June 2010 – Page 12 – Priced Out of the Citi

NFL Rookie Updates — 06/12/10

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said RB Jonathan Dwyer and RB Isaac Redman will compete for the short yardage duties during training camp, reports Ed Bouchette, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Cleveland Browns RB Jerome Harrison and RB Montario Hardesty saw time with the first-team offense during morning practice Friday, June 11, according to ESPN.com’s James Walker.

Denver Broncos rookie WR Demaryius Thomas made some big plays and really nice catches during practice Friday, June 11, according to head coach Josh McDaniels. Thomas, however, also had a couple of drops. “We are lucky to have him out there working with the group I think he has certainly shown the ability to make a difference,” McDaniels said. “We will see if we can get him to do the right thing at the right time and hope for the best. He has made progress every day,

Scouting The Safeties: Class of 2012

Here’s a look at the top junior safety prospects entering the 2010 season:

1. Rahim Moore, UCLA (Free Safety) – Can you say elite ball skills? Moore’s ten interceptions in 2009 led the nation and earned the Los Angeles native numerous All-American honors. With 25 starts at free safety in his first two seasons in Westwood, the 20 year old has already gained valuable playing experience. Moore has impressive speed and the instincts to pick apart the opposition’s passing game. He reads the quarterback, takes the proper angle to the ball and finishes the play more often than not. The Bruin has superb timing and the soft hands of a wide receiver. More than just a naturally gifted athlete, the safety has a passion for the game and the drive to be as good as he can be. While Moore also mixed in three tackles for loss

2011 NFL Draft Watch #29: Nate Solder

The countdown continues and our number twenty-nine prospect in college football is…

Offensive Tackle Nate Solder, Colorado (Senior):

The Skinny: There are not many men on planet earth who measure at 6’9”, tip the scales at 300 pounds and can run a forty-yard dash in under five seconds. Mr. Solder is one of those rare men. This Buffalo began his college career as an in-line blocking tight end, but once coaches realized his feet were better than his hands—and he put on about 30 pounds—the Colorado staff made the wise move to shift Solder inside to offensive tackle following his red-shirt freshman year. Not just tackle, but left tackle…and he was superb from the get-go, recording a team-high 69 knockdown blocks and allowing just one sack the entire

WAC Statement Regarding Boise State

WAC Commissioner Karl Benson:

“While I am disappointed that Boise State has elected to leave the WAC, I am very optimistic that the WAC will continue to have success in the future and that this change in membership will allow us to build even a better WAC for the future. The WAC has been very good for Boise State and Boise State has been very good for the WAC. But it’s not the first time a school has left the WAC and each time it has happened, a school or group of schools have stepped up and performed at a level that brings the WAC national credibility. We have a very strong foundation of schools going forward and others that are showing vast improvement in their athletics’ programs, and I expect that one of these teams will do just that – step up and perform. And

WAC Statement Regarding Boise State

WAC Commissioner Karl Benson:

On Location: Wallace Says McCluster For ROY

Since the trade of Santonio Holmes from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the New York Jets all eyes have been on second-year receiver Mike Wallace who was selected out of Ole Miss in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

During recent OTA’s Wallace was running with the first team and even took some direct snaps. A new wrinkle in the young receiver’s game which he calls “a little something, something.”

“Yeah, I got a lot of new things in my game,” Wallace added. The second-year man looks to build on an outstanding rookie season in which he led the NFL in yards per catch with 19.3. With Holmes gone and franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger serving a suspension to start the season

On Location: Justin Hartwig On Big Ben

Justin Hartwig has been a center for the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2008, serving as the first line of defense against the likes of Ray Lewis and any other opposing player looking to make mincemeat out of Ben Roethlisberger.

During the 2009 season I asked Hartwig about the closeness of the team…did they get together on special occasions like birthdays.

“Yeah, if it works with our schedule,” Hartwig answered. “Last year on my birthday (2008) we played the Bengals on a Thursday and afterwards we all went to Chicago for the weekend for my birthday.”

Hartwig added, “Usually the offensive linemen and Ben (Roethlisberger), we usually hang out quite a bit. We have to bond.”

In interviews just like this these days, Hartwig finds himself once again protecting the man he usually protects on Sundays against the NFL’s best defenders.

“We

On Location: Steelers Rookie Receivers Battle

During the Steelers OTA’s, I got to watch three of the team’s young receivers—Isaiah Williams and rookies Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown—compete in a game of “Who can catch the most tennis balls?” It sounds odd, but activities like these encourage competition and bring a team closer together.

Standing about ten yards from the ball-shooting machine, the guys have to catch a brown ball and drop it into a five-gallon bucket, one you could find at any hardware store or garage.

I was curious as to why they had to drop the balls into the bucket. Sanders explained, “It’s symbolizing you catching then tucking the ball. If you don’t drop it in the bucket, it’s like a fumble.”

The trio was all fun and games with Sanders easily the most vocal of the three. When it was all over, the first-year man out

Statements From Boise President & AD

Boise State University today has accepted the invitation to join the Mountain West Conference and become its 10th member institution, effective July 1, 2011.<br <br Boise State joins the United States Air Force Academy, Brigham Young University, Colorado State University, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, Texas Christian University, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, University of Utah and University of Wyoming.<br <br Boise State is the second institution to join the Mountain West; TCU became a member in 2005. The Mountain West Conference began with eight members in 1998. Boise State’s previous conference affiliations included the Big Sky from 1970-1996, Big West from 1996-2001 and the Western Athletic Conference from 2001-current.<br <br Boise State President Bob Kustra<br

“The invitation to join the Mountain West Conference reflects the excellence that Boise State University has demonstrated academically and athletically. It

Statements From Boise President & AD

“The invitation to join the Mountain West Conference reflects the excellence that Boise State University has demonstrated academically and athletically. It