NFL FanHouse http://nfl.fanhouse.com NFL FanHouse http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/media/feedlogo.gif NFL FanHouse http://nfl.fanhouse.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Panthers Suddenly Back in Playoff Frayhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/15/panthers-suddenly-back-in-playoff-fray/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/15/panthers-suddenly-back-in-playoff-fray/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/15/panthers-suddenly-back-in-playoff-fray/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Carolina Panthers have seemed to turn the proverbial corner twice this year; the first turn came after wins against Washington and Tampa Bay, only to see the Panthers exposed as Jake Delhomme threw three picks in an explicable loss to a horrendous Bills team.

But as the clock expired on the Cats' 28-19 win over the Falcons, things seemed much, much different. Not only had the Panthers beaten a division rival, but they had somehow climbed back into the playoff picture in the NFC, and that thought alone didn't seem as impossible as Delhomme going turnover free against Atlanta ... which he'd just done.

That's not to say that the Panthers are a Super Bowl contender just yet; they're still 4-5. But for those that haven't bothered to check the standings so far, that's actually a decent mark in the NFC -- New Orleans and Minnesota are elite, but unless Andy Reid can figure out his short-yardage playcalling in the next hour or so, the wildcard leader might be sitting at 5-4, just one game ahead of the suddenly streaking Panthers.

Carolina won -- and this should be embarrassingly obvious to anyone who watches football reasonably closely -- by running the ball, by playing tough defense, and by keeping Delhomme out of situations that required anything more than game managing. Delhomme made some clutch throws, hitting Steve Smith for four-yard touchdowns twice on third and goal from the four-yard line.

On Atlanta's part, you have to give some credit to them given the fact that Michael Turner chalked up 100 yards very, very quickly only to leave with an ankle injury, meaning Jason Snelling was the lone back on the team. But Matt Ryan had a less-than-stellar game, tossing two picks and completing only 22 of his 41 passes. Of course, he had to pass 41 times because the Panthers were so efficient on offense, something that just didn't seem possible four weeks ago.

Panthers Suddenly Back in Playoff Fray originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Will BrinsonSun, 15 Nov 2009 18:40:00 EST Mike Smith Fined -- DeAngelo Hall Gets Off Scot-Freehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/12/mike-smith-fined-deangelo-hall-gets-off-scot-free/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/12/mike-smith-fined-deangelo-hall-gets-off-scot-free/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/12/mike-smith-fined-deangelo-hall-gets-off-scot-free/#commentsFiled under: ,

Mike SmithThe dust has finally settled from the Sunday's sideline melee between Washington and Atlanta. The skirmish occurred shortly after a late hit by LaRon Landry sent Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan flying and tempers flaring between the Atlanta sideline and a few Redskins players, including former-Falcon DeAngelo Hall.

The NFL office has decided that fines should be handed out to four individuals. Falcons head coach Mike Smith received the biggest fine of $15,000 and Director of Athletic Performance Jeff Fish was slapped with a $2,500 fine. Two Redskins players were also fined -- Albert Haynesworth at $7,500 and LaRon Landry at $5,000.

Absent from being fined for any wrong-doing is DeAngelo Hall, who appeared to instigate the entire incident. That has many Falcons fans and local media personnel hopping-mad. Jeff Schultz, a columnist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution calls the fines "Nonsensical", mainly due to the fact that Hall was left unscathed by the NFL.

From my vantage point in the press box (and the play did happen directly in front of us), and after watching the video many times, I completely agree with the way the NFL handled the situation. Let's look at the facts.

Landry's hit on Ryan was most definitely late -- a bonehead decision that was rightfully penalized. But he and Ryan bounced up after the play and returned to the field. Had Landry stayed on the field instead of joining Haynesworth on the sideline to assist in "retrieving" Hall, he wouldn't have been fined. But,since he and Haynesworth went back into the scuffle they rightfully were fined.

Mike Smith and Jeff Fish both made physical contact with Hall after the Redskins defensive back appeared on the Falcons sideline. They didn't swing or throw any punches at Hall, but they did grab him. And they did so somewhat aggressively while exchanging verbal jabs.

Smith has argued that his part in the incident was as a peace keeper and many have pointed out that he was just trying to protect his quarterback. I'm not sure the defense of Matt Ryan argument holds water, as Ryan was already back out on the field preparing for the next play. The first instinct by Smith and the Falcons coaching staff may have been rage towards Landry for the late hit, but once both players left the sideline and Hall showed up, the "meeting" was no longer about Ryan, it was personal.

Hall should never have opened his mouth on the Falcons sideline -- he was already there as the play had drawn him over -- but the smart thing to do would have been to head back out with Landry and Ryan. He didn't leave the sideline and once the shouting started, pushing, shoving and grabbing ensued.

Hall didn't do anything to deserve a fine. He showed terrible judgment by staying on the sideline to run his mouth. You can even argue that he showed immaturity and more poor judgment with negative comments he made the week prior to the game about the Falcons and general manager Thomas Dimitroff. But none of those events are worthy of a fine from the league, even if they led to, if not caused, the whole sideline disturbance.

When the NFL handed out $30,000 in fines, they issued them justly and to the right individuals -- leaving nobody out. The league got it right in this case. But, Mike Smith got it right too. It's true that he shouldn't have put his hands on DeAngelo Hall. In the eyes of the NFL that's a no-no. But, Smith earned major points in the locker room for standing up for his team. Whether he was standing up for Ryan after the late hit or for the team as a whole after Hall had spent the better part of a week running his mouth, Smith let every person in the Falcons organization know that he has their back.

That sentiment alone is worth the $15,000 fine Smith received.

Mike Smith Fined -- DeAngelo Hall Gets Off Scot-Free originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>albert haynesworthdeangelo halljeff fishlaron landrymatt ryanmike smiththomas dimitroffKnox BardeenThu, 12 Nov 2009 14:05:00 EST DeAngelo Hall Accuses Falcons Assistant Of Throwing Puncheshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/08/deangelo-hall-accuses-falcons-coach-of-throwing-punches/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/08/deangelo-hall-accuses-falcons-coach-of-throwing-punches/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/08/deangelo-hall-accuses-falcons-coach-of-throwing-punches/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

ATLANTA -- When the NFL schedule came out at the beginning of the year, the Washington Redskins game at the Atlanta Falcons wasn't necessarily a matchup you expected to be volatile. But DeAngelo Hall sure did.

Hall, who spent the first four seasons of his career playing in Atlanta, did a lot of trash-talking this week. He claimed that Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff lied to him on multiple occasions regarding roster issues, and he dared the Falcons to make him a target this week -- since he knew they probably would anyway.

Was there any doubt that if a skirmish broke out between the two teams that Hall would be involved?

That's exactly what happened. Late in the first half, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was hit after going out of bounds on the Falcons sideline and a melee ensued. The result was a 15-yard penalty against Washington and a lot of pushing and shoving. According to Hall, a Falcons coach even threw punches.

Hall said Atlanta strength coach Jeff Fish took a swing at him: "As a strength coach you going to come in and get [expletive] licks in?"

Hall even added that Atlanta head coach Mike Smith was among the Atlanta coaches who were grabbing at him on the Falcons' sideline. "I was trying to get [Redskins safety] LaRon Landry out of there, and guys started coming at me," Hall said. "Guys on their coaching staff, and not in a mindset to break up a fight."

Hall said he plans to file a complaint with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about the sideline incident, "I'm going to go to Goodell and try to nip this thing in the bud."



Smith had a different take on the incident.

"Our quarterback was hit late, there was a skirmish, and all I was trying to do was restore order," Smith said.

When asked if he got into Hall's face, Smith said, "There were a bunch of guys on that sideline. Some of them were wearing black helmets and some of them were wearing maroon helmets. I can't tell you anything more about it because it was very, very hectic on that sideline."

Smith squashed any further questions by saying, "I can't tell you who was on that sideline. All I can tell you is that I was trying to restore order."
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DeAngelo Hall Accuses Falcons Assistant Of Throwing Punches originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>deangelo halllaron landrymatt ryanmike smithKnox BardeenSun, 08 Nov 2009 17:48:00 EST America's Team? It's the Saints Nowhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/03/americas-team-its-the-saints-now/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/03/americas-team-its-the-saints-now/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/11/03/americas-team-its-the-saints-now/#commentsFiled under: ,

Saints fansNEW ORLEANS -- Go ahead, because this is the right thing to do: You should spend the rest of the NFL season hugging whatever team you traditionally love, but you should kiss the New Orleans Saints in the shadows.

If you prefer to do so in the sunshine, that's fine, too.

The Saints have replaced the folks with stars on their helmets as America's Team. In case you weren't paying attention, Hurricane Katrina blew this franchise into the hearts of all those who had them. That unofficially happened on Sept. 25, 2006, the team's first home game back in New Orleans -- a Monday night when, just like this Monday night, the roof of the Superdome threatened to explode because of the noise generated by inside, as opposed to the wind outside it.

A game that was also against the Falcons. And that, too, was a victory for the Saints, along the way to their first and only NFC championship game.
Nancy Gay: Good News, Bad News for Falcons

Get the picture in black, old gold and white? When you cheer for the Saints, you're still cheering for this city, which has come a long ways since water nearly drowned its existence, but it remains a sometimes-ugly work in progress.

So the majority of the citizens do what they've done forever in New Orleans -- and that is, they live through their NFL franchise. Well, they mostly die with it. But after decades of gasping, it has a strong heartbeat seven games into this season.

In fact, given the Saints' rise to an unblemished record after a 35-27 victory over Atlanta, with the home team excelling before a deliriously loud gathering screaming "Who dat?," and with all of those watching on national television still recalling the death, destruction and despair that smothered these parts four years ago after that hurricane ...

Given all of that ...

Well, who knows what this team might accomplish this season?

Yeah, we know. These are the Saints. A gifted bunch of Saints, with explosive players throughout their offense and with a defense that terrorizes foes at crucial times, but the Saints nonetheless. In the end, they'll likely continue to sit with the Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans and Detroit Lions as the only NFL teams never to reach a Super Bowl.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't pull for the Saints, because they are playing another season for themselves and everybody else.

Aren't they?

"I don't know. I mean, we're always playing for the city, because our fans are so great," said Saints safety Darren Sharper, in his 13th NFL season. Then he added, "A couple of years ago, it was a different situation, especially coming off of Katrina. There was a lot more emotion into it back then, but now, we're just trying to win."


They've done so in different ways. They've done the blowout thing more often than not, and that has included routs of the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants, both NFC East toughies. They've done the comeback thing, rallying from 21 points behind to upend the Miami Dolphins in Week 7.

And now they've done the survival thing.

On Monday night, the Saints were able to overcome the relentless Falcons (who had a chance at a game-tying touchdown in the final seconds) and themselves (four turnovers). Said Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who stayed on the other side of unbelievable by finishing the night with a passer rating of 111.7: "I'll be honest with you. I don't think we played that great today. I think our best is yet to come."

Sharper went a tad further. "We're looking to play the perfect game," he said, without blinking, enough to make you think that maybe these aren't those other Saints.

The Ain'ts are long gone. So are the fans who once attended Saints home games with bags over their heads. As a result, life, as far as football's concerned, is so wonderfully different around this part of the bayou right now that you can ask this legitimate question of the Saints without snickering: Are they the best team in the league at the moment?

Actually, the Saints are -- at the moment.

This is one of those Ginger-Mary Ann discussions, since the highly efficient Indianapolis Colts are the NFL's only other undefeated team.

Not only that, the Colts have their own Drew Brees in Peyton Manning. Entering Monday night's game, the Colts were ninth in total defense while the Saints were 11th, but the Saints were first in total offense while the Colts were fourth.

The Saints have the edge over Indianapolis -- and everybody else -- courtesy of their wealth of playmakers. New Orleans' receiving corps is a bottomless pit, ranging from Marques Colston to Devery Henderson to tight end Jeremy Shockey. At running back, well, let Saints coach Sean Payton tell you: "We try to rotate Pierre [Thomas] and Mike [Bell], and we have certain packages for Reggie [Bush]."

Thomas rushed for 91 yards against the Falcons, Bell added 49, and Bush was his typical, versatile self -- rushing, receiving and returning kicks.

Then there's the defense. The Saints sacked Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan three times, and picked off three of his passes -- the final one coming when Sharper nabbed a desperation Ryan toss in the game's closing seconds. With that interception, it was over.

The game, not the Saints' mission. "We're just focused on trying to get better," said Payton, which should please all of us -- you know, as partial Saints fans.

Terence Moore is a national columnist and commentator for FanHouse. He is a frequent panelist on "Rome Is Burning," an ESPN show hosted by Jim Rome, that is seen Monday through Friday at 4:30 PM ET. Moore spent more than three decades working for major newspapers, including 26 years as an award-winning sports columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He resides in Atlanta.

America's Team? It's the Saints Now originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>drew breessean paytonTerence MooreTue, 03 Nov 2009 03:30:00 EST Tatum Bell Thinks His UFL Team Would Handily Beat Tampa Bayhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/tatum-bell-thinks-his-ufl-team-would-handily-beat-tampa-bay/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/tatum-bell-thinks-his-ufl-team-would-handily-beat-tampa-bay/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/29/tatum-bell-thinks-his-ufl-team-would-handily-beat-tampa-bay/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As we near the halfway point of the NFL season, there is a slew of really bad NFL teams stinking up the joint. The 0-7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers obviously qualify. That means it's time for a bunch of delusional people to start making claims about how so-and-so could beat the Bucs. You know, college teams, "my rec league team," high school teams and, of course, UFL teams. Usually these claims are tongue-in-cheek, but Tatum Bell of the UFL's Florida Tuskers seems pretty serious.

Michael Pittman, a running back for the Tuskers who used to play for the Bucs, said something about how some of his teammates probably thought they could beat the Bucs. Bell immediately said he was one of them. When given a hypothetical score of 24-14 (Tuskers over Bucs), Bell went a bit too far.
"That's how much credit you give our defense?" Bell said, smiling. "I see more than that. I see our offense putting up more than that and I see our defense shutting them down for less than that."
Of course you guys could, Tatum. That's why you are playing in the UFL, not the NFL, right? By choice?

It's good to be confident, but sometimes a little reality check would work.

The Buccaneers scored 21 points on the Cowboys, 20 on the Bills, 14 on the Eagles and 21 on the Panthers. But, you know, I'm sure the mighty Tuskers are better defensively than those four teams. I'm sure they could easily handle the talented Kellen Winslow and Antonio Bryant. I'm sure they have to deal with tackling players as talented as Derrick Ward and Cadillac Williams in the UFL. You know, the league where J.P. Losman is their biggest star.

Not that there's anything wrong with the UFL. There isn't. But it's not even remotely in the ballpark of the NFL in terms of talent. Any NFL team would beat a UFL All-Star team. It wouldn't be close. The people running the league likely wouldn't even argue that at this point.

I think they should set up an exhibition game. The only problem is that poor Tatum would probably start stealing Bucs' luggage after his Tuskers lost.

Tatum Bell Thinks His UFL Team Would Handily Beat Tampa Bay originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>tatum bellTatumBellMatt SnyderThu, 29 Oct 2009 13:10:00 EST Josh Freeman to Take Over as Bucs' QBhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/josh-freeman-to-take-over-as-bucs-qb/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/josh-freeman-to-take-over-as-bucs-qb/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/josh-freeman-to-take-over-as-bucs-qb/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Josh FreemanIt was only a matter of time, really. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are going nowhere this season. They are 0-7 and have been outscored 203-96 in the process. They drafted Josh Freeman in the first round (17th overall pick) of the draft this past April to be their quarterback of the future. You aren't going anywhere in 2009, so it's time to start playing for the future. Thus, it makes sense to hand him the keys at this point.

The Bucs are going to do exactly that when they head to Green Bay for Week 9's game (after a bye this week). Head coach Raheem Morris announced Wednesday that Freeman will be the team's starting quarterback moving forward.
"That's no discredit for what Josh Johnson has done for this football team. He's given his best efforts, but due to the preparation and the timing, we want to implement a young man into our system, our town and our community. We think it's the best coming off the bye. It's the most time to prepare. It's the most time for him up until this point, and it's time to see a little Josh Freeman."
There is history between coach and player, too. Morris was on staff at Kansas State during Freeman's freshman year, so he has liked this kid for a long time.

One thing that makes Freeman unique -- to those not named JaMarcus, at least -- is that he's huge. Many quarterbacks are tall, but Freeman is 6-foot-6 and weighs upwards of 260-265 pounds, according to offensive coordinator Greg Olson (via Pewter Report).

While it might not be the best move for the team in terms of winning games in 2009, this is a move the Bucs had to make. Freeman can now learn the job on the field instead of while holding a clipboard. He won't have any pressure on him from fans or teammates, because the Bucs were awful before he started playing.

Freeman received his first game action last week against the Patriots during trash time. He completed two of his four passes for 16 yards.
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Josh Freeman to Take Over as Bucs' QB originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 21:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>josh freemanraheem morrisMatt SnyderWed, 28 Oct 2009 21:10:00 EST Falcons Lose Second-Round Pick William Moore for Seasonhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/falcons-lose-second-round-pick-william-moore-for-season/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/falcons-lose-second-round-pick-william-moore-for-season/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/28/falcons-lose-second-round-pick-william-moore-for-season/#commentsFiled under: , ,

William MooreOn Tuesday the Atlanta Falcons placed 2009 second-round draft pick William Moore on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

Moore, who Atlanta thought would be ready to immediately help at safety from day one, has been battling injuries since training camp. The 55th-overall selection from Missouri had knee surgery at the beginning of camp, only to recover and hurt his hamstring shortly thereafter. Moore battled through two hamstring tweaks this season before finally succumbing to the final blow that landed the 24-year-old on the injured reserve list.

Moore's move to the injured reserve comes almost five weeks after the Falcons were forced to place 2009 first-round selection Peria Jerry on the IR with a season-ending knee injury.

The injuries to Jerry and Moore mark the second season in a row that the Atlanta Falcons have had early-round draft picks suffer significantly from health issues. In 2008, first-round selection Sam Baker started five games at left tackle before surgery to remove herniated disc material forced him to miss almost two months of play.

To fill Moore's vacant roster spot, the Falcons have signed Aaron Stecker to help the depleted running back corps. Fullback Ovie Mughelli and Jerious Norwood have both been injured and missed time. Stecker, who has 381 carries for 1,511 yards and eight touchdowns in his nine year career, will add needed depth. Stecker should also help the Falcons on special teams as well.

Falcons Lose Second-Round Pick William Moore for Season originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:38:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>aaron steckerjerious norwoodovie mughelliperia jerrysam bakerwilliam mooreKnox BardeenWed, 28 Oct 2009 10:38:00 EST Chevis Jackson Likely Atlanta's Nickel Back After Brian Williams' Injuryhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/chevis-jackson-likely-nickel-back-after-brian-williams-injury/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/chevis-jackson-likely-nickel-back-after-brian-williams-injury/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/21/chevis-jackson-likely-nickel-back-after-brian-williams-injury/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Chevis JacksonThe last thing the Atlanta Falcons wanted on Sunday night was to lose Brian Williams to a season-ending knee injury. But Williams landed funny in the fourth quarter of the Falcons 21-14 victory over Chicago and tore his ACL, forcing Williams to be placed on injured reserve, where he'll miss the rest of the season and require reconstructive surgery. Now, the 18th-ranked Atlanta pass defense must find a new cornerback somewhere on their roster.

"This will be an opportunity for Tye Hill, Chris Owens and Chevis Jackson", said head coach Mike Smith in a press conference Monday. Those three will compete for time in the secondary, playing alongside cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Chris Houston.

Owens and Jackson have been on the roster all season but have seen limited time on the field. Jackson has only four tackles and Owens just three, but both a far ahead of Hill who hasn't played a down yet.

"Tye is a guy that did not go through our OTA's and did not go through training camp.", Smith said. "He was a late addition. There is a learning curve and Tye has been working very diligently to learn our defense. He's going to get an opportunity this week to step in and compete for that corner position."

If the way Erik Coleman is talking is indicative of how the coaching staff feels, Chevis Jackson will see the most extra playing time with Williams out.

"I think Chevis will do a good job with that," Coleman said. "He was our starting nickel last year and I think he'll do a good job."

Coach Smith spoke of the second-year back out of Louisiana State in his press conference saying that he knew Jackson was disappointed with the demotion he received when Williams joined the team. "I think that Chevis accepted it and now he's going to get another opportunity to play and I think he'll make the most of it."

Coleman also said that good communication is the key to Atlanta's defense and that Chevis Jackson knows the system well enough that it will be smooth transition for everyone.

The Falcons have made strides over the last two weeks with their "bend, but don't break" philosophy. They've allowed teams an average of only 12 points against them since their loss in New England and second-year safety Thomas DeCoud was just named Defensive Player of the Week for his two interception performance against the Bears.

As for how Jackson feels he'll perform if he's given the chance to retake the Falcons job of nickel back, "I'll be prepared to go out there and make plays."

Chevis Jackson Likely Atlanta's Nickel Back After Brian Williams' Injury originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>brent grimesbrian williamschevis jacksonchris houstonchris owenserik colemanmike smiththomas decoudtye hillKnox BardeenWed, 21 Oct 2009 16:39:00 EST Four Keys to a Falcons' Winhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/four-keys-for-an-atlanta-falcons-victory-sunday-night/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/four-keys-for-an-atlanta-falcons-victory-sunday-night/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/18/four-keys-for-an-atlanta-falcons-victory-sunday-night/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Matt RyanATLANTA, Ga. -- Sunday Night, the Chicago Bears are in town visiting the Atlanta Falcons and fireworks could be in order inside the Georgia Dome. Both offenses can be prolific and they will be throwing against weaker defensive secondaries.

So expect the scoreboard operators to get a workout. When all is said and done, if the result is going to favor the Falcons, here's what they'll need to do.

o. The Bears rank 4th in the NFL with 14 sacks. Adewale Ogunleye has 4.5 and Alex Brown has 2.5 to lead the pass rush, but seven other players each have a sack. The bring the heat well and frustrate the best of opposing quarterbacks. The Falcons, on the other hand, have the best offensive line in the league when it comes to protecting the quarterback as Matt Ryan has only been sacked twice this season. The offensive line must continue to protect Ryan on Sunday night, giving him time to find any of his plethora of receiving targets.
More Coverage: Game Preview | Full Week 6 Scoreboard

o. Atlanta came out of a bye week and traveled to San Francisco -- and you saw what they did to the 49'ers. The Bears roll into Atlanta rested from their bye week and the Falcons need to focus on running their offensive game plan and not think too much about the extra time Chicago had to prepare. Ryan said it best, "They will be a little bit rested, but I never put too much stock into the bye week and coming off it. I think that everybody shows up week in and week out prepared to play. Teams do a great job in the NFL of getting ready to go regardless of whether or not they're coming of a bye week. We know Chicago is going to come in here ready and fresh and that it's going to be a tough matchup for us." Don't let bye-week get you upset."

o. Chicago has had a rough time this season containing opposing No. 1 receivers. In three of Chicago's four games they have allowed an opposing receiver to gain 100-plus yards. If Ryan gets the time to throw, he must take advantage of the Bears secondary and one of his two top targets, either Roddy White of Tony Gonzalez, needs to amass 100 yards.

o. During the Atlanta bye week the coaching staff surprised Jamaal Anderson by trying him on the interior of the defensive line instead of his normal defensive end spot. He made his first start there against San Francisco and had two tackles and got his hands on the quarterback twice as well. Anderson is enjoying his new position and needs to come up big on Sunday to help contain Matt Forte. If Forte is kept in check, the Falcons chances of winning grow.

Four Keys to a Falcons' Win originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>adewale akinnuoye-agbajealex brownjamaal andersonmatt fortematt ryanroddy whitetony gonzalezKnox BardeenSun, 18 Oct 2009 19:06:00 EST Falcons for Real: Roddy White, Defense Pace Convincing Atlanta Winhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/falcons-for-real-roddy-white-defense-pace-convincing-atlanta-w/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/falcons-for-real-roddy-white-defense-pace-convincing-atlanta-w/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/12/falcons-for-real-roddy-white-defense-pace-convincing-atlanta-w/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Matt Ryan and Roddy WhiteSAN FRANCISCO -- Anyone who doubted the authenticity of the Atlanta Falcons following their 2-1 start has to take notice after Sunday's 45-10 blowout of the San Francisco 49ers, a game that could have easily exposed the visitors as the pretenders their skeptics thought they might be.

Would they perform a cross-country face plant, coming off the dreaded bye-week hangover? Would they come out like the humbled, outmatched team that resembled the post-Bobby Petrino wreckage in that Week 3 26-10 loss to the Patriots in Foxborough?

Not a chance.
More: Check Box Score | Singletary Apologizes for Heated Exchange

It's time to acknowledge that the Falcons -- now 14-6 since coach Mike Smith took over for Petrino in 2008 -- are among the NFC's elite teams, and it's a good idea to dial down those lofty expectations for the 49ers (3-2), who remain an interesting work in progress under the disciplined, emotional hand of coach Mike Singletary.

This was no contest Sunday, not with the 49ers giving up 477 total yards to quarterback Matt Ryan and an Atlanta offense that came in ranked 23rd in the NFL. On a day when wide receiver Roddy White set a Falcons' franchise record for most receiving yards in a single game (eight catches, 210 yards, two touchdowns), Atlanta's offense felt it could score at will.

"Well, we all had fun today," a giddy Smith said.

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It was so easy for Atlanta, even maligned running back Michael Turner scored three rushing touchdowns and churned out 97 yards against the 49ers' fourth-ranked run defense.

"You just feel like any play that [offensive coordinator Mike] Mularkey called would be successful," said Falcons center Todd McClure, who recovered a third-quarter Dre' Bly showboating fumble and helped his offense turn three 49ers' turnovers into 17 points.

And so the 49ers' soaring five-game home winning streak that dated back to '08 fell from the seagull-laden, foggy San Fran skies with a splat, and was greeted by a refrain of boos from the disgusted Candlestick Park contingent. The affection for gritty quarterback Shaun Hill -- who took a 7-0 home record into this game and endeared himself to fans for not being Alex Smith -- seemed to end early in the first quarter, when Brian Williams picked off a pass intended for Vernon Davis on San Francisco's opening drive.

One Turner 7-yard touchdown later and Atlanta's scoring spree was shifted into first gear. Sensing the game was getting out of hand, Singletary tried to rally his guys by calling timeout and bringing everyone together for a group huddle at the sideline.

So much for that speech: Ryan then found White on a 31-yard scoring pass, leaving the 49ers' sixth-ranked defense completely stunned. Hill was manhandled, completing only four of his first 15 passes, and 15 of 38 for the day for 198 yards. He was sacked three times.

Defensively, the 49ers really stunk. And that was a surprise.

"I didn't even [have] an idea ... never saw it coming. Whatever could have gone wrong, it did times two," said 49ers linebacker Takeo Spikes, who stared into space and tried to make sense of it all. "One bad thing happened, and then it started compounding on top of each other and before you knew it, you blink and you look up and and we were behind by two touchdowns."

This was a statement game by the Falcons, even if they were reluctant to call it that.

"The team had been thinking about this for almost two weeks now, coming off the New England loss," said Atlanta's talented young general manager Thomas Dimitroff, the Bill Belichick disciple who wanted urgency from his players in that Pats' game and saw nothing resembling it. "And I think it was one of those things where it was such a ramped-up sense of focus.

"This team knows they're better than what they showed in New England, and I think coming into this game, we were operating on all cylinders. This is a heck of a defense in here. The fact they were able to generate opportunities for our offense is a feather in this team's cap."

Ryan is maturing into a true franchise quarterback, converting Atlanta's three takeaways into two touchdowns and a Jason Elam field goal, spreading the ball among eight receivers and completing 22 of 32 passes for 329 yards, two touchdowns and a harmless pick. He also ran for a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

"We were just trying to put one together," said White, who overcame his slow early season start in a huge way.

White's 90-yard catch-and-run scoring reception was the first of three second-quarter Atlanta touchdowns, and suddenly Ryan was leading a team that may be a legit threat to division-leading Saints (4-0) -- that's why Sunday's win was so important for the Falcons.

"Obviously New Orleans has been playing very, very well this year so far," Ryan said. "We're not trying to keep pace with them, but at the same time we're focusing on what we do."

Falcons for Real: Roddy White, Defense Pace Convincing Atlanta Win originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>atlanta falconsmatt ryanMike SingletaryRoddy Whitesan francisco 49ersShaun Hillthomas dimitroffNancy GayMon, 12 Oct 2009 00:10:00 EST Between the Lines: Rodgers Partly to Blame for Sack Debaclehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/packers-offensive-line-only-shares-the-blame-for-sack-debacle/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/packers-offensive-line-only-shares-the-blame-for-sack-debacle/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/08/packers-offensive-line-only-shares-the-blame-for-sack-debacle/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Aaron RodgersEvery Thursday we're taking a look at the battle at the line of scrimmage. Click here for previous Between The Lines features.

If you're a Packers fan, it's fair to wonder if the season went downhill the minute that Chad Clifton sprained his ankle against the Bengals. Since then, the Packers have been shuffling linemen and Aaron Rodgers has been running for his life. The season hit bottom this past Monday when Jared Allen and his friends sacked Rodgers eight times in the Vikings 30-23 win.

But if you watch the Vikings game a little more closely, you may notice that not all of the Packers' protection problems were the offensive line's fault. It's hard to point fingers at a quarterback who threw for 384 yards, but Aaron Rodgers was as much to do with the Vikings eight sacks as his injury-plagued offensive line. Of the eight sacks against the Vikings as many as five of them can be blamed at least in part on Rodgers or the play call.


When Clifton went down, the Packers shuffled three players to fill his spot. Starting left guard Daryn Colledge has proven that he's much better as a guard than as a fill-in left tackle. Center Jason Spitz has moved over to Colledge's old guard spot while Scott Wells has stepped into the starting lineup at center.

And when Colledge left the Vikings game with a sprained knee, Green Bay was down to playing third-string left tackle T.J. Lang as defensive end Jared Allen finished off a four-and-a-half sack day. Right tackle Allen Barbre isn't exactly having a Pro Bowl season either.

That kind of shakeup would affect any offensive line, and it clearly has hurt the Packers, especially at tackle. Babre has allowed five sacks, Colledge has allowed four, Lang has allowed two and Clifton has allowed one. Those 12 sacks are more than all but six teams have given up this season. The Packers' interior linemen have allowed only two sacks, so when it comes to pass rushing, the problem is limited to the edges.

But Rodgers deserves some of the blame as well, as he showed on Monday. On four of the Vikings eight sacks, Rodgers held the ball for more than three seconds (as much as 5.7 seconds on one sack) and another turned into a sack because of a busted play. In an attempt to make plays downfield, Rodgers would hold the ball, even as Allen was ravaging the Packers' offensive tackles. The Packers offensive line was overmatched by the Vikings front four, but instead of getting rid of the ball more quickly because of that, Rodgers would wait and try to make the perfect pass. It worked a lot--he threw for 384 yards--but it also helped set up the Vikings pass rush's big day.

After timing each and every one of the 268 sacks that have been recorded in the first four weeks of the season it's becoming pretty apparent that the average sack occurs somewhere between 2.7 and 2.8 seconds after the snap of the ball. When announcers talk about a quarterback having an internal alarm clock to know when to get rid of the ball, that alarm clock generally should be going off around 2.7 seconds after the snap. Considering the injuries on the Packers' offensive line, Rodgers may want to move that alarm clock up to 2.5 seconds or so on an average snap. Instead, he's hit the snooze button.

The worst came on a pass play with the Packers backed up at their only goal line. Colledge had just left the game with a knee injury (after Allen had picked up 2 1/2 sacks in the first three quarters). The Packers tried to give third-string left tackle Lang some help by using tailback Ryan Grant to help double-team Allen. If Rodgers had gotten rid of the ball on time, it would have worked. But he ended up pump faking, pulling the ball down, stepping up into the pocket and looking for another option. The double team for Allen prevented him from getting free around the outside, but when Rodgers stepped up, it gave Allen a open lane to reverse his momentum and pull Rodgers down from behind for the sack and a safety 3.3 seconds after the snap.

On another sack, Rodgers held the ball for an amazing 5.7 seconds before defensive end Brian Robison finally got free for the sack. Of the 268 sacks recorded this season, only seven have seen a quarterback hold the ball longer. Usually when a sack happens that long after the snap, it occurs because the quarterback has run around to the point where the play has completely broken down (Josh Johnson held the ball this week for 12 seconds on a play that would have made Fran Tarkenton proud). But Rodgers was just moving around looking for a receiver and struggling to find someone to throw to.

Rodgers was sacked on a rollout pass where linebacker Ben Leber (who had dropped into coverage) came up to make a big hit. Rodgers had 4.3 seconds to throw the ball, which is easily enough time to at least throw the ball away if no one was open. There also was a sack where Rodgers was driven down 3.4 seconds after the snap. And a fifth sack came on a blown play where Rodgers looked to throw a quick stop to a wide receiver, only to find the receiver streaking downfield instead. With the play falling apart, Rodgers simply ate the ball. That may not have been Rodgers' fault, but it wasn't the line's fault either.

Now that doesn't mean the offensive line is blameless, they're not anything close to blameless. Teams don't need to send blitzes to pressure Rodgers--on 75 percent of the Packers' sacks, teams have rushed only four men. For the entire NFL, four-man rushes have accounted for only 57 percent of sacks. That leads to a vicious cycle: since team's don't have to send extra pass rushers against the Packers, they can drop more men into coverage, which makes it harder for Rodgers to find an open receiver, which means Rodgers holds the ball longer which leads to more sacks.

With 20 sacks allowed this season, the Packers easily lead the league (the Bills are the only other team that has allowed more than 13 sacks) and the offensive line is a big part of that. But it's also true that Rodgers' approach of holding the ball to make big plays means Packers fans have to live with sacks as well as plenty of passing yards.

Between the Lines: Rodgers Partly to Blame for Sack Debacle originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Aaron RodgersBetween The LinesChad CliftonDaryn ColledgeJason SpitzScott WellsJJ CooperThu, 08 Oct 2009 10:57:00 EST Between the Lines: Julius Peppers' Effort Leaves Something to Be Desiredhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/01/between-the-lines-julius-peppers-effort-leaves-something-to-be/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/01/between-the-lines-julius-peppers-effort-leaves-something-to-be/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/10/01/between-the-lines-julius-peppers-effort-leaves-something-to-be/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Julius PeppersEvery week we take a look at some aspect of line play--one of the most important but least noticed keys to a team's success. Click here for previous Between The Lines.

Julius Peppers isn't happy. He wanted to be anywhere but in Carolina this year, but when the Panthers franchised him, he was left with no choice but to return to the Panthers for another season.

Things could be worse. He's getting paid $16.7 million this year as the team's franchise player. After watching every snap of the Cowboys' game, it's hard to say he's earning it.

Two years ago, Peppers picked up only 2.5 sacks in an extremely disappointing season. But he bounced back last year to record 14.5 sacks. With the way he played on Monday, it's hard to see him getting back to double digits this year.Peppers finished the game with one tackle and one assist. He had no quarterback pressures and no sacks. He now has nine tackles and one sack in three games. For the Panthers' defense to work, Peppers has to create havoc. It's not happening.

Worse than the stats was the lethargy with which he played the game. If you're being charitable, you could say that Peppers played against the Cowboys with a lot of hesitation, as if he wanted to make sure he didn't get caught out of position. Instead of firing off the ball he took choppy steps and stood around. If you're more inclined to be harsh, you could say that he's trying to play his way out of Carolina.

When the Cowboys ran the ball, they were able to run right at Peppers. Tight end Jason Witten showed he could block Peppers single-handedly, like he did on three different occasions including runs of 10 and 18 yards. They were also able to fool Peppers, like they did on a Patrick Crayton 14-yard reverse. Peppers was left unblocked, but he found himself out of position as the backside contain when Crayton ran right on by him.

When the Cowboys ran away from Peppers, they didn't worry about Peppers using his speed to track down the ball carrier from the backside. With few exceptions he often stood around on those plays and just stalemated with left tackle Flozell Adams. One exception came when he ran downfield to jump on the pile on a run up the middle by Felix Jones, although he wasn't credited with an assist. Peppers' best play against the run came when he cut inside on a third and goal and helped tackle Tashard Choice to help force a field goal attempt. It was Peppers' only tackle on a running play.

But run stuffing has never been Peppers' biggest strength. He's one of the league's elite pass rushers as he's shown by racking up five different double-digit sack seasons. Against the Cowboys, Adams handled him with no problems. Carolina did move him around a little bit. He got a little better rush when lined up against right tackle Marc Colombo, although Colombo was able to push him past Tony Romo as Romo stepped up into the pocket. It was the same story when Peppers moved inside to defensive tackle. Peppers got penetration against guard Leonard Davis, but Davis then rode him outside as Romo stepped up.

There were even two plays when a Cowboys back was able to cut Peppers and handle him on pass plays. Peppers had no hurries or sacks, but he did have one tackle on a pass play where Romo decided to tuck and run. After rushing upfield on a speed rush, Peppers did cut back to track Romo down five yards downfield.

But that was it. There were more pass plays where Peppers simply stood up at the line and was content to give a half-hearted effort than there were plays where he came close to sacking Romo. The Cowboys did double-team Peppers on eight of his 59 snaps, but that was more a case of giving respect to a once-great defensive end rather than by need.

If you didn't know Pepppers' reputation and watched Monday night's game, you wouldn't pick him out as the Panthers' best defensive player. That title would probably go to linebacker John Beason. He wasn't even the Panthers' best defensive end on Monday--that would go to Charles Johnson. While Peppers was ineffective as a pass rusher, Johnson got to Romo to nearly force a fumble on one pass play (Romo's arm was coming forward so it was ruled an incomplete pass), he had two other plays where he nearly got to Romo.

Peppers wasn't even significantly better than his backup Tyler Brayton. Brayton had four tackles, blew up one running play with solid penetration into the backfield, made another tackle on a run away from him because he hustled down the line and nearly got to Romo on a pass play--all in significantly less playing time than Peppers. He may not have Peppers' ability, but Brayton's effort was an equalizer on Monday.

Being outproduced by his backup isn't what you would expect out of a $16.7 million man. But if Peppers keeps playing like he did on Monday, he may get his wish: it's hard to imagine the Panthers spending nearly $20 million to franchise Peppers next yearpers next year to get production like he's given in the first three weeks.

Between the Lines: Julius Peppers' Effort Leaves Something to Be Desired originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Between The LinesJulius PeppersJJ CooperThu, 01 Oct 2009 09:31:00 EST Falcons Let Dolphins Hang Around, Still Pull Out Comfortable Winhttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/13/atlanta-falcons-winning-big-lead-should-be-bigger/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/13/atlanta-falcons-winning-big-lead-should-be-bigger/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/13/atlanta-falcons-winning-big-lead-should-be-bigger/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Both the Miami Dolphins and the Atlanta Falcons made huge strides in 2008. Both teams won 11 games, made the playoffs and Miami won the tough AFC East division. The Week 1 battle between these two teams was supposed to feature lots of Wildcat formations and many points on the board. The script was re-written.

The Falcons won the game 19-7, but the Dolphins should feel fortunate that it wasn't a complete blowout. An aggressive Falcons defense shut down Miami until late in the fourth quarter -- a few hiccups on the part of the Atlanta offense, though, kept the game within reach.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan underthrew Roddy White in the first series of the game after the receiver opened up a 5-yard cushion on the nearest Miami defender -- a play that should have been an easy touchdown for White.
Falcons 19, Dolphins 7: Read Recap | Check Box Score

In the second quarter, Ryan sailed the ball over Jerious Norwood in the end zone -- Norwood was open and couldn't quite get under Ryan's pass.

The Dolphins front-seven held strong, allowing Michael Turner only 65 yards on 22 carries. But Michael Jenkins, Tony Gonzalez and White flourished in short passing routes. The Falcons defense applied pressure on Chad Pennington all day and their secondary wasn't picked on by the Miami offense much at all.

Falcons Let Dolphins Hang Around, Still Pull Out Comfortable Win originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>chad penningtonjerious norwoodmatt ryanMichael Jenkinsroddy whitetony gonzalezKnox BardeenSun, 13 Sep 2009 15:35:00 EST New Orleans Saints 2009 Preview: Is This Finally the Year?http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/new-orleans-saints-2009-preview-is-this-finally-the-year/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/new-orleans-saints-2009-preview-is-this-finally-the-year/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/new-orleans-saints-2009-preview-is-this-finally-the-year/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Though 2006 was arguably the best season in New Orleans Saints history, the campaign was only the beginning of this streak of NFL competitive relevance in the Crescent City. Despite steps backwards in 2007 and 2008, the team has quietly been adding front-end talent and admirable depth since that NFC Championship appearance against the Bears. Now, as Drew Brees put it, "...we're at this stage in our careers where this is kind of our prime. ... So this is our window of opportunity. This is our chance to walk together forever, to go down in history together." After over 40 years and just two playoff wins, is this the year the Saints finally break through?
More NFC South Previews: Falcons | Panthers | Buccaneers

Offense: Well, let's see -- No. 1 total offense in 2006, No. 4 in 2007, No. 1 in 2008. They return every single starter from last year except at fullback, and have a wealth of weapons (including a seemingly, finally-healthy Jeremy Shockey, who's had a great preseason) for one of the league's best passers to choose from. The truth is, the only things separating Drew Brees from Peyton Manning or Tom Brady at this point are the rings. Those are obviously significant, but Brees is ridiculously talented, respected unanimously and smart. His receivers are a skilled and deep bunch, led by Marques Colston and perhaps sparked by a breakout season by Robert Meachem. And the new dedication to a strong run game has produced favorable results so far for four guys who can gain yardage and an offensive line with perhaps the best young guard tandem in the league in Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks. Yeah, I think they'll be OK. Heat Index: 10

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New Orleans Saints Photos
New Orleans Saints punt return specialist Rod Harper (13) breaks away from Miami Dolphins safety Tyrone Culver (29) on his way to a 47-yard touchdown in the second half of their NFL preseason football game in New Orleans, Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)
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New Orleans Saints Photos

    New Orleans Saints linebacker Troy Evans walks through fog as his name is announced before an NFL preseason game at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans on Sept. 3.

    Sean Gardner, AP

    NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 03: Ricky Williams #34 of the Miami Dolphins watches from the sidelines during the second half against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on September 3, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ricky Williams

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    NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 03: Greg Camarillo #83 of the Miami Dolphins tries to catch a pass over Malcolm Jenkins #27 of the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on September 3, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Malcolm Jenkins;Greg Camarillo

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    NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints watches from the sideline during the game against the Miami Dolphins at the Louisiana Superdome on September 3, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Sean Payton

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    NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 03: Joey Harrington #3 of the New Orleans Saints looks to throw a pass against the Miami Dolphins at the Louisiana Superdome on September 3, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Joey Harrington

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    NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 03: Quarterback Pat White #6 of the Miami Dolphins walks off the field after defeating the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on September 3, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Dolphins defeated the Saints 10-7. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pat White

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    NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 03: Quarterback Pat White #6 of the Miami Dolphins avoids a tackle by Will Smith #91 of the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on September 3, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Dolphins defeated the Saints 10-7. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pat White;Will Smith

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    NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 03: Quarterback Pat White #6 of the Miami Dolphins looks to throw a pass against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on September 3, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Dolphins defeated the Saints 10-7. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pat White

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    NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 03: Lex Hilliard #26 of the Miami Dolphins is tackled by Leigh Torrence #24 of the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on September 3, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Dolphins defeated the Saints 10-7. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lex Hilliard;Leigh Torrence

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    NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 03: Quarterback Pat White #6 of the Miami Dolphins talks with Danny Gorrer #38 of the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on September 3, 2009 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Dolphins defeated the Saints 10-7. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pat White;Danny Gorrer

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Defense: This group isn't quite there yet, but they're getting better. The butt of jokes the last few years, the team has completely overhauled its secondary to the point where the unit is now a strength. Free safety Darren Sharper might not have much of it left anymore, but he's smart and experienced enough to get by for another year, and his wisdom should be invaluable. Usama Young is the future at the position, and he looks like a player. Meanwhile, corners Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer, Randall Gay, and first-round pick Malcolm Jenkins are all talented enough to start for other NFL teams. Jonathan Vilma is the Brees of defense, and while the team will suffer from the four-game suspensions that starting ends Will Smith and Charles Grant face at the beginning of the season, keep an eye out for Anthony Hargrove. He's a talented, super-athletic end-turned-tackle who saw his career nosedive due to off-field issues. He hit rock bottom and seems hellbent on redemption. Coaches have quietly raved about his play and attitude and are expecting a big season out of him. He'll have the opportunity to make plays all year long, particularly during those first four games, given his ability to play any position on the line. This unit is still going to give up its share of big plays, but under new coordinator Gregg Williams' aggressive scheme and fiery personality, they're going to take the ball away a lot more. Heat Index: 7

Special Teams: The Saints have put their faith in preseason stud and undrafted rookie receiver Rod Harper to return kicks, and it looks like Reggie Bush will have a more regular role returning punts. But Harper's ability to play against first-teamers in real action and Bush's ability to stay healthy are both in question. Many people scoffed when the team took punter Thomas Morstead with one of their only four picks in this year's draft, but Morstead has looked fantastic thus far, and punting/creating good field position was one of the team's biggest weaknesses in 2008. In the Saints' last preseason game, Morstead punted seven times for a 44.7 average with three downed inside the 20 and no returns. That might not make a difference to the casual fan, but it certainly matters in determining wins and losses. A big question lies in the kicking game, however. The team has been cursed with place kickers since letting John Carney go after 2006, but he's back while Garrett Hartley misses the season's first four games because of suspension. Hartley was 13-for-13 in field goals as a rookie, but it remains to be seen if he can keep anything resembling that pace with a bigger sample size. In his absence is Carney, whose strength is questionable at best at this point, despite his Pro Bowl appearance last year. And they still don't have anyone incredibly reliable for kickoffs. Heat Index: 6

Coaching: Sean Payton has done a remarkable job turning the entire culture of the franchise around, on top of his work molding the roster itself. He's also one of the league's best offensive playcallers. Payton is still maturing as a coach after his share of growing pains, but his positive impact on the franchise and region is undeniable. The players, ownership, and city love him; he's got a symbiotic relationship with Brees; he's young and energetic; and he's not afraid to bring in a commanding presence to work under him. Gregg Williams rivals Payton's intensity, aggressive style and talent, and he's breathed new life into the defense so far. Payton saw such a kinship between he and Williams that he volunteered to take a lesser salary if it meant the team could afford to hire him. If Williams could get a fraction out of the defense what Payton has with the offense, they'll be a complete team. Between those two, the Saints are in very capable hands. Heat Index: 8

Intangibles: On the plus side, this team has a strong bond and very sound work ethic, both due to Payton. On the minus side, they are the Saints, meaning you have to account for a fair share of awful luck; as if the Superdome were built on top of a cemetery, there seems to be something significant that goes wrong every year. Last season it was injuries, and that could be the team's undoing again this year -- Pierre Thomas is already questionable for Week 1, Bush and Shockey can almost never stay healthy, and starting left tackle Jammal Brown will likely miss the first game or two with a sports hernia as well. On top of that, the four-game suspensions for Smith, Grant, and Hartley at the beginning of the year will take their toll, and if the Saints come out of those games less than .500 doubts and whispers are going to begin. If they can weather those punishments and stay relatively healthy this year, they should be gravy, but those are tenuous assumptions. Heat Index: 7

Total Heat Index: 38/50. This is the cautiously optimistic score, which is not to be confused with the homer score or the seasoned Saints fan sky-is-always-falling score, though if I were to be honest I'd say they probably perform slightly better than this gives them credit for. The Saints are a playoff team and likely division winner, and if they can stay healthy and this defense jumps to the middle of the pack or better, they can very well take the leap the franchise has never made -- to the Super Bowl.

New Orleans Saints 2009 Preview: Is This Finally the Year? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>anthony hargrovecarl nickscharles grantdarren sharperdrew breesgarrett hartleygregg williamsjabari greerjahri ebansjeremy shockeyjohn carneyjonathan vilmamalcolm jenkinsmarques colstonpierre thomasrandall gayreggie bushrobert meachemsean paytontracy porterusama youngwill smithTom MantzouranisMon, 07 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2009 Preview: Time to Changehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/tampa-bay-buccaneers-2009-preview-time-to-change/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/tampa-bay-buccaneers-2009-preview-time-to-change/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/tampa-bay-buccaneers-2009-preview-time-to-change/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Training camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.



I think we've found our slogan (and theme song!) for the 2009 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After a disappointing end to the 2008 regular season, including a somewhat embarrassing 31-24 loss to the Oakland Raiders -- at home -- to close out the campaign and fall short of the playoffs, the Buccaneers cleaned house this offseason. Enter a new head coach, new defensive coordinator, two new offensive coordinators, new quarterback, a number of veterans cut loose, and a couple of big additions through free agency and trade. A lot of moves, but will they be enough to get Tampa Bay back into the postseason?

Offense: First-round pick Josh Freeman is, hopefully, the future of the Buccaneers offense, but the present belongs to veteran Byron Leftwich. The 29-year-old quarterback played well in his limited time with the Steelers a season ago, but he struggled in his previous stops with Jacksonville and Atlanta. He's simply keeping the seat warm until Freeman is ready to take over. The strength of the offense should be the running game that includes Earnest Graham, former first-round pick Cadillac Williams, and free agent acquisition Derrick Ward, a 1,000-yard runner with the New York Giants in 2008. Antonio Bryant rejuvenated his career in '08 with his best season ever, hauling in a career-best 83 passes -- 36 more than the next closest player on the roster, a tie between Ike Hilliard and Warrick Dunn, both no longer with the team. It's a thin group behind him and Michael Clayton. I've never been a huge Kellen Winslow fan, but he should still help in the passing game and be an upgrade over whatever it was Jerramy Stevens provided as a starter. Assuming Winslow stays healthy, of course. I'm not sold on Leftwich as a starter over the course of a full season, or the lack of depth at the receiver position, but I like the potential the Bucs have on the ground. Heat Index: 7

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Photos
Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Josh Johnson (11) celebrates with Josh Freeman (5) after Freeman's 23-yard touchdown pass to Cortez Hankton (16) during the second quarter of a preseason NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Photos

    Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Josh Johnson (11) celebrates with Josh Freeman (5) after Freeman's 23-yard touchdown pass to Cortez Hankton (16) during the second quarter of a preseason NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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    Houston Texans' David Anderson (89) congratulates James Casey (86) after Casey's 11-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Rex Grossman during the second quarter of a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

    ASSOCIATED PRESS

    The Houston Texans defense, including Conner Barwin (98), Tim Bulman (93) and Kevin Bentley take down Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Clifton Smith (22) during the third quarter of an NFL preseason football game on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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    Houston Texans quarterback Rex Grossman (5) throws a third quarter pass while being chased by Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Chris Bradwell, right, during an NFL preseason football game on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

    ASSOCIATED PRESS

    Tampa Bay Buccaneers Ryan Purvis (46) pulls in a fourth quarter touchdown pass in front of Houston Texans' John Busing during the fourth quarter of an NFL preseason football game on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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    Houston Texans quarterback Dan Orlovsky (7) hands the ball to running back Ryan Moats (21) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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    Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Patrick Carter (14) pulls in a third quarter pass in front of Houston Texans' Deltha O'Neal (38) during an NFL preseason football game on Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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    Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Johnson scrambles during the fourth quarter of a preseason NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)

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    TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 04: Defensive tackle Kyle Moore #94 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers watches his team from the bench against the Houston Texans during a preseason game at Raymond James Stadium on September 4, 2009 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kyle Moore

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    TAMPA, FL - SEPTEMBER 04: Quarterback Josh Johnson #11 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hands the ball off against the Houston Texans during a preseason game at Raymond James Stadium on September 4, 2009 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh Johnson

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Defense: The always stout Buccaneers defense ended up being the teams undoing down the stretch in 2008, including the disastrous four-game losing streak to end the season. Just to rehash it one more time: the Buccaneers surrendered 756 yards on the ground over the final four weeks on just 144 attempts. That's 189 yards per game, and over 5.2 yards per carry. Yikes. After using its first-round pick on Freeman, Tampa Bay went defensive line with its next two picks and selected defensive tackle Roy Miller from Texas, and defensive end Kyle Moore from USC. The Bucs also added Maurice Evans on waivers from the New York Giants this past weekend. Veteran Derrick Brooks was part of the offseason roster purge, which leaves Barrett Ruud as the only proven commodity at the linebacker position. Heat Index 6.

Special Teams. For the first 32 years of their existence, we had to listen to every announcer remind us of the fact that the Buccaneers had never had a kickoff returned for a touchdown. In 2007, Michael Spurlock saved us from that weekly ritual by taking a kick 90 yards for a touchdown. In 2008, the Buccaneers did themselves one better and found a pro bowl caliber return man in Clifton Smith. He averaged over 27 yards per kickoff return, 14 yards per punt return, and scored two touchdowns (one kick, one punt) in the return game. Rookie Sammie Stroughter saw time returning kicks this preseason, including a 75-yard return against the Miami Dolphins in Week 3. Statistically, the Bucs had one of the best kick coverage units in the NFL a season ago, while Mike Nugent takes over as the new kicker, replacing Matt Bryant. Heat Index: 8

Coaching. A lot of unknown here, which is why I gave them such a low mark. To replace Jon Gruden, the Buccaneers went young with Raheem Morris (currently the youngest coach in the NFL), hoping to find the next Mike Tomlin or John Harbaugh. Losing one of the best defensive coordinators of all time in Monte Kiffin has to be considered a step backwards, and the team is already on its second offensive coordinator of the season even though the season hasn't started yet. I hope these guys know what they're doing. Heat Index: 4.

Intangibles. The Buccaneers opened their offseason by purging the roster, tearing the whole thing to the ground and seemingly starting over from scratch with a fresh coaching staff and a new approach. Though it's still unclear as to what, exactly, that approach is. If you're going to rebuild, why sign a 29-year old running back (even if he is a pretty good player) and trade a draft pick for Kellen Winslow, and then immediately sign him to a huge contract extension? Speaking of Winslow, the idea of him and Antonio Bryant in the same huddle, and the same locker room, should be somewhat of a concern. Heat Index: 4

Overall. 29/50 -- At this point, there appears to be more questions than answers in Tampa Bay. I could see them winning nine games again, and I could easily see them picking near the top of the draft in 2010, especially if they get off to a slow start with what appears to be, on paper, a brutal first-half schedule, including games against every NFC East team, plus home games with divisional rival Carolina and AFC power New England.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2009 Preview: Time to Change originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Antonio BryantBarrett RuudByron LeftwichDerrick BrooksEarnest GrahamJosh FreemanAdam GretzMon, 07 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST Atlanta Falcons 2009 Season Preview: Calling for an Encorehttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/atlanta-falcons-2009-season-preview-calling-for-an-encore/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/atlanta-falcons-2009-season-preview-calling-for-an-encore/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/atlanta-falcons-2009-season-preview-calling-for-an-encore/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Matt RyanTraining camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Atlanta's sudden rise to prominence in 2008 began rather suddenly when rookie Matt Ryan, on the first pass of his career, threw for a touchdown against the Lions. There were some bumps along the way, but no one could have envisioned the improvement the Falcons would make in Ryan's first season -- a wild-card berth and 11-5 record -- or just how poised and collected Ryan would play. Atlanta will have to repeat its 2008 show without the benefit of sneaking up on teams in 2009. A scary thought for the NFC South is the Falcons could be even better.

Offense: What's not to like? The young gunslinger, Matty Ice, was a revelation in his first pro season. Behind him, running back Michael Turner took advantage of his initial shot as a No. 1 back to the tune of 1,699 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. Michael Jenkins and Roddy White -- plus backups Marty Booker and Brian Finneran -- should be steady, if not downright dominant. And the biggest addition Atlanta made in the offseason was bringing in tight end Tony Gonzalez from Kansas City, giving Ryan access to one of the greatest players at that position of all time. The offensive line made incredible strides in 2008, cutting its sack totals from 47 in 2007 to just 17, an eye-popping improvement. It's possible there's a bit of regression there this season. Atlanta also has to pray hard that Ryan stays healthy; the Falcons backup options of Chris Redman and John Parker Wilson aren't comforting. Heat Index: 9

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Atlanta Falcons Photos
ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 03: A cheerleader of the Atlanta Falcons performs during the preseason game against the Baltimore Raves at Georgia Dome on September 3, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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Atlanta Falcons Photos

    ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 03: Quarterback Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons calls the offense in the huddle against the Baltimore Raves at Georgia Dome on September 3, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matt Ryan

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    ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 03: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Raves looks on against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on September 3, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Harbaugh

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    Baltimore Ravens kicker Steven Hauschka (6) attempts a field goal in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, Thursday, September 3, 2009. The Ravens defeated the Falcons, 20-3. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/MCT)

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    Ravens wide receiver Demetrius Williams (87) leaps for a catch at the 6 yard line for a first down and goal during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, Thursday, September 3, 2009. The Ravens defeated the Falcons, 20-3. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/MCT)

    MCT

    Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh screams, left, as he watches Ravens wide receiver Justin Harper (14) miss a wide open catch in the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, Thursday, September 3, 2009. The Ravens defeated the Falcons, 20-3. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/MCT)

    MCT

    Baltimore Ravens running back Cedric Peerman (38) twists past Atlanta Falcons cornerback Christopher Owens (21) and linebacker Jamie Winborn for first down yardage in the fourth quarter at Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, Thursday, September 3, 2009. The Ravens defeated the Falcons, 20-3. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/MCT)

    MCT

    Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Eron Riley powers the ball to the end zone for a touchdown past Atlanta Falcons cornerback Christopher Owens during the fourth quarter at Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, Thursday, September 3, 2009. The Ravens defeated the Falcons, 20-3. (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/MCT)

    MCT

    Baltimore Ravens quarterback John Beck (12) escapes the pressure of Atlanta Falcons defender Trey Lewis (97) during their NFL preseason football game at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

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    ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 03: Running back Willis McGahee #23 of the Baltimore Raves sits on the bench with ice on his left knee between Marshal Yanda #73 and Michael Oher #74 during their preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on September 3, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Marshal Yanda;Willis McGahee;Michael Oher

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    ATLANTA - SEPTEMBER 03: A cheerleader of the Atlanta Falcons performs during the preseason game against the Baltimore Raves at Georgia Dome on September 3, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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Defense: You have to like the Falcons' front four, a spot where Atlanta brings three guys back and essentially replaces aging Grady Jackson with rookie Peria Jerry at tackle. Tackle Jonathan Babineaux and end Jamaal Anderson are both back, but the star here is 16 1/2-sack man John Abraham. There was more turnover in Atlanta's linebacking corps -- gone is longtime Falcon Keith Brooking, along with Michael Boley. Stepping into their spots on the outside are Stephan Nicholas and Mike Peterson. Nicholas needs to take a leap forward for this pairing to match the Brooking-Boley one, but the potential is there. Curtis Lofton mans the middle after a 67-tackle 2008. The secondary looked worse a week ago -- before the Falcons dealt for Tye Hill and signed Brian Williams, both cornerbacks. Williams started 45 games over the past three seasons in Jacksonville and should bump Brent Grimes from the starting spot opposite Chris Houston. Safeties Erik Coleman and Thomas DeCoud are adequate, but keep an eye on rookie William Moore out of Missouri. Heat Index: 7

Special Teams: Atlanta slapped punter Michael Koenen with the franchise tag to bring back his booming-high kicks. The Falcons also return veteran kicker Jason Elam, who enjoyed the comforts of a dome last season en route to hitting on 29-of-31 field-goal attempts. Jerious Norwood, Turner's backup at running back, is explosive on kick returns -- 25.7 yards per attempt last year. The gap may be at the punt return spot, where Harry Douglass was expected to start before an offseason injury. Eric Weems probably slides in, though Norwood may get a crack too. Heat Index: 8

Coaching: Mike Smith was just as impressive in his rookie season as Ryan. He made all the right calls, guiding a young team to a playoff spot. He can give some of the thanks to offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, a 16-year NFL coaching vet who turned in a brilliant performance bringing Ryan along. Defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder did a decent job as well -- especially drawing up QB pressure -- but Atlanta must force more turnovers in 2009. The Falcons struggled to do that at times last season, including a four-game drought from Week 11-14. Heat Index: 7

Intangibles: Atlanta had a nice taste of the postseason in Ryan's rookie campagain, losing to eventual Super Bowl runner-up Arizona in an entertaining ballgame. The drive should be there to take this thing to the next level. That said, it's worth pointing out that the team said farewell to Jackson, Brooking and Boley, all three veterans who had been with Atlanta for multiple seasons. That means new faces and new chemistry challenges. Heat Index: 8

Total Heat Index: 39/50 -- This is not an easy division, by any stretch. Sure, Tampa's down a bit, but Carolina and New Orleans are going to be very tough and Atlanta has to figure a way to maintain last season's momentum. There are enough players on this roster to make the Falcons dangerous in their own right, though. If Ryan avoids that dreaded sophomore slump and the freshly-revamped secondary holds up, this is a legit Super Bowl contender.

Atlanta Falcons 2009 Season Preview: Calling for an Encore originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>Jason ElamJerious NorwoodMatt RyanMichael JenkinsMichael PetersonMichael TurnerRoddy WhiteChris BurkeMon, 07 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST Carolina Panthers 2009 Season Preview: In Need of Amnesiahttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/carolina-panthers-2009-season-preview-in-need-of-amnesia/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/carolina-panthers-2009-season-preview-in-need-of-amnesia/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/09/07/carolina-panthers-2009-season-preview-in-need-of-amnesia/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Jake DelhommeTraining camps have wrapped up, the NFL season is right around the corner, and it's still hot as sin outside. But instead of cooling you off with a warm island song, FanHouse break out ye old heat check for our 2009 NFL Season Previews. We'll rate each club in 5 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

It's a day that haunted the Carolina Panthers and quarterback Jake Delhomme all offseason. The Panthers posted a 12-4 regular-season record and a well-earned NFC South title, plus the right to host a divisional round playoff game. On January 10, the Cardinals came to Carolina -- and Delhomme imploded. He committed six turnovers (five interceptions and a fumble) to help Arizona roll to a 33-13 win. The whole 2009 season will be Carolina's effort to wipe that horrible memory away.

Offense: What this unit is truly capable of lies with Delhomme's ability to put the past behind him. He was unspectacular but steady in the regular season, throwing for more than 3,000 yards with 15 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Even with his playoff meltdown, and the Panthers' pickup of Josh McCown, Delhomme's the guy and has to prove he's worth the long-term investment Carolina made in him during the offseason. The good news for Delhomme is that he has maybe the best 1-2 running back punch in the league to hand the ball to. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart combined for nearly 2,400 yards rushing and 28 touchdowns last season -- Williams is primed for another great year, but Stewart missed the preseason with a nagging Achilles injury. Delhomme's also got the ultra-reliable Steve Smith and Mushin Muhammed at receiver, and the same offensive line that protected him in 2008. This is all on Delhomme. Heat Index: 8

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Carolina Panthers Photos
CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 3: Jake Delhomme #17 of the Carolina Panthers releases this pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during their preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on September 3, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Rex Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jake Delhomme
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Carolina Panthers Photos

    CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 3: Muhsin Muhammad #87 of the Carolina Panthers is wrapped up by Anthony Madison #37 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during their preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on September 3, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Rex Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mushin Muhammad;Anthony Madison

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    CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 3: Jamall Lee #22 of the Carolina Panthers carries for a first down against the Pittsburgh Steelers during their preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on September 3, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Rex Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jamall Lee

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    CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 3: Head coach John Fox of the Carolina Panthers looks on during the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers during their preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on September 3, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Rex Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** John Fox

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    CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 3: Charles Johnson #95 of the Carolina Panthers runs down Mike Reilly #13 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during their preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on September 3, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Rex Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Charles Johnson;Mike Reilly

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    CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 3: Charles Johnson #95 of the Carolina Panthers runs down Mike Reilly #13 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during their preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on September 3, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Rex Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Charles Johnson;Mike Reilly

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    CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 3: Kelvin Smith #46 of the Carolina Panthers attempts to fight off this block as Justin Vincent #28 of the Pittsburgh Steelers picks up the first down during their preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on September 3, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Rex Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kelvin Smith;Justin Vincent

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    CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 3: DeAngelo Williams #34 of the Carolina Panthers is brought down by Andre Frazier #54 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during their preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on September 3, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Rex Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** DeAngelo Williams;Andre Frazier

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    CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 3: Justin Vincent #28 of the Pittsburgh Steelers picks up a first down against the Carolina Panthers during their preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on September 3, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Rex Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Justin Vincent

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    CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 3: Josh McCown #12 of the Carolina Panthers releases this pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during their preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on September 3, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Rex Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Josh McCown

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    CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 3: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers drops back to pass against the Carolina Panthers during their preseason game at Bank of America Stadium on September 3, 2009 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Rex Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ben Roethlisberger

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Defense: Julius Peppers' dance with Carolina continues -- Peppers tries to get out, the team talks about moving him, then he comes back and dominates. Last year, he produced 14 1/2 sacks, while left ends Tyler Brayton and Charles Johnson combined for 10 1/2 sacks opposite him. Damione Lewis is a rock inside, but the Panthers need Nick Hayden to excel on the interior, too. Na'il Diggs, John Beason and Thomas Davis are back to form the three-man linebacker group, but Dan Connor -- who missed last year with injury -- could be the rising star in there. The secondary's probably the defense's question mark: Chris Gamble and Richard Marshall start at cornerback, with Chris Harris and Charles Godfrey at safety. Gamble's a big-play type of guy, but he needs to get support from the other three. Heat Index: 8

Special Teams: John Kasey's been Carolina's kicker since about the time George Washington's crossing of the Delaware, and he is showing no signs of slowing down. Last year, Kasey hit on 28-of-31 field goals and missed just one inside 50 yards. He's backed up by kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd, who has a monster leg. Punter Jason Baker returns as well -- he dropped 30 kicks inside the opponent's 20-yard-line in 2008. A pair of draft picks, Captain Munnerlyn and Mike Goodson could boost the return game. Both possess huge speed. Heat Index: 9

Coaching: John Fox is in his eighth year leading Carolina, and this team has his stamp all over it -- good in the trenches, very strong in the run game. Despite that, Fox has struggled to recreate the magic of the 2003 season, when Carolina lost in the Super Bowl to New England. Fox's offensive coordinator, Jeff Davidson, has produced a good product on the field, save for Delhomme's postseason bomb. Defensive coordinator now belongs to former Colts coach Ron Meeks, who replaces Mike Trgovac. It shouldn't be a huge issue, but anytime you change a coordinator, there is the potential for problems. Heat Index: 7

Intangibles: It will be mostly a mental game for Carolina in 2009, and the schedule will punish them for any lapses. Last year's playoff loss can either serve as a motivator or a confidence-killer -- but, even in a best-case scenario, it's at least a nuisance. Heat Index: 5

Total Heat Index: 37/50 -- Aside from the rebuilding Buccaneers, the NFC South could easily land with any of the other three teams. Carolina's got to be considered in the mix, even if Delhomme's a bigger question mark than Drew Brees in New Orleans or Matt Ryan in Atlanta. If the Panthers can somehow traverse a brutal first eight weeks with an above-.500 record, a return playoff trip -- and even a repeat division crown -- is well within reach.

Carolina Panthers 2009 Season Preview: In Need of Amnesia originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>DeAngelo WilliamsJake DelhommeJohn KaseyJonathan StewartJulius PeppersMushind MuhammedSteve SmithChris BurkeMon, 07 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST Derrick Brooks to Work Out for Saintshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/11/derrick-brooks-to-work-out-for-saints/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/11/derrick-brooks-to-work-out-for-saints/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/11/derrick-brooks-to-work-out-for-saints/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Derrick BrooksFuture Hall of Famer Derrick Brooks has stated numerous times he's not ready to retire. After being released this past offseason by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- with whom the 36-year-old had played his entire 14-year career -- Brooks couldn't find interest from anyone. Well, according to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Brooks has finally received some interest.

The Saints will bring the 11-time Pro Bowl linebacker in for a workout. Brooks still has enough ability to fulfill a need for the Saints, considering their weakness at linebacker other than Jonathan Vilma. The need became even greater when backup linebacker Mark Simoneau went down with a torn triceps muscle.

The Saints decided to give Brooks a shot in light of what head coach Sean Payton saw when studying film from last season.
"We felt like he was still playing at a high level," Payton said. "He's an intelligent player, instinctive, a guy that's really been a pain for us over the years, so we've got a lot of respect for his ability."
At this point in training camp, bringing in Brooks would be a superb move for the Saints. He's not highly sought after, so it's not like they'd have to break the proverbial bank to land his services.

Fleaflicker Fantasy FootballIn addition to the aforementioned Pro Bowl appearances, Brooks was named first-team All-NFL five times and NFL Defensive Player of the Year once during his sparkling stint in Tampa Bay. He also accrued a defensive touchdown en route to winning the Super Bowl in 2002.

We're talking about an all-time great linebacker, so anything he has left in the tank would be a plus for a defense that was dreadful last season. Plus, with his leadership and experience, he'd be like a coach on the field for many of the younger players.

Derrick Brooks to Work Out for Saints originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>derrick brooksDerrickBrooksMatt SnyderTue, 11 Aug 2009 15:45:00 EST Bad News for Wideouts: Antonio Bryant Tears Meniscus, Steve Smith Carted Off http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/11/bad-news-for-wideouts-antonio-bryant-tears-meniscus-steve-smit/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/11/bad-news-for-wideouts-antonio-bryant-tears-meniscus-steve-smit/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/11/bad-news-for-wideouts-antonio-bryant-tears-meniscus-steve-smit/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Steve Smith / Antonio BryantIt's been a lousy training camp for No. 1 wide receivers so far. First, St. Louis Rams' downfield threat Donnie Avery was ruled out 4-to-6 weeks with a foot sprain. Now the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers will be without their top wideouts for a while, as both Steve Smith and Antonio Bryant went down with significant injuries.

Smith, who finished third in the NFL last season with 1,421 receiving yards, had to be carted to the locker room with a right shoulder strain after colliding with cornerback Chris Gamble in Monday's workouts. Although X-rays were negative, Smith was reportedly in a lot of pain and general manager Marty Hurney was uncertain how long he would be out.

It's possible that Smith will miss the entire preseason, and he's considering undergoing an MRI to provide more details on the injury. Smith's agent, Derrick Fox, told the Charlotte Observer that "Steve has a high threshold of pain, and he's in a lot of pain, so something's off-kilter," said Fox.

The injury comes at a really bad time for the banged-up Panthers, who just lost starting defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu for the season due to a torn Achilles' tendon. If an MRI on Smith's shoulder reveals something more serious than a strain, Carolina is in trouble because there's little depth in the passing game. Muhsin Muhammad, all 36 years of him, would likely be the new No. 1 target and underperforming third-year receiver Dwayne Jarrett would be on the other side.

The Buccaneers can certainly relate after losing Antonio Bryant for a month of action. Bucs coach Raheem Morris revealed that Bryant has a torn meniscus in his left knee and will undergo arthroscopic surgery. It was six months ago that the Bucs placed the franchise tag on Bryant, assuring him a salary of $9.98 million this season.

While he's expected to be ready to play in the regular-season opener against Dallas on Sept. 13, there's no guarantee Tampa Bay will get the same explosiveness out of Bryant as soon as he returns. The injury originally occurred against the Panthers in December, when Bryant tore it up for nine catches, 200 yards and two touchdowns, including this ridiculous highlight-reel catch.

Not-so-exciting options Michael Clayton and Maurice Stovall are next on the depth chart, and of course there's that whole quarterback quandary still to be sorted out. All things considered, it's looking grim in Tampa Bay.

Even before these injuries, the NFC South was shaping up to be one of the most intriguing divisions to watch, and it could get even murkier if Smith and Bryant are out longer than expected.

Bad News for Wideouts: Antonio Bryant Tears Meniscus, Steve Smith Carted Off originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>antonio bryantsteve smithTom HerreraTue, 11 Aug 2009 07:00:00 EST Roddy White Ends Holdout, Re-Signshttp://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/08/roddy-white-ends-holdout-re-signs/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/08/roddy-white-ends-holdout-re-signs/http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2009/08/08/roddy-white-ends-holdout-re-signs/#commentsFiled under: ,

Roddy WhiteMatt Ryan, Mike Smith, the rest of the Atlanta Falcons and their fans can now breathe a sigh of relief. Roddy White, their Pro Bowl receiver who had been holding out for a contract extension, has been granted the extension and significant raise he desired.

Sources told FanHouse the deal is for six years, $50 million, with $18.6 million in guaranteed money. No word on whether or not it helped, but the Falcons' receiving situation got a bit dire this past week -- as evidenced by the team's actions -- with White holding out and Harry Douglas going down with a season-ending ACL tear.

White, the Falcons' first-round pick in 2005, has grown into an elite NFL wide receiver. He amassed 83 catches, 1,202 yards and six touchdowns in 2007 with shoddy quarterbacks throwing him the ball. Last season, with solid rookie Ryan throwing to him, his numbers went up to 88 catches, 1,382 yards and seven TDs.

White is 27 years old and will likely report to camp immediately.

Roddy White Ends Holdout, Re-Signs originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 08 Aug 2009 23:39:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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]]>harry douglasmatt ryanmike smithroddy whiteMatt SnyderSat, 08 Aug 2009 23:39:00 EST