Here are five things I'd be willing to wage you on right now, no questions asked:
1) The AL East will send two teams to the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five years.
2) You could not name who your favorite NFL team plays the first week of preseason action.
3) Reggie Bush's surgically repaired knee will force him to miss miss at lest four games in 2009.
4) One of the teams who have said they do not have interest in Michael Vick -- will be the team to actually sign him. Only the Packers, Patriots, Chargers, and Ravens have either not ruled out Vick or have avoided the topic all together.
5) Shaq and LeBron James win the Christmas Day marquee match up with the Lakers -- and the world thinks they'll be the next dynasty. But they won't be.
Thoughts, comments, bets you'd like to make? E-mail me at SAYoungberg@Gmail.com
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
News & Notes Day 3: De-Fense!
If defense wins championships then the Redskins are in good shape; however if you need a good offense to help you out as well they might want to re-think booking their tickets to Miami for Super Bowl XLIV.
The Skins strapped up their pads for the first time since January, and as expected there are still many kinks that needed to be fixed -- and mainly on the offensive side of the ball.
News & Notes: Brought to you by an unbiased and non politically correct observer of the game.
Sorry for the two day delay -- these notes reference Saturday August 1st, 2009.
Notes:
Rookie Treatment: Brian Orakpo gets treated like any other rookie, "I thought I'd made it out Scott free but Fletcher found me." The first-round pick had to carry linebacker London Fletchers gear off the field, after the morning practice.
"It's all part of the learning experience, I can't wait till this part is over, but it's all in good nature," Orakpo added.
Chris Cooley had another take on the tradition, "honestly I just leave my pads on the field and expect a rookie to take them. To tell you the truth, what I really think is going on [and it is] is that the ball boys and equipment guys are picking them up and making the rookies carry them."
Well I guess it doesn't matter who you are, a rookie is a rookie and anyone can get in on the action.
Horny for Zorny: Head Coach Jim Zorn basically wrote off Chase Daniels chance of making it past the practice squad this year, "Colt [Brennan] looks much better than last year. His footwork is vastly improved...Chase is where Colt was this time last year but he looks good he understands the offense." BUT...
When asked if there's a chance he keeps all four QBs on his roster Zorn responded with a firm, "No. The way the game is today you can't do that. I won't do that. Three quarterbacks is top."
Chase hope for a lucky break, like to the ankle of someone in front of you.
Information Overload?: Zorn said he isn't surprised with the offenses less than mediocre first day performance, blaming it partially on "Information overload from missing the second practice yesterday. When you have mental stress, it affects your game, I'm not worried they look pretty good considering it all." Adding that "we are way ahead of where we were last year at this point."
Yeah...it wasn't the offensive lines non-ability to block undrafted rookie defensive ends that made you look bad...they were just thinking too much.
Brain Power for Philip Daniels: Zorn called Phillip Daniels the smartest player in camp. "I couldn't beat him. He couldn't be outsmarted. I threw everything at him but he couldn't be outsmarted."
Daniels who was lost for the season on the first day of training camp last year with a knee injury but says "I've been out of football for two years, I'm greatful to be back." And about his coaches compliments, "I've been around a long time (laughing) I know if the tackles not blocking me it's a screen. I'm ready to get back and knock some people around."
More of Orakpo the Sacko Monster: OK, I know, that rhyme was pretty lame -- but WOW, the former All-American defensive end can play. The only thing stopping Orakpo from sacking the quarterback today was their yellow jerseys -- the 13th overall pick blew by a Chris Samuels and Derrick Dockery combo on multiple occassions -- leaving the veteran offensive line with multiple question marks.
Orakpo mentioned that he is enjoying the hybrid linebacker / d-end, "it's a challenge, but I like it, I've got a way to go but I've got great veterans who are helping me out."
**Note: Dockery seemed to have no trouble blocking Albert Haynesworth. Whether Haynesworth has yet to give full effort or not yet is still TBD**
Receivers Get Their Turn: Not all of the defensive unit was sharp today. The secondary -- a la Fred Smoot and DeAngelo Hall -- got burnt on several one on one drills. And not by Santana Moss...Marko Mitchell and Keith Eloy had their turns to shine.
DeAngelo did not look sharp today, but it shouldn't be anything to worry about.
Malcolm Kelly: While the 2nd year receiver is behind teammate Devin Thomas on the depth chart, he is making a name for himself. He looks to be almost 100% healed form his lingering knee injury, and proved that with a monstrous leaping grab.
He was brought down by two DB's but hopped right up and jogged back into line. No trainers had to tend to him and Jim Zorn praised him in his press conference, "He's doing a lot better, it's great to see him not have to worry about his knee, he can definitely help us out if he's healthy."
Canada in the house: A scout from the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL was in Ashburn today. He was taking special notice to the linebackers and linemen.
Wouldn't want to be on his list.
Rumor Mill: Look for a few cuts to be coming in the next few days, coaches don't seem to be too pleased with a few players -- it's still early in training camp -- plenty of time to bring in some new faces.
The Skins strapped up their pads for the first time since January, and as expected there are still many kinks that needed to be fixed -- and mainly on the offensive side of the ball.
News & Notes: Brought to you by an unbiased and non politically correct observer of the game.
Sorry for the two day delay -- these notes reference Saturday August 1st, 2009.
Notes:
Rookie Treatment: Brian Orakpo gets treated like any other rookie, "I thought I'd made it out Scott free but Fletcher found me." The first-round pick had to carry linebacker London Fletchers gear off the field, after the morning practice.
"It's all part of the learning experience, I can't wait till this part is over, but it's all in good nature," Orakpo added.
Chris Cooley had another take on the tradition, "honestly I just leave my pads on the field and expect a rookie to take them. To tell you the truth, what I really think is going on [and it is] is that the ball boys and equipment guys are picking them up and making the rookies carry them."
Well I guess it doesn't matter who you are, a rookie is a rookie and anyone can get in on the action.
Horny for Zorny: Head Coach Jim Zorn basically wrote off Chase Daniels chance of making it past the practice squad this year, "Colt [Brennan] looks much better than last year. His footwork is vastly improved...Chase is where Colt was this time last year but he looks good he understands the offense." BUT...
When asked if there's a chance he keeps all four QBs on his roster Zorn responded with a firm, "No. The way the game is today you can't do that. I won't do that. Three quarterbacks is top."
Chase hope for a lucky break, like to the ankle of someone in front of you.
Information Overload?: Zorn said he isn't surprised with the offenses less than mediocre first day performance, blaming it partially on "Information overload from missing the second practice yesterday. When you have mental stress, it affects your game, I'm not worried they look pretty good considering it all." Adding that "we are way ahead of where we were last year at this point."
Yeah...it wasn't the offensive lines non-ability to block undrafted rookie defensive ends that made you look bad...they were just thinking too much.
Brain Power for Philip Daniels: Zorn called Phillip Daniels the smartest player in camp. "I couldn't beat him. He couldn't be outsmarted. I threw everything at him but he couldn't be outsmarted."
Daniels who was lost for the season on the first day of training camp last year with a knee injury but says "I've been out of football for two years, I'm greatful to be back." And about his coaches compliments, "I've been around a long time (laughing) I know if the tackles not blocking me it's a screen. I'm ready to get back and knock some people around."
More of Orakpo the Sacko Monster: OK, I know, that rhyme was pretty lame -- but WOW, the former All-American defensive end can play. The only thing stopping Orakpo from sacking the quarterback today was their yellow jerseys -- the 13th overall pick blew by a Chris Samuels and Derrick Dockery combo on multiple occassions -- leaving the veteran offensive line with multiple question marks.
Orakpo mentioned that he is enjoying the hybrid linebacker / d-end, "it's a challenge, but I like it, I've got a way to go but I've got great veterans who are helping me out."
**Note: Dockery seemed to have no trouble blocking Albert Haynesworth. Whether Haynesworth has yet to give full effort or not yet is still TBD**
Receivers Get Their Turn: Not all of the defensive unit was sharp today. The secondary -- a la Fred Smoot and DeAngelo Hall -- got burnt on several one on one drills. And not by Santana Moss...Marko Mitchell and Keith Eloy had their turns to shine.
DeAngelo did not look sharp today, but it shouldn't be anything to worry about.
Malcolm Kelly: While the 2nd year receiver is behind teammate Devin Thomas on the depth chart, he is making a name for himself. He looks to be almost 100% healed form his lingering knee injury, and proved that with a monstrous leaping grab.
He was brought down by two DB's but hopped right up and jogged back into line. No trainers had to tend to him and Jim Zorn praised him in his press conference, "He's doing a lot better, it's great to see him not have to worry about his knee, he can definitely help us out if he's healthy."
Canada in the house: A scout from the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL was in Ashburn today. He was taking special notice to the linebackers and linemen.
Wouldn't want to be on his list.
Rumor Mill: Look for a few cuts to be coming in the next few days, coaches don't seem to be too pleased with a few players -- it's still early in training camp -- plenty of time to bring in some new faces.
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