As the coming of season of 2010 NFL.Some questions are talking fiercely.
Will the Patriots win 10 or more games once again?
Maybe. Unlike the Raiders, this franchise has been the model of success and dare we say it, was on the verge of being a dynasty before Tom Brady tore up his knee two years ago. Brady's fine now, but the talent around him has thinned noticeably.
New England has finished with double-digit win totals each of the past seven seasons, but the AFC East is getting stronger and depending on your own school of thought, the cheap Patriots jersey might only be the third-best team in their division behind the Jets and Dolphins. Personally, I think they'll slip into the playoffs as a wildcard with 10 wins.
Will the Steelers survive during Big Ben's suspension?
Yes, especially if NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reduces Ben Roethlisberger's punishment from six to four games, as expected. Byron Leftwich can help manage the offense well enough to at least get through Pittsburgh's first four games with a .500 record. I can see a win at home against the Falcons and on the road to Tampa Bay, but losses at Tennessee and home to Baltimore.
The bigger question here is, how will the Steelers do after the bye week when Roethlisberger returns? His first game will likely be Oct. 16 against the lowly Browns, but then comes a brutal stretch, starting with three games on the road at Miami, New Orleans and Cincinnati, followed by a home game against the always-tough Patriots.
Can the New York Jets live up to all the hype?
Yes, but it sure would help if they can come up with a contract solution for Pro Bowl cornerback Darrelle Revis. The longer he holds out, the more power he could wield over management, especially if the Jets get off to a slow start. That could happen, too, given that four of the team's first five games are against quality opponents in the Ravens, Patriots, cheap Dolphins jersey and Vikings.
I think the Revis situation will be resolved soon, and I'm picking the Jets to win the AFC East. But there are a few other items I'm concerned about: Will LaDainian Tomlinson jersey stay content playing second fiddle to Shonn Greene? Is Mark Sanchez capable of taking a giant leap in his development? Will Braylon Edwards and his attitude become a distraction?
Will Matt Leinart make it with the Cardinals?
We shall see. It's never easy taking over for a legend, which is what Leinart is being asked to do in replacing the retired Kurt Warner. Warner gave him some solid advice before the start of training camp, texting him not to let the critics get under his skin or lose his confidence when things go bad.
If Leinart struggles badly, head coach Ken Whisenhunt will have no choice but to turn the job over to Derek Anderson. And if Leinart does well, he may have to do super well for the Cardinals to pay him the $13 million they will owe him next season. A so-so season by Leinart likely means he won't be back in 2011, assuming there's even an NFL season given the potential of a lockout.
Can Chris Johnson break the single-season rushing record?
Absolutely. Last season in just his second year in the league, Johnson became only the sixth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 or more yards when he ran for 2,006 for the Tennessee Titans jersey .
His goal in 2010 is to break Eric Dickerson's 26-year-old NFL record of 2,105 yards. Johnson has the speed, shiftiness and desire to get it done. His durability hasn't been a question mark yet, but perhaps that's because he eludes so many tackles. If he stays healthy and head coach Jeff Fisher lets him go for the record, Johnson will do it.
2010年8月25日星期三
2010年8月19日星期四
Pittsburgh Steelers at New Meadowlands Stadium
The backup Jim Sorgi will miss two to three weeks with a tear in the capsule of his throwing shoulder after a hit he sustained Monday in a preseason game, his agent, Matt Brei, said Thursday in a telephone interview.
Brei did not know the severity of the tear. He said it was not related to the partly torn labrum that forced Sorgi onto injured reserve last season with the Indianapolis Colts. Sorgi was here Thursday and wore a helmet, but he did not participate.
Sorgi sustained the injury on a big hit from Jets linebacker Lance Laury moments after he delivered his second touchdown pass to Victor Cruz in the Giants' 31-16 win at New Meadowlands Stadium.
Manning, who required 12 stitches to close a bloody gash on his forehead after being hit in Monday's game, will be unable to play against the wholesale Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys on Saturday. His timetable is uncertain. He took snaps Thursday wearing a baseball cap, but he did not face a defense.
Quarterback Rhett Bomar needed a minute to contemplate the question: Did he remember the last game he started?
"The last game I played?" Bomar said. "It was the last game of college. It was November of ... 2008?
He added, "I think it was against Texas State."
Bomar will make his next start on Saturday when the Giants take on the cheap Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys at New Meadowlands Stadium. Bomar will at least temporarily step into the main role with Eli Manning and the backup Jim Sorgi out.
"I wouldn't call it a lucky break," Bomar said. "It's a great opportunity, is the way I see it. It's fun. I'm looking forward to it, no doubt about that."
Dominic Randolph, a rookie free agent out of Holy Cross, joined the Giants in training camp Thursday to help shore up their depth at the position. The Giants may also look to safety Antrel Rolle, who took snaps out of the Wildcat while playing for the Arizona Cardinals, to see some action under center. GIANTS' PHILLIPS TO RETURN After missing almost all of last season with a knee injury and being limited in training camp after surgery, safety Kenny Phillips will return to live action against the Steelers.
Coach Tom Coughlin indicated that Phillips's time on the field might be limited. Coughlin said Phillips proved he was ready during practices.
Percy Harvin experienced the scariest episode yet in a career plagued by migraine headaches when he collapsed at a Minnesota Vikings practice in Eden Prairie, Minn., and was taken to a hospital by ambulance.
Coach Brad Childress left team headquarters after practice and spent the rest of the afternoon at the hospital with Harvin.
"Percy appreciates everyone's concern," Childress said in a statement posted on the team Web site. "He is alert and resting comfortably, but will remain in the hospital overnight."
Harvin, who has dealt with migraines most of his life, returned to the field Monday after missing more than two weeks, but at the beginning of Thursday's workout he experienced another episode that was scary enough for the Vikings to halt practice while he received medical attention.
"To see a guy go down, it's never a good thing," defensive end Ray Edwards said. Childress said that Harvin's episode was triggered when he looked up into a mostly cloudy sky to field a punt during a special-teams drill. Harvin went inside to see the team physician, Dr. Sheldon Burns, then came back out to the field. Soon after, Harvin was doubled over and trembling. Players and coaches stood in front of him to shield him while reporters watched from a distance as Harvin was treated.
Leftwich is the lightest he has ever been, the happiest he has ever been, and the most complete man he has ever been. He'll likely start the season as the quarterback of the wholesale Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys some 6½ months after he became a father.
Dominic Leftwich waits for his father in a stroller at one end of the practice field. Leftwich joins him and soon a group of Steelers players gather around the Leftwich family. Everyone takes a turn holding Dominic. Dad beams.
"I've been in this league a long time now," the eighth-year player says. "This is the first place where you feel like family. This is where I want to spend the rest of my career. That's what I mean by football paradise. This is football paradise. There is no B.S. here like other places. People tell you the truth here. They don't lie to you. I don't ever want to leave."
And by "other places" Leftwich means the team that drafted him, the Jacksonville Jaguars, who released him in 2006.
"The Jaguars really f----- up that situation," he said. "We had a good group of players and the team let them all go. They let us all go. If they had been more patient, we could've done big things in Jacksonville."
Leftwich steals a deep breath and takes in the scene. Next to him is his son but all around him is his new baby: the cheap Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys.
Publicly, the Steelers maintain Dennis Dixon could win the starting quarterback job as the team waits for Ben Roethlisberger to serve his minimum four-game suspension for being a grotesque cad.
Privately is a different matter. The Steelers like Dixon's raw abilities but don't think he's ready to start (Dixon still has major problems picking up the blitz). Barring some sort of dramatic turn, the starting job is Leftwich's to lose.
Brei did not know the severity of the tear. He said it was not related to the partly torn labrum that forced Sorgi onto injured reserve last season with the Indianapolis Colts. Sorgi was here Thursday and wore a helmet, but he did not participate.
Sorgi sustained the injury on a big hit from Jets linebacker Lance Laury moments after he delivered his second touchdown pass to Victor Cruz in the Giants' 31-16 win at New Meadowlands Stadium.
Manning, who required 12 stitches to close a bloody gash on his forehead after being hit in Monday's game, will be unable to play against the wholesale Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys on Saturday. His timetable is uncertain. He took snaps Thursday wearing a baseball cap, but he did not face a defense.
Quarterback Rhett Bomar needed a minute to contemplate the question: Did he remember the last game he started?
"The last game I played?" Bomar said. "It was the last game of college. It was November of ... 2008?
He added, "I think it was against Texas State."
Bomar will make his next start on Saturday when the Giants take on the cheap Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys at New Meadowlands Stadium. Bomar will at least temporarily step into the main role with Eli Manning and the backup Jim Sorgi out.
"I wouldn't call it a lucky break," Bomar said. "It's a great opportunity, is the way I see it. It's fun. I'm looking forward to it, no doubt about that."
Dominic Randolph, a rookie free agent out of Holy Cross, joined the Giants in training camp Thursday to help shore up their depth at the position. The Giants may also look to safety Antrel Rolle, who took snaps out of the Wildcat while playing for the Arizona Cardinals, to see some action under center. GIANTS' PHILLIPS TO RETURN After missing almost all of last season with a knee injury and being limited in training camp after surgery, safety Kenny Phillips will return to live action against the Steelers.
Coach Tom Coughlin indicated that Phillips's time on the field might be limited. Coughlin said Phillips proved he was ready during practices.
Percy Harvin experienced the scariest episode yet in a career plagued by migraine headaches when he collapsed at a Minnesota Vikings practice in Eden Prairie, Minn., and was taken to a hospital by ambulance.
Coach Brad Childress left team headquarters after practice and spent the rest of the afternoon at the hospital with Harvin.
"Percy appreciates everyone's concern," Childress said in a statement posted on the team Web site. "He is alert and resting comfortably, but will remain in the hospital overnight."
Harvin, who has dealt with migraines most of his life, returned to the field Monday after missing more than two weeks, but at the beginning of Thursday's workout he experienced another episode that was scary enough for the Vikings to halt practice while he received medical attention.
"To see a guy go down, it's never a good thing," defensive end Ray Edwards said. Childress said that Harvin's episode was triggered when he looked up into a mostly cloudy sky to field a punt during a special-teams drill. Harvin went inside to see the team physician, Dr. Sheldon Burns, then came back out to the field. Soon after, Harvin was doubled over and trembling. Players and coaches stood in front of him to shield him while reporters watched from a distance as Harvin was treated.
Leftwich is the lightest he has ever been, the happiest he has ever been, and the most complete man he has ever been. He'll likely start the season as the quarterback of the wholesale Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys some 6½ months after he became a father.
Dominic Leftwich waits for his father in a stroller at one end of the practice field. Leftwich joins him and soon a group of Steelers players gather around the Leftwich family. Everyone takes a turn holding Dominic. Dad beams.
"I've been in this league a long time now," the eighth-year player says. "This is the first place where you feel like family. This is where I want to spend the rest of my career. That's what I mean by football paradise. This is football paradise. There is no B.S. here like other places. People tell you the truth here. They don't lie to you. I don't ever want to leave."
And by "other places" Leftwich means the team that drafted him, the Jacksonville Jaguars, who released him in 2006.
"The Jaguars really f----- up that situation," he said. "We had a good group of players and the team let them all go. They let us all go. If they had been more patient, we could've done big things in Jacksonville."
Leftwich steals a deep breath and takes in the scene. Next to him is his son but all around him is his new baby: the cheap Pittsburgh Steelers jerseys.
Publicly, the Steelers maintain Dennis Dixon could win the starting quarterback job as the team waits for Ben Roethlisberger to serve his minimum four-game suspension for being a grotesque cad.
Privately is a different matter. The Steelers like Dixon's raw abilities but don't think he's ready to start (Dixon still has major problems picking up the blitz). Barring some sort of dramatic turn, the starting job is Leftwich's to lose.
2010年8月15日星期日
Ray Lewis on his passion, the Ravens D and the Jets
In the second half of tonight's Ravens-Panthers exhibition game, ESPN's "Monday Night Football" crew interviewed Ray Lewis on the sidelines about returning for another season, the Ravens defense and talking trash with the Jets. Here are excerpts of that interview (courtesy of the Ravens' media relation department):
On returning for another season: "[I'm] just loving the competition of it. I love putting my body through a certain level of torture, and I just love being around the guys, and I love competing."
On his performance: "On the field, it comes down to just really loving my craft -- studying and really just understanding what's going to come year after year. The older you get -- I always say this -- the wiser you get, so the bottom line for me is the game has just really slowed down, and I just have a good time playing it."
On the impact that injuries to the secondary have had on the defense: "The bottom line is always the next man up for us. It's not about one part of who we are. On our defense, we're three parts -- defensive line, linebackers and secondary. So, the bottom line is, if our secondary's hurt, then our front seven's got to get it done."
On if the team watched the first episode of HBO's "Hard Knocks" on Wednesday night: "I don't know, I think everybody else was in their room, but I passed out in five minutes. I think it's a great opportunity for [the Jets]. Congratulations to Rex [Ryan] and his team and all the fun they have over there. We're going to be working, and we'll see them Week 1."
On talking trash with the Jets: "Talking is whatever it's going to be. The Haloti Ngata bottom line is, come Monday night, somebody's going to get hit."
After hearing all that, how could you not be pumped up for Week 1?
On returning for another season: "[I'm] just loving the competition of it. I love putting my body through a certain level of torture, and I just love being around the guys, and I love competing."
On his performance: "On the field, it comes down to just really loving my craft -- studying and really just understanding what's going to come year after year. The older you get -- I always say this -- the wiser you get, so the bottom line for me is the game has just really slowed down, and I just have a good time playing it."
On the impact that injuries to the secondary have had on the defense: "The bottom line is always the next man up for us. It's not about one part of who we are. On our defense, we're three parts -- defensive line, linebackers and secondary. So, the bottom line is, if our secondary's hurt, then our front seven's got to get it done."
On if the team watched the first episode of HBO's "Hard Knocks" on Wednesday night: "I don't know, I think everybody else was in their room, but I passed out in five minutes. I think it's a great opportunity for [the Jets]. Congratulations to Rex [Ryan] and his team and all the fun they have over there. We're going to be working, and we'll see them Week 1."
On talking trash with the Jets: "Talking is whatever it's going to be. The Haloti Ngata bottom line is, come Monday night, somebody's going to get hit."
After hearing all that, how could you not be pumped up for Week 1?
2010年8月10日星期二
The Cincinnati Bengals are waiting on offensive tackle Andre Smith again
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com is citing multiple NFL sources as saying that Saban has advised some pro teams that scouts are no longer welcome at Alabama practices until further notice.
"There's talk that Saban may open the doors on a limited basis," Florio wrote. "Currently, August 18 has been identified as one of the potential dates."
NFL reps not been spotted on Alabama's practice field, at least Chad Ochocinco from this reporter's vantage point, so far this preseason. But Saban's reported move didn't come without warning.
He uttered several in the wake of news that Marcell Dareus was being investigated by the school for a suspected trip to an agent-related party. That came after Andre Smith's suspension in 2008 before the Sugar Bowl in connection with an investigation of improper dealings with an agent representative.
"We treat the NFL as well as anybody in the United States when they come to the University of Alabama," Saban said at SEC media days. "If something doesn't go on from their end of it to control what they're doing to affect our players, then I'm not sure that same hospitality will be welcomed in the future."
The Cincinnati Bengals are waiting on offensive tackle Andre Smith again.
The former first-round draft pick has yet to get on the practice field with his Bengals teammates. He's working out on his own, trying to get in shape and get beyond foot problems that held him back as a rookie.
There's no telling whether he'll be ready to start the season.
"I'm not going to worry about him until he's in there," offensive line coach Paul Alexander said between practices Wednesday. "That's the only way you can operate."
So far, Smith has been one of the Bengals' biggest disappointments.
They took him with the sixth overall pick last year out of Alabama, where he was a dominating run blocker. They were so concerned about his weight problems that they sent an assistant coach to weigh him a few days before the draft, and only then decided to make him their choice.
He got into a contract holdout that forced him to miss much of training camp in Georgetown and the first three preseason games. He finally agreed to a deal that includes a weight clause — he loses half of his paycheck if he weighs more than 350 pounds or isn't on the 45-man roster.
Two days after he joined the team, he broke his left foot during a non-contact drill. The injury limited him to six games, including only one start, last season.
He had foot surgery when the season ended, and has been slow to get back into playing condition. Coach Marvin Lewis said Smith might end up on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he would miss the first six games.
"Andre stays on the progression of the doctor," Lewis said. "We'll see. But if not, then Carson Palmer we still have the right to put him on the PUP and bring him in during the season. We'll see how that goes with the whole foot and that entire thing."
Smith's base salary is $1.08 million this year, so he'd lose $31,700 for each game that he's not on the 45-man roster or more than 350 pounds.
Dennis Roland, a former college free agent from Georgia, is starting in Smith's spot at right tackle. Roland played in all 16 games last season, including 12 starts.
While the rest of his teammates worked out on an adjacent field this week, Smith donned black shorts and a black, long-sleeve workout shirt and practiced a few pass-blocking moves against Dermontti Dawson on another field. The former Steelers center is working with the Bengals during training camp as part of an intern coaching program.
"I'm not really teaching him anything," Dawson said. "I'm just simulating the blocks that they do now, the blocks he would do as a right tackle. I just want to get him back into the groove of things and see how he moves and how he feels."
"There's talk that Saban may open the doors on a limited basis," Florio wrote. "Currently, August 18 has been identified as one of the potential dates."
NFL reps not been spotted on Alabama's practice field, at least Chad Ochocinco from this reporter's vantage point, so far this preseason. But Saban's reported move didn't come without warning.
He uttered several in the wake of news that Marcell Dareus was being investigated by the school for a suspected trip to an agent-related party. That came after Andre Smith's suspension in 2008 before the Sugar Bowl in connection with an investigation of improper dealings with an agent representative.
"We treat the NFL as well as anybody in the United States when they come to the University of Alabama," Saban said at SEC media days. "If something doesn't go on from their end of it to control what they're doing to affect our players, then I'm not sure that same hospitality will be welcomed in the future."
The Cincinnati Bengals are waiting on offensive tackle Andre Smith again.
The former first-round draft pick has yet to get on the practice field with his Bengals teammates. He's working out on his own, trying to get in shape and get beyond foot problems that held him back as a rookie.
There's no telling whether he'll be ready to start the season.
"I'm not going to worry about him until he's in there," offensive line coach Paul Alexander said between practices Wednesday. "That's the only way you can operate."
So far, Smith has been one of the Bengals' biggest disappointments.
They took him with the sixth overall pick last year out of Alabama, where he was a dominating run blocker. They were so concerned about his weight problems that they sent an assistant coach to weigh him a few days before the draft, and only then decided to make him their choice.
He got into a contract holdout that forced him to miss much of training camp in Georgetown and the first three preseason games. He finally agreed to a deal that includes a weight clause — he loses half of his paycheck if he weighs more than 350 pounds or isn't on the 45-man roster.
Two days after he joined the team, he broke his left foot during a non-contact drill. The injury limited him to six games, including only one start, last season.
He had foot surgery when the season ended, and has been slow to get back into playing condition. Coach Marvin Lewis said Smith might end up on the physically unable to perform list, meaning he would miss the first six games.
"Andre stays on the progression of the doctor," Lewis said. "We'll see. But if not, then Carson Palmer we still have the right to put him on the PUP and bring him in during the season. We'll see how that goes with the whole foot and that entire thing."
Smith's base salary is $1.08 million this year, so he'd lose $31,700 for each game that he's not on the 45-man roster or more than 350 pounds.
Dennis Roland, a former college free agent from Georgia, is starting in Smith's spot at right tackle. Roland played in all 16 games last season, including 12 starts.
While the rest of his teammates worked out on an adjacent field this week, Smith donned black shorts and a black, long-sleeve workout shirt and practiced a few pass-blocking moves against Dermontti Dawson on another field. The former Steelers center is working with the Bengals during training camp as part of an intern coaching program.
"I'm not really teaching him anything," Dawson said. "I'm just simulating the blocks that they do now, the blocks he would do as a right tackle. I just want to get him back into the groove of things and see how he moves and how he feels."
2010年8月8日星期日
Ray Rice is entering his third season as an NFL player
Ray Rice is entering his third season as an NFL player and like in fantasy baseball rings the third year is the "break out" year. Well most think that last year was Rice's coming out party… wrong… Rice is a multi purpose back, he can run for speed, strength, and agility. He has become an elite pass catcher in the backfield and hes tough as nails in the blocking game. He will step it up another notch and enter the tier of elite must have territory.
Why you may ask? Well the Ravens are now and have always been a heavy running team… That game plan isnt going to change because Joe Flacco has developed or because Anquan Boldin was acquired, no that game plan is going to open up even more because of these new threats! The terrifying passing threat that Flacco to Boldin creates will force defenses to adjust their schemes to put either A double coverage on Boldin or B more hesitation for pass coverage. Defensive schemes against Baltimore could always bank on a run heavy offense and now with the new 1-2 combo the running game will have holes for Rice that the Ravens have never seen.
Another reason Ray Rice will edge out Johnson and Peterson for the top spot is this… Unlike the Titans and Vikings the Ravens don't insert a spell back as a must need in goal line situations.The Titans are working diligently to find a replacement for Lendale White in either Javon Ringer or LeGarrette Blount and the Vikings used a 2nd round pick to bring in Stanford bruiser Toby Gehart.
Because of that Peterson will surely lose out on those 2nd and goal carries on the 1 or 2 yard line. At that point in a game he becomes more of a liability than a talent and those plays will cost fantasy owners points, points that Ray Rice wont lose out on. And yes will there is still a threat looming of Willis McGahee stealing some carries from Rice this season I am not concerned. Lets be real McGahee had 109 rushing attempts last year, hes heading towards the end of his career and he has a litany of injury problems. The real threat to take carries from Rice is Le'Ron McClain but fantasy owners don't need to worry because he poses the same threat that every other Mike Alstott and Tony Richardson posed for their teams respective lead rushers.
Only 28, McGahee still has the strength and athleticism to be a starting tailback in the NFL. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry en route to 544 yards last season.
And although Rice - who rushed for 1,339 yards and finished second in the NFL with 2,041 yards from scrimmage en route to his first Pro Bowl berth - will likely begin the 2010 season as the offense's starting running back, McGahee will still be counted on to power the rushing attack when he is on the field.
To that end, McGahee said he came into training camp a little heavier than usual. McGahee, whose playing weight is listed at 235 pounds, said he weighed in at 240 pounds - which did not concern him.
"I feel like when I came in lighter, that's when I was getting the injuries and all of that," McGahee said, referring to 2008, when arthroscopic knee surgery in the preseason was followed by injuries to his eye, ribs, ankle and finally neck because of a helmet-to-helmet blow by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark that knocked him out of the AFC championship game. "I just go with the flow right now. Just keep it up."
Coach John Harbaugh said the added weight did not appear to be a hindrance for McGahee.
"He looks like he's in very good shape," Harbaugh said. "He's carrying really well, and he's running really well. So I'd say that's a plus."
For now, McGahee is content to bide his time and play a supporting role to Rice. But McGahee put to rest any notion that he might launch a Twitter campaign as his backfield mate Le'Ron McClain.
"No," McGahee said with a chuckle. "I'll leave that to Le'Ron."
Injury updates
Cornerback Chris Carr and linebacker Tavares Gooden did not practice Sunday, but neither's absence is considered long-term.
Carr appeared to injure his hamstring during Saturday's practice at M&T Bank Stadium, and his left thigh was heavily wrapped under his shorts.
"He was out doing some things today," Harbaugh said. "So he should be fine."
It's unclear what Gooden's ailment is, and when asked repeatedly about his nonparticipation, Gooden replied, "I'm good."
"He should be back tomorrow, too," Harbaugh said of Gooden. "We'll see. But (we) just gave him a day here. We'll see him tomorrow."
In addition to Carr and Gooden, offensive tackles Jared Gaither (back spasms), Tony Moll (concussion) and Stefan Rodgers (leg); cornerbacks K.J. Gerard (hamstring) and Prince Miller (unspecified); center David Hale (unspecified); and safety Marcus Paschal (right leg) did not practice Sunday.
Mattison returns to offense
Bryan Mattison is back with the offensive line - for now.
A defensive lineman out of Iowa, Mattison has alternated between both sides of the trenches and filled in as a defensive lineman because of depth issues during the team's playoff run last season.
"They told me, when it happened, that it was going to be a short-term thing and that I'd be going back," said Mattison, whose father, Greg, is the team's defensive coordinator. "I'll just do whatever the team needs."
Why you may ask? Well the Ravens are now and have always been a heavy running team… That game plan isnt going to change because Joe Flacco has developed or because Anquan Boldin was acquired, no that game plan is going to open up even more because of these new threats! The terrifying passing threat that Flacco to Boldin creates will force defenses to adjust their schemes to put either A double coverage on Boldin or B more hesitation for pass coverage. Defensive schemes against Baltimore could always bank on a run heavy offense and now with the new 1-2 combo the running game will have holes for Rice that the Ravens have never seen.
Another reason Ray Rice will edge out Johnson and Peterson for the top spot is this… Unlike the Titans and Vikings the Ravens don't insert a spell back as a must need in goal line situations.The Titans are working diligently to find a replacement for Lendale White in either Javon Ringer or LeGarrette Blount and the Vikings used a 2nd round pick to bring in Stanford bruiser Toby Gehart.
Because of that Peterson will surely lose out on those 2nd and goal carries on the 1 or 2 yard line. At that point in a game he becomes more of a liability than a talent and those plays will cost fantasy owners points, points that Ray Rice wont lose out on. And yes will there is still a threat looming of Willis McGahee stealing some carries from Rice this season I am not concerned. Lets be real McGahee had 109 rushing attempts last year, hes heading towards the end of his career and he has a litany of injury problems. The real threat to take carries from Rice is Le'Ron McClain but fantasy owners don't need to worry because he poses the same threat that every other Mike Alstott and Tony Richardson posed for their teams respective lead rushers.
Only 28, McGahee still has the strength and athleticism to be a starting tailback in the NFL. He averaged 5.0 yards per carry en route to 544 yards last season.
And although Rice - who rushed for 1,339 yards and finished second in the NFL with 2,041 yards from scrimmage en route to his first Pro Bowl berth - will likely begin the 2010 season as the offense's starting running back, McGahee will still be counted on to power the rushing attack when he is on the field.
To that end, McGahee said he came into training camp a little heavier than usual. McGahee, whose playing weight is listed at 235 pounds, said he weighed in at 240 pounds - which did not concern him.
"I feel like when I came in lighter, that's when I was getting the injuries and all of that," McGahee said, referring to 2008, when arthroscopic knee surgery in the preseason was followed by injuries to his eye, ribs, ankle and finally neck because of a helmet-to-helmet blow by Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark that knocked him out of the AFC championship game. "I just go with the flow right now. Just keep it up."
Coach John Harbaugh said the added weight did not appear to be a hindrance for McGahee.
"He looks like he's in very good shape," Harbaugh said. "He's carrying really well, and he's running really well. So I'd say that's a plus."
For now, McGahee is content to bide his time and play a supporting role to Rice. But McGahee put to rest any notion that he might launch a Twitter campaign as his backfield mate Le'Ron McClain.
"No," McGahee said with a chuckle. "I'll leave that to Le'Ron."
Injury updates
Cornerback Chris Carr and linebacker Tavares Gooden did not practice Sunday, but neither's absence is considered long-term.
Carr appeared to injure his hamstring during Saturday's practice at M&T Bank Stadium, and his left thigh was heavily wrapped under his shorts.
"He was out doing some things today," Harbaugh said. "So he should be fine."
It's unclear what Gooden's ailment is, and when asked repeatedly about his nonparticipation, Gooden replied, "I'm good."
"He should be back tomorrow, too," Harbaugh said of Gooden. "We'll see. But (we) just gave him a day here. We'll see him tomorrow."
In addition to Carr and Gooden, offensive tackles Jared Gaither (back spasms), Tony Moll (concussion) and Stefan Rodgers (leg); cornerbacks K.J. Gerard (hamstring) and Prince Miller (unspecified); center David Hale (unspecified); and safety Marcus Paschal (right leg) did not practice Sunday.
Mattison returns to offense
Bryan Mattison is back with the offensive line - for now.
A defensive lineman out of Iowa, Mattison has alternated between both sides of the trenches and filled in as a defensive lineman because of depth issues during the team's playoff run last season.
"They told me, when it happened, that it was going to be a short-term thing and that I'd be going back," said Mattison, whose father, Greg, is the team's defensive coordinator. "I'll just do whatever the team needs."
2010年8月4日星期三
Dallas Clark knows it's a good time to be a tight end in the NFL
They have attempted 6,746 passes, fourth-most in the league during that 12-year stretch. It might take that many attempts this season to keep Manning's receiving options satisfied.
It's a deep, proven group, one that must find room -- and reps -- for Anthony Gonzalez. The team's 2007 first-round draft pick is back running, cutting and catching on the Anderson University practice fields after missing virtually all of 2009 with a knee injury.
"It's got to be the best in the league," said Dallas Clark, the Colts' Pro Bowl tight end who moonlights as a receiver. "We've got a lot of guys who can just make a lot of big plays at any point. A lot of good threats."
Those threats have been on constant display during the first two days of training camp: Reggie Wayne, Clark, Gonzalez, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie. They've combined for 253 starts, 1,237 receptions and 122 touchdowns during their careers.
"I look at all of those guys as starting receivers," Manning said. "It's really whoever is lined up out there. I'm going to have 100 percent confidence in all of them to throw it to them on any down and distance."
The trick for first-year offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen, who wasn't made available for comment for this story, figures to be finding enough playing time to keep everyone happy.
Wayne, a Pro Bowl selection the past four seasons, and Clark likely will be on the field the vast majority of the time. Gonzalez hopes to challenge for his old right-side starting spot, where Garcon took over last year, but might find himself pushing Collie to be the primary slot receiver.
"It's not really a problem," insisted Gonzalez, who appears completely healed from the ligament damage to his right knee in the '09 opener and a hamstring issue that limited his availability during the Colts' offseason work. "It's figuring out how to make the best of a really good situation."
Collie agreed. He made an immediate, significant impact in '09, when he led all rookie receivers with seven touchdowns and tied for No. 1 with 60 receptions.
"You can't go wrong with having too much talent on the team," Collie said.
Again, the "problem" is maximizing that talent. Manning routinely works Donald Brown out of formations that utilize two wide receivers and Clark. Frequently, a slot receiver makes it a foursome.
Keep in mind, we're talking about a collection of five sets of hungry hands. Even though the Colts move their receivers around -- split wide, in the slot, on the left, on the right -- and have been adept at getting their best players on the field, someone is going to have to deal with a diminished role.
Dallas Clark knows it's a good time to be a tight end in the NFL. No longer are tight ends viewed as glorified offensive linemen, but rather an integral part of an offense. And Clark loves it.
Clark, the starting tight end for the Colts, is coming off an outstanding year in 2009 when he had 100 catches for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has helped set the standard for the new wave of tight ends in the NFL, and he sees the position growing, which is a benefit for Fantasy owners.
"It's changed a lot," Clark said. "The position has gone in a direction where it has given people like me – I'm not 270 (pounds) or a glorified tackle. I'm not going to be blowing any defensive end off the line of scrimmage or driving anyone back. It just gives us a chance to give the Donald Brown offense a different option and defenses a different thing to try to defend."
It's a deep, proven group, one that must find room -- and reps -- for Anthony Gonzalez. The team's 2007 first-round draft pick is back running, cutting and catching on the Anderson University practice fields after missing virtually all of 2009 with a knee injury.
"It's got to be the best in the league," said Dallas Clark, the Colts' Pro Bowl tight end who moonlights as a receiver. "We've got a lot of guys who can just make a lot of big plays at any point. A lot of good threats."
Those threats have been on constant display during the first two days of training camp: Reggie Wayne, Clark, Gonzalez, Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie. They've combined for 253 starts, 1,237 receptions and 122 touchdowns during their careers.
"I look at all of those guys as starting receivers," Manning said. "It's really whoever is lined up out there. I'm going to have 100 percent confidence in all of them to throw it to them on any down and distance."
The trick for first-year offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen, who wasn't made available for comment for this story, figures to be finding enough playing time to keep everyone happy.
Wayne, a Pro Bowl selection the past four seasons, and Clark likely will be on the field the vast majority of the time. Gonzalez hopes to challenge for his old right-side starting spot, where Garcon took over last year, but might find himself pushing Collie to be the primary slot receiver.
"It's not really a problem," insisted Gonzalez, who appears completely healed from the ligament damage to his right knee in the '09 opener and a hamstring issue that limited his availability during the Colts' offseason work. "It's figuring out how to make the best of a really good situation."
Collie agreed. He made an immediate, significant impact in '09, when he led all rookie receivers with seven touchdowns and tied for No. 1 with 60 receptions.
"You can't go wrong with having too much talent on the team," Collie said.
Again, the "problem" is maximizing that talent. Manning routinely works Donald Brown out of formations that utilize two wide receivers and Clark. Frequently, a slot receiver makes it a foursome.
Keep in mind, we're talking about a collection of five sets of hungry hands. Even though the Colts move their receivers around -- split wide, in the slot, on the left, on the right -- and have been adept at getting their best players on the field, someone is going to have to deal with a diminished role.
Dallas Clark knows it's a good time to be a tight end in the NFL. No longer are tight ends viewed as glorified offensive linemen, but rather an integral part of an offense. And Clark loves it.
Clark, the starting tight end for the Colts, is coming off an outstanding year in 2009 when he had 100 catches for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has helped set the standard for the new wave of tight ends in the NFL, and he sees the position growing, which is a benefit for Fantasy owners.
"It's changed a lot," Clark said. "The position has gone in a direction where it has given people like me – I'm not 270 (pounds) or a glorified tackle. I'm not going to be blowing any defensive end off the line of scrimmage or driving anyone back. It just gives us a chance to give the Donald Brown offense a different option and defenses a different thing to try to defend."
2010年8月3日星期二
Harbaugh comments on physical nature of practice
The Ravens have had a long list of injuries pop up over the course of the last handful of days.
Domonique Foxworth, Jared Gaither, Willis McGahee, Chris Carr, Tony Moll, Stefan Rodgers, K.J. Gerard, Derrick Mason...all have suffered bumps or bruises of some sort since the team started practices on Thursday.
Head coach John Harbaugh admitted that "you always think about" the possibility of guys getting injured during practice, but said that in training camp, you can't really walk a line between preparing hard for the start of the season and making sure guys stay healthy.
"It's not a balance with those kinds of injuries," Harbaugh said. "On one hand, you try to get 100 percent as much done as you possibly can to become as good a football team as you can, on the other hand, you try to go 100 percent as much as you can to try and protect one another in those situations. So there's no line to walk."
Some might question whether the intensity and physicality of the Ravens' Willis McGahee practices leads to injuries that could have been prevented if the team's camp was run at a slower pace.
Harbaugh disagrees with any such notion.
"The fluke injury is the fluke injury, no matter whether you're running a contact drill or you're running a non-contact drill," Harbaugh said. "You can't come out here and pack these guys in ice. If you do that, you're not going to have a football team. So I think you try to do both as best you can."
One example that backs up Harbaugh's comments is Foxworth's Willis McGahee season-ending knee injury, which he suffered during a low-tempo, non-contact drill on Thursday. Foxworth simply tried to cut, and his knee gave out, resulting in a torn ACL.
Other injuries, however, like Mason's and McGahee's, came during live, full-speed drills which feature lots of contact.
"We want to bring our guys through this thing; the goal is to have everybody," Harbaugh said. "We want to bring everybody through two-a-days if we can. But it's hard to do that. You look around the league and guys get nicked and tweaked all the time, and sometimes it's more serious. But it's very important."
Domonique Foxworth, Jared Gaither, Willis McGahee, Chris Carr, Tony Moll, Stefan Rodgers, K.J. Gerard, Derrick Mason...all have suffered bumps or bruises of some sort since the team started practices on Thursday.
Head coach John Harbaugh admitted that "you always think about" the possibility of guys getting injured during practice, but said that in training camp, you can't really walk a line between preparing hard for the start of the season and making sure guys stay healthy.
"It's not a balance with those kinds of injuries," Harbaugh said. "On one hand, you try to get 100 percent as much done as you possibly can to become as good a football team as you can, on the other hand, you try to go 100 percent as much as you can to try and protect one another in those situations. So there's no line to walk."
Some might question whether the intensity and physicality of the Ravens' Willis McGahee practices leads to injuries that could have been prevented if the team's camp was run at a slower pace.
Harbaugh disagrees with any such notion.
"The fluke injury is the fluke injury, no matter whether you're running a contact drill or you're running a non-contact drill," Harbaugh said. "You can't come out here and pack these guys in ice. If you do that, you're not going to have a football team. So I think you try to do both as best you can."
One example that backs up Harbaugh's comments is Foxworth's Willis McGahee season-ending knee injury, which he suffered during a low-tempo, non-contact drill on Thursday. Foxworth simply tried to cut, and his knee gave out, resulting in a torn ACL.
Other injuries, however, like Mason's and McGahee's, came during live, full-speed drills which feature lots of contact.
"We want to bring our guys through this thing; the goal is to have everybody," Harbaugh said. "We want to bring everybody through two-a-days if we can. But it's hard to do that. You look around the league and guys get nicked and tweaked all the time, and sometimes it's more serious. But it's very important."
2010年8月2日星期一
The Steelers will hold a morning practice
The Steelers will hold a morning practice that will be closed to spectators, then board buses for the evening ceremony in Canton, Ohio. The team will return that night and plans to practice Sunday afternoon, a workout that will be open to the public.
Coming off a Super Bowl title just two seasons ago, the Steelers have a veteran-laden group that looked very talented and professional during the first weekend of training camp. The team is healthy again and quietly confident about its chances to make a playoff run this year.
But there is an elephant in the room for Pittsburgh. Quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger will serve a conditional six-game suspension to start the season. It's the primary reason many pundits already have written off the Steelers and believe they'll have to wait another year to get back in the hunt as a legitimate threat in the AFC.
But Pittsburgh is relishing its role as underdog in 2010.
"I look at the times we've been our most successful have been when we're under the radar -- when people don't expect that much from you," Steelers left tackle Max Starks said. "I think for us, we just have a blue-collar mentality. We're just going to put our head down, and we're just going to march forward and let everything else drop where it may."
Will the Steelers properly handle QBs? How do you manage a $100 million quarterback who won't play for at least a month, a veteran who is the favorite to replace him, and a talented youngster with very little experience?
There is no handbook for what the Steelers' coaching staff is going through this summer. Roethlisberger's suspension has put Pittsburgh in a unique situation in which the team has to delicately balance preparing for Week 1 and the entire season.
In all likelihood, "Big Ben" will have his suspension reduced to four games for good behavior. Ziggy Hood But he will be forced to stay away from the team during that span, which means he will miss reps and practice time for at least a month before he returns. That is why training camp is so important for Roethlisberger. Meanwhile, the team also has to find out if Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon is the best option for the Steelers in the immediate future.
"We want to make sure that at the end of this thing that Ben has a productive camp," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "But as we proceed at this juncture, our focus, of course, is who's going to be playing quarterback for us the week of the opener. I like where the guys are right now."
Is safety Troy Polamalu back? Polamalu is a special talent. No other NFL player closely resembles his playing style or offers his versatility.
Last year the Steelers missed that versatility when Polamalu was sidelined for 11 games with a knee injury. Pittsburgh still finished in the top five in defense, but its inability to close out games in the fourth quarter without Polamalu led to several bad losses that kept the Steelers out of the postseason.
But Polamalu was healthy for the start of training camp and looks ready to go. He has made Brett Keisel sudden cuts without issues, looks fast and was making plays in camp.
"He just kind of opens the playbook to anything you want to do," Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said. "It's just a matter of how far off the diving board you want to go."
Can the Steelers stay afloat early? The first four to six games could make or break Pittsburgh's season.
A slow start, such as 1-3 or 2-4, will have the Steelers playing catch-up the rest of the year in a competitive AFC North division. But a .500 record or better during Roethlisberger's suspension could set the table for Pittsburgh to make a playoff push in the second half.
Everything shouldn't be put on the quarterback position. Sure, Leftwich or Dixon has to do his part. But the running game and defense also have to step up for Pittsburgh to win early.
Coming off a Super Bowl title just two seasons ago, the Steelers have a veteran-laden group that looked very talented and professional during the first weekend of training camp. The team is healthy again and quietly confident about its chances to make a playoff run this year.
But there is an elephant in the room for Pittsburgh. Quarterback and two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger will serve a conditional six-game suspension to start the season. It's the primary reason many pundits already have written off the Steelers and believe they'll have to wait another year to get back in the hunt as a legitimate threat in the AFC.
But Pittsburgh is relishing its role as underdog in 2010.
"I look at the times we've been our most successful have been when we're under the radar -- when people don't expect that much from you," Steelers left tackle Max Starks said. "I think for us, we just have a blue-collar mentality. We're just going to put our head down, and we're just going to march forward and let everything else drop where it may."
Will the Steelers properly handle QBs? How do you manage a $100 million quarterback who won't play for at least a month, a veteran who is the favorite to replace him, and a talented youngster with very little experience?
There is no handbook for what the Steelers' coaching staff is going through this summer. Roethlisberger's suspension has put Pittsburgh in a unique situation in which the team has to delicately balance preparing for Week 1 and the entire season.
In all likelihood, "Big Ben" will have his suspension reduced to four games for good behavior. Ziggy Hood But he will be forced to stay away from the team during that span, which means he will miss reps and practice time for at least a month before he returns. That is why training camp is so important for Roethlisberger. Meanwhile, the team also has to find out if Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon is the best option for the Steelers in the immediate future.
"We want to make sure that at the end of this thing that Ben has a productive camp," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "But as we proceed at this juncture, our focus, of course, is who's going to be playing quarterback for us the week of the opener. I like where the guys are right now."
Is safety Troy Polamalu back? Polamalu is a special talent. No other NFL player closely resembles his playing style or offers his versatility.
Last year the Steelers missed that versatility when Polamalu was sidelined for 11 games with a knee injury. Pittsburgh still finished in the top five in defense, but its inability to close out games in the fourth quarter without Polamalu led to several bad losses that kept the Steelers out of the postseason.
But Polamalu was healthy for the start of training camp and looks ready to go. He has made Brett Keisel sudden cuts without issues, looks fast and was making plays in camp.
"He just kind of opens the playbook to anything you want to do," Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said. "It's just a matter of how far off the diving board you want to go."
Can the Steelers stay afloat early? The first four to six games could make or break Pittsburgh's season.
A slow start, such as 1-3 or 2-4, will have the Steelers playing catch-up the rest of the year in a competitive AFC North division. But a .500 record or better during Roethlisberger's suspension could set the table for Pittsburgh to make a playoff push in the second half.
Everything shouldn't be put on the quarterback position. Sure, Leftwich or Dixon has to do his part. But the running game and defense also have to step up for Pittsburgh to win early.
2010年8月1日星期日
The Ravens enter 2010 with a blossoming quarterback and a star running back
A few months after the Harbaugh hire, Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome – one of the best front office executives in professional sports – drafted Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco in the first round. In the second round, Newsome selected Rutgers running back Ray Rice.
Many expected the '08 Ravens to post a record similar to their 5-11 mark of '07 – especially after a season-ending injury to quarterback Kyle Boller and Troy Smith's illness forced Flacco into the starting lineup right away. Flacco wasn't the only concern. Baltimore had a youthful offensive line and a receiving corps that, aside from veteran Derrick Mason, was mediocre. That year offensive coordinator Cam Cameron wound up running a system that was careful and cautious. But the perennially stingy Ravens defense, led by all-but-certain Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, elevated its performance and carried the surprising club all the way to the A.F.C. title game.
By the next off-season, whispers about the Ravens being a Super Bowl contender were spreading. The 6-foot-5-inch Flacco, with a strong arm and a year of experience, showed promise. Rice had proved to be a solid cog in a thundering backfield that also featured Le'Ron McClain and Willis McGahee. And that Ravens defense was still That Ravens Defense.
But Newsome and the coaching staff were willing to look at the bigger picture. They knew no team could prosper in the long run with its quarterback on a leash as short as Flacco's. And they thought that a three-headed monster at running back was good, but wouldn't it be great if one of the heads was more prominent and belonged to a superstar? Also, the Ravens' brass knew that the '09 defense would have to prove itself under Greg Mattison, the linebackers coach who was promoted to coordinator after the innovative Rex Ryan had accepted the Jets' head coaching job.
And so the Ravens decided they would chase a Super Bowl in '09, but not at the expense of solidifying their long-term foundation. In the end, they squeaked into the postseason with a 9-7 record, dismantled the Patriots in the wild-card round but lost to a much sounder Colts team the next week.
The divisional-round loss was disappointing. But the season as a whole was productive. Flacco had evolved into a genuine pro quarterback. His pass attempts jumped from 257 as a rookie to 315. His yards went from 2,971 to 3,613, and his touchdowns from 14 to 21. Sure, he was still orchestrating a rudimentary offense, but that was in part because the Ravens had elected to feed the ball to Rice, their sensational second-year running back. The compact 210-pound Rice exhibited a rare blend of power, quickness and elusiveness in gaining 1,339 yards (5.3 yards per carry) in 2009. What's more, he was a phenomenal pass-blocker and receiver (78 catches for 702 yards).
This is where the story reaches the present day. The Ravens enter 2010 with a blossoming quarterback and a star running back. In addition, they've managed to cultivate the best young offensive tackle tandem in the game: Michael Oher and Jared Gaither. With every significant building block firmly in place, Newsome was able to acquire some weapons for Flacco this off-season. He traded a third- and fourth-round pick for the three-time Pro Bowl receiver Anquan Boldin. He took a chance by signing the speedy (and humbled) wideout Donte' Stallworth, who is returning after a one-year suspension for D.U.I. manslaughter. He spent a third-round draft choice on an athletic tight end out of Oregon, Ed Dickson, and a fourth-rounder on B.Y.U.'s Dennis Pitta, both of whom will initially learn the game backing up the admirable veteran Todd Heap.
With Ed Reed's status in limbo and two other cornerbacks -- Lardarius Webb and Fabian Washington -- working their way back from ACL injuries suffered last season, the Baltimore Ravens' secondary took another hit at the start of training camp.
WNST in Baltimore initially reported that Domonique Foxworth, a cornerback entering his sixth year in the NFL, tore his ACL during a non-contact practice Thursday night.
Ravens coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed the injury on Friday, saying Foxworth was injured without being touched.
Many expected the '08 Ravens to post a record similar to their 5-11 mark of '07 – especially after a season-ending injury to quarterback Kyle Boller and Troy Smith's illness forced Flacco into the starting lineup right away. Flacco wasn't the only concern. Baltimore had a youthful offensive line and a receiving corps that, aside from veteran Derrick Mason, was mediocre. That year offensive coordinator Cam Cameron wound up running a system that was careful and cautious. But the perennially stingy Ravens defense, led by all-but-certain Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, elevated its performance and carried the surprising club all the way to the A.F.C. title game.
By the next off-season, whispers about the Ravens being a Super Bowl contender were spreading. The 6-foot-5-inch Flacco, with a strong arm and a year of experience, showed promise. Rice had proved to be a solid cog in a thundering backfield that also featured Le'Ron McClain and Willis McGahee. And that Ravens defense was still That Ravens Defense.
But Newsome and the coaching staff were willing to look at the bigger picture. They knew no team could prosper in the long run with its quarterback on a leash as short as Flacco's. And they thought that a three-headed monster at running back was good, but wouldn't it be great if one of the heads was more prominent and belonged to a superstar? Also, the Ravens' brass knew that the '09 defense would have to prove itself under Greg Mattison, the linebackers coach who was promoted to coordinator after the innovative Rex Ryan had accepted the Jets' head coaching job.
And so the Ravens decided they would chase a Super Bowl in '09, but not at the expense of solidifying their long-term foundation. In the end, they squeaked into the postseason with a 9-7 record, dismantled the Patriots in the wild-card round but lost to a much sounder Colts team the next week.
The divisional-round loss was disappointing. But the season as a whole was productive. Flacco had evolved into a genuine pro quarterback. His pass attempts jumped from 257 as a rookie to 315. His yards went from 2,971 to 3,613, and his touchdowns from 14 to 21. Sure, he was still orchestrating a rudimentary offense, but that was in part because the Ravens had elected to feed the ball to Rice, their sensational second-year running back. The compact 210-pound Rice exhibited a rare blend of power, quickness and elusiveness in gaining 1,339 yards (5.3 yards per carry) in 2009. What's more, he was a phenomenal pass-blocker and receiver (78 catches for 702 yards).
This is where the story reaches the present day. The Ravens enter 2010 with a blossoming quarterback and a star running back. In addition, they've managed to cultivate the best young offensive tackle tandem in the game: Michael Oher and Jared Gaither. With every significant building block firmly in place, Newsome was able to acquire some weapons for Flacco this off-season. He traded a third- and fourth-round pick for the three-time Pro Bowl receiver Anquan Boldin. He took a chance by signing the speedy (and humbled) wideout Donte' Stallworth, who is returning after a one-year suspension for D.U.I. manslaughter. He spent a third-round draft choice on an athletic tight end out of Oregon, Ed Dickson, and a fourth-rounder on B.Y.U.'s Dennis Pitta, both of whom will initially learn the game backing up the admirable veteran Todd Heap.
With Ed Reed's status in limbo and two other cornerbacks -- Lardarius Webb and Fabian Washington -- working their way back from ACL injuries suffered last season, the Baltimore Ravens' secondary took another hit at the start of training camp.
WNST in Baltimore initially reported that Domonique Foxworth, a cornerback entering his sixth year in the NFL, tore his ACL during a non-contact practice Thursday night.
Ravens coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed the injury on Friday, saying Foxworth was injured without being touched.
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