Post by TheShadow on Jun 23, 2008 3:32:03 GMT -5
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EAST DIVISION
DALLAS COWBOYS: Because of uncertainty involving Terry Glenn (knee), the team is counting on third-year pro Miles Austin to add speed at wide receiver. Austin (6-3, 215) has good size and has improved his route running and catching technique.
NEW YORK GIANTS: After his strong work in the offseason program, third-year LB Gerris Wilkinson is in solid shape to replace Kawika Mitchell on the weak side. The club hopes Wilkinson (6-2, 231), a slender athlete who can run and hit, has the instincts to be a consistent player.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Exceptional vision is what makes RB Brian Westbrook one of the NFL's best. He has become a master at judging tackling angles and finding ways to avoid head-on collisions, especially in the open field and in the passing game.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Rocky McIntosh has made good progress from major knee surgery in '07 and is working hard to return in time for camp. When healthy, he has excellent speed for an outside linebacker. The team needs his playmaking ability.
NORTH DIVISION
CHICAGO BEARS: The release of RB Cedric Benson effectively makes second-round pick Matt Forte the starter. Forte has been described by the team as a complete back--and he'll get every chance to prove it. First, he must show he can handle passing game responsibilities, such as picking up blitzes.
DETROIT LIONS: DE Ikaika Alama-Francis has shown improvement, but that progress must continue at a rapid rate for him to rebound from an unproductive rookie year. He must improve his footwork and hand placement to be effective.
GREEN BAY PACKERS: No one on the roster has improved more than CB Tramon Williams. He gained confidence after winning the nickel job late last year and made more progress in offseason workouts. With his improved bump-and-run skills and excellent speed, Williams will be tough to shake.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS: New SS Madieu Williams has won over teammates. He is a smart, athletic player whose ability to run with receivers will allow the team more flexibility in its game plans.
SOUTH DIVISION
ATLANTA: To accelerate rookie LT Sam Baker's progress, the team is having RE John Abraham attack him with moves and techniques Baker likely hasn't seen before. He has adjusted well, but he'll have to ratchet up his speed when pads go on.
CAROLINA: New starting C Ryan Kalil (6-2, 295) is small, but he's no pushover. He's a smart player who anchors well and knows how to win the leverage battle. The team hopes his athleticism will allow him to be a bigger factor pulling in the running game than the Panthers' previous centers.
NEW ORLEANS: The Saints cleared a big offseason hurdle by signing RE Will Smith to a long-term contract extension. He is coming off a down year but should be free to do more damage because the team added DT Sedric Ellis and DE Bobby McCray to beef up its pass rush.
TAMPA BAY: After missing most of last season with a foot injury, S Sabby Piscitelli is pushing hard for regular reps. His athleticism is his greatest asset. He blends it with a passion for hitting, which should make him a star on special teams.
WEST DIVISION
ARIZONA CARDINALS: Newcomer Bryan Robinson, 34, can play both nose tackle and end in the 3-4, and the coaches don't think there will be a significant dropoff during the 15 to 25 snaps per game he plays. Because of a lack of line depth, the starters played too many snaps in 2007.
ST. LOUIS RAMS: The arrival of first-round pick Chris Long bumped DE Victor Adeyanju down the depth chart, but Adeyanju has responded by working hard to improve his strength. His bull rush looks a lot more effective.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: First-round pick Kentwan Balmer has received good reviews from teammates, who appreciate his work ethic and hunger for coaching. Balmer has been working at left end in the team's 3-4, but scouts think he also can play nose tackle.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: The Seahawks fielded two defenses last season--they allowed 13.9 points and 306.3 yards in the noise factory at Qwest Field, where they were 7-1, and 22.5 points and 337.4 yards on the road, where they were 3-5. The players feed off the crowd at Qwest but tend to fizzle on the road without the emotional boost. To turn that around, the defense has been trying to amp up the enthusiasm and intensity in offseason practices. "We're trying to make sure every practice we have right now is like a game situation and we stay fired up," linebacker Julian Peterson says. "That's the way we have to approach road games."
CORRESPONDENTS: Arizona, Kent Somers; Atlanta, D. Orlando Ledbetter; Carolina, Darin Gantt; Chicago, Brad Biggs; Dallas, Jean-Jacques Taylor; Detroit, Tom Kowalski; Green Bay, Tom Silverstein; Minnesota, Sean Jensen; New Orleans, Mike Triplett; New York, Paul Schwartz; Philadelphia, Geoff Mosher; St. Louis, Jim Thomas; San Francisco, Matt Barrows; Seattle, Clare Farnsworth; Tampa Bay, Roy Cummings; Washington, Paul Woody.
EAST DIVISION
DALLAS COWBOYS: Because of uncertainty involving Terry Glenn (knee), the team is counting on third-year pro Miles Austin to add speed at wide receiver. Austin (6-3, 215) has good size and has improved his route running and catching technique.
NEW YORK GIANTS: After his strong work in the offseason program, third-year LB Gerris Wilkinson is in solid shape to replace Kawika Mitchell on the weak side. The club hopes Wilkinson (6-2, 231), a slender athlete who can run and hit, has the instincts to be a consistent player.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Exceptional vision is what makes RB Brian Westbrook one of the NFL's best. He has become a master at judging tackling angles and finding ways to avoid head-on collisions, especially in the open field and in the passing game.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Rocky McIntosh has made good progress from major knee surgery in '07 and is working hard to return in time for camp. When healthy, he has excellent speed for an outside linebacker. The team needs his playmaking ability.
NORTH DIVISION
CHICAGO BEARS: The release of RB Cedric Benson effectively makes second-round pick Matt Forte the starter. Forte has been described by the team as a complete back--and he'll get every chance to prove it. First, he must show he can handle passing game responsibilities, such as picking up blitzes.
DETROIT LIONS: DE Ikaika Alama-Francis has shown improvement, but that progress must continue at a rapid rate for him to rebound from an unproductive rookie year. He must improve his footwork and hand placement to be effective.
GREEN BAY PACKERS: No one on the roster has improved more than CB Tramon Williams. He gained confidence after winning the nickel job late last year and made more progress in offseason workouts. With his improved bump-and-run skills and excellent speed, Williams will be tough to shake.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS: New SS Madieu Williams has won over teammates. He is a smart, athletic player whose ability to run with receivers will allow the team more flexibility in its game plans.
SOUTH DIVISION
ATLANTA: To accelerate rookie LT Sam Baker's progress, the team is having RE John Abraham attack him with moves and techniques Baker likely hasn't seen before. He has adjusted well, but he'll have to ratchet up his speed when pads go on.
CAROLINA: New starting C Ryan Kalil (6-2, 295) is small, but he's no pushover. He's a smart player who anchors well and knows how to win the leverage battle. The team hopes his athleticism will allow him to be a bigger factor pulling in the running game than the Panthers' previous centers.
NEW ORLEANS: The Saints cleared a big offseason hurdle by signing RE Will Smith to a long-term contract extension. He is coming off a down year but should be free to do more damage because the team added DT Sedric Ellis and DE Bobby McCray to beef up its pass rush.
TAMPA BAY: After missing most of last season with a foot injury, S Sabby Piscitelli is pushing hard for regular reps. His athleticism is his greatest asset. He blends it with a passion for hitting, which should make him a star on special teams.
WEST DIVISION
ARIZONA CARDINALS: Newcomer Bryan Robinson, 34, can play both nose tackle and end in the 3-4, and the coaches don't think there will be a significant dropoff during the 15 to 25 snaps per game he plays. Because of a lack of line depth, the starters played too many snaps in 2007.
ST. LOUIS RAMS: The arrival of first-round pick Chris Long bumped DE Victor Adeyanju down the depth chart, but Adeyanju has responded by working hard to improve his strength. His bull rush looks a lot more effective.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: First-round pick Kentwan Balmer has received good reviews from teammates, who appreciate his work ethic and hunger for coaching. Balmer has been working at left end in the team's 3-4, but scouts think he also can play nose tackle.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: The Seahawks fielded two defenses last season--they allowed 13.9 points and 306.3 yards in the noise factory at Qwest Field, where they were 7-1, and 22.5 points and 337.4 yards on the road, where they were 3-5. The players feed off the crowd at Qwest but tend to fizzle on the road without the emotional boost. To turn that around, the defense has been trying to amp up the enthusiasm and intensity in offseason practices. "We're trying to make sure every practice we have right now is like a game situation and we stay fired up," linebacker Julian Peterson says. "That's the way we have to approach road games."
CORRESPONDENTS: Arizona, Kent Somers; Atlanta, D. Orlando Ledbetter; Carolina, Darin Gantt; Chicago, Brad Biggs; Dallas, Jean-Jacques Taylor; Detroit, Tom Kowalski; Green Bay, Tom Silverstein; Minnesota, Sean Jensen; New Orleans, Mike Triplett; New York, Paul Schwartz; Philadelphia, Geoff Mosher; St. Louis, Jim Thomas; San Francisco, Matt Barrows; Seattle, Clare Farnsworth; Tampa Bay, Roy Cummings; Washington, Paul Woody.