RealGM

I'll throw in some various gleanings from the twitterverse, radio shows, and things I've picked up one way or another that I think y'all might find interesting. Most will be based on the prior day's camp.

Today (8/3):
--Eagles traded a pair of backup LBs, Moises Fokou and Greg Lloyd, to the Colts for CB Kevin Thomas. The LBs are needed in Indy, which is switching to a 3-4 despite only having 3 legit NFL LBs on the roster after rookie AJ Edds tore up his knee. Thomas is a good run support guy and he was a better fit in zone than man, so he should help Philly if his knee stays healthy.

--Brandon Weeden continues to outplay even the most optimistic expectations in Browns camp. He's absolutely tearing it apart in red zone drills, perfect touch all over the end zone to a variety of receivers. Josh Gordon has looked good, so has a lither Greg Little in the slot.

--A day after it comes out that Jake Locker has jumped ahead of Matt Hasselbeck in TEN, Locker has "the worst practice by a QB I've ever seen" according to a kongtime coach. OC and QB guru Chris Palmer was clearly not pleased. Locker threw 9 straight incompletions with 2 INTs in one set, bounced two balls at least 2 yards short on intermediate crossing routes. My Titans preview should be up any minute and I stand by this: if Hasselbeck starts all 16 games they're a playoff team, but if Locker starts they win no more than 7 games. He makes Tim Tebow seem pinpoint with accuracy.

--Vick Ballard is having a great camp in Indy and has a legit chance to be the Week 1 starter at RB. He is a bull between the tackles but needs to improve in the passing game. All indications are that Luck is doing as expected and they are going to run a ton of 2TE sets w/ Fleener & Allen. Like Cleveland, they could very well start 5 rookies on offense.

--JJ Watt dislocated his elbow and will miss the preseason. He should be fine by September, they snapped it right back into place. Bad injury for a power player nonetheless. Devier Posey is slightly ahead of Keyshawn Martin for the #3 WR spot because he's better in the red zone but that's a very fluid situation. I've heard Andre Johnson looks a little slower as well.

--Denarius Moore is making quite the positive impression on OAK observers. Well past DHB as the #1 receiver.

--hearing very positive things about the Cardinals pass rush, doing some overloads and having a lot of success rushing O'Brien Schofield inside on breaks. Schofield has finally regained all of his quickness, and he was a 1st round talent before Vlad Ducasse tore up his knee with an egregious hold during Senior Bowl practice. One Cards writer expects Daryl Washington to lead the league in tackles.

Awesome to hear these little tidbits, Iceness. Happen to hear anything at all out of the Bears camp by chance ?

All the local media/coaches are raving about Andrew Luck, say he looks like a 2nd-3rd year guy at camp. He is playing against the arguably worst secondary in the NFL though

So Donald Brown is out? Just a week ago they were touting him as an every down back in Indy.

Sunday report, I was offline Saturday playing old guy volleyball in Waco in a gym with carpet on the floor, no AC, and the heat index was 112. Sweated through three shirts. These NFL players that kvetch about training camp being brutal, try doing that at age 63 like my team's setter

--big news this AM is Andy Reid's son found dead at Eagles facility. Garrett Reid had a history of drug abuse but was supposedly turning his life around and was working with the Eagles training staff as an assistant. Really puts a pall on the Eagles and I can't imagine what Andy Reid has going through his head right now.

--Titans C Eugene Amano out for year with triceps tear (IIRC). He was downright awful so this might be a blessing in disguise, esp. for those of you that have Chris Johnson in your fantasy leagues (hi Vince4pres!). Kevin Matthews will take over once he gets cleared from a concussion. He's a freaking Matthews family member, he won't suck.

--Chris Gocong tears his Achilles, out for year. Bad news for the Browns, he was the primary nickel package LB and pretty good in coverage. Rookie JM Johnson gets the first crack at it now. I like him but it's asking a lot. On the bright side I continue to hear nothing but superlatives about the offensive rookies, esp. Weeden and Schwartz. One Browns beatie told me Schwartz is already the best RT the team has had since they came back in '99 and he's not prone to hyperbole. Like night and day compared to Tony Pashos a year ago.

--Santonio Holmes has an injured rib, may or may not be broken. He'll be fine as long as they don't rush him. Maybe it will shut him up a bit. Heard Tebow looked awful yesterday, what else is new. They are still holding open auditions for RT too, and if they can't find someone better than Wayne Hunter that tells you how shallow the free agent pool of tackles really is.

--Hearing very good things about Ryan Mathews in SD, he's lost some weight and his legs are real fresh this year. Also, Kendall Reyes is tearing it up and will likely earn a starting spot at DE and Brandon Taylor is a real threat to Atari Bigby's starting spot at safety. Packers fans insert snicker here

--Of concern to me is the health of Louis Delmas. Probably not going to play preseason and the knee is just not right. The Lions secondary is 100% better when he's at full speed and he's not been effective in the past when he's tried to play at less than full speed. The word is they are saving him for the regular season but it worries me nonetheless. The other safety spot is, uh, a problem.

--I'm hearing rumblings from SF that some on the team (not Harbaugh though) are getting a little weary of Michael Crabtree missing every camp with various leg injuries. The team specifically ordered him to keep his legs in top shape this offseason and he didn't do it. Randy Moss is looking good but he's still a major variable. Also hearing that Shawntae Spencer is looking terrible, getting beat repeatedly by scrub receivers. Their secondary could be an issue if the pass rush struggles, same as Detroit, Chicago, and Baltimore.

--Not sure what to make of Big Ben's "kind of" torn rotator cuff. He loves to get attention for playing through pain so I don't necessarily trust it. I've had a similar injury and I know QBs that have had it (Kerry Collins, Brian Hoyer, Chris Leak) and it's harder to throw shorter passes and get proper touch, which has never been Ben's strong suit anyways. In vball it makes it harder to hit offspeed instead of killing it, same principle of intentionally limiting the range and not fully following through. I highly doubt Mike Wallace gets moved, but his holdout could very well extend into the regular season.

NW7 wrote:Awesome to hear these little tidbits, Iceness. Happen to hear anything at all out of the Bears camp by chance ?

I'll get something later this week, aiming to talk to someone there midweek.

Icness wrote:--big news this AM is Andy Reid's son found dead at Eagles facility. Garrett Reid had a history of drug abuse but was supposedly turning his life around and was working with the Eagles training staff as an assistant. Really puts a pall on the Eagles and I can't imagine what Andy Reid has going through his head right now.

As sad as this news is, it may become a rallying cry for the team. This might be the motivation needed for the team to turn away from their selfish play & become a TEAM.

What're the grumblings about Terrell Thomas' knee and what will the Giants do if he's done?

I can't imagine anyone coming back from a third ACL tear.

Da Schwab wrote:What're the grumblings about Terrell Thomas' knee and what will the Giants do if he's done?

I can't imagine anyone coming back from a third ACL tear.

Praying for Prince Amukamara to get up to speed quickly. And he's not 100% healthy. They fared okay without him and their LBs will be better with more experience to help mitigate what Thomas brings as a run defender.

Kevin Smith (RB Lions) has torn 3 ACLs and he's my pick to lead that team in rushing. Not easy but not impossible to come back.

On that note, Vikings rookie WR Greg Childs tore both patellar tendons yesterday and that will end his career before it starts. Too bad because I liked him at Arkansas, was just as good as Jeffery and Jones in the SEC in '10 before he blew out a knee. Big, physical, speedy guy reminded me of a faster Colston but his knees just aren't up to the task. I was at the game where Browns CB Gary Baxter tore both his patellar tendons and I've been on the vball court when a good friend popped one and it's one of the sickest injuries you can see. Looking at a kneecap halfway down the shin bone is freaking nauseating and you never recover fully. Baxter rehabbed like a mother but couldn't ever even get cleared to work out for a team. My friend went from being a marginal AVP beach vball player to only being at my level, which is equivalent of falling from AAA to low A ball in baseball.

I read about Childs earlier. That must've been hard to watch.

Is Prince having trouble picking up the play book, or is it just slow recovery?

Da Schwab wrote:I read about Childs earlier. That must've been hard to watch.

Is Prince having trouble picking up the play book, or is it just slow recovery?

Prince is stiffer in coverage than they expected. I've heard he is reluctant to cut loose with his knee and that isn't helping. He's smart enough to pick everything up, just not physically all that great at it yet. He was badly overhyped coming out of Nebraska so I'm not terribly surprised.

Monday:

--the Dolphins are satisfied enough with Garrard and Tannehill that they are quietly shopping Matt Moore. Haven't heard anything on definitive interest but I have to think KC and CIN have to have interest as they are real thin behind the starters and both have legit playoff aspirations. SD makes sense too with Charlie Whitehurst hurt. Don't forget: Matt Moore was the 3rd highest-rated passer in the AFC last year, including going 6-6 as a starter after they started 0-4.

--it's in another thread but Robert Gallery pulled a surprise by retiring. This is a blow to the Patriots because they are very thin across the OL. Brian Waters is still wavering on retiring or not, Logan Mankins is on PUP and will be through the preseason. He's still got a noticeable limp when he runs, just 6 months out from ACL surgery. If they can't find anyone better than Dan Koppen to start it's not a good sign. They're claiming people left and right on waivers, mostly guys that are being let go from other teams that sorely need OL help. All that skill position talent but the line could scuttle it.

--Cowboys released Brodney Pool when it was clear Barry Church was going to beat him out at safety. I was a big Church supporter coming out of Toledo, where he played a hybrid S/ILB position. He's not real rangy and is vulnerable over the top but he can absolutely play in the box. Pool is way too inconsistent.

--looks like the Vikings are running a lot more 3-man front and hybrid 43/34 looks on defense. They are actually running their base defense with only one safety and three corners because the rest of the NFC North uses 3 WRs as their base offenses. That helps mitigate the fact they're awful at safety. They've got some young corners that they really like and are trying to get them more experience.

--Seattle is kicking the tires on TO but don't get your hopes up. He's there as much to give the DBs a legit big body to compete against in practice as he is to be part of the offense. They cut Antonio Bryant, and Mike Williams is long gone and not missed. Heard that Russell Wilson and Golden Tate have a mind meld working but Wilson is still behind TJax as the starter, with Matt Flynn 2a and not #3 as it was relayed to me. Flynn and Wilson are both having issues with throwing the ball over the linemen; passes aren't getting batted down but they're too high and arcing and their DBs are feasting on it. That secondary is flat-out nasty.

--What I picked up from the HOF game:
-John Skelton should absolutely start ahead of Kolb, who plays scared. Eerily reminiscent of Joey Harrington. I like that Skelton doesn't bail and lets the plays develop as designed, works better with their receviers than the more improvisational style of Kolb.
-the Cards OL is terrible
-the Saints special teams are awful other than Thom Morstead.
-Curtis Lofton is a significant upgrade over Jon Vilma. he can actually bring someone down without help.
-the decision to move Martez Wilson to DE is a good one and it opens up lots of zone blitz possibilities if Spags wants to bring some.

iceness your stuff is awesome

thanks

Icness wrote:--Titans C Eugene Amano out for year with triceps tear (IIRC). He was downright awful so this might be a blessing in disguise, esp. for those of you that have Chris Johnson in your fantasy leagues (hi Vince4pres!). Kevin Matthews will take over once he gets cleared from a concussion. He's a freaking Matthews family member, he won't suck.

I do regret to inform I passed on him though. It was a 2 QB league where we were able to trade picks before the draft so I traded up to 10 and was originally 2nd overall as well, so went Rodgers at 2 and Cam Newton at 10.

My next pick wasn't until 26 and I wound up with Darren McFadden.

How do you feel about Cam this year? Some sophomore regression or is he improving?

I fully accept his rushing TD's will probably nosedive from 14 to something like 4 or 5 at best, but how's he actually developing as a passer? Think he takes the next step?

Also, anything on that Vick Ballard situation in Indy? I skipped out on Brown who was going to early in drafts and wound up snagging Ballard in like round 18.

Thanks again, your stuff is great man, you should Tweet more haha.
-

Tuesday:
talked to a Bills guy last night so this is Bills-centric
--Arthur Moats is really impressing at ILB, will be above Kirk Morrison on depth chart today. They are all about bringing pressure up the gut and Moats can blitz from any LB spot.
--on the "pressure up the gut" theme, look for a lot more teams to employ that esp. against teams like the Pats & Packers that use base packages with flexed TEs and multiple WRs and empty backfields. This coach told me "it's a hell of a lot easier to outquick a guard than a tackle". Teams with great tackles but inferior guards, beware. Looking at you, Miami, and so is he
--Eric Wood looks good and will be full-speed ready for the regular season, but they are quietly quite worried about right tackle. Erik Pears is a regular season PUP candidate, Chris Hairston is better at LT, they don't want to move Cordy Glenn from playing somewhere on the left, and Sam Young is a stiff.
--Fred Jackson is back to 100% though he did roll his ankle last week.
--Merriman is pretty close to his old speed. They're going to use him strictly in obvious passing situations and he won't practice more than once a week, if that. He is working a lot with Cordy Glenn to teach him how to counter various moves. Nice to hear Merriman is finally getting with a program, he was one of the most self-absorbed players in the league in SD.

--Denver signed Jim Leonhard and Keith Brooking. Two thoughts here...1) the Broncos are a lot more worried about their defense than they're letting on, because Brooking was awful in Dallas last year (ask stud) and Leonhard is just 6 months out from (another) major knee surgery, and 2) when teams start signing ring whores it almost always infuriates the Roman God of Football, Testicles. His punishment is often cruel and painful. Ask the Redskins, or the Patriots lately.

--Glad to see Cliff Avril sign his tender and get into Lions camp. Nobody expects any acrimony on either side there, totally about business. He looks shredded from what I've heard, could be even quicker. Can't wait for him to battle with Bryan Bulaga, who has been his personal bitch the last two years but is having an outstanding camp in Green Bay.

--Keep an eye on James Harrison's status in PIT. LaMarr Woodley is out with a groin problem that may or may not be related to his bad hammy from a year ago, and Harrison is apparently not real close to returning. Neither is his backup Jason Worilds. Their splits with and without Harrison the last two years are dramatic; they're a bottom 10 D without him on the field. There's a whole lot of lingering injuries and not much depth in the front 7. Ta'Amu showed up 15 pounds heavier than Combine weight and looks "sloppy". I think this is a year where the Steelers nosedive.

--On a related note, my Bengals preview is up:
http://football.realgm.com/src_teamarti ... i_bengals/
and yes I'm a believer they win the AFC North.

Icness wrote:
--A day after it comes out that Jake Locker has jumped ahead of Matt Hasselbeck in TEN, Locker has "the worst practice by a QB I've ever seen" according to a kongtime coach. OC and QB guru Chris Palmer was clearly not pleased. Locker threw 9 straight incompletions with 2 INTs in one set, bounced two balls at least 2 yards short on intermediate crossing routes. My Titans preview should be up any minute and I stand by this: if Hasselbeck starts all 16 games they're a playoff team, but if Locker starts they win no more than 7 games. He makes Tim Tebow seem pinpoint with accuracy.

I have seen this kid in a few workouts in southern california. ABSOLUTELY AGREE 110% with this assessment of Jake. A workout with several QBs and pass catchers came out. The USC legend known as matt leinart, the big tall gunner comin out of arknasas, jake etc.... Even caught a quick meet with namdi asomough or whatever the spelling is. Anyhow, Jake locker did NOT have the stuff that media pundits and titans management said that he appearantly had. Just off and low ballin or high overthrows and not pinpoint on regular looks without any pressure. Just drills! Now i hope the best for the guy, but from what was displayed in offseason stuff that I had seen out here, ZERO.

Thursday:

--Hearing nothing but positives about Alshon Jeffery in Bears camp, catching everything and listening when he should. He was working in his spare time with a couple of DBs picking thier brains on how he can release quicker and sell moves. Love to hear young guys that want to thrive. Dane Sanzebacher is clear-cut #3 right now but they want to see him do it on the field, not just in practice.

--Also on the Bears, don't be surprised if Chris Williams doesn't make it past the second preseason game. If James Brown plays well in the first two, they have zero need for him. J'Marcus Webb isn't having a great camp but blew away Williams in their battle for LT. Hearing Carimi has good and bad days in recovery.

--Jay Cutler and his wife had a baby. Apparently she's someone famous, never heard of her though.

--Luke Kuechly is absolutely destroying it in Panthers camp. To quote a daily observer, "he's the best LB we've ever had in coverage" and "he never gets fooled. Never." Gents, I give you my choice for DROY

--Louis Delmas had knee surgery yesterday and will probably miss the first couple of weeks of regular season. Very bad news for the Lions secondary; they're near competent with him, horrible without. Bentley is running with the 1s and will be a Week One starter at corner, with Jacob Lacey the nickel. Not the greatest coverage combination but they'll be physical and aggressive as hell. Also hearing Willie Young--my choice for breakout player--is more than ready to take over for VandenBosch.

--If you're looking for a recent high draft choice to get booted soon, I give you Brandon Harris, Houston's 2nd round pick in '11. Currently sitting 8th on the CB depth chart, top 5 are locks, and they're only keeping 6. I've heard legit progress from Kareem Jackson and it's from people who want him gone.

Icness wrote:Tuesday:

--Denver signed Jim Leonhard and Keith Brooking. Two thoughts here...1) the Broncos are a lot more worried about their defense than they're letting on, because Brooking was awful in Dallas last year (ask stud) and Leonhard is just 6 months out from (another) major knee surgery, and 2) when teams start signing ring whores it almost always infuriates the Roman God of Football, Testicles. His punishment is often cruel and painful. Ask the Redskins, or the Patriots lately.

--Glad to see Cliff Avril sign his tender and get into Lions camp. Nobody expects any acrimony on either side there, totally about business. He looks shredded from what I've heard, could be even quicker. Can't wait for him to battle with Bryan Bulaga, who has been his personal bitch the last two years but is having an outstanding camp in Green Bay.

--Keep an eye on James Harrison's status in PIT. LaMarr Woodley is out with a groin problem that may or may not be related to his bad hammy from a year ago, and Harrison is apparently not real close to returning. Neither is his backup Jason Worilds. Their splits with and without Harrison the last two years are dramatic; they're a bottom 10 D without him on the field. There's a whole lot of lingering injuries and not much depth in the front 7. Ta'Amu showed up 15 pounds heavier than Combine weight and looks "sloppy". I think this is a year where the Steelers nosedive.

--On a related note, my Bengals preview is up:
http://football.realgm.com/src_teamarti ... i_bengals/
and yes I'm a believer they win the AFC North.

idk how the f*ck keith brooking is gonna have a job, he was the worst linebacker in the game last year and wasnt much better the year prior

the only reason he wasnt the worst player on our team last year was because of the corpse of terrence newman and Alan Ball (whose very existence makes the world a worse place to live in)

also, cant wait to have the worst interior o-line in the game for the 2nd straight year. our C position is a mess. if we're lucky, we'll get something out of nate livings (who by all accounts ive heard is terrible, cincy didnt try and bring him back) and barnedaue or whatever his name is from carolina

Monday:
--big news today is Adrian Peterson got activated from PUP. My Vikings people (yes I have them!) tell me they're not rushing him at all; he's ready. He'll be in contact drills by the end of next week but almost certainly will not play before Week One.
--also from Minny, WR Stephen Burton is really impressing the team and will start w/ Harvin in the opener. Chris Cook is also having a very strong camp and the two of them have bonded in hopes of mutual improvement. Letroy Guion sprained his PCL and will miss a week or two.

--Patriots are toying with 2-back sets, something they haven't used more than a blue moon in the last 5 years. Read as: our WRs stink and we need to compensate with more weapons elsewhere. You could see lots of 22 (RB, FB, 2 TE) personnel, something Belichick ran a great deal of in his Cleveland days. The FB is also more of a necessity because their interior line has really struggled in camp. Dan Koppen on the chopping block. To my surprise, Chandler Jones is in line to start at DE if he keeps it up, had highest grade of any player vs. the Saints. Ras-I Dowling also moving up the depth chart at corner. I've said since before draft time if he can stay healthy Dowling was best corner in '11 draft.

--Falcons put rookie RB/FB Bradie Ewing on IR. He had all but earned starting FB job and was going to be heavily relied up on on STs. Bummer. Really hurts the depth chart because Jason Snelling is still out and Turner doesn't take contact reps in practice. Also, Chris Owens injury not progressing as quickly as hoped.

--Bengals really took a blow with Travelle Wharton going on IR. They're trying Anthony Collins at LG to replace him but he's flopped inside before. Clint Boling takes over (for now) and he's not close to the run blocker Wharton was. Oh, and Vontaze Burfict probably locked himself up a roster spot as the top backup ILB. Good for him. We'll see how he handles prosperity.

--Bryant McKinnie is still not in shape in BAL and is in danger of not making the team. He must beat out Oher for the LT spot because the team is going with Kelechi Osemele at RT, and he makes too much to be the #3 tackle. Ryan McBean out for the year, hurts the depth on DL. Courtney Upshaw still looks about 10 pounds heavier than he should and I hear he hasn't endeared himself to Ray Lewis for his practice habits. And Bobby Rainey is making the most of Bernard Pierce's injury and has at least locked up a practice squad slot, if not the #3 RB and RS job. Dude has a lot of Darren Sproles to his game only not as fast.