Football LB Jesus and his Apostles rejoice - Page 3

**Tribal Warfare** · 05-04-2009, 05:51 PM

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.

htismaqe · 05-05-2009, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

Yes, it has NOTHING to do with exciting, first round players you ****ing crybabies.

Get over your Cassel Pity-Party; it's getting ****ing annoying.

I don't feel sorry for Cassel. I didn't even WANT Cassel. I wanted Sanchez.

So yeah, it's ME that's being annoying.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 05-05-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

I don't feel sorry for Cassel. I didn't even WANT Cassel. I wanted Sanchez.

So yeah, it's ME that's being annoying.

Okay, I felt somewhat bad lumping you in with those other two, but the fact remains that Chiefs are giving us nothing to post or report regarding rookie camp, OTA's, or well, anything. You can be a Chiefs fan when it's time to play football and win games.
Hell, Detroit isn't even in our Conference; I'm such a turncoat!

**DaneMcCloud** · 05-05-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Because this board is moving away from being about the Chiefs to being correct in your draft prognostications so you can say "I told you so, I am a CP draft guru."

I don't think so.

Being a "draft guru" and wanting a young, Chiefs drafted & developed QB is entirely different. Personally, I'm sick of the Chiefs organization's inability to draft and develop a QB of their own. I've lived through it my entire life, dating back to Len Dawson.

FINALLY, the Chiefs were in a position to grab a young QB to develop and instead, they again chose the "safe" option and traded for a QB with ties to the new regime. And IF he fails, the Chiefs will be in the same position then as now but likely without the opportunity to draft such a player.

Gigantic difference.

Chiefnj2 · 05-05-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I don't think so.

Being a "draft guru" and wanting a young, Chiefs drafted & developed QB is entirely different. Personally, I'm sick of the Chiefs organization's inability to draft and develop a QB of their own. I've lived through it my entire life, dating back to Len Dawson.

FINALLY, the Chiefs were in a position to grab a young QB to develop and instead, they again chose the "safe" option and traded for a QB with ties to the new regime. And IF he fails, the Chiefs will be in the same position then as now but likely without the opportunity to draft such a player.

Gigantic difference.

Herm tried it with Brodie Croyle. I suppose you'll be pulling for him to unseat Cassel.

**DaneMcCloud** · 05-05-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Herm tried it with Brodie Croyle. I suppose you'll be pulling for him to unseat Cassel.

Bullshit.

Croyle was a third round QB, not third overall.

Anyone who thought that Croyle was a franchise QB in any way, shape or form should be neutered.

Immediately.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 05-05-2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Herm tried it with Brodie Croyle. I suppose you'll be pulling for him to unseat Cassel.

reerun!!!! reerun!!!!! reerun!!!!!!
You don't even get an explanation for why that was the stupidest thing I've read this morning.

Chiefnj2 · 05-05-2009, 11:00 AM

You can only try and develop QB's you draft in the first round? Shit. Someone tell the 49ers they made a mistake with Montana and call Belichick to stop playing Brady.

**DaneMcCloud** · 05-05-2009, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

You can only try and develop QB's you draft in the first round? Shit. Someone tell the 49ers they made a mistake with Montana and call Belichick to stop playing Brady.

Just shut the **** up.

Really.

You are truly a ****ing mouth-breathing, football reerun.

**the Talking Can** · 05-05-2009, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

No one in KC has the proper NSA Security Clearance necessary to observe or report these things.
I shouldn't even be speaking of these things. Oh shit! They've triangulated my position; gotta' go!

if you killed yourself, no one would care...just saying

Sweet Daddy Hate · 05-05-2009, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Just shut the **** up.

Really.

You are truly a ****ing mouth-breathing, football reerun.

This.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 05-05-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

if you killed yourself, no one would care...just saying

Rebuilding; get over it.

**doomy3** · 05-05-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Talking Can

if you killed yourself, no one would care...just saying

This.

Chiefnj2 · 05-05-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Just shut the **** up.

Really.

You are truly a ****ing mouth-breathing, football reerun.

Matthews still isn't a first round talent? He won't get picked before the other USC linebackers? Does it hurt your ass hairs to have ROR swinging from them all day long?

**DaneMcCloud** · 05-05-2009, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Matthews still isn't a first round talent? He won't get picked before the other USC linebackers? Does it hurt your ass hairs to have ROR swinging from them all day long?

Way to stay on topic, moron. And Cushing went before Matthews.

And FTR, I don't have ANY hair on my ass.

Sweet Daddy Hate · 05-05-2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Matthews still isn't a first round talent? He won't get picked before the other USC linebackers? Does it hurt your ass hairs to have ROR swinging from them all day long?

Did Douchey get your balls nice and clean this morning? Do you see how ****ing reeruned it is to make more out of this than people happen to agree with other people more than others?

Do you think I would give two ****s if you, Douchey, and the Talking Clap were hit by a metro bus?
Just sayin...

05-04-2009, 05:51 PM
Tribal Warfare Man of Culture Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $-2937187	LB Jesus and his Apostles rejoice 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.
Posts: 43,447

05-05-2009, 11:00 AM	#37
Chiefnj2 In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Casino cash: $6654388	You can only try and develop QB's you draft in the first round? Shit. Someone tell the 49ers they made a mistake with Montana and call Belichick to stop playing Brady. __________________ Mismanaging the clock.
Posts: 22,541