Author Archive
New Orleans Saints 2010 Season Preview: No Super Bowl Letdown
Filed under: Saints, FanHouse Previews, NFL Analysis
FanHouse's 2010 NFL Season Preview features our division-by-division predictions based on our tried and true "Heat Index" formula. Each team is graded on a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest) in five key categories: Offense, Defense, Special Teams, Coaching and Intangibles. The higher the score, the better we think the team will be this season. Coming Sept. 7: AFC WestThe Saints finally won the first Super Bowl title in franchise history, washing away years of frustration and pain. However, many feel the Saints will have trouble defending their title in 2010. Have the 'Aints from the 70s, a moniker of shame and self loathing, turned into the 'Aints of 2010 -- as in "'Ain't gonna happen again"?
This team looks remarkably similar to last year's champions. Almost every starter is back in place, and save Scott Fujita, the names on the backs of jerseys that were there in 2009 are once again there in 2010. This team is primed to make another run and has the talent to succeed.
Carolina Panthers 2010 Season Preview: New Faces Aplenty
Filed under: Panthers, FanHouse Previews, NFL Predictions, NFL Analysis
FanHouse's 2010 NFL Season Preview features our division-by-division predictions based on our tried and true "Heat Index" formula. Each team is graded on a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest) in five key categories: Offense, Defense, Special Teams, Coaching and Intangibles. The higher the score, the better we think the team will be this season. Coming Sept. 7: AFC WestWho is that guy? For Carolina Panthers faithful, that isn't such a funny question. Even if the Panthers are your favorite team, you still may need to grab a roster sheet on Sundays -- there are a lot of new names in Carolina this season.
Gone are familiar faces like Julius Peppers, Jake Delhomme and Muhsin Muhammad, to name just a few. In their places are younger, healthier and most importantly, cheaper players. Nine starters are being replaced in Carolina, and the 8-8 record the Panthers achieved last season isn't as much mile marker or building block, but a top-end goal for 2010.
Atlanta Falcons 2010 Season Preview: A Return to the Postseason?
Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, FanHouse Previews, NFL Predictions, NFL Analysis
FanHouse's 2010 NFL Season Preview features our division-by-division predictions based on our tried and true "Heat Index" formula. Each team is graded on a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest) in five key categories: Offense, Defense, Special Teams, Coaching and Intangibles. The higher the score, the better we think the team will be this season.Even with the injuries at the end of 2009 to star running back Michael Turner and quarterback Matt Ryan, the Atlanta Falcons managed to make franchise history. When the team won three straight games to finish the season, it secured a 9-7 record and completed Atlanta's first-ever back-to-back winning seasons.
Just winning is not enough anymore. The Falcons have Turner and Ryan healthy, two great pass-catchers in Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, and general manager Thomas Dimitroff has bolstered the defense with acquisitions like Dunta Robinson and solid draft picks. A deep playoff run is the only thing that will satisfy the Falcons this season.
New York Jets 2010 Season Preview: Can Sanchez Succeed as a Sophomore?
Filed under: Jets, AFC East, FanHouse Previews, NFL Analysis
FanHouse's 2010 NFL Season Preview features our division-by-division predictions based on our tried and true "Heat Index" formula. Each team is graded on a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest) in five key categories: Offense, Defense, Special Teams, Coaching and Intangibles. The higher the score, the better we think the team will be this season. Coming Aug. 31: NFC East PreviewFor a team that was close to the Super Bowl last season, the New York Jets sure made a lot of high-profile additions in the offseason. They added LaDainian Tomlinson, Santonio Holmes, Antonio Cromartie and Jason Taylor, in hopes that these veterans will give the Jets the needed spark to get over that last hump and into the league's title game.
Buffalo Bills 2010 Season Preview: Cloudy Skies Still Looming
Filed under: Bills, AFC East, FanHouse Previews, NFL Analysis
FanHouse's 2010 NFL Season Preview features our division-by-division predictions based on our tried and true "Heat Index" formula. Each team is graded on a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest) in five key categories: Offense, Defense, Special Teams, Coaching and Intangibles. The higher the score, the better we think the team will be this season. Coming Aug. 31: NFC East PreviewThe Buffalo Bills have a loyal and almost rabid fan base. Unfortunately, they may be turning a bit sour, as the team has failed to reach the playoffs for 10 straight seasons.
To turn things around, team owner Ralph Wilson has turned to Buddy Nix and Chan Gailey for help -- the Bills' sixth different GM/head coach combination in 10 years. It's a fine mess that Nix and Gailey will have to fix: A horrid situation at quarterback, a new defensive scheme and a lack of talent start things off, but those aren't nearly the end of the troubles in Buffalo.
Miami Dolphins 2010 Season Preview: Was Marshall the Missing Piece?
Filed under: Dolphins, AFC East, FanHouse Previews, NFL Analysis
FanHouse's 2010 NFL Season Preview features our division-by-division predictions based on our tried and true "Heat Index" formula. Each team is graded on a scale of 1-10 (10 being highest) in five key categories: Offense, Defense, Special Teams, Coaching and Intangibles. The higher the score, the better we think the team will be this season. Coming Aug. 31: NFC East PreviewIn most offseasons, the Dolphins' signing of Brandon Marshall would have been the biggest free-agent news in South Florida. The Miami Heat -- or more to the point, LeBron James -- had something to say about that.
But even though Marshall played second fiddle, he won't be considered a second act on the field on Sundays. His presence in Miami is simply a next step in the plans for the Dolphins to move a little further away from a power running attack and air it out a bit. Quarterback Chad Henne is progressing nicely as a passer and this team could be ready to challenge in the division.
Wes Welker Returns to Field Six Months After Knee Surgery
Filed under: Patriots, NFL Injuries
ATLANTA, Ga. -- Wes Welker is back in pads and on the playing field Thursday for the New England Patriots, just six months and 18 days after having reconstructive knee surgery.The Patriots wide receiver tore his left ACL and MCL in the final regular season game of the year in 2009 and had surgery a little under a month later to repair the damage.
To recover in such a short period of time is an amazing feat, and Welker isn't done hurrying his recovery along. In Thursday's preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons Welker is wearing a brace to support his knee. He hopes to shed the brace by the Patriots' first regular season game.
Once the game was under way, it didn't take long for Welker to get into the action. On the second play of the Patriots' opening drive, Welker caught a six-yard pass from Tom Brady. Welker seemed to be his primary target on the short slant pattern.
Combined Preseason Practices Could Be NFL’s Wave of the Future
Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, Jaguars, NFL Training Camp
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The idea popped into the head of Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio at the NFL's scouting combine this year. It wasn't an original idea -- teams have been practicing against each other for years. But Del Rio thought that if he could find a situation against a team that he had connections with, an opposing head coach he could trust, he'd like to add a combined practice to the Jaguars' training-camp schedule.
He almost instantly thought of Falcons head coach Mike Smith.
"Both Mike and I have the same goals coming out of this thing: get some good solid work and let's come out of this as healthy as possible," Del Rio said Monday morning after the first of four practices the Jaguars will go through with the Falcons.
Practicing against another team during training camp is beneficial for a number of reasons. It can break up the monotony of going through minicamp, OTA's and training camp, which all usually involve only hitting players with the same colored jerseys. It can also help teams evaluate their own player personnel as they get opportunities to play against opposing players, whose tendencies and tells might be unfamiliar.
"It's going to be great for our personnel department to evaluate our guys against other guys," Smith said. "We've had 31 practices up to this time, and we've worked against the same guys."
Michael Jenkins Out Four-to-Six Weeks
Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, NFL Injuries, NFL Training Camp
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Michael Jenkins will miss the next four-to-six weeks, the team announced Sunday, after he hurt his shoulder on Friday at a team scrimmage at a local high school.If Jenkins heals quickly and makes it back towards the early end of that projection, he could still miss the Falcons' four preseason games. If he's pushed out towards the latter end of six weeks, he could miss two regular-season games.
"You are always concerned anytime any of your players goes down with an injury," Falcons head coach Mike Smith said. "One thing I am certain of is that Michael will work very hard with our athletic performance staff and our training staff to get back out on the field as soon as possible."
Jenkins was a lock to start opposite Roddy White with Atlanta's first-team offense. He caught 50 passes last year, but is also a huge asset in the run game -- Jenkins is a fantastic blocker.
Falcons Receivers Competing for Spot Opposite Roddy White
Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, NFL Training Camp
ATLANTA -- While the Atlanta Falcons addressed mostly defense in the 2010 NFL Draft, they did use one selection -- their second fifth-round pick of wide receiver Kerry Meier -- to bolster the skill positions. Include that addition to the fact that third-year receiver Harry Douglas has been medically cleared to practice and factor in other players like veteran Brian Finneran and Michael Jenkins and the Falcons have the makings of a very interesting battle at the wide receiver position this fall. |
| Healthy again, Harry Douglas is thrilled to return to camp |
"It was heartbreaking," said Douglas referring to his injury and time on injured reserve. "It feels real good. I worked hard in the offseason to get to this point. It feels good to be back out here playing football."
Albert Haynesworth Takes Day Off From Conditioning Test
Filed under: Redskins
Albert Haynesworth apparently
doesn't put much faith in the old adage, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again," After failing a conditioning drill on Thursday and Friday, which prevented him from joining the Redskins for practice, Haynesworth took Saturday off, according to multiple reports.(Update: Mike Shanahan told reporters that Haynesworth has swelling in his knee and it's uncertain whether or not he'll be able to take the conditioning test on Sunday.)
The Redskins defensive tackle won't be allowed to fully take part in his team's training camp until he passes a set of three 300-yard shuttle runs. Even though he hasn't gone through practice with everyone else, he's still too tired to attempt the test again. Herein may lie the problem with Haynesworth: Can his conditioning be that bad, or is it a desire issue?
Haynesworth's day of rest could simply be a result of bad advice, too. On Friday, defensive lineman Phillip Daniels submitted the opinion that the conditioning test became more difficult the more you attempted to pass it, The Free Lance-Star reported. Daniels said your legs tire and it becomes harder to recover.
Blackistone: Time for Shanahan to Welcome Haynesworth Back
Sean Weatherspoon, Atlanta Falcons’ First-Round Pick, Signs
Filed under: Atlanta Falcons
Sean Weatherspoon, the Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick, came to terms with his new team on Thursday. He signed a five-year deal worth $17.5 million with $10.5 million guaranteed.The No. 19 overall pick in the draft was expected to have the deal signed before a Falcons team meeting on Thursday evening.
Weatherspoon arrived in Flowery Branch on Thursday to check in for training camp -- which starts on Friday. He, along with every other draft pick from the 2010 draft, will be signed and in attendance. This is the third year in a row that every Falcons draft pick has been signed prior to the first day of camp.
The linebacker from the University of Missouri played outside linebacker in college and will compete for a starting job on the outside for Atlanta. Whether he'll eventually win a job over Stephen Nichols or Mike Peterson -- if he wins a starting job at all -- remains to be seen.
Weatherspoon comes to Atlanta as one of three players in school history to lead the team in tackles for three seasons. This is paramount because it will be Weatherspoon's ability to tackle at the NFL level which will go a long way in determining whether or not he starts as a rookie.
The Falcons struggled in pass coverage last season and coverage is one of Weatherspoon's strong suits. If his success at tackling translates well in to the professional level, it will be hard to keep him off of the field, since the team could really use a linebacker with his coverage skills.
Sean Weatherspoon, Atlanta Falcons’ First-Round Pick, Signs
Filed under: Atlanta Falcons
Sean Weatherspoon, the Atlanta Falcons first-round draft pick, came to terms with his new team on Thursday. He signed a five-year deal worth $17.5 million with $10.5 million guaranteed.The No. 19 overall pick in the draft was expected to have the deal signed before a Falcons team meeting on Thursday evening.
Weatherspoon arrived in Flowery Branch on Thursday to check in for training camp -- which starts on Friday. He, along with every other draft pick from the 2010 draft, will be signed and in attendance. This is the third year in a row that every Falcons draft pick has been signed prior to the first day of camp.
The linebacker from the University of Missouri played outside linebacker in college and will compete for a starting job on the outside for Atlanta. Whether he'll eventually win a job over Stephen Nichols or Mike Peterson -- if he wins a starting job at all -- remains to be seen.
Weatherspoon comes to Atlanta as one of three players in school history to lead the team in tackles for three seasons. This is paramount because it will be Weatherspoon's ability to tackle at the NFL level which will go a long way in determining whether or not he starts as a rookie.
The Falcons struggled in pass coverage last season and coverage is one of Weatherspoon's strong suits. If his success at tackling translates well in to the professional level, it will be hard to keep him off of the field, since the team could really use a linebacker with his coverage skills.
Falcons Linebacker Robert James Suspended Four Games
Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, NFL Training Camp
The NFL has suspended Atlanta Falcons linebacker Robert James for the first four games of the 2010 season for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs.The suspension will be in effect beginning with the Falcons' road game in Pittsburgh on Sept. 12 and ending after their Week 4 home game against San Francisco on Oct. 3.
The 2008 fifth-round selection from Arizona State has spent the majority of the past two seasons on Atlanta's practice squad, when healthy. He missed his rookie season with a concussion.
Training camp was thought to have been James' biggest obstacle this fall -- he was considered a long shot to make the Falcons' final roster. Now with the suspension looming, he's got more work to do.
James will still get an opportunity to go through training camp and all four preseason games, but will have to overachieve to show the coaching staff there is a reason to keep him on the roster when the team must wait until Week 5 to use him.
Coach Mike Smith Speaks About Falcons’ Offseason Goals
Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, NFL Video
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Head Coach Mike Smith says that the Atlanta Falcons are going to stress consistency this offseason -- not just on the field, but in the classroom.It'll be of great help that just about every player on the roster is in camp for OTA's. Only John Abraham -- coach Smith alluded to having open talks with the defensive end and knowing where he is -- and Dominique Franks are missing.
In the video below, Smith said that the surgical players are going to keep rehabbing, but Jonathan Babineaux, Kerry Meier and Chauncey Davis will be back, "sooner [rather] than later," and gave a time period for their return of seven to 10 days from Wednesday.
When asked if free agent addition Dunta Robinson and Brian Williams are considered the starting cornerbacks, Smith said that the secondary was in a state of flux. Nothing was set in stone.
"The defensive backfield group is going to be the most watched [position battle] this offseason and be very, very competitive."
To see what else coach Smith had to say after Atlanta's OTA, check out the video below:
Michael Turner Is Healthy, Trim and Ready for 2010
Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, NFL Video
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- For Michael Turner, OTA's are mainly for timing and re-familiarizing himself with the playbook -- which he admits has a few new wrinkles included.While Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez are setting lofty personal and team goals, Turner says all he cares about is longevity in 2010.
"I just want to be here for all 16 games," said the running back who was hampered with a high ankle sprain and missed five games last year.
During the offseason, Turner stayed at Falcons headquarters in Flowery Branch to work out, doing mostly cardiovascular workouts. He's a much more trim 244 pounds. A fact that he hopes will help him stay in games all season long.
To see what else Turner had to say after Atlanta's OTA, check out the video below:
Tony Gonzalez Thinks 2010 Falcons Are ‘Best Team I’ve Ever Been On’
Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, NFL Video, NFL Training Camp
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Tight end Tony Gonzalez has high hopes for the Falcons and quarterback Matt Ryan this season."On paper, this is the best team I've ever been on," said the veteran Gonzalez, entering his 14th season.
Gonzalez operates under the "Pay it forward" philosophy when it comes to teaching his teammates, especially young tight ends just entering the league.
"That's what was done with me with Ted Popson," said Gonzalez, referencing the veteran tight end who spent time with Gonzalez in Kansas City after Gonzalez joined the NFL. And that's the reason while he'll help Falcons rookies Colin Peek and Michael Palmer in their adjustment to professional football.
The work ethic from Gonzalez is amazing. He's typically the only Atlanta player taking extra warm-up throws before practice, and he is consistently on the field doing the same afterward. On Wednesday, he and Peek pushed the blockingsled to get a little more work in.
In this video from Atlanta's OTA, Gonzalez talks about how much more difficult the mental preparation is in football than the physical.
To see what else Gonzalez had to say, check out the video below:
Matt Ryan, Falcons Offense Ready for Next Step
Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, NFL Video, NFL Training Camp
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- While talking with the media after a Falcons' OTA Wednesday, quarterback Matt Ryan mentioned the team's "great energy" and "positive energy," and you could definitely see those traits in practice. The players worked hard -- as hard as you can without pads -- and had fun doing it. It definitely didn't hurt that almost the entire Falcons roster was present."[It was a] great turnout, [with] tons of guys here," Ryan said, as all but two Falcons made it to OTAs. Only John Abraham and Dominique Franks, who was dealing with a death in the family, were absent.
When almost everyone makes it to an optional workout program, positive things tend to happen.
Dunta Robinson Anxious for Challenge of Reviving Falcons’ Defense
Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, NFL Training Camp
ATLANTA -- Minicamp started for Falcons veterans and rookies on Friday and new cornerback Dunta Robinson was excited to get to his first day of work in Atlanta -- perhaps too excited."I think I put mine on a lot earlier than everyone else," said Robinson about his new red-and-black jersey. He said that he received some weird looks from teammates as he sported the jersey while sitting in morning meetings prior to taking the field. But it all comes down to being happy, and Robinson was excited for camp to begin.
"It's a great situation," the cornerback said. "And it felt great to get out here and run around."
Robinson also gushed about his new quarterback and said that he and Matt Ryan have an unspoken, friendly competition going on.
"I've never seen a quarterback put in as much work as he has these past six weeks," Robinson said, as he mentioned that it also made him work even harder to see Ryan's work ethic. "We don't talk about it much, but I'm watching him and he's watching me to see who's the last one in the weight room."
Falcons Fill Huge Need By Selecting Sean Weatherspoon
Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, NFL Draft
The Atlanta Falcons' draft board was sitting pretty as the Philadelphia Eagles prepared for their pick at No. 13. Unexpectedly, every player that the team was targeting was still available. Then the Eagles nabbed Brandon Graham, the New York Giants grabbed Jason Pierre-Paul with the No. 15 pick, forcing the Tennessee Titans to grab Derrick Morgan at No. 16, and the Pittsburgh Steelers took Maurkice Pouncey one spot before the Falcons.
The once plentiful options available to Atlanta were whittled down in the hour leading up the their selection. But the talent was still available to fill a huge need on the Falcons roster, and with the No. 19 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft the Falcons selected Sean Weatherspoon, a linebacker from Missouri.
Weatherspoon has been a common pick for the Falcons in mock drafts everywhere leading up to Thursday's first round. He may have even been the prize that the Falcons sought ever since they saw him at the NFL Combine.
Today's Top Huddle News
This Week's Top Huddle News
NFL Fansites
Fans on NFLHuddle.com
