the offense. They would instantly have one of the league’s best and most balanced offenses if they made that trade, especially if Matt Ryan continues to look as good throwing to talented wideouts like Julio Jones and Roddy White in the regular season as he has looked thus far in the preseason.

Turner is older and less talented, but a much better fit for Mularkey’s scheme, which he’s done well in over the past few years, than Koetter’s. He could be a nice stopgap running back for the Jaguars and pair with Jennings and the picks would also be valuable assets in the Jaguars’ rebuilding project. This trade would also allow them to avoid committing the kind of big money to MJD that they so clearly don’t want to give him. Unfortunately, any trade seems like a real long shot right now and even if MJD holds out into the season, it would take some kind of monster offer, like the one the Bengals got for Carson Palmer last season, for the Jaguars to think about caving and trading away their best offensive player.

[switch_ad_hub]

Russell Wilson to start Seahawks’ 3rd preseason game

August 21, 2012 stevenlourie News, Seahawks

Could we have 5 rookie starting quarterbacks week 1? Well, 4 have already been named, Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin, Ryan Tannehill, and Brandon Weeden and a 5^th, the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson, will start in the team’s 3^rd preseason game this week. 3^rd preseason games are typically teams’ dress rehearsals for the regular season, when teams have their depth chart finalized. However, Wilson starting this week does not mean he will be the week 1 starter.

The Seahawks clearly have an unorthodox way of doing things. Not a lot of teams sign a quarterback to a deal with 10 million dollars guaranteed and then have him compete for the starting job, like they did with Matt Flynn. Because they’re so unorthodox, we should not assume that Wilson starting this week means he’ll start week 1. I mean when’s the last time you saw a team start one quarterback for the 1^st two preseason games and then started a different one in the 3^rd preseason game. Like I said, unorthodox.

Obviously Wilson has impressed them so far battling other teams’ 2^nd and 3^rd stringers and they want to see what he can do against 1^st stringers. If he plays well, he could definitely get the job. If he doesn’t, Flynn will probably start week 1. Wilson has completed 22 of 33 for 279 yards, 3 touchdowns, and an interception, while rushing for another 82 yards and a score on 8 carries. The Seahawks obviously really like the unorthodox styled quarterback as GM John Schneider compared him to Drew Brees and said that the 3^rd round pick was one of the “top three players” he scouted last fall. Matt Flynn’s grip on the starting job has been significantly loosened, but nothing is decided yet.

[switch_ad_hub]

Football Fan Spot

A site for football fans

Month: August 2012

Cardinals’ Levi Brown could be done for the year

Steelers activate Rashard Mendenhall off PUP

Steelers’ Mike Wallace expected to report this weekend

Terrell Owens no lock to make Seahawks’ roster

Many different receivers competing for spots in Rams’ receiving corps

Rams’ Sam Bradford could need surgery on his ankle after season

Rams bench Jason Smith for Barry Richardson

St. Louis Rams trade CB Josh Gordy to Indianapolis Colts

Jaguars’ Maurice Jones-Drew open to a trade

Russell Wilson to start Seahawks’ 3rd preseason game