Dink and Dunk

(In John Kerry mode): As I had predicted before my prediction, Tyrone Moss was summarily dismissed.

But they signed Jerome Jackson from Michigan. Jackson was a backup at Michigan, but averaged well over 6 YPC. He has good size and should get bigger than his current 206. I have little else on him...but 6 YPC? That's Michigan, in the Big 10, right? Very interesting!

They also got an ILB who got suspended and injured--Kevin Sears out of Auburn. Listen carefully: Leon Williams. Stand by. And they signed a P R O J E C T offensive tackle. These guys might or might not accomplish something, sooner or later. Jackson and Sears have special teams potential--and sleeper potential.

I heard Braylon Edwards interviewed on NFL radio. First of all he has a charitable foundation which awards college scholarships to underprivelaged kids in Detroit. This kind of charity works, because it gets people off the plantation. Uncles, aunts, older siblings, and often even mom and dad tell them "You aint got a chance. They fixed it that way."

Edwards says "Get the grades and graduate and you can be somebody". So they DO. Bravo!

Anyway, he sounded more mature. Good. He said Charlie is still his QB til they tell him different, and defended Frye, saying he got killed last season. He declined to mention the interceptions and non-TD's that went off his own personal hands, but I guess defending him was something.

I did get a lot of insight into the new offense from him. He said it's designed for the QB to get rid of the ball quickly--and some other stuff. This will NOT be a Raider-like mad-bomber offense, but will have a lot of west coast elements it. Shallow crosses and slants, yards after catch, etc.

This is really good news! It was Chudzinski himself who originally described a "vertical" passing offense, so the dude is clearly open-minded and adaptable.

And it just makes sense. Edwards and the walking wounded guy we got from the Giants are the only deep threats here. But Edwards isn't one-dimensional, and will cross and run after the catch as well; is probably more effective doing this than just flying down the sideline hollering "hit me!"

Winslow is exceptional, but not like he was originally. He is called a "deep threat" only because he can GET deep, and defeat even double-coverage. Heiden could start for many teams as a reviever, and Jurevicious is a possession guy. Travis Wilson, who WILL make a strong bid for a starting role this season, is also mostly a possession type, who exploits his height and size, and can run with the ball.

This whole crew is ideal for a West Coast type scheme. Another rarely-mentioned element of this is the fact that the recievers are all expected to be accomplished blockers. Not just trying to bump a guy or whatever--but assigned targets to intercept or attack.

On runs, they will burst off the line in order to sell the pass and get a zone DB on his heels or a man DB running away from the line. Then, against man coverage, they'll slow enough to get the DB ahead of them and keep driving them, or in zone they'll aim right at the guy.

Now, Savage has loaded up on fullbacks. Here's what to expect: a lot of two-TE, and a lot of two-back. A three-wide set would be a one-back, with the back probably being Rodney Harrisonfield. (The timing, quick-release part of the offense makes the slot/outlet reciever more important than a bodyguard, and a little fast guy is more effective on draws against spread-out defenses).

Everybody except Lewis is a nifty reciever.

Man, I'm starting to feel it--what did I say about Frye and Quinn?

Adam Caplan in a recent blabberfest ("chat" session) opined that the current D-line is adequate, with depth. He got that one right. But the wild-card is, I say again, Simon Fraser. He is a disruptor, and will still be one even as he returns heavier and stronger. Also I've heard that this Orien Harris dude aint half-bad. Will study up on him.

OK a second-year player, Miami Hurricane. Main problem was inconsistancy. He's athletic and explosive, but the profile says he couldn't hold up to double-teams. Of course this was his college profile say...damn--dude sounds like FRASER!!! Let's see how much he's i m p r o v e d!

He also mentioned Wilson, who could be really damn good.

And Peek. Adam feels that the whole defense hinges on Antwan Peek, and whether or not he generates a pass-rush opposite Wimbley. He's technicly right, but overstating it. Every player on this defense can and will blitze to augment and distract from Wimbley, and the defense could still be very effective even if Peek aint.

But Peek is a prototype bookend, and in the ideal scheme, either or both of these OLB's can be "sent" at any time, and the rest can fill the holes in coverage. These are guys which the blockers often can't stop even when they know they're coming. That's why they have to be big and have reasonably long arms--so they can meet a blocker and get by him without running halfway around the football field.

They'll bull-rush a much bigger guy when they have a running start and the guy is neccessarily backing up already. Andra Davis has the strength and bulk to do that, but the lineman would easily reach out and stagger him with a hand-punch (and jersey-grab) before he could touch him.

So yeah, Peek is important. At least Caplan correctly identified him as an important component, and not just a "situational" player, like some yawning nimrods did.

Well okbye