LB Jesus and his Apostles rejoice

[Tribal Warfare]

Curry, Raji among minicamps' stars
By John Clayton
ESPN.com

The first weekend after the draft is always the biggest for minicamps.

Twenty-six teams held either full or rookie camps to orient their draft choices and get a read on how they did over the two-day draft in New York City. It's hard to make conclusive judgments on selections. Players aren't allowed to wear pads. No hitting is allowed. Rookies' heads are swimming with the overload from the new playbook being thrown at them.

Still, any time you can put 26 coaching staffs on a field with new players, things can be learned. Here are eight things we learned from this weekend.

1. Mark Sanchez is destined to be the starting quarterback of the New York Jets in Week 1. Politically, the Jets did the right thing by having offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer say Kellen Clemens was ahead of Sanchez. Clemens is entering his fourth season. He has eight NFL starts. He should be ahead of Sanchez. But anyone doubting Sanchez' ability to win over the coaching staff and Jets fans is wearing a blindfold. Sanchez showed everyone at the minicamp that he can make all the throws. More than that, he showed leadership. The story of how he got a good portion of the offense together at the hotel Thursday night to go over the playbook is a classic example of how Sanchez's head might be more important than his arm. It's pretty clear what direction the Jets are heading. Head coach Rex Ryan is going to try to run the ball 35 times a game in order to give Sanchez light throwing days during the regular season. Of all the draft choices working this weekend, Sanchez was probably the biggest winner.

2. Matthew Stafford isn't going to be rushed into service as the Detroit Lions' starter. General manager Martin Mayhew concluded the Lions' minicamp by saying he trusts Daunte Culpepper as a starter and he'd like to sign a veteran backup. The Lions' roster isn't like the Jets. The Lions are coming off an 0-16 season, and they don't have the offensive line or two-back combination to run the ball 35 times a game. Despite playing only 16 games as a collegian, Sanchez was supposed to be more prepared to play earlier in the NFL than Stafford. Minicamp proved that. Stafford unleashed incredible throws, but he's still a work in progress. That's not to say Stafford won't play this season. The plan is for Stafford to work with the coaching staff. When he's ready, he will play. The Lions are handling Stafford's entry into the NFL the right way.

3. Seattle Seahawks coach Jim Mora wasted no time making Aaron Curry his starting strongside linebacker. Curry was one of the stars of the Seahawks' minicamp. He's 15 pounds heavier than traded linebacker Julian Peterson, but he moves so well and has such a natural instinct for moving to the ball. Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu marveled at how naturally Curry fits into the defense during his first weekend. With Curry, Tatupu and Leroy Hill, the Seahawks have one of the best linebacking corps in football.

4. The Washington Redskins have a completely different plan for first-round choice Brian Orakpo than some people expected. At the Redskins' minicamp, Orakpo was used as the starting strongside linebacker. The plan is for him to blitz from the strong side on first and second downs. On passing downs, he will line up at right defensive end next to Albert Haynesworth, the former Tennessee Titans star who appeared dominating at his first Redskins camp. Orakpo was drafted to rush the passer. The surprise is that he won't just be doing it from a defensive end position.

5. Linebacker Shawne "roidman" Merriman served notice that he plans to be a dominating force again this season for the San Diego Chargers. "Lights Out" knows the spotlight is on him. He missed all but one game of the 2008 season because his knee needed surgery. He also knows management is looking at him with a judgmental eye. The Chargers drafted Larry English as a possible replacement if Merriman doesn't come back and dominate. Merriman is in the last year of his contract. English, though not tall, showed a relentless pass-rushing style. He's not ready to unseat Merriman, who questions those whom he said questioned his "football-hood."

6. The Carolina Panthers liked what they saw from second-round choice Everette Brown, who cost them a 2010 first-round pick to acquire in a trade. Coach John Fox knows the importance of getting a pass rush, and Brown showed he can help. Everyone noticed his first step and how he can get an edge on a blocker with that first step. One of the knocks on the pass-rushers of this draft was their lack of height compared to previous crops. For whatever reason, scouts feel more comfortable using first-round choices on pass-rushers who stand 6-foot-4 or taller. On the Panthers' official roster Brown is listed as 6-1, but he showed he can get around blockers. Julius Peppers wasn't at the minicamp because he hasn't signed his franchise tag. He probably will miss a good portion of training camp, but management feels he will be there for the regular season. In the meantime, the plan is to develop Brown as a rusher.

7. Even though Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy plans to have Ryan Pickett as the starting nose tackle, it's pretty clear the 3-4 defense is being built around first-round choice B.J. Raji. The former Boston College star didn't disappoint. For a while, Raji was practicing as the first-team nose tackle and second-team defensive end. He moves well for his size. He also seemed to fit in well with his teammates.

8. The Philadelphia Eagles' draft for offense looked even better on the field because fifth-round choice Cornelius Ingram did well over the weekend. The 245-pound tight end is coming off ACL surgery, yet caught the ball well and moved well on the field. He left camp with the thought that he could be in the playing mix this year. The team is also cautiously optimistic about the first-year impact of first-round draft pick wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. Head coach Andy Reid warns it might be hard for Maclin to match DeSean Jackson's 62-catch rookie season because Maclin comes from a spread offense. Jackson played in more of a West Coast offense at Cal. Reid said the intermediate routes are different in the spread because spread receivers run downfield or break shorter routes. Fortunately for the Eagles, Maclin seemed to pick up the intermediate routes well over the weekend.

[doomy3]

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

The Rams would have TOTALLY held is ass hostage. But don't take my word for it, here's the post that convinced me:

(First, I raised your exact point)


Looks pretty ****ing cut and dried to me.

Oh, that seals the deal. Because some poster on ChiefsPlanet said that the Rams would have held us hostage, then that convinces me too.

You're right, I didn't realize how ****ing cut and dried it was.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by doomy3

Oh, that seals the deal. Because some poster on ChiefsPlanet said that the Rams would have held us hostage, then that convinces me too.

You're right, I didn't realize how ****ing cut and dried it was.

Oooh! This just in from THISmage across the hall:

He was talking about while we were on the clock during the #3 pick.

We reportedly talked to the Lions days before the draft and they wanted no part of the #3 pick.

Like it or not, the leverage was at #2, not #3. We had no shot at trading down - our only hope was to call everybody's bluff and take Sanchez. They decided to stick to their board instead and I'm fine with that.

Cut and dried. Deal with it.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by bdeg

the idea that the trade was worked out pre-departure is ridiculous.

pioli was guaranteed nothing.

Game Plan established on Pioli's part before departure? Yes.

Guaranteed? Not necessarily.

Still; Cut and Dried. Deal with it.

[Pioli Zombie]

Originally Posted by kcfanXIII

wait, if curry is jesus, and sanchez is the christ child, one must be a false profit. there can't be two jesuses. thats how wars are started.

Curry is the wolf in sheeps clothing. Sanchez has performed the miraculous. He has turned one season at USC into expectations of lifting the city of New York to the Heavens.
Mark I lift your name on High. Mark I live to sing your praises. I'm so glad your in my life I'm so glad you came to save us. You came from USC to New York to show the way. From New York to the cross our debt to pay. From the cross to the grave. From the grave to the sky. Mark I lift your name on high.
Posted via Mobile Device

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

If Cassel busts, so does Pioli.

I've said this since the trade came down. People seem to think that Pioli is going to get a chance to try again if Cassel fails. I don't see that at all. Either Cassel succeeds and they're both here for 6 or 7 years or Cassel fails and they're both gone after 3. I think Carl was here for so long that Chiefs fans don't realize that other teams fire their staff after failure.

[bdeg]

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

Game Plan established on Pioli's part before departure? Yes.

Guaranteed? Not necessarily.

Still; Cut and Dried. Deal with it.

Wrong. every single team knew Cassel would be available for trade, if Pioli didn't have a deal in place, which he didn't, what advantage does this 'game plan' bring?

I don't have to deal with your crazy conjecture, you can stop saying that now thanks

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by doomy3

This is ridiculous. I'm sure the Rams would have been thrilled to take a deal with the Jets for a bunch of castoffs like the Browns did. The Browns gave away the pick. Most likely because we drafted the guy they wanted, but they gave the pick away. The Rams would have NEVER made a deal like that.

The Rams were FULLY prepared to actually take him.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by doomy3

No, that's not what I'm saying at all. However, once Pioli traded for Cassel, I thought he made it crystal clear that he had chosen Cassel over Sanchez, like most any intelligent person would. You, and others, tried to convince everyone that because Cassel hadn't been signed to a long term deal, we would probably draft Sanchez. Pioli likes Cassel better than Sanchez. Period.

Wrong.

I said it more than anyone else, and I NEVER said that we WOULD draft Sanchez.

I said that because Cassel hadn't signed a long-term deal we COULD draft Sanchez.

Don't sit here with hindsight and pretend that just because the outcome ended up being what you wanted that you actually knew what Pioli was thinkign. That's BS and you know it.

[bdeg]

Originally Posted by THISmaqe

The Rams were FULLY prepared to actually take him.

convince me this wasn't just posturing

why didn't they take him, then?

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Pioli Zombie

Curry is the wolf in sheeps clothing. Sanchez has performed the miraculous. He has turned one season at USC into expectations of lifting the city of New York to the Heavens.
Mark I lift your name on High. Mark I live to sing your praises. I'm so glad your in my life I'm so glad you came to save us. You came from USC to New York to show the way. From New York to the cross our debt to pay. From the cross to the grave. From the grave to the sky. Mark I lift your name on high.
Posted via Mobile Device

HALLELUJAH!!!!

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by bdeg

convince me this wasn't just posturing

why didn't they take him, then?

It doesn't matter if it was just posturing or not.

I heard a half dozen talking heads in the 48 hours after the 1st round of the draft say that the NFL people they talked to believed that the Rams might be prepared to take Sanchez but didn't buy it from the Chiefs or Seahawks at all.

It really doesn't matter what the team's actual intention was, it only matters how teams wanting to trade up perceived it. In the end, WE probably killed the Rams' chances of trading down because everybody was convinced we wouldn't take Sanchez.

[kcfanXIII]

all i'll say is, get your popcorn ready.

[Pioli Zombie]

Originally Posted by THISmaqe

I've said this since the trade came down. People seem to think that Pioli is going to get a chance to try again if Cassel fails. I don't see that at all. Either Cassel succeeds and they're both here for 6 or 7 years or Cassel fails and they're both gone after 3. I think Carl was here for so long that Chiefs fans don't realize that other teams fire their staff after failure.

Why do people think they are saying anything meaningful when they say this?
When Belichick kept with Brady had Brady failed Belichick would have failed. If Aikman was a flop then Johnson would have flopped. If Montana didn't turn out great Bill Walsh gets canned within 2 years.
Yes, Pioli's success is linked to Cassels performance
Duh.
Posted via Mobile Device

[bdeg]

Originally Posted by THISmaqe

It doesn't matter if it was just posturing or not.

I heard a half dozen talking heads in the 48 hours after the 1st round of the draft say that the NFL people they talked to believed that the Rams might be prepared to take Sanchez but didn't buy it from the Chiefs or Seahawks at all.

It really doesn't matter what the team's actual intention was, it only matters how teams wanting to trade up perceived it. In the end, WE probably killed the Rams' chances of trading down because everybody was convinced we wouldn't take Sanchez.

well what you said was 'they were FULLY prepared to actually take him'
still don't understand what that means when they had the chance but chose not to
I agree with the last par though, just not the statement I was disputing.

[doomy3]

Originally Posted by THISmaqe

The Rams were FULLY prepared to actually take him.

Then why didn't they?