Packers camp preview ESPN insider

[Rastak]

Three Burning Questions
Can Mike McCarthy control Brett Favre and command his respect?
Favre's 29 interceptions last season might lead one to believe he is an out-of-control gunslinger, trying to make big plays on every down. The reality is that Favre threw 23 of those 29 interceptions when Green Bay was behind. He had a marginal running game and not many weapons in the passing game. While McCarthy will allow Favre to be himself, he must also try to reel him in a little. McCarthy must convince Favre that short slants and crossing routes can provide yards after the catch, so he doesn't need to throw deep as much. But this quarterback is strong-willed and may need early success in the West Coast offense to fully buy into it.

Camp battle to watch
Will Whitticker vs. Junius Coston


Coston

Whitticker
This is a bad interior offensive line heading into training camp and the Packers will be hoping these unproven players can emerge as starters. Whitticker started some at right offensive guard as a rookie in 2005, but he was clearly not ready. He is big and physical, but is a plodder and may lack the movement this offensive line expects. Coston is a small school guy who has the versatility to play every position in the offensive line and the athletic ability and movement coaches are looking for, but his instincts are questionable and he is still raw. Favre cannot feel good about the interior of this offensive line, especially in a division loaded with dominating defensive tackles.
Who will emerge to give the Packers a legitimate run game?
The good news for the Packers is they have three quality backs, all capable of solid production. The bad news is all three are coming off injuries and represent question marks heading into training camp. Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport have missed a combined 22 games with the Packers and neither has participated in offseason workouts and minicamps, so the first time we will see them will be in training camp. Samkon Gado is healthy but must prove he was not a one-year wonder. If Green is healthy by September, he's the guy to emerge out of the pack, not only because of superior skills but also because he has an incentive-laden contract, which gives him extra motivation.


Will the Packers be a disaster in the kicking game?
The Packers appear to be in deep trouble at the moment. The biggest loss is kicker Ryan Longwell, who stayed in the same division and upgraded Minnesota's kicking game. Billy Cundiff is his replacement, but he was cut by Dallas in 2005 and may really struggle as the weather deteriorates late in the season. He has never really been a clutch kicker. Punter B.J. Sander has a chance to develop, but he's not quite ready for greatness and the return jobs may have to be handled by rookies. There is no stability at the long snapper position. This team could easily lose games late in the season because of missed kicks and poor field position.



The person under the microscope
McCarthy has never been a head coach on any level and is now in charge of a veteran team with the most knowledgeable fans in the NFL. To make things even tougher, neither offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski nor defensive coordinator Bob Sanders has ever been a coordinator at any level. Their success may be the key to how McCarthy is perceived. The Packers do not have great personnel and lost eight games in 2005 by seven points or less, so McCarthy's game management will be scrutinized by players and fans. Can he control Favre? How does he earn the respect of these players?


Breakout player
The consensus was that linebacker A.J. Hawk was the player in the 2006 draft most prepared to make the transition to the NFL. He has great range, a strong attitude and outstanding intelligence. He will be an immediate rookie starter on a defense that badly needs playmakers. He will likely line up at weak outside linebacker, where he can play in space and utilize his speed and range. He can also be an effective blitzer off the edge and will be excellent in coverage because he has the ability to cover man-to-man or get good depth in drops. This guy will never come off the field. However, he is a linebacker who must slip blocks and avoid a lot of physical confrontation at the point of attack. With a fast linebacking corps and the ability to play man-to-man with the corners, the Packers can use Hawk in a variety of ways.


Comeback player of the year
Although some coaches think Charles Woodson would be a better fit at safety at this stage of his career, Woodson can still play corner (if he is motivated) and could fit well in this defense. Sanders loves his corners to play aggressive press coverages, and both Al Harris and Woodson can do just that. He can dominate smaller receivers with his physical style of play and is not afraid to come up in run support. He can also be an effective blitzer. However, he is a gambler and the coaches will have to give him some safety help over the top to avoid big plays. If he stays healthy, Woodson can have a big year in this defense with the chance for some game-changing plays.


Offensive philosophy
The biggest story in Green Bay heading into training camp is the new zone blocking scheme being installed to protect Favre and also help the run game. Jagodzinski will implement the zone blocking taught to him by his mentor, Alex Gibbs. It requires good movement from the offensive line and the ability to spread out and get better angles. The feeling is the scheme will result in less sacks and will put the linemen in better position to pick up loops and stunts. The new scheme also fits all three Green Bay running backs, who like to see a hole and hit it without a lot of moves. They should be able to have success behind an offensive line that will wall off and position block to create seems.
As far as the passing game is concerned, we will see a West Coast philosophy with a lot less deep throws from Favre. Green Bay will utilize a lot of quick slants and crossing routes by the wide receivers designed to get yards after the catch. Unfortunately, this group of receivers does not have great speed. Favre will be asked to hit his receivers in stride with good touch, or dump the ball off to his backs and tight ends underneath. He will not be asked to make a lot of big plays in the vertical passing game. This will be a very methodical offense with few risky calls, and that is not Favre's style. Another key will be the interior pass blocking, which right now looks suspect. If Favre is flushed out of the pocket too much, he may start to freelance, which can lead to problems. Getting Favre to buy into a philosophy that says a screen pass or a quick slant with some yards after the catch is just as good as a great deep route will be the key to the success of this offense.



Defensive philosophy
Defensive coordinator Jim Bates did a great job in 2005, getting more production from his players than their talent level indicated. However, when he was passed over for the head coaching job, he decided to leave. Sanders has never been a coordinator, but does know this defense and will keep many of the same principles in place. A big key will be the play of Woodson and fellow corner Harris. With an average defensive line applying pressure on opposing quarterbacks, the Packers may need to blitz, meaning they may need to play press schemes on the outside. Both Harris and Woodson love to play tight man-to-man schemes. Their success will give the defensive line enough time to get to the quarterback, or will allow Sanders to blitz his linebackers more, instead of always dropping them into coverage.
They will use a 4-3 front, with one-gap penetrating schemes, but they will also play some over/under alignments, where a defensive tackle is lined up over the center. This is a linebacker-oriented defense and it is a group that should be able to run and chase with some versatility. Although both corners are aggressive bump-and-run guys, they are vulnerable to double moves and will gamble at times, so we may see some two-deep zones, with safety help over the top to avoid giving up big plays. This is a proven defense, but will Sanders be able to run it effectively and how aggressive will his play calling be? With improved personnel you would expect the Packers to take more chances with blitzes, especially if they can't get there with just the front four.

[MJZiggy]

Will the Packers be a disaster in the kicking game?
The Packers appear to be in deep trouble at the moment. The biggest loss is kicker Ryan Longwell, who stayed in the same division and upgraded Minnesota's kicking game. Billy Cundiff is his replacement, but he was cut by Dallas in 2005 and may really struggle as the weather deteriorates late in the season. He has never really been a clutch kicker. Punter B.J. Sander has a chance to develop, but he's not quite ready for greatness and the return jobs may have to be handled by rookies. There is no stability at the long snapper position. This team could easily lose games late in the season because of missed kicks and poor field position.

What is this? Yes there are doubts about Cundiff, but Sander may not even make the team. Right now he is trailing Ryan according to everything I've read and there is plenty of competition to return kicks from rooks and vets alike. Why would they believe we are unstable at long snapper? That is the one position we don't have to worry about!! What--did Clayton write this or something?

[Rastak]

Will the Packers be a disaster in the kicking game?
The Packers appear to be in deep trouble at the moment. The biggest loss is kicker Ryan Longwell, who stayed in the same division and upgraded Minnesota's kicking game. Billy Cundiff is his replacement, but he was cut by Dallas in 2005 and may really struggle as the weather deteriorates late in the season. He has never really been a clutch kicker. Punter B.J. Sander has a chance to develop, but he's not quite ready for greatness and the return jobs may have to be handled by rookies. There is no stability at the long snapper position. This team could easily lose games late in the season because of missed kicks and poor field position.

What is this? Yes there are doubts about Cundiff, but Sander may not even make the team. Right now he is trailing Ryan according to everything I've read and there is plenty of competition to return kicks from rooks and vets alike. Why would they believe we are unstable at long snapper? That is the one position we don't have to worry about!! What--did Clayton write this or something?


Horton I think.....

[Zool]

Really....Long snapper? How long has Davis been on the team now?

[MJZiggy]

11 years. And counting. Damn rookies, when's this guy gonna get some experience!

[Deputy Nutz]

He had a marginal running game and not many weapons in the passing game. While McCarthy will allow Favre to be himself, he must also try to reel him in a little.

Is this the biggest understatement of 2006?


Maybe someone should tell the brains at ESPN that Whitticker is no longer in a battle for the starting right guard position, he is in a battle for a roster spot.

Coston and Spitz are battling for the right guard spot when training camp begins.

[K-town]

Saturday, July 15, 2006
Updated: July 19, 2:19 PM ET
Bears camp preview

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By Gary Horton
Scouts Inc.




Three Burning Questions

Did the front office make a mistake by standing pat and not upgrading this roster in free agency?
The Bears have all 22 starters back from a year ago, and they feel this is a Super Bowl team that didn't need a lot of tweaking. They only added backup defensive backs Ricky Manning and Dante Wesley in free agency, and although there were specific needs at wide receiver and tight end, they did not address either one of those positions in the offseason. However, this is a team that was 5-1 in its division a year ago and its three competitors -- Detroit, Minnesota and Green Bay -- have new head coaches. The Bears are still the favorites to win this division again, and obviously feel that changes were not necessary.


Will Chicago trade running back Thomas Jones in the preseason if Cedric Benson has a big training camp?
They will be tempted because Jones could have significant offers throughout the preseason and seems to be getting restless, but it would be in Chicago's best interest to keep both guys. As good as Benson can be, he is still unproven. Who knows if he can give the Bears 25 carries a game in an offense that wants to be run-oriented. Benson and Jones could give Chicago a great 1-2 punch and the dominating time of possession it wants in the running game, but both guys will have to suppress their egos and share carries, and that may be asking too much.


Will this Chicago offense play dramatically better in 2006?
A year ago, the only legitimate target in this passing game was wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, and he was forced to catch the ball from an unproven quarterback in Kyle Orton, who was clearly not ready for prime time. In all five of the Bears' losses, they scored 10 points or less. Because of Orton, this was an offense that tried to play it close to the vest and with defense and a running game. With Rex Grossman at the controls, they will open up the passing game and become much more creative, giving Grossman the opportunity to find a variety of receivers. They still have no proven tight end in the passing game and their backup wide receivers are talented, but young and untested. However, Grossman will make better decisions and spread the ball around. With the easiest schedule in the NFL, this offense has a chance to make huge strides.


The player under the microscope

Grossman has excellent overall qualities for the position, including a quick release and accuracy, and he can put the ball into tight spots. He is also confident and cocky. He really believes he can be the face of this franchise. However, he has only seven starts in his first three seasons and has been injury prone. While some of those injuries have been simply a case of bad luck, the fact is he has never been through a 16-game season. Chicago now has a legitimate backup quarterback in veteran Brian Griese, and he may be a lot closer to pushing Grossman than most of us think, even though the Chicago coaching staff will say this is Grossman's team. Griese knows Ron Turner's offense, has excellent accuracy and is not a guy who makes a lot of mistakes. If Grossman starts to falter in the preseason, we could see a lot more of Griese.


Breakout player

Mark Bradley is a young player who looked great before a knee injury sidelined him in October. He has big-play capabilities, is very elusive and does an excellent job of making yards after the catch. While he can go vertical and be a deep threat, he is outstanding in catch-and-run situations, and has the best big-play element on this offense. Obviously, he needs to develop a rapport with his quarterbacks, and while Chicago wants to open up its pass offense, we could actually see most of Bradley's big plays on very safe hitches and slants, where he can use his run skills after the catch. He has a chance to develop into an explosive weapon for this offense.


Comeback player of the year

Although right now he is listed as a backup quarterback, don't be surprised if Griese winds up either really pushing Grossman in training camp and winning the job, or stepping in and playing very well if Grossman goes out with an injury. Griese has outstanding accuracy and makes quick decisions. He knows this offense from his days at Tampa Bay. He has an excellent release, is very intelligent and picks up the system very well. He also can make adjustments at the line of scrimmage, probably better than Grossman. However, he does not have elite arm strength and is really a touch quarterback who is coming off a serious knee injury. This is a guy who has had 72 NFL starts and completed 69 percent of his passes in 2004. This Chicago coaching staff wants to win with defense, a strong running game and a safe passing game, and they want their quarterback to be a caretaker. Griese could fit that role better than Grossman.



Offensive philosophy

Chicago finished 31st in the NFL a year ago in passing yards per game and 25th in time of possession. Last year, the Bears tried to help Orton by throwing a lot of safe passes outside the hashes, but with no playmaking tight end, the middle of the field was not really an option. While throwing to the outside certainly helped the running game, it did not give the passing game much versatility. Turner will run a West Coast offense in 2006, but with Grossman at the controls, he will try to expand on what was a very conservative and safe passing game a year ago. This is still a run-first, pass-second philosophy, but the Bears will take more chances with Grossman at quarterback, and will try to stretch the field more with a vertical passing game.
Muhammad had an average year in 2005 and didn't give the Bears a lot of big plays, but part of it was due to inconsistency at the quarterback position. Muhammad is a guy who should come over the middle and do part of the dirty work in the short-to-intermediate passing game to open up the edges. Grossman will be asked to be good in play action with a strong running game, and when the Bears do go vertical, it won't be a wild and gambling philosophy, but a somewhat safe deep attack.



Defensive philosophy

This is already one of the best defenses in the NFL and could be a unit that dominates for years to come. Continuity is a big part of the success. Defensive coordinator Ron Rivera knows head coach Lovie Smith's defense and runs it to perfection. This is a one-gap penetrating philosophy that attacks with the front seven. The Bears do not utilize a lot of blitzes. They use a Cover 2 scheme and like to rush four and drop seven, much like Tampa Bay. They will play a lot of games up front, with twists and stunts, but they will not take a lot of chances by bringing their linebackers or defensive backs. Middle linebacker Brian Urlacher is a great blitzer in this defense. When he attacks on a pass rush, it is almost as a freelancer, where he simply sees a hole and comes. Urlacher is also perfect in the Cover 2, because he can cover the deep middle of the field and take away a vulnerable area of this defense. As good as they were a year ago, the Bears have actually upgraded their secondary. They now have better speed and depth, with two free-agent additions and two young draft choices. They have the ability to play more man-to-man schemes than you would expect from a Cover 2 defense, especially in the red zone. This is a deep and versatile defense that can make a lot of adjustments, and play virtually any scheme necessary.
Gary Horton has been a football talent evaluator for more than 30 years. He spent 10 years in the NFL and 10 years at the college level before launching a private scouting firm called "The War Room."

[K-town]

Saturday, July 15, 2006
Updated: July 19, 2:20 PM ET
Vikings camp preview

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By Gary Horton
Scouts Inc.




Three Burning Questions

Will Brad Johnson be able to stay healthy and run the offense successfully in 2006?
The Vikings certainly hope Brad Johnson can get through a 16-game season because they do not have a backup quarterback who can step in and run this offense. Backup quarterback Mike McMahon knows new head coach Brad Childress' system from his time in Philadelphia, but he is certainly not the answer, and rookie Tarvaris Jackson is at least a couple of years away from being ready for any kind of game action. The coaching staff will use a lot of three- and five-step drops and a quick, short passing game to protect Johnson. They will also encourage him to get the ball out quickly and not take a lot of hits. He is a smart guy with a quick release and should do very well in this balanced offense, and it is important to remember he is playing behind a massive offensive line, which should protect him very well.


Will the Vikings be sorry they let quarterback Daunte Culpepper go in the offseason?
The word out of Miami is that Culpepper's rehabilitation is going very well and he could actually be ready to play at the start of the season. While Culpepper seems motivated to show everybody he is still an elite quarterback, Minnesota seems comfortable with the fact that Culpepper just did not fit in with the new coaching staff and philosophy. His relationship with Childress did not get off to a great start, and there was a feeling that Culpepper had become a player more concerned about himself than his team, and that just doesn't fit in the new philosophy. If he does have a great year in Miami, there will obviously be a lot of second guessing, but it won't come from within the organization, as the Vikings appear ready to move forward. If they can keep Johnson healthy for another year, the Culpepper situation will not be a big deal.


Can the Vikings jell with so many new players?
The Vikings were one of the most active teams in free agency in the offseason, bringing in 10 new veteran free agents, and they spent $31.5 million in free agency, basically giving Childress an open checkbook to upgrade this team and tweak this roster. Childress also has the largest coaching staff in the league, with 21 assistant coaches, so owner Zygi Wilf has spared no expense to give this organization everything it needs to win. Although Minnesota is incorporating a new offensive scheme and a new defensive scheme, it has a lot of veteran players with strong character and good leadership. There is a good chance this team will jell and really respond to a no-nonsense philosophy by the head coach. They should come out of the gates fast and play very well the entire season.


The person under the microscope

One of Childress' big moves was to get rid of Culpepper and it was a risky one, although Childress felt very confident in his decision. There was a feeling that Culpepper had developed a little bit of a selfish attitude and wasn't on the same page as the organization. He wanted more money and was also doing his rehabilitation away from the team's complex. If he plays extremely well in Miami, Childress will be second guessed for not trying to work things out. Childress also has the pressure of a very young staff, with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell (Childress will take pressure off Bevell by calling the offensive plays himself) and defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin, who is only 34 years old. Although this is a young coaching staff, they are also extremely loyal to Childress.
The Vikings are coming off a season filled with scandal, and Childress has had to deal with that, along with the firing of top personnel man Fran Foley a day after the draft, so this has not been a very smooth offseason for Childress. However, Wilf has given him complete control to do things as he sees fit, and Childress is a very firm disciplinarian, and is also steady and fair. These players will understand what he expects from them. He is not an emotional guy and can weather these situations better than most coaches, but expectations in Minnesota are high and Childress will be watched very closely by the fans.



Breakout player

After years as a backup in Baltimore behind Jamal Lewis, Chester Taylor now gets a chance to be the man in Minnesota. He still has a very fresh body for an NFL veteran. He is an excellent fit in the West Coast offense installed by Childress. Not only will he run the ball out of two-back sets, with a great lead fullback in Tony Richardson. He is also playing behind a huge offensive line with a great left side of Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson, reminiscent of the left side of his offensive line in Baltimore: Jonathan Ogden and Edwin Mulitalo. He will catch a lot of passes out of the backfield, and the coaching staff will move him around a lot to create tough matchups. The more you watch Taylor, the more he grows on you, and in an offense that wants to have balance, he will give the Vikings a legitimate run game and should have great production, not only on the ground, but in the passing game.


Comeback player of the year

Kevin Williams had a preseason knee injury in 2005 and was out of shape early in the year. He never really seemed to get into a groove or play with the quickness and explosiveness he did the year before. His sack total dropped from 11½ in 2004 to only four in 2005. He now appears to be in good shape and healthy heading into the 2006 season, and he now also has his college coach, Karl Dunbar, as his position coach in Minnesota. Dunbar will work with him to use his hands more and keep blockers off his body, and Williams also has the advantage of playing next to Pat Williams, a massive two-gap run stopper who can take some blockers away from him and give him one-on-one matchups. Williams will play the three-technique defensive tackle, and will have a chance to be an explosive one-gap penetrator. He should be back to posting double-digit sacks in 2006.


Offensive philosophy

Childress will instill a two-back offense with a lead fullback. Although this will be a West Coast offensive scheme, Childress will run the ball more than most West Coast offenses, and will also call all of the offensive plays. This is a scheme that likes to move players around to dictate matchups. While it's not overly vertical, they will use a lot of motion, put their backs in the slot and put a lot of pressure on defenses to make adjustments very quickly. The passing game will feature a lot of short-range passes that are very safe, and requires smart and quick decisions by the quarterback with a variety of options, mostly east-west rather than north-south.
Although Taylor will be the featured ball carrier in this two-back attack, he can also split wide and be used a little bit in the same way Childress utilized Brian Westbrook in Philadelphia. As mentioned, this is a short passing game that features a lot of quick slants and crossing routes, designed to give the receivers a chance to make yards after catch. The two-back set will also change the Vikings from their traditional two-tight end formation to only one tight end, and Jim Kleinsasser will be the primary blocker in this scheme, while Jermaine Wiggins will be the primary receiving tight end. Also, look for the Vikings to use a left-handed run game, as the trio up front of McKinnie, Hutchinson and center Matt Birk may be the best in the league. This is going to be a balanced offense with a lot of movement.



Defensive philosophy

Childress has brought Tomlin from Tampa Bay to be his defensive coordinator and install the Bucs' Cover 2 defense. It will feature a four-man front with some over and under alignments, but will primarily be a one-gap penetrating scheme, designed to get pressure from the front seven with a very aggressive attack and a minimal blitzing behind it. The defensive line will feature a lot of loops and stunts, but this defense gets pressure primarily from the front four. Free safety Darren Sharper, a teammate of Tomlin in college, will run the Cover 2 and should handle the deep half safety responsibilities very well. Corner Antoine Winfield should be great in the Cover 2 because of his ability to play close to the line of scrimmage and attack versus the run. Fred Smoot is more of a man-to-man cover guy, which should actually help the Vikings if they want to roll some of their coverages toward Winfield's side, while allowing Smoot to cover man-to-man on the back side. The problem for the Vikings right now is that this defense requires fast linebackers who can cover a lot of ground, and they may have three new starters at linebacker. This will be an aggressive defense, but also one designed not to give up big plays. The early reports are that the Vikings like Tomlin and believe in the system, which indicates they will play hard.
Gary Horton has been a football talent evaluator for more than 30 years. He spent 10 years in the NFL and 10 years at the college level before launching a private scouting firm called "The War Room."

[K-town]

Friday, July 14, 2006
Updated: July 19, 2:19 PM ET
Lions camp preview

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By Gary Horton
Scouts Inc.




Three Burning Questions

How will the Lions respond to Rod Marinelli's "tough love" approach?
Marinelli's former players swear by him, and that is one of the reasons he got this job. He is a taskmaster, but he is fair and will weed out the guys who don't want to work. He has been quoted as saying that he wants a lot of "gym rats," guys who love to be around the game, and that's what he will get. This will not be a country club atmosphere. The coaches will preach technique and hustle, and it will be a brutal training camp with a lot of hitting. There will be some grumbling, but it won't matter. Right now the only voice that counts is Marinelli's.


How quickly will the players absorb offensive coordinator Mike Martz's sophisticated schemes?
Martz is very demanding, and his scheme requires players who are intelligent and who concentrate, qualities that this offense has not shown in recent years. It is a pinpoint passing game requiring tight routes and good footwork; timing is everything. There will be a lot of sets and motion, but the routes are very structured and quarterbacks throw to spots. Martz has no patience for mental mistakes and bad routes, and he will play a wide receiver with lesser talent to run the offense the way he wants it. If Detroit's offensive skill players are smart, they will realize that his offense can make stars out of them.


Do the Lions have the right personnel to play the Cover 2 defense?
Yes, they do. First, the Cover 2 requires quick defensive linemen who can penetrate and attack gaps, and the Lions have those guys. Second, it requires linebackers who can run and get sideline to sideline, and they potentially have those guys. The question becomes the secondary. Players such as corner Dre' Bly will have to adjust, and rookie free safety Daniel Bullocks will have to come along quickly. The Lions have the speed at linebacker to blitz, if necessary, and their corners can play man-to-man as well as the Cover 2. It will be interesting to watch the dynamic between defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson and Marinelli. Both are strong-willed guys with aggressive personalities. Will Marinelli let Henderson run the defense?


The player under the microscope

Wide receiver Charles Rogers. He is starting to look like one of the biggest underachievers in recent memory, but this is an offense in which he can flourish if he works. He has been plagued by durability problems and has had two collarbone injuries, and he has also endured a four-game suspension. He drops too many balls, runs sloppy routes, doesn't recognize defensive schemes and gets pushed around by defensive backs who play press coverages. This guy has it all … size, speed and athletic ability. He should be a dominating playmaker with great production after the catch. If his work ethic is poor, Martz will forget about him; but if the light goes on, Rogers could revive his career in this offense.


Breakout player

Running back Kevin Jones. Martz will stress offensive balance with Detroit, even though we know how much he loves to throw the ball. Jones will get at least 25 carries per game, and Martz wants him to stay on the field on third down and really develop as a receiver in the outlet passing game. As a runner, Martz will utilize a lot of draws and isolation plays designed to let the blocks form and let Jones create his own running lanes. Jones will also have a chance to run more plays to the edge, which can take advantage of his speed and open-field skills. Martz will move him around a lot to get good matchups, especially on third down, and he will run against a lot of nickel and dime defenses.


Comeback player of the year

Right defensive end James Hall. He is not your classic right defensive end, as he lacks optimum size and speed, and he is almost an overachiever. He was hurt in 2005; his sack total dropped from 11½ sacks in 2004 to only five last year. He has more power than speed but is smart and won't make mistakes. He is now in a system that wants to rush four and drop seven, without a lot of blitzing, and that puts pressure on the right defensive end to produce double-digit sacks. Hall is not elite, but he is tenacious -- and with all the twists the Lions will use up front in their one-gap, attacking style, he should be capable of 10-plus sacks.


Offensive philosophy

This offense will dramatically change in 2006 with the presence of new offensive coordinator Martz. Last year, Detroit had no commitment to the running game and was not fundamentally sound. Under Martz, this will be a very structured and intelligent offense with a lot of formations and sets. Even though the Lions want offensive balance, they will emphasize more downfield passing plays to open up defenses and give the offense a fast-break approach. The key to the Martz offense is deep crossing routes by the wide receivers with a lot of underneath routes by the tight ends and backs. Wide receiver Roy Williams and tight end Marcus Pollard will be excellent fits in this offense, but wide receivers Rogers and Mike Williams need to pick it up a notch or they will be left behind. Running back Jones will run versus a lot of nickel and dime defenses and will run a lot of draw plays and attack the edge. The coaches also want to keep Jones on the field on third down as a receiver, but he needs work in that area and also as a pass blocker. This offense requires a lot of deep drops so receivers have time to get open and quarterbacks can make their reads, so pass protection by the offensive line is critical. This offense will practice well, and there will be no tolerance for lack of concentration or sloppy techniques. It's a proven scheme that is very receiver-friendly, with clear responsibilities ... if the players will carry out the plan.


Defensive philosophy

Head coach Rod Marinelli will bring his patented Cover 2 defense from Tampa Bay to Detroit, and he is a master at implementing this scheme. The Lions will utilize the Bucs' style of the Cover 2 by rushing four and dropping seven into coverage, with a lot of twists and stunts up front. The defensive line will be an aggressive, one-gap penetrating group that can play a straight four-man front but also some over-and-under techniques with the defensive tackles. Defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson is an aggressive play-caller and may try to talk Marinelli into more blitzes. The key to the success of this defense in 2006 is the development of two rookies, free safety Bullocks and weak outside linebacker Ernie Sims. Marinelli wants Sims to play the role of Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks, and Bullocks will be asked to patrol the middle of the field and help the corners over the top, while also allowing strong safety Kenoy Kennedy to play up closer to the box in run support, which is his strength. It will also be interesting to see if the Lions' best cover corner, Bly, will have the discipline to play the Cover 2. He likes to freelance, but that's not what the Cover 2 wants from the corners. Detroit has a chance to play three linebackers who can all run, which is critical in this scheme, and that should allow the Lions to force offenses to run wide and let the pursuit get there. If the Lions decide to blitz more, they do have the corners to play man-to-man behind it. This will be a very aggressive, in-your-face defense, but under Marinelli and Henderson it will also be more disciplined than you might think.
Gary Horton has been a football talent evaluator for more than 30 years. He spent 10 years in the NFL and 10 years at the college level before launching a private scouting firm called "The War Room."

[Harlan Huckleby]

Camp battle to watch
Will Whitticker vs. Junius Coston
Whitticker has moved to tackle, but maybe the author means the two guys don't get along and will have fist fights.



If Green is healthy by September, he's the guy to emerge out of the pack, not only because of superior skills but also because he has an incentive-laden contract, which gives him extra motivation.
It's possible that Green is still head and shoulders better than Gado & Pooper. I just wonder what "healthy" means, tho. You read reports that he won't be ready for start of training camp. He won't be back to full form for several months after he is cleared. It will be interesting competition.

[4and12to12and4]

Man. I sure hope at least a couple of our rookies have GREAT years, because without a substantial amount of help from them and ALL our vets staying healthy, it's gonna be a long year. Those two things are the key ingredients for us to be able to do well this year. We are relying on rookies both at WR and OL to have a decent offense, and AJ Hawk will have to be everything we hope for, right from the start (which is kind of alot to ask). Let's just hope that Chicago doesn't figure it out on offense with guys who are "gross" or "greasy" :? , because if they do, the rest of the division is screwed. Minnesota scares the hell out of me just because of the great potential they have on defense, I just hope their QB acts his age. Detroit seems to be going through almost the same thing we are, maybe even more so, because at least our Defensive Coordinater is keeping the same scheme (which could be a HUGE advantage). When I look at our division as a whole, there is definitely enough potential talent to raise us from the bottom of the sespool of the NFC, like last year, when a team with a very good (if not great) defense, and ABSOLUTELY NO offense won the division. I kind of hope I'm wrong, because if I'm right, the pack may end up with a very high draft pick again.


God, that was a depressing post. Umm, actually, when I really think about it, Detroit always sucks, why should that change, the Bears never have a good offense, why should that change, and the the queens can't run the ball, and have a locker room full of selfish and unintelligent players. With even a tiny bit of luck and good health, I think the Packers may be on their way to a bye week in the playoffs!! WooHoo. What a year this will be. Go Pack!!