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.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Saccogoo

http://www.nfl.com/gamerewind

Thank you!

[SenselessChiefsFan]

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.

If the Chiefs had a chance to grab Stafford, I would have agreed. Great arm, great smarts, great kid.... Just perfect prospect.

I am fine with drafting and developing a guy if you have faith in him, but don't just draft a guy because he is a QB.

Oh, and if Cassel fails, then we will certainly have another opportunity to draft a franchise QB.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

These guys are exciting, young Quarterbacks. And their progress will be followed by football fans and media the entire season and beyond.

To be fair, the Chiefs have gotten more press since trading for Cassel than I can ever remember.

A full day of coverage on NFLN the day of the trade, live broadcasts from his first mini-camp, Peter King at Arrowhead on draft day, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

The only people that AREN'T following the Cassel saga are the people here that hate the move.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

To be fair, the Chiefs have gotten more press since trading for Cassel than I can ever remember.

A full day of coverage on NFLN the day of the trade, live broadcasts from his first mini-camp, Peter King at Arrowhead on draft day, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

The only people that AREN'T following the Cassel saga are the people here that hate the move.

Footage please.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

Thank you!

Amazing that you can find dumb ass photos and youtube videos but you can't find anything on Matt Cassel.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

Amazing that you can find dumb ass photos and youtube videos but you can't find anything on Matt Cassel.

Not on You Tube and not for free. But if I want to find an idiot who thinks Herm tried to develop a legitimate QBOTF in Brodie ****ing Croyle, I know EXACTLY where to look, now don't I?

Bugger off.

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by SensibleChiefsfan

Oh, and if Cassel fails, then we will certainly have another opportunity to draft a franchise QB.

Oh really? Like other other opportunities they've had in the past 45 years?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

Footage please.

Obviously I can't provide footage. I can only tell you that I've been watching the NFLN pretty much every day since Pioli was hired and the coverage of the Chiefs has been OVERWHELMING since then. I watched a good 6 hours the day of the Cassel trade and it's all they talked about.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by THISmaqe

Obviously I can't provide footage. I can only tell you that I've been watching the NFLN pretty much every day since Pioli was hired and the coverage of the Chiefs has been OVERWHELMING since then. I watched a good 6 hours the day of the Cassel trade and it's all they talked about.

Nice username, you rebel...

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by THISmaqe

Obviously I can't provide footage. I can only tell you that I've been watching the NFLN pretty much every day since Pioli was hired and the coverage of the Chiefs has been OVERWHELMING since then. I watched a good 6 hours the day of the Cassel trade and it's all they talked about.

Any OTA coverage, throwing the ball? ****ing anything?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

Any OTA coverage, throwing the ball? ****ing anything?

I don't know, go check the NFL website. They had cameras at the first mini-camp - I posted a thread about it, it was the headline story on NFL Now that Saturday or whenever it was.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

Not on You Tube and not for free.
Bugger off.

I'll make this simple for you, because you are a damn inbred reerun with half a dozen missing chromosomes. There is an organization called the NFL. They have a website called NFL.COM. On nfl.com you can look up every single game last year. They have highlights of every single game last year. If you wanted to watch a QB who played last year, you could go to nfl.com and look at last years scores and highlights. Hint: Matt Cassel played for the Patriots. After you look at the video, die.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

I'll make this simple for you, because you are a damn inbred reerun with half a dozen missing chromosomes. There is an organization called the NFL. They have a website called NFL.COM. On nfl.com you can look up every single game last year. They have highlights of every single game last year. If you wanted to watch a QB who played last year, you could go to nfl.com and look at last years scores and highlights. Hint: Matt Cassel played for the Patriots. After you look at the video, die.

Ah, my stupid, reeruned, half-brained, kool-aid glugging ****TARD. Let me make this simple for YOU, you stupid, half a ****:

Highlights do NOT in fact tell the tale of a team or an individual players total worth.

Somebody give this asswipe a fresh glass of toilet-juice and a cookie before sending his dumb ass back to pre school, "glue-eating" class, please.

[Chiefnj2]

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

Ah, my stupid, reeruned, half-brained, kool-aid glugging ****TARD. Let me make this simple for YOU, you stupid, half a ****:

Highlights do NOT in fact tell the tale of a team or an individual players total worth.

Somebody give this asswipe a fresh glass of toilet-juice and a cookie before sending his dumb ass back to pre school, "glue-eating" class, please.

If highlights aren't good enough for you, go on the corner and blow 20 illegal immigrants to raise the $19.99 for full access to the entire 2008 season.

[seclark]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

If highlights aren't good enough for you, go on the corner and blow 20 illegal immigrants to raise the $19.99 for full access to the entire 2008 season.